Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-05-30
THE KNAVE OF
SPADES
BY LOUISE b. CUMMINGS
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.

ST. hShN uulI WIN InES OF red IN
IL and n complexion like a ripe peach.
Mary lived I'm stirring times when the
people were struggling TO be free
from what they deemed the tyranny
of the British sovereign.
OF one of these adhcrcnts she had
heard great deal. but had never seen,
him. Dennis Shea was u young rebel
taking an active part In the efforts to
throw on British supremacy and was
rapidly becoming "A leader The gov
eminent was watching for some overt
act ON his part that would AFFORD an
excuse For his arrest and condemna-
tion for treason. But OF this the young
patriot knew nothing. \ gifted orator
he continued 10 speak TO his country
men ~ lreluuds wrongs
Mary lived I'm n house with an Eng
llSh family who were very bitter
against the Irish patriots Donald
Trevor the head Of the family. was
pussy red faced. rotund man indeed,
a vcritabc John Bull. who didn't con
ccal his opinions. One evening when
the mail coach stopped at the town
n passenger alighted and asked FOR the
home of Donald Trevor. IL was point
ed out TO him. and, with his travelling
bag, he went To It and knocked Mary
opened the door, and the stranger said
that he had been recommended 10 the
house TO stop. since Mr. Trevor was
stanch supporter OF the king. Trevor
took him i'm. gave him the best cham
Der I'm the house.
This especial treatment OF the stran-
ger made Mary curious to know who
he was. The best way To learn was TO
listen when Trevor and he were talk
ing together. This was not very prac-
ticablc. but Mary kept her ears open
when near to the two men and knew
they were eNcitcdly talking about
measures To hold the Irish I'm check.
Then she caught the name Shea. This
induced her 10 take the chance OF be
ing discovered cavcsdropping by re-
manning behind screen when she was
supposed 60 have left the room. The
two men were CXcltedly discussing the
Irish cause. and she heard the stran-
ger say:
81 have i'm my bag the kings war
rant FOR his arrest. He will bc tried
at the next assiZcs, and within n
month after that he will swing"
This was quite enough for Mary.
She went TO the strangers room, open
cd his bng. took out II parchment.
unfoldCd II ana saw the name Dennis
Shea cngrosscd i'm large letters, Tuck
ing II under her apron string, she
closed the bag and. taking the warrant
TO her own room, touched match TO
IL and burned IT,
There Is I'm the Irish people n love
for joke which shows itself in the
most serious moments. Seeing pack
OF playing cards OH table, Mary took
them up and, placing the kna3c OF
spades rs the top card, she wrote on
It, I'm dlggin' your grave" Then She
went back TO the strangers room and
placed the cards i'm the bag where she
had found the warrant
This happened on the morning OF the
strangers departure, and ne did not
open his bag again till he arrived ut
The place whore ne had been told he
would find shea The rebel was 80
speak that evening i'm the town square,
and shortly before the meeting the
kings messenger opened his bag 10
take ont his warrant. I'm It's place was
the knavc OF spades lccring at him
with the words Mary had written be
low.
Here was pretty pass. The Brit
lshcr was obliged to leave the Irish
rebel TO talk his treason" without in
tcrfcrcucc There was no use to hunt
FOR his missing warrant, for he had no
idea where hc had lost IT., and he did
not doubt that some sympathiZcr with
the Irish causc had destroyed IL. He
must get another warrant But jour
ncy 10 England in those days and re-
turn was not the simple matter IN is
today ono must 60 to the cO0st over
muddy roads by the slow coaches OF
that period wait for q vessel to take
him across lhc Irish channel and near
g. cross ENGLAND ou ~ similar conch
Journey to London. Then hc must pass
over Che same route iu return
There vI. nothing f1r thc messenger
but fhf iol. trip. hut with true Eng
llsh per '"H.c hc started ou hi quest
The nest day Dennis Shea received
70 caU from yom2 vuma.. who was
% stranger to him She WIS Mary
Oiagihc
"What cam I do for youf' asked
Shea
"Go into hdu,"
"Esp,ain"
Mary told thr story Of Tire stranger
who bad stopped no On" house where
The lived and what sine had learned
shout thc warrant Shr had got thus
fur iu Icr story when Shea broke iu.