The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-12-06
THE PLAN OF CAMPAIGN.
From ne Rartford rlmes.

sion that such landlord, no matter
what other foible ne may possess, is
anything but rack-renter.
Pierce Dillon. the hero Of our sketch,
was fine specimen of the genial, open
hearted class Of landlords. which, I'M
happily, to-day are so few and far be.
tween in the Little Green Isle Of the
Sea. AT the period of which we write
Pierce Dillon received qui ct hint from
friend of his that his personal freedom
was in jeopardy, as various writs were
flying about the country after him.
He thereu pom took the hint, and, hav-
ing stocked his old tumble.d down castle
with supplies for the winter, he felt pre-
pared Ii necessary to sustain reaso nable
siege against any force the law was likely
to bring up. The time-worn castle had
an abundant quantity Of arms. There
were guns and pikes that had done good
service in "9S," swords of every shape,
from the two-handed weapon of the
twelfth century TO Roman pattern made
out Of scythe by smith Of the neigh
'borhood. Dillon, having amply secured
the fortress, assembled all his tenants
and in short and pithy speech, he told
with considerable eloquence what Il mis-
fortune II would be for them if, by any
chance, they should lose him for land
lord.
"See, now, boys" said he, there's no
knowing what misfortune would hap
pen We. They'd put receiver on the
property; spalpeen, with bailiffs and
constables after him. The first thing
they would do would be to double your
rents, as u tax on your own improve
ments, and maybe cast you out to the
mercy of the world il you can't pay it.
Thus Pierce like clever orator con-
tinued TO picture forth additional mis-
cries and misfortunes to them. If such a
calamitous event were to happen, ex-
planning at the same time the contempt.
ible nature of tho prosecution practiced
against him. A very large cheer from
Dillon's audience proclaimed how per-
fectly they conceded in his opinion, ut
tering at the same time determination
with respect to the law officers of the
crown that BODIED but little happiness to
them when they made q tour in the
.neighborhood.
In about week after this there was
grand drawing home' or what is called
bringing In the harvest The farm yard
presented very homely sight. with
ricks of hay and stacks of corn and oats
and barely, and outhouses full Of pota-
toes, in fact, everything the country pro-
duces besides COWS and horses, sheep, pigs,
goats and even turkeys.
Well, the next day was clear and cold,
and as the bog was hard Dillon sent all
the tenants to bring in the turf. 1t was
beautiful sight to see two or three
hundred cars all going as fast as they
could pelt, the boys standing up in the
kishcs driving at a gallop without rein
or halter. On the same day about 8
o'clock in the evening Pierce Dillon was
returning home from a bog. Gathering
along on a little dun pony he had, think
ing of nothing at all except, maybe, the
Elegant rick of turf that he'd be bringing
home in the morning, when what did
he see before him but troop Of
dragons, and at its head old Phil Han
nigan, the sub-sheriff, and another fellow
whose face he had often seen in the
-Four Courts in Dublin.
"By the great gun of Athlone," said
Dillon, II am done for" for he saw in a
moment that Hannigan had waited until
all the country people were employed at
distance to come over and take him.
However, he was no way discouraged,
but brushing his way through the
dragons, he rode up beside Hannigan's
gig, and, taking long pistol out of the
bolster, began to examine the printing.
''IIow are you, Phil Hannigan," said
he, "and where are you going this fine
EVENING"
"How are you, PIERCE said Hanni-
gan, with his eye all the while on the
pistol. cts an unpleasant business; q
mighty unpleasant business to me, Pierce
Dillon, but the truth Is, there is an exc
cution against you-and my friend here,
Mr.. Kennedy-Mr, Kennedy, Pierce Dill
lon, asked me to come over with him. be
cause as knew you--"
well, well, said Dillon, interrupting
him, "have you writ against me? Is ii
me you want?
Nothing of tho kind, Pierce. We'd
be sorry to touch hair of your head.
It's just kind of cap as, as l may say;
nothing more"
And why did you bring the dragons
with your" asked Dillon, looking at him
mighty hard. Hannigan looked very
sheepish and didn't know what to say,
but Dillon soon relieved him.
"Never mind, Phil, never mind. You
can't help your miserable trade, but how
would you like ii was to raise the
country over YEP
"You woulden't do the like, Phil but
sure, If you dad, the troops"
''The troops" said Dillon, "why, man
alive, we'd be twenty, ay, thirty to one.
See, now, if I'd give whistle this min
ute"
Don't distress yourself, Pierce" said
IIannigan, ''for the decent people are
good six miles off the bog, and couldn't
hear you, If you whistled ever so loud"
The moment he said this Dillon saw
that the old rogue was up to him, and he
began to wonder within himself what
was best TO be done.
"See, now, Hannigan," said he, sit
Isn't like friend to bring up all these
troops before me in the face of my PEG.
pie. Send them back TO the town and
60 up yourself with Mr., Kennedy there,
and do whatever you have to do"
''No, no." screamed Kennedy, "pll
never part with the soldiers"
Every WE'LL" said Dillon, take your
own way and see what will come Of it,"
''Wait, a bit. Pierce, said Hannigan,
"Will you give us your word of honor,
if we leave the dragons whore we are
now, not to hurt or modest us in the dis
charge of our duty. nor let any one else
do SOP After u little parley, II was set
tied that part of the Dungeons were to
wait ON the road and the best part OF
them in the lawn before Dillon's castle,
while Hannigan and his friend were to
90 through the ceremony of seizing his
effects and make an inventory of every
thing they could find. When they reach
y 1 4 -