The San Francisco call., 1903-01-18
Copyrighted by F. oE. somerville.

is not an easy thing TO come by
F. nowadays; neither is Il a very at
tractive Job: yet on the evening
4 when first propounded the idea
10 The young lady who had recently con-
sented 10 become Mrs. Sinclair Yeates II
seemed glitterlng with possibilities
was then climbing the steep ascent Of
the captains toward my majority. ! had
attained 10 the dignity Of mud major and
had spent good deal on postage stamps
and on railway fares 10 interview people
OF influence before I found myself in the
h0tel az Skebawn opening long envelopes
addressed TO Major Yeates, r. NJ"
My most immediate concern was to
leave Il at the earliest opportunity. but
iu those nine weeks ! had learned. among
other painful things. little. a very little.
O. the methods Of the partisan in the
west Of Ireland Finding house had
hecn easy enough. ! had had my choice
81 several. each with some hundreds of
acres Of shooting. thoroughly poached.
and q considerable portion OF the roof in
tact I had selected One-the one that
had the largest extent OF roof In proper
ton 20 the shOoting-and had been as
sUred by my landlord that in a fortnight
Or so Il would be 1T for occupation.
There's a few little odd things to be
done" he said easily: "a lick Of paint
here and there and a slap Of plaster
I am shOrtsighted; 7 am also of Irish
extraction. both facts that make for toll
eration-bUt even I thought he was un-
derstatng the case. So did the con-
tractor.
These and kindred difficulties extended
in an unbroken chain through the sum
nler months. until a certain wet and
windy day IN October. when. with my
baggage, ! drove over TO establish myself
st Shreelane. II was a tall. uglv house
og three stories high its walls faced with
tler-oeaten states, its windows star
ing. narrow and vacant I stood on the
steps waiting for the door TO be opened,
while the rain slUiced upon me from
broken eaveshoot that had. among many
other things, escaped the notice OF my
landlord.
The door opened and revealed the hall.
u struck me that had. perhaps. overes-
rmated its possibilities. Among them I
had certainly not included a tagged floor.
sweating with damp. and reek OF cab
hage from the adjacent kitchen stairs A
large. elderly woman. with q red face and
cap worn helmet-Wise on her forehead.
swept me q magnificent courtesy as
crossed the threshold
Your hOnOr's welcone-'' she began.
and then every door in the house slammed
g. obedience 20 the gust that drove
through g. With something that sounded
like Mend ye for q back door" Mrs..
CaC0gan abandoned her opening speech
and made for the kitchen stairs.
am a martyr To colds in the head. and
J felt one coming on. ] made = laager I'm
front ~ the dininE-rOom Ere With = tat
tered leather screen and the dInner-tab-e
sud gradually. with cigarettes and strong
tea. tafied the smell Of must and cats and
fervently trusted that the rain might
avert threatened visit from my land
lord. ] was then but specifically ac-
cuainted with Mr.. Florence Mccarthy
Knox and HIS habits
AT about 40. when the room had
warmed up. and my cold was yielding 10
treatment. Mrs. Cadogan entered and in
formed me that Mr. FURRY" was in the
1ard and would be thankful II I'd go out
f0 him. FOR he couldn't come in. / hud-
died on \ macintosh. and went out into
The yard.
My landlord was there on horseback.
and with him there was 2 man standing
~ the head Of stout gray animal.
recognized with despair that was about
70 be compelled 10 buy horse.
Good afternoon. Major said Mr.. Knox
in his slow. sing-slng brogue: Its rather
soon to be paying you a visit. but 7
thought you might be fn a hurry TO see
The horse ] was telling YOU OF"
, thanked him and suggested that II was
rather wet for horse dealing
"Oh. it's nothing when you're used 10
d." replied Mr.. Knox His gloveless hands
were red and wet. the rain ran down his
nose. and his covert coat was soaked TO a
sod6en brown. ] thought that ] did not
want 20 become used 70 IT, Ny relations
with horses have been OF purely military
character. ] have endured the Sandhurst
rId.rg-school. J have galioped for i'm
pefuous general. ] have been steward At
reefmental races. but none OF these feats
have altered my opinion that the horse as
= means of locomotion, is obsolete. Never
fheless the man who accepts a resident
magistracy in the southwest Of Ireland
toiuntar5ly retires into the prehistoric
age to institute stable became inevf-
table
You ought 70 throw q leg over HIM"
said AIr. Knox. land you're welcome to
take him over fence or two II you like.
Hes a nice, fiippant jumper.
Even 20 my unexacting eye the gray
horse did not seem 10 promise nippancy.
J explained that 1 wanted something 10
drive and not 10 ride.
Well. that's a fine raking horse In har-
ness" said Mr.. Knox. looking at me with
JOS serious gray eyes. Bring him Up
lere. Michael"
Michael abandoned his efforts to KICK