The Portland daily press., 1894-11-08
MICKY HOPKINS.

On the west of Glare, where the mighty
pillows OF the Atlantic beat out their fury
against the iron bound coast at the head
OF flne bay. is situated the pretty little
summer resort of Kilkee. Kilkee at the
time OF which we are writing was not the
fashionable place it has since become. 1t
consisted of few scattered houses, not
more than 40 in number, and one more
pretentious than its fellows that rejoiced
in the title Of "hotel. =
1t was wild night in the early winter
Of 1s4s when our narrative opens. Six
men were crouching under promontory
to the left of the bay, known as Georges
head, and were clinging firmly to the un-
derlying rocks to save themselves from be-
ing washed away by the waves that ever
and anon broke over them
She's moighty long widout shown her
lights, p" said one, who appeared to be the
leader
aMusha, but It's a pity!'' responded the
man addressed. 'Tis a foine noight tc
land the guns Here Mioky Hopkins,
we've got cats eyes an can see in the
dark. Can ye make out if there's any
loight out ther ahead?"
HOAoOAAetfsO
climbed a little higher on the ledge and
peered eagerly forward into the night. He
was man of about As years old, of small
but powerful build, notwithstanding
round shoulders which amounted to de.
formity. His hands were huge, with long
muscular fingers, resembling the talons
OF tigers paw. A bullet head, a coarse
mouth, with thick and sensual lips, de
oiflp6 in ,A,1,xy
forehead and long matted red hair hang
ing down upon the deformed shoulders,
short, bowed legs and long splay feet made
up,a tout ensemble that was as repulsive
as the soul of the lnan himself. But he
was keen an6 sagasious and, having
ready and fluent tongue, together with
smattering of education and the reputa.
tion of being good patriot he exercised
no small influence over the ignorant sim
pie minded, truthful fishermen and vii.
layers on the wild western coast of Glare.
Aftega few minutes spent in peering
into the obscurity' of the night he called
out, with low, cackling laugh:
sYis. yis; there tbs! There's the loight
shure enough. Here comes the boat now
Byes, get together an look out for her.
Soon q light was seen rising on the crest
rise again The little group gathered to.
gether close to where a small sandy beach
jutted down between the cliffs On came
the boat and, borne on the breast of an
incoming billow, it was cast I'D almost in
to the arms of the expectany men. Six
wooden cases were handed out by the crew
and hurriedly carried away.
wild noight, captain, said the leader
nf tho. ,n1ao hoe cE, 10 -
arrivals, a tall, slim person with dark
eyes, aquiline nose long, raven hair and
huge imperial, 4. Il 4
Yes, O'RouEke, you bet it is" replied
the stranger, 81 have seldom seen such
weather between Baltimore and the Irish
coast, but it's good for our purpose, Jim
l have over 8, 900 stand of arms in the Sea
Swallow out there, and guess will have
them pretty well distributed over the
Glare, Cork and Kerry coast by Monday if
these dark nights and wild weather last
What news have you got? Is the govern
ment watching us, do you think?'
Not they" said O'Rourke. "Mrky
Hopkins has fooled thin all roight. They
take all he says for gospel Ye see, his /
nalne helps him. He lets on to thin that
he's kapin track of us for thin, an whin-
49, w ei4O gum " OO any UliluS WO S6uu
Mlcky to tell the sogers to watch out for
us in a place ten moiles away from where
we are going to go entoirely!'
The captain laughed, and his task OF
landing the arms being accomplished
turned his boats bow once more toward
the ocean, and under the steady pull OF
eight strong arms it disappeared in the
darkness.
1t was early morning, and Major Robert
Singleton, commander of the little British |
garrison in the town of Kilrush, was just |
turning overin in bed to enjoy the delight Of
4o wlnks of second sleep before rising fol
parade, when knock came at his bed
room door.
Who's there?'' he demanded, with
sleepy petulance.
Plase, yer honor, major there's that
numpy back down stairs that you always
SAID you Was to see whin he called" sale
his handmade.
ohi show him up!'' answered the ma
JOE Jumping out of bed with an alacrits
"a s6range Keeping with his usual digni
fled department.
ohuIhing feet were heard ascending the
STAIRS and soon Micky Hopkins stood in
sne doorway, hat in hand, and strainina
us hump in his bows of reverence.
;, come in, Mieky,'' said the major cheer
iilIy iul1y. Then, lowering his voice, he added
Wsi, What about the guns?"
wei, major, all the guns are COME
now. Inc last cargo landed last noight ]
VIII lade the sogers down by the sacret
way we have for gettin to the cave whin'
ofe[ ye give me the wurd.
NJ; 10 you thing they suspect you at all,
1HioMy .tt4y inquired the major.
NoC me, sor Shure they think tbs me
snaO looAn you all the time. But they'll
,olnu OUT to their cost tonight, an yell
nave 70 take care of me and me family
after that, MAJOR
Don,t you fear, Micky,," said the Fra.
Jol, J me English government never for
:, ~, Inc midnight moon was shrouded in a
oiouuy pail over Georges head. The wind
SmepI ~ IN from the sea, moaning as IT beas
,ng Sne souls of drowned mariners to eter
i,nr ;na uoom. A belated sea gull, liks whlrl
1Tr1. .4Nrx- H. 1