The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-01-01
My Friend Pat
A Story of Colorado and
the Emerald Isle
BY WILLARD BLAKEMAN

1OI DChNCI. O1 llC way Il lCll Al WAN
a young Irishman, very ragged, with
a bundle tied up in a red bandanna
handkerchief and a short pipe in his
mouth, at which he was pulling lus-
tily.
"Good mornin' to you," he said cheer
lily.
Good morning, Pat" replied.
"How did you know my name was
Pat?" he asked.
"By your brogue."
. "Is it very broad?"
"No; but broad enough to give you
away as q resident of the Emerald
isle"
Northern Irish, is it?'
81 suppose so. What are you doing
out in this country?'
"Oh, came to dig for fortune"
"And having made it you're going
back home to enjoy it,"
"What made you think I've made my
fortuneT
"Oh, by your eminently respectable
appearance"
"Well, now, that's lucky"
"Why soT
Because I'm sadly in need Of loan,
and since I've made fortune it'll be
safe for you to favor me-"
/ laughed at the Irish wit, and the
way the young man had caught me in
a trap. l was feeling somewhat set
up, for l believed / had struck a for
tune myself. Besides we gold seekers
in those days were prone to help one
another.
"How much do you want?"
Enough to take me to Ireland-a
matter of S1OO."
81 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
1 was greatly amused by his humor
and an original way he had Of viewing
things. 1 sold my mine for enough to
make me Independent for life and got
a few hundred dollars for first pay
ment. By this time 1 had become 30
friendly with my travelling compan-
ion that I advanced him the whole
sum needed TO take him to Ireland.
believed he had made the failure near
ly all gold hunters make, and since
had been one Of the few fortunate ones
was ready to give him a tiny bit from
my bonanza.
"Where'll send itT' he asked.
"You needn't send it at all. AS soon
as / get that deal closed out I'm going
to Europe, and III see you there"
"Well, you'll find me on the estate of
the Earl Of Ballygarach. At any rate,
inquire there for me-"
"a tenant Of hisT
"No."
whats your place there?"
He hesitated, and 1t seemed to me
he was trying to invent a reply, so
gave him shake of the hand and
said goodby. l felt sure was making
a loan that would never be repaid,
but I'd had to invent stories myself
about my hole in the ground in order
to obtain means to keep on digging,
and l wouldn't have thanked any one
to question me too closely. AS l turn
ed away from him 1 saw a peculiar
look in his eye.
Pat?' asked. 1 had always called
him Pat, though his name was John
Curran.
II 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 re-
fuse to take it."
"All right; you have my promise to
see you In Ireland"
Don't you go back on me by not com
ing" he added, and we parted
The sale of my hole in the ground
was conditional, and some months
elasped before the purchasers had sat
istied themselves that the property was
what claimed for ii. Then, after all,
was obliged to take a good deal of
the stock in the company that was
formed in part payment, but this didn't
trouble me, for had great confidence
in the value Of the mine. Indeed, my
stock eventually became many times
more valuable than the cash payment.
1t was a year after the sale before
found myself independent to do what
I 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. l had always a desire to
visit Ireland and, after seeing England
to my hearts content, crossed the
Irish channel. But l regretted feeling
obliged to hunt up my debtor. didn't
need the money had loaned him, and
1 didn't believe he would be in condi-
ton to pay it. To tell the truth, had
no idea would find him on the estate
OF the Earl of Ballygarach or that
would find him at all. This opinion
was not based ON the belief that he was
dishonest, for he had an expression
that invited confidence, but on the fact
that necessity knows no law, and his
heceSsitiAs had DrobablV forcad him tn