Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-24
The Argus Daily Story
Where He Was-By Nora B. Shea.
Copyrighted 1911. by Associated Literary Bureau

secret of his ride 1t was 10 o'clock
when he started. He rode thirty
miles Of the distance, rested his horse
for two hours, then went on, reaching
Limerick at In the morning. But
instead of going into the town he left
1t on his right and, crossing the river
Shannon. struck out for Ennis. some
twenty miles farther on. But he had
no idea OF using the mare to do this
distance and, now that he was 50 far
from home. concluded to leave her
with farmer and take a fresh
mount This he did and at 10 o'clock
In the morning rode up to an Inn in
Ennis.
The bells were ringing for mass.
and Dennis Joined a throng going to
the church. Seeing a priest going
from his house to the church, Dennis
Joined him and said:
Father, desire to make q contribu-
ton on this blessed day Of our patron
saint, and beg Of you b receive It."
To this the priest agreed, and Den
mis- gave him his contribution.
"Now, father" said Dennis, win you
tell me the timer
There's a clock in the tower of the
church beyond. You can see for your
self"
I'm nearsighted. VIII you use your
own eyes for me?''
cts 10 o'clock and % minutes"
"Are you sureT
lam" !.
"And I'm giving you 20 shillings for
a contribution to the church at twenty
five minutes past 10 on the morning of
st. Patrick's day, and don't. you forget
it."
'Tll not do that" said the priest.
Dennis went back to the inn. ate q
good breakfast and. his horse having
been fed, mounted and rode back to
where he had left the mare. She, too,
had been rested sufficiently to go on
toward home, but at slow gait. Den
his reached Killarney that night and
the next morning appeared on the
street laughing and talking with his
friends with his usual good nature
When The O'Grady heard that Den
mis- had remained to face a charge of
robbery on the highway he made a
charge against him, and Dennis was
arrested, much to his apparent sur
prise. When the prisoner was brought
before the magistrate for examination
the charge was read and he was asked
whether he pleaded guilty or not guilty.
81 could hardly be guilty, your wor-
Ship replied Dennis, seeing that
was not where the charge specifies at
q xuho
"Where were your"
81 was in Ennis, your worship"
THAT'S seventy miles away. At
what time were you in Ennis?"
II was there on the morning of st.
Patrick's day."
"Can you prove thatT .ts;s-
eyes, your worship" as,,tnE
"By whom?"
"By witness who saw me there at
the time"
Dennis was given opportunity to
bring his witness to Killarney, and
when a priest of the church testified
that the prisoner gave him on ST. Pat
rick's day, at 1925 in the morning, 20
shillings, no one dared gainsay the
truth Of the statement There was
but one inference to be made, which
was that The O'Grady was mistaken
in his man.
Nevertheless The O'Grady was not
only sure that Dennis was the person
that he had met on the highway, but
was sure that he had intended to rob
him. If he had had no such design he
would have admitted his identity and
disclaimed any intention except to
learn the time.
Now, Eileen Mavourneen's father
was good old Irish gentleman, one
of the rare old Stock" and, though he
certainly would not have a highway
man for a son-in-law, he was highly
appreciative Of the shrewdness of HIS
race. During Dennis Imprisonment
he constantly reminded his daughter
that he had been right about her lover
from the first. Eileen said nothing till
after Dennis was acquitted, when she
told her father the whole story.
The old gentleman laughed all that
! day and, since he did not like The
| OGrady over much, vowed that the
defense was the smartest trick that
had ever been perpetrated in the coun-
/ ty. He told Eileen to bring Dennis
to dinner that he might hear the story
from his own lips. Dennis came, and
the old gentleman was much pleased
with the energy and rapidity of his
movement, but when he heard that
Eileen had proposed the plan he was
delighted and. taking his daughter In
his arms, told her that so long headed
a girl must be better able TO choose a
husband for herself than her father
| could choose for her.
For long after that when Dennis
would meet her acquaintance lie
would be greeted by:
Dennis O'Donohue, where were ye
on St Patrick's day in the morningT