The Irish standard., 1904-07-23

seeIuS W Ue Tue trouble Will you:
I'm drowning" Sam cried. Cant.
you see?"
That's too bad" Jack observed, dis
interestedly "How did it happen?"
Happen! Say, get me out of here
and don't stop there to ask fool ques-
tions''
ooh. would you like for me to rescue
you?"
"Of course. What are you talking
about? Do you think want to-
arown?"
why, should hardly think so. And
you would really like for me to save
you?"
eyes. Be quick about it, too. / can't
hang on here much longer"
is that so? Then your hold on the
boat is not just as secure as you could
wish?"
mo, it amt. But are you going to,
save me?"
81 hardly know. Maybe will and
maybe won't. 1t all depends on you"
"On me? How?"
"Well, shall ask you to make few
promises, and if you do so III save you,
otherwise I'll have to leave you to shift
for yourself"
II won't make any promises-only
one. I'll promise to shoot you the first
minute have chance"
mot if I save your life?"
eyes, I'll shoot you no matter what
you do"
"Then. guess I'll be going. Good
day."
Burns turned back toward the shore.
but he had not gone far when Sam
yelled to him:
"Here! What are you doing? Are
you going off and leave me to drown?"
II am sorry to see you drown Burns;
replied, turning back. "But can't af-
ford to save you so you can shoot me.
That wouldn't BY good policy, would
it,"
Old Sans finger began to slip off
the boat
"save mel" he screamed, "and
won't shoot you"
every good" Burns replied calmly,
''but you must make some other prom
ises."
"What are they? Quick!"
"Well, for one thing, you must prom
Use not to try to force Minerva into
marriage with old Ben Tucker"
''That's my business"
Gust so. And saving your life, or
not, is mine"
Sans fingers were slipping more and
more.
81 promise, dem you," he screeched.
"Now save me-"
"Not yet" Burns replied. "You must
make one more promise first"
what is it?"
GAS she and love each other, and
as you can have no reason for object
ing to me as a son-in-law, you must:
promise to give me Minerva for a.
wife"
"Never!"
'Not even to save your life, Mr.. judi
kins?"
"No. Haven't you already eloped
with her and married herr"
mot at all. 1 merely took her, at
her request, to some friends over in
town to keep you from forcing her to-
marry old Tucker. But are you going
to agree to my last request, or shall
bid you good day?"
Old Sam hesitated a moment, then.
as his fingers gave another slip, he
said:
"save me, dem it, and I'll promise.
anything"
GAIL right" Burns replied.
Then he swan up and turned the
boat over and threw old Sam into It,
after which he climbed in himself. Sc
curing the oars, which had hung in
the locks. he struck out for the shore.
For some distance they went along
in silence, but old Sans face wore
such sad, woebegone expression that
finally Burns was constrained to,
speak.
"Mr. Judkins," he said, "you seem
troubled and unhappy. What is the
matter?"
Sam drew long, hopeless sigh.
"I'm ruined" he moaned, ruined,
ruined!"
GLOW 500" Burns asked.
"Ben Tucker has a mortgage on my
land and now he'll foreclose and turn
me out on the world. It's awful"
"1s that all your trouble?"
Gail? Isn't it enough, at my age, to-
be set adrift, homeless and penniless ?"
ut would be, If such thing was to-
happen to you."
"Well, it will happen, all right. It's
bound to now"
II must differ with you there. Mr..
Judkins. Minerals father shall never
meet such fate. I'll find the money
to pay fuckers claims"
"You will?"
"Of course, will"
"Are you sure you Gang"
II have $4,000 in the bank. Won't
that do it?"
eyes, ten times over"
"Then that's easy fixed"
"Why didn't you tell me long ag.
that you'd do that?"
"How was to know about the mort
gage?"
Didn't Minerva tell you?"
"No."
Didn't she ever say why I wanted
her to marry Tucker?"
Never"
"Humph! That's strange. wonder
why she didn't?"
II think know, but perhaps had
better not say"