Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-27

sAresye alive. Billy'
"How could be alivea" moaned the tinker. isn't
this the second time I'm kilt to-nightY
",rhen up wild We man. it'll be cockcrow before we
know it, They went at the digging again. ana bl,l
had not given five good strokes TIL MS PICK s'iueA
'1rhe crooks O. gooldw shouted Darby, ana the
strength returned to their backs, and the power 90
their arms No two badgers ever flung dirt with
greater speed than did our heroes. fresen.!y .ue
cover of great black pot began to show itself IN Tue
bottom Of the hole, and then Bits pick g!ancng
ia one side was answered by another metallic ring
which told where second crock was hidden. AZ tho
same moment Darby exclaimed: ~.
II think there's wan over here undner he ~.
Bill an the duckens take the bit OF me II " hnt
filled to the top. Oh, bur.an-ages look who's comic
at us now"
From the farthest black OF the closter walls
up almost to the edge Of the projecting holly wreath
stretched broad path of shimmerlng green ngp1.
Down this mysterious cleaning road stalked gigantic
man breathing fire as he came. He was dressed IN
snuous black from head to foot his raven hair STOOD
straight on end his long face was wa1en wnite ahe
came to within hands breadth OF the holly wrenth
and then he stood with folded arms All the seetn-
ing hate. and poisoned nance OF rue WoIu W''s
crowded into his look @
Darby managed to pull of his hat and to make a
honor. Isn't it a-a-hoine night, !, niver saw yet
lordship lookin' we'll hear" qiavered Darby "a
he nervously twisted his hat. "that your honor is
havin' gr-great times wild the Garmln philosophers
these days AT Taste Father Cassidy was sayin SO at
chapel only last Sunday" 1t an unfortunate re-
mark for at the mention Of Father Cassidy a spasm
Of raging agony convused the face Of Satan Sparks
Of fire spurted from the top Of his towering head
and his cheeks glowed red like hot iron
"Why--why, don't We say somethin. BILL" urged
Darby from behind his hat "The iunteman is looktm
at you. IL think it's von he's afther'
I-I-Im glad to ye'' said the tinker, his teeth
chattering "N-n-o-- l NAME ,vor We havn' much
rain this sayson down in, in
abbey shook 'Out Of this place before wither you
up like blasted tree What fools work brought
you here?" S{
"Im sure yer honor don't begrudge us the few
Darby.
does it bring you you poor insects of the earthY Won
snais! you worms you scurrying gnats!' AS allhhe
world knows, from the time Tipperary LAD is the
height Of your knee he is poor hand at taking an
insult So now Darbys temper got the better OF MIS-
fears and he said holly:
whativer We do! nver done an-nything agin you or
yours, did I? I'll make childs bargain wild We:
Dyo" lave me alone an III lave you alone
"You rubbish" roared Satan, "you trembling weeds!
You little heaps Of dust You weakened, shortlyed
insignificant bipeds.'
The last epithet proved too much for the prudence
of the knowledgable man "Biped yourself" he re-
torted "Ye longlegged goat-futted, chimblypot Of
thransgressor! dare ye to put yer ugly hoof over
that holly"
But Darby got no further for these words satans
became something fearful to behold He beat his
breast with his hands, then flung his arms wide apart
At this last gesture the moon wnked out ana the ng.
became black us your hat. might wind arose and
tore through the old abbey flashing the yew tree to aud
fro over their heads. The owls darted this way and
that in the sweeping gale, hootng In dismal chorus,
and then the most astonishing wonder Of all.
The earth cracked open in wide circle around the
now thoroughly conquered men. From this circling
crevice awful sheet of devourng, crimson fame
shot up into the SKY Satan serene and triumphant
There is no telling what the end would have been
had the tinker kept steadfastly in mind the I'm
portan condition that person must not utter ucn
as pious word while searching for the crooks OF
gold. But the endurance was pretty well shaken out
of Bill by this time. He could only throw up his
hands and exclaim, "God help us"
Those were the fateful words. That prayer settled
the business of the crooks of gold Immediately
crash Of thunder split the whole world the sky must
have fallen; the two men went down into the hole
like leaden plummets; the earth heaved and swayed
like billowy sea and after that there fell deadly
silence Then. clear through the distance from Hoo-
CAMS farm came the warning sound OF Growing cock
1t moment two before either Of ohr
the first to open his eyes THE runneygade is gone!
Quick Bill, the crooks O good. Huroo, we're not
O'Gills
But Bill was already on his feet, gazing at thu
spot where the wide hole had been for 40 and behold
not only had the crooks vanished but the hole itself
gone; it filled to the top And this was moi
all the buttercups and daisies without much as
broken stem, were nodding and bobbng in the first
morning breeze
Half hour later our two heroic adventures
loaded to the chin with bedraggled bundles hesitaed
anxiousfaced the threshold of the OGill cottage
Bridget half turned from the breakfast she was pre-
pairing and transfxed them with scornful glare
Then from the doorsi where they stood the tired
of that nights wonderful adventures. From the be
ginning to the end of the dual narrative Bridget never
uttered single word but stood motioness on the
hearthstone, her hands on her hips.
When the two abashed treasure hunters had finished
their story Bridget moved muscle of her face
but stood with tightly drawn lips, her still fixed
them in unsyrnathetic stare At last she spoke
and at the sudden question she asked Darby and Bill
took half-step back from the door:
How much whisky have yez left in that jug,
Misther O'Gill?'
"I-I-believe it's purity near half empty answered
Darby looking accusingly at Bill.
Il didn't clustered Bill. yer husband fell down
an spilled the jug whin he w runnin' from the
Niliputian, Msthress OGill maam; an he busted the
lovely eggs. too. ma-an1."
Bridget didn't say much then. for she
few words but manag ed to scatter those word