Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-07-06

-poach the land which Tomas was en-
ployed TO gamekeep. and MIR. McCran OF
Belfast very naturally dismissed Tomas
with twenty-four hours notice. The fol-
lowing year the Red Poocher Ito Tomas
genuine delight poached the land again,
with the able help of Tomas successor.
and of the London gentleman who had
the shooting rented
Tomas was reinstated in office NO one
would rent the shooting from Mr.. Nc
Gran. after those Two seasons of ill-luck
MIR. McCran. on the second year after, de-
termfned to take few weeks leave or MS
Belfast factory. and come down and shoot
MeenavaIla with Tomas add himself. The
sequel was not pleasant for poor Mr. Nc
Gran. for. whilst he lay in durance vile
In a Donegal police barrack, with the aw-
full charge of poaching his own land hang
ing over his head. the Red Poocher. who
had coolly caused his arrest, poached the
land with Tomas aid once more.
Tomas Dhu, said |. that was the last
you ever heard OF the Red Poocher?" We
were lolling and smoking on opposite cor
ners of the hearth fire in Tomas little
hut after d long and fatiguing. but good
remarkably good-day's sport: and likewise
after long and good-remarkably good
supper. Tomas, by way of reply. simply
gave utterance 10 that peculiar grunt an
indolent man uses to convey Il have heard
you And out of Tomas impas5ive fea-
lures could not read anything satisfactory
either SO, repeated my remark in difrer-
ent style
l said. Tomas. did you ever hear any
thing of the Red Poocher after
Tomas slowly lowered his gaze. which
had been following his smoke wreaths and
halted. his eyes upon me-
When did you say it?
Tomas was in one of his captious moods.
But / rather liked that: the complaisance
he thereby exacted from you was gener-
ally forehand payment for story.
Well. l meant that"
''Oh. | beg yer pardon. l thought ye
were just ofrerin' me a bit of news tellin'
me that. l never did hear OF the Red
Poocher afther- It's good plan. young
fella-if ye give news. give news: IL ye ak
questions. ak questions.
Il daresay you're right. Well, now I'm
askiu' question-Did We ever afther hear
tell of the Red Poocher?
Well. 1 should think sor
OH
Tomas Dhu lay back once more. and con-
templated the curling puffs which he now
sent up more thickly from his age-browned
dudeen.
l lay back and pulled as smartly. and
contemplated. too.
Suddenly out OF the smoky silence,
Tomas. when the spirit moved him. spoke
To ma. bitther sorra. 1 heard of the Red
Poocher again The curse o. Crummil be
him-an' the c:Irse o the crows
"Afther Misth-r McCran himself had
WAS a great cry-out entirely all over the
country The jintleman sportsmen there
was no houdin' or tyin' of. to learn that
such a vagabOne was allowed at large and
an at the law OF the lam an the papers. too.
all the three kingdoms took 1t up an
made the divirs own thiraw about tan
over again the oui story OF Irelan
bein' the quare place anyhow, an that no.
body should be astonished at anything
would happen in it To be sure. there was
manys an Ill minded vagabone In all parts
Of the country that laughed hearty at the
tarrible thing. an sayed the Red Poocher
was by lang chalk the dhrollest lad they d
ever heerd tell of
h.
the country about didn't help Misther Nc
Gran wan little bit only what 1t hindered
him. For whatsomiver chance there was
OF his gettin' the shoOtin' of Meenavalla
let to some sportin' chap or other afore,
there was SOrra take the chance at all now.
So mkt year IL went vacant, an Mkt year
again. an the year afther that livery wan
Of the years Misther NcCran advertised the
shootin' in the papers on the lame chance
of Catchin' some poor divil that didn't know
its histhory. But farior, there wasn't a
Acknowledgment jack-day a1ween the four
says of Irelan'-or of Englan' an Scotlan'
for that part-that didn't know as much
about Meenavalla an the Red Poocher as
Misther McCran himself So the dickens
much a tent of ink was wasted re-
pIyin' TO wan of the advertisements. Then
Misther NcCran put the consarn up for
sale. an put II In the papers But the divil
recaive the man there was even then to
come forrid an offer him as much as tup-
pence-ha'panny in bad ha' pence for It. An
ever when. Oh the fourth year a company OF
half a dozen young English bucks, Just
fresh out OF college. TUX. atween them a
whole dhrfft of shootin's in vaarus parts OF
the county of Donegal. intendin' both ia
nsve the sport of shootin the game an the
profit besides of sellin' them to London game
merchants. an TUX the three shootin's thai
surrounded Meenavalla. the sorra wan OF
them would take Meenavaila for love oil
money It-was unlucky, they sayed they
have nothing whatsomiyer to do with it OF
any account
But hehould ye. Misther Mccran. to hi.
exeeedin great joy. you may wen sup
pose. got Meenayalla let this year. On war