Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-03-16

lMH#llo~ sigh and sob the
words, THE Hi
bernians will get wet tomorrow" The
doors had been closed for the night the
200 boys had eaten supper and at 8
o'clock had been sent to the dormitories
at the big buildings top. The boys had
gone to bed, the keepers had made the
final tour Of examination, and all the
foundlings slept save bright eyed Mi
chael Ryan, of whom one keeper had
said:
You never know what the little rascal
will do next"
Michael had lived his life of twelve
years in absolute freedom. For weeks
at time he had not slept in a bed, choos-
ing the piers and doorways of the bust
ness houses rather than the abuse and
contumely of his home. And now that
he was shut up in big stone building
the native desire for freedom made his
spirit chafe at confinement as young
tiger gnaws at his bars.
And as he lay there in the darkness it
occurred to little Mike that tomorrow
was st. Patrick's Day-the day when
the streets We're filed with marching
regiments of men; when music pulsated
on the air; when gayly decorated horses
pranced and cheers aroused echoes in
the long brick, canyonlike streets. Mikes
cheeks flushed as he remembered previ-
Gus st. Patrick's days, when he had par
hcipateQ in the festivities and gazed in
ecstasy upon the flying banners. But
this year he reflected angrily that grim
walls shut him in on all sides; that
watchful keepers We're ready to shut off
any attempt to escape.
But hope came to him. Perhaps, after
all, he might escape. He had sat up in
the gallery of a Bowery theater and had
seen Monte Cristo cut his way through
fourteen feet of solid rock and then
thrown over cliff hundred feet high
ii a bag. And still Monte Cristo es-
capped. Why couldn't he do it? With
beating heart he sat up in bed a Grim
inal confined for life never longed for
liberty more sincerely than did that for
lorn waif. He reflected that he was in
the top story of the building. at least
sixty feet from the ground. He could
hear the fierce March wind driving the
rain against the windows in sharp gusts.
Still this did not dampen his enthusi-
asm. He would brave much more than
4 wetting to get outside the Will and
must have assistance. Who could he
get to help him? There were plenty of
Boys who would like to escape, but few
who had the nerve to attempt it. He
mentally rejected them all but Patsey
Flaherty as lacking in some characters
tic necessary for the undertaking
''Ha, he's just the lad muttered Mike
% himself. Patsey slept on the other
~ ar,F+ Il,
Of his bed, with bare feet, and dropping
on his knees crept softly until he reached
Patsey's bed The boy vas sleeping
peacefully. One grimy hand was thrown
outside the quilt. This Mike seized gen
tly and began 70 squeeze it. PatSey
moved uneasily and then awoke. He
was frightened and would have cried out
in alarm had not Mike PIT hand over
his mouth. Mike lnuttered:
Keep quiet. Patsey: its only me-
What 10 you want. Mike whispered
Patsey.
DO you want to see de purcession?''
asked Nike. What pu-cession:" in
quired Patsey.
DE St. Patrick Day parade" why,
is dey goin to leave Us OUT inquired
Patsey eagerly.
Nav" was the reply, ley wouldn't
leave a cat ont O. dis. Me an you'll so
out widout askin EN-" BY this time
Patsey was thoroughly interested
Who was 81; Patrick he said.
"Why," answered Mike, -'ain't you never
heerd O him: He's de priest wet driv
all the snakes out o Ireland. He was q
o-vant ten feet high. de was torrer-
bred, sure. ne was, an no mistake. Ev
bernians and de Land league and de
St. Patriok's sassicties puts on dere
Sunday clothes ana goes ont in the street,
an de band plays Johnny, Get Yer Gun
an 'Boom-ta-ra' an st. Patricls's Day
in de Mo'n!n.' It's great, Patsev; il
great Les 60"
Patsey's eyes dilated as lie listened to
this glowing recital. His red hair almost
rose ON his head with anticipation.
How kin we go:' he whispered.
.'Wot's de matter wild de windy" in
Quired Mike.
Oats all right, Mike" said Patsey.
palpitatirg in the darkness. but de Win
dy's sixty foot high
..Ah, don't be gittin nifty, Patsey,"
said Mike. Lay low; lay low" he con-
tinued as d head rose above the cover
let in an adjoining bed. Mike dropped
softly to the floor. They waited until
the head sank upon the pillow again;
then Mike said:
Put on yer buds an come over to my
bed"
In less than two minutes the boys had
donned their clothes, all but their shoes.
Then they both got into Mixes bed and
pulled the clothes over their heads so
that they could arrange their plans to-
gether without danger of being over
heard