The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-09-20
A Clever
Stratagen
Observation-Disclosures


Dan Mangan and Phil Gully walked
down the chapel yard together one
Sunday morning after Mass. Dan was
twirling his moustache and cycling the
pretty maidens of Ballybeg who were
passing on to the gates. Phil was
making strenuous efforts to induce
combustion in the refractory pigtail
he usually smoked. His jaws swell
ed out like pair of balloons with
the volumes of air he had summoned
to assist him in conquering the OBJ
stinate "dhudheen."
bad cess to it." he said, stand
a minyet, DAN"
Dan waited patiently while Phil
stood ON the path and, by dint of
severe and energetic persuasion, ut
length brought the pigtail to a sense
of its duty.
That's betther," said Phil, with a
contented grunt, now we'll move on"
AS they passed out of the gates.
Phil nudged Dams elbow and pointed
to two tall, smart looking girls who
were just on the point of turning Do
lan's corner.
that's fine slip av a girl wild
Kathy Flanagan" said Phil
She's nothin' short av it," respond
ed Dan. who is she at all?"
She's the hayress who came all
the way from America on visit to
ould John Rooney"
"Oh, I've heard tell av her. Isn't
she the daughter av Stephen Murphy,
who emigrated years ago? She has
a power O. money, I'm tould."
Money is it? She has crooks o.
goold. man. They say her father is
as rich as Goff"
Golf Is the gentleman whose DOS
sessions are the standard of wealth
in Ballybeg.
can she'll have the whole av it,
dye tell me?"
$50 hear. She's the only child he
has, an l suppose he'll lave her the
lot"
"Tare-an-ouns, he'll be the lucky
man who'll get her." said Dan, his
eyes firing with an idea, a mere speck
On the horizon of his mind, that he
might not unlikely be the fortunate
person. He was certain that if an.
pearance, accomplishments, good adj
dress could manage it, the American
heiress was as good as married to
him.
Troth he will" said Phil. He suck
ed his pipe solemnly and fell into sill
ence for few yards of the road. Then
he gave side look at Dan. "Why
mebbe it's what she's here lookin' for
a husband" he said. "Arrah. why
don't We go in for her, Das? Shure il
'ud be shame to let her go awa7
widout bein' asked An to tell We
the thruth, Dan, widout f1attherin We
or anythin' av the kind, we're the
likeliest boy in the place. an I'm GER
tain If We do make bould bid she'll
get it very tight to say nay to We.
At any rate ye'll have yer chance this
evenin' for Pm tould she'll be at the
dance at Flanagan's."
will she SOP" said Dan, in a fever
of delight at the prospect which
Pills remarks had conjured up. A
chill fell upon him, however, when
he considered that to pursue a fiirta-
ton with the Murphy girl under the
eyes of Kathy Flanagan might ruin
his chances in that quarter. Kathy
was the best match in the barony and
for long time he had been seriously
contemplating the idea of investing
her with the august title of Mrs. Man.
gan. 1t would not be wise to do any.
thing that would offend her. But he
quickly dispelled his momentary dread
with the reflection that even suppos-
ing Kathy were offended by, anything
she might see gong on between him
and the American heiress, he could
easily win her back If circumstances
rendered 1t necessary, by the scft,
suffering word, and the irresistible
smile of which he was the lucky pos
SCISSOR.