The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1886-01-17
TALES OF LUCK.

Squire Ormsby for fifty years on very easy
terms.
Patrick, more uneasy than his sire, now
and then pestered this Squire for lease
Then the Squire used to say: ssWelI, if you
make point of it, win have the land
valued. and lease drawn accordingly" Blu,
this ubiquitous proposal always shut o Raj
ferty's mouth for time. He was called il
the village Paddy Luck; and certainly he
had the luck to get into good many fights
and other scrapes, and to get out of then
wonderfully. It was he who set the name
rolling; his neighbors did but accept it.
He protested certain powers akin to
divination, and they wero not generally
ridiculed, for he was right one time in Ave.
and that was enough, for credulity always
forgets the usual and remembers the eccen.
trio
This worthy had COW to sell, and drove
her into the nearest fair. He put twelve
pounds on her and was laughed at. She
was dry and she was ugly. ssTwelve pounds!
Go along wild vel" ssNeyer mind her" was
Pats reply. "Tm Paddy Luck, and it's
meself thai will sell the haste for twelve
pounds, and divil ha'penny less" This
was his proclamation all the morning. In
the afternoon he condescended to ten
pounds, just to oblige the community. At
sunset he managed to get eight pounds, and
a bystander told him he was lucky fellow.
"That is no news, thin" said he. 1t was
dark, and he was tired his home was
twelve Irish miles eff; he resolved to sleep
in the town. In the meantime he went to
a tavern and RECALLED his purchaser, drank,
danced, chaffed, showed his money, got
drunk and was robbed by one of the light
fingered gentry who prowl about fair.
The consequence was that the next time
he ordered liquor on liberal scale-for he
was one who treated semi-circularly in his
cups-he could not find shilling to pay,
and his landlord put him out into the
street. He cooled himself at a neighbor-
ing pump, and went in pursuit of gratui-
tous lodgings. The hard-hearted town did
not provide these, so he walked out of it
into sweeter air. He was not sick nor
sorry. Quite the reverse. He congratu-
lated himself on his good luck. ''Sure,
now" said he, s'if had sold her for twelve
pounds, its four pounds I'd be losing by
that same bargain. =
Some little distance outside the town he
found a deserted howell; there was no door,
window, nor floor; but the roof was free
from holes In one or two places, and there
was dry corner and heap of straw init.
Paddy thanked his stars for providing hin,
so complete and gratuitous shelter. and i'm
mediately burrowed into the straw and was
about to drop asleep when the glimmer of
a lantern shot in through the doorway, and
voices muttered outside.
Patrick nestled deeper in the straw; he
xuoc <rac I'D &rO 10
and yet too early for the virtues, charity
included, to be afoot.
Two men came in with a sack, spade
and lantern; one of them tilted the Ian
tern up and took cursory glance around
the premises. Patrick, whom the spade
had set shiyering, held his breath. Then
the man put the lantern down, and his
companion went to work and dug, not q
grave, as painting Pat expected, bat big,
round hole.
This done, they emptied the sack out
rolled and tinkled silver salvers of all sizes,
coffeepots, teapots, forks, spoons, brooches,
necklaces, rings-a mine of wealth that
glowed and glimmered in the light of the
lantern.
Patrick began to perspire as well as
tremble. The men filed in the hole, stamp
ed it firmly down, and then lighted their
pipes and held consultation. The ques-
ton was how to dispose of these valuables.
After some differences of opinion they
agreed that one Barney was the fence they
would invite to the spot, and if he would
not give one hundred pounds for the spoil
they would take it to Dublin. It transpir-
ed that Barney lived at some distance, but
not too far to come tomorrow evening and
inspect the booty. Then, if he would
spring to their price, they would go home
with him and receive the coin.
ssMy luck" thought Patrick. "What
need had they to light their pipes and chat
ter like two old women about such q trife,
without searching the straw first, the omad-
hauns !" The thieves retired and lucky Pat
went quietly to sleep.
He awoke in broad daylight, aud strolled
back into the town. He walked jauntily,
for if he had no money he possessed q
secret. He was too Irish and too sly to &c
to the police Office at once; his little game
was to try to find out who had been rob-
bed, and what reward they would give.
Meantime he had to breakfast off stale
roll given him by baker out of charity.
About noon he passed through principal
street, and 10 in silversmith's shop was
notice, written very large:
THIRTY GUINKAs REWARD.
Whereas. these premises were broken into last
night. and the following valuable property alb
stracted-
Then followed an inventory foot long.
THE above reward will be paid TO any person
conviction Of the thieves and the recovery Of the
stolen goods, or any considerable part thereof"
Patrick walked in and asked to see the
proprietor. A little fussy man in greal
state of agitation responded to that query
s'Are you in earnest now, sorr?" asked
Pat.
SIN earnest OF course am"
sWhat if dacent poor boy like me was
to find you the silver and thieves and all /?
I'D give you the thirty guineas and my
blessing in the bargain"
Maybe ye wouldn't like to give me my
dinner an all, by raison I'm just furnishing
with hunger?"
This proposal raised suspicion, and the
proprietor asked his name
Patrick o Rafferty,. I'm tenant to Squire
Ormsby."
81 know him. Well, Patrick, suppose
you can give me some information, FL
risk the dinner, anyway"
''Ah, well, sorr, said Patrick, ssthey say
fling sprat to catch whale A rumI
STEAK ana quart OF ale Is q favorite repasl
of mine; when have had EN- I'll arm EN-
by the holy poker"
s'Ster into my back parlor, Mr.. O'Raf
ferty, said the silversmith.
He then sent for the rump steak very
loud, and for policeman in whisper.
The steak came first, and was very vel
come. When he had eaten it the modest
O Rafferty asked for pipe and pot
While he smoked and slipped calmly, the
disguised policeman arrived and was asked
to examine him through a little window.
sDoes he look like crime z" whispered
the siIyersmith.
"No," said the policeman; "calf-like in,
nocence and impotence galore"
The jeweler asked O. Rafferty, to step out
Now, sir, said he, ssyou have had your
dinner, and don't grudge it to you; but i
this is 4 jest let it end here, for am in sor,
trouble, and it would be a heartless thing
to play on me.
"0ch, hear to me" cried Patrick, with
whine as doleful as sudden; ssdid liver al
O RAFFERTY, make a jist of an honest mans
trouble, or ate meal off his losses Bu
what is hungry man worth? could NO
see how to do your work while was fam
lshed. but now nv belly Ia full and my