The Washington herald., 1907-03-06

tent. but wait till the railroads put
through and we go on to Kansas
CITY"
Kitty laughed happily, and put her
hand over his mouth And the two OF
/ them sat there IN the shadow beside the
open window talking and saying nothing
at all sensible for half an hour When
they stepped out on the floor for the last
! dance Tom held his head high and proud
!y. lie had a right 10. He had won his
mate, and in all the world she was the
sweetest girl he had ever seen. And on
his coat just above the heart, was pinned
the favor she had given him. tt was only
little shamrock made Of wire and green
silk the kind they sell on the street
corners ST. Patrick.s Day. but Kitty had
worn IL iu her hair all the evening. stuck
in Sideways like the c0quette she was.
just above her pretty ear. and il was the
sign of both his victory and her thraldom
70 Tom Grady
But suddenly as the two stepped out
on the floor % take their places in the
reel, ngure appeared I'm the doorway.
and old Mike sasped and sw0re under
his breath. Then The old man ducked
under table, and quietly soberly pre-
pared for sudden death 1t was pic
so tall as Tom. slender and dark. and
the chaps" he wore were splashed as
from fording. and dusty from heavy
rlding. Straight up 10 where Kitty stood
me walked, and Tipping the sombrero he
wore from his head he cast 1t al her feet
In its cord was stuck a shamrock Of
wire and green silk
There's mine" DE said. And I've rid
den tWo hundred miles to claim the
promise You made ME last year on it,"
Tom laughed.
You're too late IN the coming. my boy.
She's made me a fresh one tonight. and
she's going 10 keep il. BY the shamrock
on me coat this minute. shes going to
keep her word 10 me-"
shes a hirt." cried the other. What
right has she 20 give two of these things.
with two promises"
She can do just as she pleases." said
Tom, Loyalty. u don't care If she scat
tiers shamrOcks from Sacramento To Key
West. but she's going TO marry me next
month. Now. see here. I'm sorry for YOU
my boy. You've come a long ways. and
you're a IN "a divil OF temper. and /
don't blame YOU. I'd be the same il I
was as near losing Kitty O'Reilly as you
are this night But I'll play you fairly
for her. although / know she's mine. and
I'd take her away from you even If you
did win. But, anyhow. I'll play YOU this
game. Let's step out where the smoke
isn't so thick and the moon shines. And
you wear the shamrock in your cap. and
III wear mine where il is. over nv heart
And, if You hit the shamrock I wear
well, never mind. But if ] hit the one
You wear then you make tracks peace
ably and deceutly back to where you
came from. VIII YOU do it?"
Il viii said the youngstcr. gamely.
and the two went out in the moonlight
with the crowd, while Kitty tried to drag
her father from under the table. where
he was praying alternately for the re-
pose OF his own and Toms soul
And the rest they tell all along the line
of the h. G. and s when they tell Of
the construction gang AZ Sacketts June
ton How the two men fought the duel
of the shamrocks out in the soft dawn.
with the first rose light breaking over
the foothills. on st. Patricks Day Bob
owen the boy from the Quigley mines.
1J miles away. had first shot. and he
aimed for the shamrock over Toms heart
but the ride had UnneTVed him, and SO
hdd the look in kitty's eyes as she had
gazed at his rival, and he missed his
shot
Hold up your head, lad. and take your
medicine called out Tom, as he raised
his aim, and the youngster did as he was
told, white-faced and Close-lipped. with
his gaze on the coming sunrise. But the
strength of Kittys love was with Tom
Grady, and his wrist never trembled as
he aimed at the cream-colored sombrero
and shot the green shamrock off it neatly
and clearly, without even scorching the
hair on the boys head
Don't mention IT," he said jovousIv
as the lad drew his breath. and brought
ms thoughts back TO earth. and O'ReiIy's
sure, 1 don't blame you "a bit for loving
her And ] don't blame her for thinking
you fine boy too: but twas a wear qgo
don you see. before she saw me, So
mind, next time you win shamrock from
the girl you love, be sure her heart goes
with it,
Copyright 1907. by NJ. NJ Cunningham