The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-08

now in mortal fear lest the talkative l Irishman should reveal the cause of their | disagreement but Billy contented himself with winking solemn, portentous winks, which Compromised much more than the truth nakedly told.
 Vida was sure that the two men had been discussing her. and promptly re- sented it, speaking sharply to Biily-yes, even to Billy-and not at all to MT. Lud- ovic Morris.
 But she was wrong Blly's secret was of a different sort.
 Honey" he said, presently, address ing her, "don't ye want to go up to your room just to brink and prettify-clean up the brasses bit, as it were, and breathe on the reflectors? Yell be a bit tashed and blown with your homecoming. Tis something of a windy night"
 "No, thank you,' said Vida, settling herself with her feet to the fire, always grateful in the woodland shades of Glebe End. I'm very well as l am, l thank youl'
 At this Billy Bryan looked no little dis concerted.
 I'm a poor hand at an excuse,' he said, owing to having been brought up by woman that stammered, which caused me to stammer, too, and then she always licked me before l could get the excuse out, or she could explain why she was giving it to me. But the truth is, ladybird, that if you fly away for min ute or two till have a private word with old Dick and this young man, you'll be doing your old father Gone O the few that ye have honey) good turn that he won't forgetv'
 "Ohl of course, if you don't want me, I'm always ready to go!' snapped Vida, suddenly relapsing into her naughty haughtiest mood.
 Now, stormy-petrel, don't get up on your little ear," said Billy, soothingly. Faith an it's yourself that will be the sorriest when our formulations have all worked out. and the bird I mean the rat, is out of the trap.''
 Vida swiftly drew her skirts closely about her ankles.
 "Oh! you horrid men," she cried. you have got rat I knew there was some thing."a And taking flying hop on chair, she mountaineered by way of the furniture till she reached the ground without touching the ground. For Vida was of that admirable and widespread type of woman, who if once the words "rat'' or mousse are used, will not be- lieve any future oath. however solemn, and by whomsoever taken, that these in- offensive rodents are wholly absent Sitting still in the big kitchen they could hear Vida going up to her room, as certain travelling gentleman went through Athlone 'in standing leaps.'
 Then Billy Bryan laughed little as they heard the door slam above. He rose promptly, and beckoning to Vic he whis- pered, "I have a little parcel out there among the brushwood It will need some handling to bring it in. If your should CTS are anything like as stout as they look, ovid Dick there will have nothing to do but carry the address tag. Leave the door open and follow me. But first let us have a squint to see that our young spitfire up there is not by any chance spying out of the window"
 But the girls candle was already alfght. and they could see the outline of her head on the blind as she bent over to her writing. They could watch her dipping her pen into the ink.
 "All clear aloft!' whispered Billy. "Now for it. lads'
 And he scurried into the shrubbery, where he was suddenly halted by stub- ping his toes against a big box. The other found him appealing to all the saints of the Roscommon calendar to know if they knew any fool quite as big as he. William Bryan. The saints were silent, and Billy nursed his foot in the hollow of his hand.
 What you got there, Billy?" demanded Dick. 'That'll never come inside our shanty. Why. it's as big as house."
 "1hey told me it was special cottage so it has got to go in,' said Mir. Bryan; but be quick MT. Dishwater Engineer. For this here is a delicate little pocket instrument, and might as easily get a sore throat as lady singstress at log gerheads with her manager"