Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-24

rick's day, 1895, In Ireland. The moon
was at the full and shone with unusu-
al brightness. Dennis O'Donohue,
young man Of twenty-five, mounted on
a black mare, was trotting on road
between Killarney and Tralee on his
way to a ball at the latter place. Sud-
denly catching sight Of light some
distance from the road, he drew rein
and thrust his hand in under his waist
coat to pull his watch from his fob.
1t was not there, and he remembered
that he had left it at home.
Now, THAT he wished his watch for
was to note tho time that he might de-
eide whether to attempt something
that popped into his head at seeing the
light referred to. In the house where
it shone lived Eileen Mavourneen,
young girl whom Dennis would have
gladly wooed had he been permitted to
do so. Dennis was inclined to be
trifie Wild, and Eileen was warned by
her parents to have nothing to do with
him.
Nevertheless the young man was es-
pecially attractive to girls. He was
tall and 1.-THE, and mass of light curls
fell down over his shoulders. Tender
hearted to a fault, 1t was suspected
that for the benefit of others in dis
tress he had trespassed on the law by
taking a purse on the highway. The
O'Grady, q rich landowner, had been
stopped one night on the road, and later
one of his tenants, a poor woman for
whose eviction he had given orders,
paid the rent in coins. one Of which,
pocket piece, The O'Grady recognized
as having been taken from him by the
highwayman. The story got abroad
that Dennis O'Donohue, sympathizing
with the woman, had robbed the land
lord and given the money to his ten
ant to save her from eviction. That
the robbery had taken place for that
very purpose was true, but Dennis
O'Donohue had nothing to do with 1t.
1t occurred to Dennis that he would
love to take Eileen with him to the
ball at Tralee. Her father and mother
were elderly people, and It was their
custom to go to bed at Q o'clock every
night. It might be possible to take her
with him and bring her back without
their knowing of her absence. The
hour was about 8, but he did not know
whether it was little before or little
after g. He dare not go before and did
not like to lose time by going too long
after.
While he was celebrating he heard
the sound of horses hoofs coming from
the direction of Tralee. He would
await the riders coming and ask the
time A man on horseback drew near,
and when he came up Dennis said in
mild voice:
81 beg your pardon for stopping you
sir, but would you tell me what O'Clock
it isl"
Dennis back was to the moon, while
the horseman faced It, and Dennis rec
ognized The O'Grady. The O'Grady
hesitated. The voice sounded like that
of O'Donohue, by whom he believed
he had been robbed. Dennis horse was
restless and, turning, exposed Dennis
face to the moon. The O'Grady thrust
his hand under his coat as If to take
out his watch, but instead drew a pis
tol and, pointing it at Dennis head, said
ut is time for you to move on, Den
mis- O'Donohue, and / would advise
you to go to one of the American colo
MES, for if you ever appear in Killar
ney again I'll bring you up for high
way robbery. Twice is once too often
for you to rob the same person.
With this, still covering Dennis with
his pistol, he urged on his horse, leav'
ing Dennis standing in the road mute
with establishment. Dennis knew al
once that this evidence against him
taken with the suspicion of another
robbery, would convict him of being q
highwayman, and that meant either Q
long Imprisonment or death. He
thought of taking The O'Grady's ad
vice and, riding over to Cork, take shiI
for Virginia. Instead he concluded
to ride over to see Eileen and tel
her what had occurred, This would
lessen the blow to her, and she could
explain the matter to his father anC
mother.
The hour now made no difference t
him, so he put spurs to his horse ant
on reaching the gate threw the bridl'
rein over a picket and went up tn
walk to the house. Tiptoeing on I,
TIE porch, he saw Eileen sitting alon
In the living room. A tap on the win
dow arrested her attention. and. turn
ing, she saw Dennis face against tn
pane. Putting her finger to her lips
she went softly to the door and led hin
into the room.
"What Is it, Dennis?" she asked
alarmed at his ruefui appearance.
Have your father and mother gon
to bed" he whispered.
Yes"
Dennis told his story. finishing b.
, saying that he saw no hope for hin
but TO go to Virginia. Eileen's coun
tenance fell at this. She stood think
; ing.
"Why don't you prove an alibi, Der
nisT' she asked presently.
"An alibiT
"Yes. The magistrate will hay
only The O'Grady's word that he me
you on the road. II you can prov
you were somewhere else his evidene
will be worthless"