The Irish standard., 1909-05-01
CHAPTER XIV.
Undertake a Commission.

l
peared in the library clothed and in
his usual state Of mind on the stroke
Of seven.
'You should have had the doctor
out. Donovan. Being stuck isn't SO
funny. and you will undoubtedly die OF
blood poisoning. Every one does now
adays.'
IT shall disappoint you. lima and
! between lis have stuck me togethe,
like cracked plate. And 1t is not
well to publish our troubles to the
world If ] called the village doctor
he would kill his horse circulating the
mysterious tidings. Are you salts
fied?"
quite SO. You're man after my
own heart, Donovan"
We had reached the dining room and
stood by our chairs.
Il should like" he said, taking up
his cocktail glass, TO propose truce
between us"
In the matter Of certain Lady,"
Even so! On the honor of fool,
he said. and touched his glass to his
lips. And may the hest man win,
he added, putting down the glass un'
emptied.
He was one OF those comfortable
people with whom 1t is possible to sit
in silence; but after intervals in
which we found nothing to say he
would. with exaggerated gravity, make
some utterly inane remark. Tonight
his mind was more agile than ever, his
thoughts leaping nimbly from crag to
crag, like mountain goat. He had
Travelled widely and knew the ways OF
many cities; and of American political
characters, whose names were but
vaguely known to me, he discoursed
with delightful intimacy; then his
mind danced away to tour he hat
once made with q company of acrobat'
whose baggage he hadrreleased from
the grasping hands of rural sheriff
What he asked, presently, "is a!
sad as being deceived In person yo,
have admired and trusted? I knew f;
fellow who was professor of something
In blooming college, and who was 81
poor that he had to coach de]inquen
props In summer time instead of get
ting a vacation. had every conf
dence In that fellow. I thought h,
was all right. and so I took him u,
into Maine with me-just the two o
us--and hired an Indian to run ou
camp, and everything pointed to plus
Well. ] always get stung when l tr,
to be good.'
He placed his knife and fork care
fully across his plate and sighed
deeply.
What was the matter? Did h.
bore you with philosophy"
mo such luck. That man was weak
minded on the subject of homestead
ing prairie dogs. You may shoot M
If that isn't the fact. There he was, 1,
prize-winner and a fellow of his uni
versfty. and fine scholar who edited
Greek textbooks. with that thing OF
MS mind. He held that the daily OK
ample OF the happy home life OF tn,
prairie dog would tend to ennoble al
mankind and brighten up our famil,
affairs. Think of being lost in thu
woods with a man with such an idea
and Of having to sleep under the same
blanket with him! It rained most o
the time. so we had to sit in the tent
and he never let up. He got so bar
that he would wake me up in the nigh
to talk prairie dog"
ut must have been trying"
agreed. What was your solution, But
tons?"
Il moved outdoors and slept will
the Indian. Your salad dressing is ex
cellent, Donovan. though personally
lean to more Of the paprika. But le
us go back bit to the Holbrooks
Omfttfng the lady, there are certai,
points about which we may as wei
agree. am not so great a fool bu
that can see that this state Of thing
cannot last forever. Henry is broker
down from drink and brooding owe
his troubles, and about ready for clos.
confinement in brick building Will
barred windows
Then I'm for capturing him ant
sticking him away in safe place."
That's the Irish Of it., II YOU wi,
pardon me: but it's not the Holbrool
OF It. father tucked away in a pri
vate madhouse would not sound wei
to the daughter. I advise you not tt
suggest that to Helen. I eenerous],
aid your suit to that extent. We ar.
both playing for Helen's gratitude
that's the fiat of the matter"
I was brought into this business
to help Miss Pat declared, though
a tri1e lamely. Gillespie grinned sar
donfcally.
BE It far from me to Interfere wit,
your plans, methods or hopes. W,
both have the conceit Of our wisdom! =
There may be something IN that
But IT. was decent of you to get m.
out Of that Italians clutches this after
noon. When went over there i
thought / might find Henry Hplbrool