The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1896-10-30
PADDY'S PROBATION.


honorable position Only "Afei i~A7
and trying probation.
He won his squire by enduring pa
,icnfly and successfully such tests and
trials as would have discouraged many
brave knight OF old. In fact, had
Paddy lived in the days when stout
heart and a strong arm were the two
hest cards in the game Of life. he would
have been the king of Ireland at least
Pat put in his first appearance early
IN the spring of ISIS. the year the
track was rebuilt. lie was Just over,
and well / remember how he looked in
his moleskin trousers and rough coat.
with the queer hat on his head. AMI
The odd little neckcloth tied tight
around his neck. He stood close 10 six
feet. was well put together; his hair
was carroty. his face red and freckled.
and his eyes were small. and blue. and
bright He was engaged as a day-
laborer. wheeling dirt. shoveling. rak-
irg. and know not what else; but busy
he was from seven o'clock in the morn
ing until six at night. He did the work
~ TWO men. for he had not learned. like
the others, the knack OF loafing grace
fully.
Indeed, | think Paddy would have
been contented 10 have continued q he
was 10 the age OF 20. for the pay seemed
fabulous 10 him. and he was living in
shower of luXuries. with meat every
DAY. and a palaiial room. eight BY ten,
IN which 10 spend his nights and sun
DAYS
But unfortunately the labor 81 track
making would not last forever; one by
one the men were discharged. until hy
the first Of May there were only hais-
dozen left. Paddy among them. and
they were expecting 10 be paid off in
couple OF weeks. or sooner.
Now there was something about the
atmosphere of the college grounds. and
particularly the cinder-paih. that
suited Paddy's constitution wonderful
IL, and when IL reached his ears Tint
one man would probably he retained
for regular work until winter. and per-
haps snug berth IN the gymnasium
ri chit follow. he made up his mind 10
have that job.
I am not sure that he made a VOW. as
would a knight Of the fourteenth
century: but he did the same thing III
his own way. and resolved. come what
might, II mortal man might compass
II. no labor or trial would he avoid. no
care would he neglect. until that job
was his.
lie began by ingratiating himself
with every man VINO wore a running
shoe-not difficult task. for they all
liked him. and found in his words and
acts a never-failing source Of amuse-
ment. He had also that rare tao; which
makes at Irish gentleman the most
on earth. With Paddy il
showed itself in a never-failinc good !
nature. ready hand. and wonderful
faculty for remembering names and
faces.
The boys soon found out which way
his ambition pointed. that he was en-
tirely devoted to it. and gay life they
led him forthwith.
ii was on Saturday night. when
lad nearly made up my mind to give
Sim trial. that Paddy had his expert
nee with tho "ghostly hurdleT." his
last and browning tesla test that mace
au.hing of all that had preceded. and
that tried paddy's soul almost TO the
Units Of its endurance. Indeed. the
angh horse play and physical trials
through which Paddy went / more
inan half believe he enjoyed n well q
thc boys. and he probably biundered
into traps which he clearly saw. and
ala not care 10 avoid. IL they gave any
body any satisfaction.
But with all Pats courage he was y
arrant a coward as ever brca'hed when
the powers Of the unknown world were
arraycd against him. He believed most
firmly in banshees. spooks. gobiins.
ana little people. Now he was TO be
assailcd where his soul was weakest.
was at work in my little Office az the
gymnasium. making ont some physical
Development charts--a tedious task
which did not enjoy. and was anxious
70 finish. The clock had struck nine.
len. and eleven since | had taken my
seat at the desk. and the minutc-hand
was swinging round the track 10 II.
IKE tired runner on his last lap. The
charts showed the usual small percent
age Of well-developed bodies. some with
no Development at all. and the larger
part entirely out OF proportion. In some
eases the unbalanced proportions APP
preached deformities. as in the chart Of
freshman by the name Of Mason. His
height was but little over six feet. vet
uis leg measurement. was astonishing.
"t'erng any record in my book by
nearly two inches. This extraordinary
Nhgth Of leg was of course taken from
We body. which was like that Of a boy
y ~ and upon his first appearance on
'he track he was given the very ap-
W"prlate alias Of 1.-TWO Pieces" lie
fanny had appeared when running
= y there was not much more in the
-Aine IMAM an unattached pair Of legs.
N'u WITH one more would have been the
s'h plete picture Of the well-known
hsraldic device appropriated by the
Isle Of Man. =
TWO Pieces" like many another
'Ieshman, had suffered an extremely
rs