The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1912-12-31
My Fried PAT
A Story OF Colorado and
the Emerald Isle
By WILLARD BLAKEr1AN

and specimens for assay in the a; her.
ana started on foot down the mountain
for Denver, On the way fell in witt
young Irishman.. very ragged. with
a bundle tied up in a red bandanna
handkerchief and a short pipe IN u.s.
mouth. at which be was pulling lus
tily.
Good mornin' to YOU be said cheer
! lily.
Good morning, Pat l replied.
How did you know my name was
Pat:" he asked.
by your brogue."
lis it very hroad2''
No; but broad enough To give vo2
away as resident of the Emerald,
isle"
/ Northern Irish. is it?"
Il suppose So What are you doing
out in this country"
''Oh. came to dig for a fortune"
And having made it you're going
back home to enjoy NJ"
What made you think I've made my
fortune:
"oh. by your eminently respectable
appearance.
We'll, now. that's luckyr'
why so?"
Because I'm sadly in need OF a loan
and since I've made a fortune it'll be
safe for you to favor me-"
laughed at the Irish wit. and the
way the young inan had caught me in
trap. was feeling somewhat set
up. for | believed | had struck for
tune myself. Resides we gold seekers
in those days We're prone to help one
another.
How much do you want?''
Enough to take me to lreland-a
matter of SlO0"
Il can't do that much for you. but
might spare $50 TO get you to New
York. Couldn't you make up the rest
in some other way
Half loaf Is better than none
We went on to Denver together. and
! was greatly amused by his humor
and an original way he had of viewing
things. l sold my mine for enough to
make me independent for life and got
few hundred dollars for a first pay
ment. By this time / had become so
friendly with my travelling compan-
ion that / advanced him the whole
sum needed to take him to ireland.
believed he had made the failure near
~ all gold hunters make. and since |
had been one of the few fortunate ones
/ was ready to give him tiny bit from
my bonanza
"Where'll send - he asked
You needn't send 1t at all. AS soon
as | get that deal closed out I'm going
to Europe, and III see you there
We'll, you'll find me on the estate of
the Earl of Ballygarach. At any rate.
inquire there for me-"
"A tenant OF hiss"
No"
Whats your place there?"
He hesitated. and it seemed to me
be was trying to invent reply, so /
gave him shake of the hand and
said goodby. | felt sure l was making
loan that would never be repaid.
but Id had to invent stories myself
about my hole in the ground in order
to obtain means to keep on digging.
and wouldn't have thanked any one
to question me too closely. AS | turn
ed away from him | saw a peculiar
look in his eye
Why do you look at me in that way
Pat?" | asked. had always called
him Pat. though his name was John
Curran
y can't make out why you're lending
me this money. Unless you give me
your address. that may return it. or
your promise TO see me in Ireland l re-
fuse to take it
All right; you have nay promise to
see you in Ireland"
Don't you go back on me by not con-
ing be added. and we parted
The sale of my hole in the ground
was conditional. and some months
elasped before the purchasers had sat
isfied themselves that the property was
what l claimed for it. Then. after all.
l was obliged to take good deal of
the stock In the compan,.r that was
formed in part payment. but this didn't
trouble me- for l had great confidence
in the value of the mine. Indeed. my
stock eventually became many times
more valuable than the cash payment.
1t was year after the sale before |
found myself independent to do what
l liked, and l set off on a tour around
the world. My course was eastward
and took in England as my first land
ing place. | lad always a desire to
visit Ireland and, after seeing England
to my hearts content, crossed the
Irish channel But | regretted feeling
obliged to hunt up my debtor l didn't
need the money l had loaned him. and
I didn't believe he would be in condi-
ton to pay it. To tell the truth. / had
no idea l would find him on the estate
Of the Earl of BalIygarach or that /
would find him at all. This opinion
was not based on the belief that he was
dishonest. Tor he had an expression
that invited confidence. but on the fact
that necessity knows no law, and his
necessities had probably forced him to