The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-02-27

-.e~~>~~5S w G4Ao0 VI SAEy MoICCys
There was no physical similarity: Of
color or feature; It was a likeness Of
the spirit rather than tho flesh. The
colonel's eyes flashed.
Il have it," he exclaimed within.
7 have it; they are fanatics, both Of
them: Keatcham's fanatic of finance
and Mercer is fanatic Of another
sort; but fanatics they both are, ready
to 60 any length for their principles or
their ambitions or their revenge!
J'ai trouve le mot d'enigme, as Aunt
Becky would say wonder what she'll
say to this sudden psychological
splurge Of NINE"
"The business hour is up"-it was
Miss Smith entering with a bowl on a
Undiscovered tray; the SUN glinted
the lump Of ice in the milk and the
Z silver spoon was dazzling against the
linen-'your biscuit and milk, Mr..
Keatcham. Didn't you have it when
you were boy?" i.
Il did. Miss Janet"-and Keatcham
actually smiled. II used to think
crackers and milk the incest thing in
the world" gt-s, J.
THAT is because you never tasted
corn pone and milk; but you are 60
ing to-" ... .
when you make it for me. I'm glad
!; you're such good cook. It's one of
! your ways I, like. My mother was q
I very good cook. She could make bet
Z ter dishes out Of almost nothing than
Il these mongrel chefs can make with
1 the whole world
II reckon she could" said Miss
(: Smith; she was speaking sincerely.
Z when my father didn't strike pay
dirt, my mother would open her bak-
cry and make pies for the miners;
: she could make bread with potato
yeast or 'salt-emptins'-can you make
..saltrfsing bread?"
Il can-shall make you some to-
morrow"
y 81 ''I'd like 1t. My mother used to make
moro money than my father; some.
!. times when swa children were low In
clothes and dad owed bigger lot Of
money than usual, we had laundry
1 at our house as well as bakery,
! Yet, in spite Of all the work, my
mother found time to teach all of us;
! and she knew how to teach, too: for
she was principal Of q school when
my father married her. She was a
]. New Highlander; so was he; but they
:: went west. We're forty.niners. / saw.
the place where our little cloth-and-
board shack used to stand. After the
. big fire. you know. It burned us all
( up; We had saved a good deal and
my mother had = nice bakery. She
worked too hard; It killed her. Work
and struggle and losing the children"
), They died?" said Miss Janet.
"Diphtherta. They didn't know any
9 thing about the disease then. We all
had it; and my little sister and both
my brothers died: but I'm tough. I
lived. My mother fell into what they
called decline. I was making a lit.
]. tie money then-I was 16; but I
couldn't keep her from working. Per-
haps it made no difference; but it did
make q difference her not having the
the right kiAd of food. Nobody knew
anything about consumption then, I
used to go out in the morning and be.
afraid I'd find her dead when got
back. One night did" He stopped
abruptly, crimsoning up to his eyes
81 don't know why I'm telling you all
!, this"
\ Il call that tough"-as the colonel
i. blurted out the words, he was con-
sscious of sense Of repetition. When
had he said those very same words
i before. to whom? OF all people in the
world, to Cary Mercer. Mighty
tough" murmured he softly.
VI Eyes," said Keatcham, "it was" He
did not say anything more Neither
did the colonel. Keatcham obediently
ate his milk and biscuit; and very
shortly the colonel took his leave.
~ The next morning after an unevent'
Sfll hour of sorting, reading and an
swering letters for Miss Smith to copy
! on the travelling typewriter, Keatcham
gave his new secretary a sharp sensa-
&tion he ordered In his quiet but per.
semptory fashion: Nov put that trash
away; sit down: tell me all you know
aaof Cary-real name is Cary Mercer,
isn't it,"
il. The colonel said 1t was; he asked
him If he wanted everything. " 81
Everything. Straight. Without q
chaser" snapped Keatcham.
y The colonel gave it to him. He be.
gan with his own acquaintance; he
told about Phil Mercer; he did not slur
q detail; neither did he underscore
one; Keatchams got the uncolored
facts. He, heard them impassiyely,
making only one comment: "a great
deal Of damage would be saved in this
world IL youngsters could be shut up
until they had sense enough not to
fool with firearms" When Winter
came to Mercer's own exposition of
his motives and his design If success.
ful in his raid ON the kings Of the
s.narket, Keatcham grunted; at the end
he breathed q noiseless Jet of sigh.
.Ypu don't thirk Mercer Is at all