The Washington herald., 1907-12-08

saw from the first that she looked as cold
al the engineer chap as frozen Austria
mutton when il comes from the refTigera-
tors. How did / know? Why-by little
Molly, that loved me. but married the
ships cobbler (me havin been lost over
board. No. Dicl1y Finnan. Vic Morris
was never the man-not if he had been
stuck all over with life-saving medals.
Victoria crosses and such-like, like a man
m-armor In /. museum. But at this one
she loOks-tO see ii he has wet his feet.
And makes him mind about tho com
fOrter about his neck when he goes away
stands on tip-toe to tuck il in. Tother
night, sheNtook out a pair of your socks,
Dicky. and made him march upstairs and
change. And tonight l saw her darnin'
a hole in the heel. She had washed them
her own SELF
well. why shouldn't she?' said Dick;
she darns yours and mine. doesn't she?''
Billy. the Man Of Experience. slapped
his knee with a weary air. as he explain
ed to Dick that he had no more gunlption
than the father of a Kerry mule. and
that words Ike those of Solomon were
wasted on him. But that the short and
the long OF II was that he. Billy Bryan,
thought Of setting up the young people.
set yourself up first retOrted Dick
Finnan: you, first division lighthouse
man, with the prospect Of an ordinary
pension within six months-how can you
give away fortunes"
Billy Bryan pointed TO the piano in the
corner.
How did l give away that?" he in
qulred. somewhat pertinently.
But they can't set up house in a
piano, eat and drink in a piano. live in a
piano.
Billy wisely shook his head as he look
ed tine cottage Broadwood all over.
Wei. not exactly in that one" he
admitted But wait. Did We ever know
Billy Bryan without two strings TO his
bow or two plans in his head?"
Yes, oncei' Dick grinned largely. For
il was a sore memory to the Irishman,
and had TO do with a scapegrace boy call
ed Sir TOady Lion and little girl called
Saucy Easdaile.
oh, that" said Billy. surlily; I've
heard enough about that"
We'll. you aked, you know" said Dick
grinning still wider.
we We're speaking OF our little maid
and what TO do with her If she has made
up her mind. ri tell you how il is,
Dicky. Directly l saw that there was no
hope for that chap with the jaw-the en-
Pgineer-him that went TO SPAIN got a
little information out of him before it
was too late"
What about?r asked Dick. suddenly
ironical; the investment of your fortune
in mining shares maybe Now. / believe
| did hear that seagull out on the Skier
~ died and left you all its property"
Might ha been" said Billy Bryan
cOOlly; "on'y il wasn't. My Uncle Barry
was the seagull He went 20 America
and as he had been the greatest fool
in ten parishes AT home naturally he got
elected out there into them things they
call Legislatures, The Yanks get the Irish
TO do that sort o. business for them. being
too proud, l eXpect-sort O. scavenger
work, judge! Politics, they call H.
Only instead of havin 20 do with sarts
and such like, it's just sweepin up the
rinraff and bringing them to vote az the
proper day and hour. Anyway. my Uncle
Barry made a fortune politicioning in
little old New York Then he deed and
! left II all TO me and my brother. Tim,
what was eaten by a shark at COlumbO
on board the Castalia. SO / collar the
load, and l have kept il till now-me
! thinkin' of our little lass being none the
worse of few halfpence one fine dayi'
Dick had let his pipe go out as he
listened.
It's one Of your Sherry Rock yarns. -
he said; you don't expect an old man
like me TO strain himself believer that
by the dure-step that tripped up
Sapphire, the wife OF Ananias. ] am
tellin' We no lie-not even fiavOurin' the
truth with a little essence OF barney
It's case Of the Gospel as il was de-
livered unto Moses. And if you don't
believe. I'll take a whack at the rock
just like he up and did Your head viii
do. Dick. It's thick enough"
And in the face Of these the most
sacred oaths known to his lifetime friend
the Skerry lighth0useman. Dick Finnan
became aware that Billy Bryan spoke
the truth. At last. he sat smoking face
10 face with rich man. With large
and copious gesture Of apology, he rose
and offered Billy Bryan, as his vested
right. the bigger armchair.
And what are ye thinkin' of doiu.
with your uncle's American scsvengering
money!" Dick asked presently. leaning
back and putting at his pipe with the
air Of one wealthy man talking stocks
with a companion.
Buy a secondhand lighthouse" said
/ Billy, as gravely; plant her down on
! the point, and set you to the keepn'
again. yeu oily old potterer,''
The old man grew suddenly red. and
then paled.
And Vida" inquired Dick what of
her?"
"Oh, she comes after" said the conf
| dent eX-lOver of Miss Molly MOlloy