Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-28
The Argus Daily Story
My Friend pat-By Willard Brakeman.
Copyrighted 1919. by Associated Literary Bureau
among books I assented.

An hour passed in this way, when
the butler entered and said that lunch
con would soon be ready and asked II
l would like TO go to my room. Though
| didn't like such trespassing, was not
averSe to being entertained by an earl
and his lady, so fS4owed the man
upstairs. What was my establishment
on entering the room assigned me to
see my baggage there.
How did this come here" l asked.
''Milady sent 10 the inn for IL, sir
brushed up 4 bit and went down
stairs again. The butler announced
luncheon and led me into the dining
room. was received there by very
pretty young woman. who said to me:
my husband VIII not return for an
hour or two. and, since he does not Ike
TO have any one who calls during his
absence turned away. l have taken it
upon myself TO make you at home. He
is very fond OF Americans and would
never forgive me If let one OF them
go away without some entertainment
| protested that | had only called to
learn - the whereabouts Of one John
Curran. whom | had met In Colorado,
and the lady replied that the earl would
give me any information In his posses
sion on his return. She entertained me-
delightfully."- at luncheon. doing every
thing in her power TO make me feel
that | was welcome. Her voice was
sweet and sounded still sweeter from
the rich brogue OF an Irish lady. She
expressed great interest in America
and kept me telling her of the country.
the people and our customs. Just as
we were about TO rise from the table
there was a sound OF wheels without.
the front door was thrown open. and.a
man stalked into the dining room.
Great heavens, he was Pat!
The moment he saw me he advanced
and, graspinG my hand, gave it a Wig
orous shake. saying:
You've come at last, have you?
vowed that if you didn't come soon I'd
go back TO America to find you" Then,
turning to the lady. he added:
This is the gentleman I've been
looking for
II supposed he was when he asked
for John Curran. who had come from
America year ago"
well, I'm John Curran meself," add
ed the host. land l was Earl of Bally-
garach when we were trudging togeth-
er in Colorado. though l didn't know
It When | went out there were three
lives between me and the title, but two
of them had died. and had heard that
the third. my uncle. was very ill. I
% hpf L
know what should find here. l might
find an estate waiting for me, and
might not be able to repay your loan;
but. by Jove, old man, that was
queer thing for you to do-letting me
have that money to get home with"
said something about his honest
countenance. but my conscience was
not clear. and didn't help the matter
much. SO | made light OF the whole
matter. mentioning the spirit that ami
mated men who lived In new countries,
their disposition to help one another,
their respect for the softer sex and
their harshness with anything unman-
| ". Lady Ballygarach was much inter
ested in this account OF a people she
| had never mingled with, though fan
cied that it was because her husband
had been one of them.
The earl then asked where ! had
| put up. saying that he must send at
| once for my luggage. but his wife in
formed him, that she had sent for 1t.
| whereupon he commended her highly
and declared she was trump.
The earl kept me a guest several
weeks, during which he entertained
| me royalty. He told me that he was
q younger son in another branch of the
| family; that his father wished him to
enter the army, but. having no for
tune and being in love with the girl
! who was now his wife. he had prefer
| red to go to America to seek his for
tune. While away his father and his
older brother had died. and his uncle,
the earl. a bachelor. had fallen Ill. The
death of his father and brother had
left him with no one TO COLL upon for
funds. and. as he had before told me.
his uncle would not have helped him IL
he had asked for help
! confess the change In him was so
great from when | had known him in
the gold digGings that it seemed
strange 10 address him by his title.
was struggling TO get 1t ont and had
advanced as far as Lord Baliygar-
when he broke in upon me:
Never mind that Call me Pat.
became so far Americanized while in
your country that these Gourishes on
mans name sound redicnlOus."
do you object to your title, Lady
Rallygarachf" | asked.
Not bit Of it," her husband re-
piled for her. What woman wouldi"
During the rest Of my visit | called
the earl Pat.
| became so fond Of Pat that
found it difficult to tear myself away
from him He had had just the expe-
rience to make man of him.
When | left him it was with the
promise that he would return my visit
in the land where we had both been
poor He did 80. and my success as a
miner enabled me to return his hoBpi,
Iality in kind In NY own home.