The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1912-03-08
Copyright 1909. BY louis Joseph Vance

uOl Clearly CdlCu w udt tQat! ne
called after her
"Or, possibly" she repeated, pausing
at the entrance to the rear chamber,
ut may be Monsieur the Captain
Hole,"
THE divv,e," cried O'Rourke, and
was on his feet in a twinkling. cast.
ing about him for a weapon. THAT
can't be"
Nothing offered itself suitable either
for offense or defense, save and except
the jug he had been drinking from
and the Irishman was weighing this
thoughtfully with a definite intention
of hurting it at Captain Holes head
if indeed he had heard Alright, when
the entrance of quite another person
relieved his mind, however tempo.
rarily.
1t was Danny, plainly enough; Dan
ny, the same as of old, with his half.
sheepish, half-impudent grin and his
shock of flaming hair, his upper lip
that was long even for an Irish boys,
his rowing and twinkling blue eyes,
his tip-tilted nose, his short, sturdy
physique.
Faith" said O'Rourke, the gods
are not so unkind after ALL IT'S as
welcome as the shadow of great rock
in weary land. the sight of ye,
Danny" And Danny he observed
with some severity, I'll ask We to ex-
plain what the divvle at all ye're do
ing here"
Danny's assurance deserted him on
the instant. He had done his former
master a signal service that night, but
in his estimation nothing more than
was due the O'Rourke. Whatever he
felt, he looked to perfection boy
caught at misunderstanding his bead
and cycling ORourke under his brows,
shamefaced and i'll at ease.
"Aw!" he deprecated, sure, now,
yer honor, now"
Danny" demanded O'Rourke stern
ly, does Miss Cleopatra here under
stand English?'
"Divvle a world" the ex-valet pro-
tested earnestly. Beyond Greek and
French and Arabic. sure, she's igpor-
ant as Paddy's pig!"
So much was plainly evident from
puzzlement. Reassured, O'Rourke rro
ceeded:
otis good hearing. Faith, If she
understood the Kings English, tbs
me hair she would be tearing out by
the roots in one minute. Danny,
gather that the lady is be way Of Xix.
ing we more than we deserve. Is 1t
in love with you she is?"
Danny stole sidelong glance at the
ryir - IN, hon0r,c mi ri - ha
stammered, land / behave she is that
"Umm!" snorted O'Rourke. And
what, If We please, about poor Annie
Bragin, at home? Is 1t marrying a
Greek We would be, and leaving poor
Annie to cry her eyes out for ye. we
worthless scut?
"Divvle a bit, respects to yer hon
or! Sure, tits only for amusement"
And who may she be, that ye make
80 free to amuse yourself with herr"
1.-THE daughter av me partner, yer
honor, Noccovie, the Greek tobaccy
merchant"
This will be his house, them"
mo, sir, but "a sort av sthore-
house, in a way av speaking. 'Tis list
round tn corner they do be Twin in
a gran foine house, sir"
Then what's the young lady doing
here?"
Waiting for me to take her place.
sir. Noccovie is away and-and," in
a blurted confession, "'tis bit Of
hashish smuggling we be doing on the
side. The stuff is always brought
here, sor; and tonight's the night a
consignment's due"
"Ah-h!" observed O'Rourke darkly.
One by one, 1t seemed, he was gather
ing the trumps again into his own
hand. He resumed his catechism Of
the boy.
Danny, is this the way decent
man should be behaving himself?" he
browbeat him. rs 1t your mothers
son and the sweetheart of Annie
Bragin that's become no more than an
idle breaker of hearts? Danny, Dan
ny, what would Father Malachi be
saying If he could hear what we've
just told me? Whin, boy, did ye con-
TESS last?"
Danny covered. Jaw, dear!" he
whimpered Jaw, dearie-dear! And
meself meant no harm at ALL"
Thin take your light-o'love home.
Danny, and come back to me here at
once with a change of clothes!"
"Yiss. yer honor. I'll do that, yer
honor. But will we bark for the signal
at the door and let Cap'n Hole in?"
1t was true, then!
81 will. But see that ye don't for
get the change of clothes, Danny, and
don't be lingering too long over your
fond farewells with the lady, II ye're
not looking for a hiding, and
DANNY"
"Yis, sor?"
Have We a revolver"