The Irish standard., 1909-04-03

The people stared after him, mystified
and marveling. heard an old man
calling out:
How wonderful are the ways Of
Lord
let Gillespie pass. and followed him
slowly until turn in the road hid us
from the staring church folk. He
turned and saw me.
you have discovered me. Donovan.
Be sure your sins will find you out!
A simple people, sigularly moved at
the sight of greenback. have rare
ly caused caused SO much excitement"
Il suppose you are trying to ease
your conscience by giving away some
Of your button meney.'
That is just it, Donovan. You have
struck the brass tack on the head But
now that We have met again; albeit
through no fault Of my own. let me
mention matters of real human inter.
est
You might tell me what you're do
ing here first
walking; there were no cabs, Don.
ovan."
You choose a queer hour Of the
day for your exercise"
One might say the same for your
ride. But let us be sensible. dare
say there's some common platform on
which we both stand
Well assume It," 7 replied. dis
mounting by the roadside that might
talk more easily. Randages were still
visible at his wrists. and strip OF
court plaster across the knuckles of
his right hand otherwise testified to
the edges Of the glass in at. .Agatha's
garden. He held up his hands rue
fully.
Those were nasty slashes: and I
! ripped them up badly in climbing out
Of your window. But couldn't linger:
am not without my little occupa-
; TONS
You stand an excellent chance Of
being shot II you don't clear out of
this. II there's any shame in you
you will go without making further
trouble
1T has occurred to me-" he began.
slowly. that | know something that
you ought to know. saw Henry Hol.
, brook Yesterday"
Where" demanded.
"On the lake He's rented a. sloop
yacht called the Stiletto. I passed It
yesterday on the Annandale steamer
and ] say him quite distinctly"
TITS all your fault that he's here!"
hlurted. thoroughly aroused. "Jf
you had not followed those women
they might have spent the remainder
Of their Nves here and never have
been molested. But he undoubtedly
caught the trail from you"
Gillespie nodded gravely and
frowned before he answered.
| II am sorry to spoil your theory.
my dear Irish brother, but put this in
your pipe: Henry was here first! He
rented the sailboat ten days ago-and
! made my triumphal entry week
later. Explain that, II you please. Mr..
Donovan"
was immensely relieved by this
disclosure, for It satisfied me that I
had not been mistaken in the identity
Of the canoe-maker. had, however.
no intention Of taking the button king
Z, into my confidence.
Where is Holbrook staying?"
asked casually.
II don't know--he keeps ahoat. The
Stiletto belongs to q Cincinnati man
who isn't coming here this summer
and Holbrook has got the use Of the
+, yacht. So much ! learned from the
boat storage man at Annandale: then
I passed the Stiletto and saw Henry on
! board"
! It was clear that knew more than
Gillespie. but he had supplied me with
several interesting bits Of information.
and. what was more to the point. he
had confirmed my belief that Henry
Holbrook and the canoe.maker were
the same person.
You must see that face a. diflcult
situation here. without counting you.
You don't strike me as a wholly bad
| lot. Gillespie. and why won't you run
along like good boy and let mo deal
with Holbrook? Then when have
settled with him I'll see what can be
done for you. Your position az an nm.
welcome sutton, engaged In annoying
tina lady you profess to love, and
causing her great anxiety and distress.
IL unworthy of the really good fellow
I believe you to be-"
He was silent for moment; then
he spoke very soberly.
Il promise you. Donovan, that I will
do nothing to encourage or help Hol-
brook know as we'll as you that
he's black2nard: but my own affairs
= I must manage in my own way"
But AZ surely as you try to mo-
lest those women you will have to an.
swer to me. ] am not In the habit OF
beginning what I never finish, and ]
intend to keep those women out OF
your way as we'll as out Of Holbrook' g
clutches. and II you get a cracked
head in the business--well, the crack g
in your own skull, Mr.. Gillespie"
He shrugged his shoulders. threw up