The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-03-11
Continued from page 81
THE PARISH PRIEST OF ISLAND
MORE.

"Snipe." arrayed as Father Michael,
haunted churches, prayed devoutly,
and spying rich gentleman. he would
approach him, not to beg, but to ask
his advice. He was an Irish priest,
he had some money, and would the
gentleman advise him safe bank in
which to deposit his little gatherings ?''
ings?"
A confidential chat followed, in this
"Snipe" adroitly exercised his powers
of ingratiating himself and a cheque
generally wound up the conversation.
In another church a well-dressed
lady knelt to pray. Father Michael
No. approached. MAY he ask ad-
vice? He was poor Irish priest un-
accustomed to big cities. He had a
small share of money about him, that
he was gathering to build a little
church on an island in the wild ocean;
and would the good lady tell him of
some safe, private lodging-house in
which to stay?"
Here again, confidential whisper
ing went on, in which "Snipe'' once
more used all his art, and not infre-
quently it ended by the fellow being
invited out of kindness and charity to
the lady's house. 1t need not be said
that he laid hands on whatever was
handy, and always disappeared at the
dawn on the pretext that he had to
say an early Mass.
So it went on, church after church,
and place after place. His spies kept
him informed of the whereabouts Of
the real Father Michael, and he gen.
orally quested in some distant quarter
of the city. 1t was, too, when Father
Michael was far away from the bank
that 'Snipe" entered and unobtrusive-
ly lodged his little gatherings in
Father Michaels name, meaning, how
ever, to come some day and draw out
both hoardings. To make sure of this,
he from time to time called upon the
priest, and enquired how he was get
ting on, representing that he was on
his way to his work, and that the
woman desired him to drop in and see
if they could do anything for "the
Father" Poor Father Michael was
greatly touched by the interest of this
good Tipperary man and his wife, and
gave a generous benediction to them
both and to their home and to their
thirteen children"
"Snipe" at last found that in a few
days Father Michael was about to
take his departure and migrate else
where. 1t was therefore time to look
sharp, and so entering the bank, just
as closing hour came on, he drew the
whole proceeds, what he had himself
lodged as well as what Father Michael
had deposited there. The sum
amounted to several thousand dollars.
But he was not satisfied with this
He knew from his confreres that
Father Michael had not for several
days visited the bank, and that con-
sequently he must have a share OF
money on his person. Boldly enter
ing the hotel where the priest was
staying, he met one of the walters, a
young boy, and said to him:
'sWill you take me, child to my
room: declare I'm wandering and
don't know where I'm going, or else
my sight is falling"
"To be sure, Father; come with
me-"
He was taken along a corridor, and
"Snipe" seeing there was only one
more room at the end, exclaimed:
"Ah! to be sure, child, I know
where am now. Thank you, that
will do. God bless you"
The boy turned to execute the com.
mission he had been sent on when
"Snipe" met him The latter opened
the room door. Directly opposite was
poor Father Michael fast asleep, tired
after his days drudging. 1t was a
double-bedded room, and the second
bed at the further end was concealed
behind screen. On tiptoe he stole in
shade of this. Then he quietly sur
veyed the situation Removing his
own riding coat, he lifted the vest
coat, and overcoat of the sleeping
man, and laid his own riding coat in
their stead, lest if the Father awoke
he should notice them gone He then
lay in bed, with the purpose of ex
aiming all things at his ease; but he
| first lifted bottle to his mouth
When he laid it beside him, he looked
for an instant at the days paper
which was protruding from the peck
ct of Father Michaels riding coat He
was at once struck by the headline
Counterfeit Priest.
1t went on to describe how their re
porter's notice had been drawn to the
fact of two Father Michaels, one il
the east, and the other in the west
end of the city, at one and the same
time.
"Snipe' laughed. "Ha! hal" hi
said, they won't have two tomor
row."
/ Then he read the law courts, ant
here he saw many matters that inter
ested him. Perhaps it was the oc