The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-04-24
O'COR.MAN'S HOUSEMAID.
BY David c iristie Murray.

lone, "or next door. ! was born at th'
corner OF the baroDy wall, sir, in th'
little white house half way between
the lodge gates and toll bar"
"'Twas the Moriartys lived there
said O'Gorman. "GeneratiOns Oi
them"
"Av coorse II was. sir" said Mrs
Malone, land meself was n MOriarty
till / married"
"Oh, ahw said O'Gorman. "Mar
ried"
yen not likely TO remember youl
grandfather. sir. He'd be dead before
your time, sir. A fine hearty gentle
man he was. with his hand In his
pocket for all an sundry."
I'D have something more than me
hands In me own pockets" said O'Gor
man, III the extrayagant old villain
hadn't made the place n wilderness"
Don't be miscalling him, Misther
| Richard" said Mrs. Malone. There
wasn't n dry eye for miles when he
died.
O'Gorman lit his pipe and stood re.
fecting.
"When can you begin here?' he
asked.
"Anny minyut, sir" she answered.
VERY WELL" said he. IL go to bed
Mt II. II you can be here with your
boxes by that time you can take up
your quarters tonight. IT you're not
you can come in tomorrow"
Mrs. Malone was certain that she
could be back I'm little over an hour
and she kept her promise. O'Gorman
showed her the kitchen and her own
quarters, warned her that the studio
was sacred territory, and went back TO
his pipe and his tipple. He thought
that O'Keefe had not done him half a
bad turn In sending Mrs. Malone In his
way. II was pleasant in n fashion to
feel that there was n link with old
Clonkllty In his neighborhood. Mrs.
Malone's aspect did not inspire senti-
ment. but she brought the half forgot
ten home Of his fathers to mind and
he drank an extra glass to the names
OF his ancestors.
He was an early riser. and next
morning he had to below for rather
an unconscionable time before Mrs.
Malone descended to provide his Gus
tomary cup OF tea.
1T shan't occur again, sir" said Mrs.
Malone. "Once | know your hours
and your habits, I'll be on hand"
And, I'm truth. while she was under
OGorman's roof she made an admir-
able servant. He suspected her with
the tobacco jar; but If she pilfered, she
kept her depredations within bounds,
and she came from Clonkilty.
Outside his studio, O'Gorman was n
lazy man and hard to move. and some
times for month together he would
not so much as put his boots on for
a stroll. But one night in late autumn,
air, the fancy took him to look up
some one of his few friends.
Don't sit up for me- Mrs. Malone" +"
ne said, on leaving land don't lock the
| door"
Some response came from the kitchen
region. and he went upon his way.
He had scarce traversed hundred
yards when he encountered O'Keefe,
who came I'm a rush round a street cor.
ner and ran straight into his arms.
The shock was little bewildering for
an instant, but before either could OBJ
| jurgate the others clumsiness, there
was :. recognition on both sides. The
| two exchanged word and parted,
but O'Gorman had time to note two
| things. One was that his undesirable
acquaintance was handsomely and eX-
| pensively attired, and another that his
look was terror stricken.
"Gives one the idea OF n swell mobs.
man with the police behind him." said
the artist, and dismissed him from his
thoughts.
| The friend with whom O'Gorman had
meant to pass the evening was away
from home, and he retraced his steps
at leisure. Inserting his latchkey il
the keyhole he was surprised TO find
| that the door did not yield. He tried
again. with the same result. IL,
knocked and there was no answer
He knocked more loudly and more
loudly yet, and by and 10y was aware
of Mrs. Malonc's voice from within.
"Who is II that's raisin' Cain outsid,
there?"
ITS l." cried O'Gorman; and Mrs
Malone opened the door. looking some
what flushed and tremulous.
"'Tis lonesome here for solitar!
faymole." said Mrs. Malone. ia me,
up me moind I'd sit up for ye, sir, an
must have dhropped into dose besid
the foire.'
O'Gorman was an easily irritate,
man. and he entered his room with
grow. A minute later he laughed
Mrs. Malone was right" he said
beauty tempts thieves more tha
gold"
He tried to settle him eli to his Gus
tomary smoke and his temperate tun
bier. but he was oddly restless. A fee
ing he haG not experienced since chile
. hood was upon him. He could not b'
lieve that he and Mrs. Malone were th
J sole inmates of the house. He listened
but he heard nothing to justify hi
/ own queer sensation. Yes. No. Mer
fancy. Yes, again. No fancy til
time. Surely that was n stealthy foo
step in the little hall. Surely the doc
+ was opening He was out I'm tlasl
just In time to see the figure OF o Keei
as he darted into the street.
Q Mrs Malone was n little more pc
a turbed than she had been ten minut,
. earlier.
. What was that fellow doing he-e'