The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-07-10
CHAPTER ".
Little Bobbs.

ledSl, persuade MIN 10 return to my
Office until his excitement had cooled
somewhat, but l reached the street
only In time to see him turn the cor.
ner and mingle with the busting
crowd.
At the same instant little man, not
over i've feet in height, and dressed
In coarse drab, Norfolk jacket and
tightly hitting trousers. turned in hur-
riedly from the opposite direction and
collided with me with some violence.
Beg pardon, sir" he painted. recov.
erins himself with an effort and pull.
ing of his cap respectfully. Beg
pardon, sir. I'm looking for Mr.. Wares
oflices. sir. Mr.. Frederick Ware. sir.
Is this the place, sir?" and he placed
his hand on his chest and sasped
noisily in his endeavor to catch his
breath.
"Mr. Wares once is upstairs" I re-
piled, and am Mr.. Ware Who are
you?"
Thank We, SIR" he said gratefully,
an expression of relief lighting up his
face. I'm Bobbs, sir. Little Bobbs.
they calls me, SIR" Still holding his
cap in his hand he pulled his forelock
and bowed with tho grace of an east.
side dancing master.
VERY we'll, Bobbs," I said, COM
pletely puzzled. Now what do you
want?"
why, want Mr. Carney, OF course.
SIR" he replied. I'm his man. you
know. sir, and he told me to meet him
here in half an hour"
80 you are Mr.. Carney's servant.
eh?" I queried.
He nodded respectfully and touched
his forelock again.
WELL" continued, "Mr Carney
has gone and you won't be able to
overtake him, so there is no use in
your trying. Moreover, l want to see
you myself in the Office for few
minutes"
He followed me upstairs and sat
down gin8erly on the edge OF chair.
twirling his cap between his hands
and twiddling his thumbs nervously. l
watched him for a moment in silence
and then. an idea striking me, un-
locked the small cupboard In my desk,
took out a bottle and a glass and. plac-
ing them before him, said solicitously:
"You are completely exhausted, Bobbs:
better take little of this"
His face was perfectly frank and
honest as he said, politely, Thank
ye kindly, sir but I never touch 1t. III
be all right In a minute, sir"
returned the bottle and glass to
their places, fully satisfied with the re-
suit Of my little experiment and con-
WINGED that the fellow had spoken the
truth and could be relied upon in
every way.
How long have you been in Mr.
Carney's employ" I asked. as turned
the key in the lock.
Three years, como next autumn"
he replied promptly
and did you never drink anything
In your life. Bobbs?" l continued. for
I was working out definite line Of
questions.
well, SIR" he rejoined, rather un.
comfortably thought, II can't say as
I've always been teetotal. sir, an
used to take drop now and then and
again, sir. But since Mr.. Carney got
this way, sir, gave 1t up entirely. It
wouldn't do for mo to be drinkin' now.
you know, sir"
mo, It wouldn't" l said enphatical.
~. you are quite right. Bobbs, and
you are faithful fellow to give 1t up
as you have"
Thank We, SIR" said Bobbs.
How long has Mr.. Carney been in
this condition." l asked.
Bobbs looked at me in an unde-
cided fashion for q moment and then
blurted out, why, don't know. sir,
as l ought to be talkin' OF his affairs
80 much, sir. 1t don't seem to me az
it's quite right. sir"
appreciated the fellows devotion
and loyalty to his masters interests
and fastened to reassure him.
Its all right, Bobbs." I said. you
may talk to me perfectly freely for
understand everything. You know.
Mr.. Carney himself was here for some
time this morning"
Bobbs looked relieved and proceed
ed without further difadence.
"Why, should say, sir, it's goin' on
about two years now Ye know, he
had some trouble or other on his mind
when he went away, sir, an 1t seemed
to prey on him more an more all tho
time. After q while he began settin'
In with those people, which suppose
was q relief to him and kept his
thoughts OF the other thing. At first
it was only occasionally when he got
to feelin' specially downhearted, but
1t wasn't long before he was with EN-
oil the time, sir. begged and begged
him to keep away from EN-, for you
know as we'll rs do, sir, that only
ono thing could come Of it, but no
wouldn't listen to me and things kept
goin' from bad to worse.
AT the beginning he kept up his in.
terest in the business pretty well, but
finally he lost all track Of that. and