Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-24
By ERSKINE M. HAMILTON.

IN ARNEY o'KEEFE was lineal descendant
liz of the Irish kings-at least he said he was.
AD He could trace his genealogy far back as
his father, and we feel obliged to take the word
of the elder OKeefe for the rest. Indeed, it
would have been unsafe to do otherwise. MI
O'Keefe, senior, was an Irishman of Drawn, arr
well skilled with the shillaah. He always as
serted that "blood would tell" and it generally
did when he was about. Broken heads and bruised
bodies were the reward of those who con-
tradicted him. and Barney chip of the old
block. Howbeit the fortunes of the family did
not prosper in Ireland, and after the death of his
father, who was basely murdered while trying to
kill policeman in Dublin, Barney emigrated to
America. In this land of the free he found 1t
difficult at first to secure permanent employment.
When he landed in New York, he supposed, being
an Irishman, that he would have no trouble in
getting on the police force but he failed In that
Finally he meandered to western city and ac-
cepted position as coachman for wealthy mer-
chant Here with good wages and good health
he was contented and happy, until new and un-
expected feeling took possession of him. He fell
in love.
Now, Barney didn't mean to do this, but he
couldn't help it. 1t came to him just as naturally
as taking the measles He met his fate one even
ing when, in company with his friend Dennis
O'Toole he attended a fair at st. Patrick's
church The two were wandering about through
the bazaar, looking at the pretty things for sale
and the pretty girls who sold them, when, from
behind one of the tables pair of bewitching
brown eyes confronted Barney. Their owner
blushed and turned her back as she noticed his
admiring gaze Just then Dennis gave pull at
his arm, and they started on through the crowd
"Dinnis" said Barney, stopping so suddenly
that an old lady behind him nearly fell over him.
"Who be that pretty girl back there? The one
wild the brown eyes an red ribbons?"
Dennis turned to look, only to discover that the
object of Barney's solicitude was also looking at
them and was making some laughing remark to
the girl at her side
"That? Oh that be Mollie McDermott."
well, thin," pursued Barney, "it's yersilf Din
mis-, that must be maxim me acquainted wild her,
an that this very night"
"Hey man, an is it the hearts disease yees
got this quick?" questioned Dennis, looking quiz
zically at his friend "Ill do it If yees want me
to- But mind yees Barney, thin bright eyes of
Mollie McDermott have been playin the divi wild
other than yersilf, an yees may find some
one in the way"
But Barney not to be frightened by op-
position. 1t only acted as an incentive Ac-
cordingly he and Dennis sauntered about through
the fair and presently returned to the table
where Miss McDermott presided Here Barney
became wonderfully interested in some bit OF
fnery, and Dennis joined in the examination.
Mollie as in duty bound, stepped forward to Wait
on her possible customer although, as she did so,
she gave a mischevous sidelong glance at her
companion, to indicate she understood the game
that was being played
miss McDermott" began Dennis, "allow me to
make yees acquainted wild me friend, MT