Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-08-27
Copyright, 1897, by Robert Buchanan.
CHAPTER IL

most due west along the borders of Clew
bay, the other turning northward among
the mountains of Mayo. Langford took
the latter, which followed the sides OF
q shallow river, brawling, brown with
mud and peat moss and swollen by the
recent floods
Three Irish miles away, on the road.
side and facing the river, was a two
storied dwelling rooted with slate and
surrounded with farm buildings and
cattle sheds Over the door of this house
was exhibited the legend, John Carey,
licensed to sell spirits and tobacco, "
and here, as sort of permanent lodger,
resided Mr.. Patrick Blake, the man
whom Langford was seeking.
In front of the house and behind il
rose the steep and barren mountains,
feathered on the lower slopes with
stunted heather and grass, but for the
most trart black, shiny and bare. Be-
tween them, rushing past the high road,
was the river.
Langford rode slowly up to the inn.
A savage looking man, dressed in the
usual long tail coat, knee breeches and
narrow brimmed high hat, sat on a
wooden seat near the door, splicing a
broken salmon rod He looked up with
q scowl as the horseman approached and
then, recognizing him, touched his hat.
Langford leaped from the saddle
"Look after the mare, Timlin, he
said. Il want to speak to Mr.. Blake if
he's at home"
"He's in there, your honor, " replied
the man, holding the horse by the bri-
die and jerking his thumb toward the
house. "There's company wild him from
Castlebar.
Langford entered the inn and found
himself in q large kitchen, where an
elderly woman was bending over an
iron pot. Beyond the kitchen was a
closed door, through which came the
sound Of mems voices. Without word
to the woman, who seemed startled by
his appearance, Langford strobe across
the floor, opened the closed door, and,
standing on the threshold, gazed with
an angry scowl on the room within
1t was a small, low rooted taproom
with one window looking on the rear
Of the house. Its only furniture was a
long wooden table and several forms
Seated at the table were four men, with
a whisky bottle and glasses before them,
playing cards.
Two of these men were peasants
closely resembling the man whom Lang
ford met at the door; savage looking,
unkempt fellows, with square jaws and
lowering eyes, The third man was a
little thickset person dressed in shabby
broadcloth, and with face full Of the
cunning of his class, for he was one Pc
ter Linnie, small pettifogging solicit
or from Castlebar. The fourth man on
whom Langford fixed his eyes was diff
ferent in every respect from his COM
panions
He could not have been more than
five and twenty years Of age, and he
looked even younger. His hair was
sandy yellow, his complexion white
and bloodless, his eyes large and blue,
with dark rings around them suggestive
Of dissipation A stubbly red mustache
covered his upper lip; the underlip was
thick and sensual.
He was leaning on the table holding
his cards, with low crowned hat thrust
on the back of his head and short
pipe held between his teeth. Coarse and
reckless as he. seemed. there was some
thing in his manner and demeanor
which showed him to be superior to his
surroundings and his dress, knicker-
booker suit of light tweed, with COL
larless flannel shirt thrown open at the
throat, was cut like the dress of gen.
tleman.
This was Patrick Blake, one Of the
Blakes of Ballyveeny, very old Mayo
family.
AS Langford appeared he looked up
with an angry exclamation.
"Monomondianol" he cried. "Who's
this that comes into the society Of gen.
tlemen without knocking and asking
leave? Oh, it's you, is it, Mr.. Philip
Langford," he continued, with sar-
castle grin, land may ask what the
devil brings you so far away from Cas-
tie Craig?"
'I've come to look for you," answer
ed Langford sternly, land to talk to
you if you're sober enough to listen. "
Blake flung down his cards with an
oath and springing to his feet seized the
whisky bottle as if about to hurl it at
the others head. but Linnie the lawyer
seized his arm and whispered in his
ear. He nodded and laughed tipsily and
sank back into his chair.
"An right" he said Come in,
Langford. If you've brought US any
news Of my cousin Kate. we're at your
service"
Langford walked into the room and
stood at the end of the table, confront
ing the group.
"You know we'll I've brought no
news I've come to seek it, and warn
you"-
"Have drink, I" cried the young man
insolently. Here, Carey, bring in an
other bottle of Jameson and chalk it up
to yours truly"
AS he spoke another person appeared
mon the scene-a girl Of about 20,