The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-05-17
THE KNAVE OF
SPADES
BY LOUISE B. CUMMINGS
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.


people were struggling TO be free
from what they deemed the tyranny
of the British sovereign.
OF one of these adherents she had
heard great deal. but had never seen
him. Dennis Shea was "A young rebel
taking an active part IN the efforts to
throw of British supremacy and was
rapidly becoming q leader The gov
ernment was watching for some overt
act on his part that would afford an
excuse for his arrest and condemna-
tlon for treason. But Of this the young
patriot knew nothing. A gifted orator,
he continued TO speak to his country
men Of Ireland's wrongs.
Mary lived In house with an Eng
llsh family who were very bitter
against the Irish patriots. Donald
Trevor, the head OF the family, was a
pussy. red faced, rotund man-indeed,
q veritable John Bull. who didn't con-
ceal his opinions. One evening when
the mail coach stopped at the town
a passenger alighted and asked for the
home Of Donald Trevor. 1t was point
cd out to him. and with his travelling
bag, he went TO 1t and knocked Mary
opened the door, and the stranger said
that he had been recommended TO the
house to stop. since Mr. Trevor was a
stanch supporter Of the king. Trevor
took him in. gave him the best cham
ber In 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-
Hcable. but Mary kept her ears open
when near TO the two men and knew
they were excitedly talking about
measures TO hold the Irish in check.
Then she caught the name Shea This
induced her to take the chance of be-
ing discovered eavesdropping by re-
manning behind a screen when she was
two men were excitedly discussing the
Irish cause. and she heard the stran-
ger say:
II have In my bag the kings war
rant for his arrest. He will be tried
at the next assizes, and within a
month after that he will swing"
This was quite enough for Mary.
She went to the strangers room. open
ed his bag, took out parchment,
unfolded 1t and saw the name Dennis
Shea engrossed in large letters. Tuck
sng 1t under her apron string, she
closed the bag and. taking the warrant
10 her own room. touched match to
Il and burned II.
There is in the Irish people n love
for Joke which shows Itself In the
most serious moments. Seeing pack
of playing cards on table. Mary took
them up and, placing the knave OF
spades as the top card. she wrote on
II, "Fm diggin your grave" Then she
went back TO the strangers room and
placed the cards In the bag where she
had found the warrant.
This happened on the morning of the
strangers departure. and he did moi
open his bag again til he arrived al
the place where he had been told hi
would find Shea. The rebel was u
speak that evening IN the town square
and shortly before the meeting thu
Kings messenger opened his bag u
take out his warrant. In Its place wa!
the knave of spades leering at hin
with the words Mary had written be
low.
Here was pretty pass. The Brit
isher was obliged to leave the lrisl
rebel to talk his treason" without In
terference. There was no use to hun
for his missing warrant. for he had III
Idea where he had lost It, and he dlt
not doubt that some sympnthizer witt
the Irish canse had destroyed II, Ill
must get another warrant. But jour
ney TO England IN those days and re
turn was not the simple matter II I
today. One must go TO the coast owe
muddy roads by the slow coaches o
that period, wnlt for n vessel to tax
him across the Irish channel and neaI
ly cross England on a similar coacl
Journey TO London. Then he must pas
over the same route In return.
: There was nothing for the messenge
OuA hhAo lphh AiPs hAN '''h N'NN AN'r
lish persistence he started on his quest
The next day Dennis Shea recelve
a call from young woman who wa
a stranger 10 him. She was Mar
O'Rourke.
what can l do for your aske
Shea
Go into hidin'."
Explain"
Mary told the story OF the strange
who had stopped at the house wher
abe lived and what she had learne
about the warrant. She had got thu
far In her story when Shea broke In:
"And you have come TO warn me
Noble girl"
'"rhere's no hurry for you to be par
In with your friends" she said.
"Why not|
II stole the warrant, burned 1t nu
put a pack Of cards In Its place wit
the knave OF spades uppermost, 80 th
when he opened his bag he'd see
Etarin' at him"
ma q.