Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-02-28
My Friend Pat
A Story Of Colorado and
the Emerald Isle
Nv WILLARD RLAKENTAN

When was prospecting In the gold
fields of Colorado and had made what
l believed to be a strike | put some
gold dust In one pocket for expenses
and specimens for assay In the other,
and started on foot down the mountain
for Denver. On the way fell in with
Il young freshman, very ragged, with
bundle tied up In red bandanna
handkerchief and short pipe In his
mouth. at which he was pulling lus-
lily.
Good mornin' TO you" he said cheer
~.
Good morning, Pat" | replied.
How did you know my name was
PATTI" he asked.
by your brogue."
ais 1t very broad"
mo; but broad enough to give you
away as resident Of the Emerald
isle"
Northern Irish, Is itf'
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 itP"
What mnde you think I've made my
fortune?"
"Oh. by your eminently respectable
appearance"
well. now that's luckyP'
"Why SOP
Because I'm sadly in need Of loan,
and since I've made fortune it'l be
safe for you to favor me-"
laughed at the Irish wit. and the
way the young man had caught me In
trap. was feeling somewhat set
up, for believed l had struck for
tune myself. Besides we gold seekers
in those days were prone to help one
another.
How much do you wantT'
Enough to take me to Ireland-a
matter of 500"
II 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 wayT'
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. 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 compnn-
ion that | 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 tiny bit from
my bonanza.
"Where'll | send itT' he asked
you needn't send II at all. As soon
as get tha' deal closed out Pm going
to Europe, and I'll zee 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
mo"
whats your place thereT
He hesitated. and 1t seemed to me
he was trying to invent a reply, so
gave him shake of the hand and
said goodby. | felt sure was making
loan that would never be repaid
but I'd had TO invent stories myself
about my hole in the ground I'm order
to obtain mems to keep on digging,
and ! wouldn't hive thanked any one
to question me too closely. AS | turn
I'D him \ a LA n
look In his eye.
"Why do you look at me In that way,
Patf" I asked. | had always called
him Pat, though his name wns John
Curran.
~ can't max, out why you're lending
me this money Unless you give me
your address. that I may return II, 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 bnck 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
ished themselves that the property was
what | claimed for IT, Then. after all,
I was obliged TO take n 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.
II was II j,Ir after the sale before !
found myself independent TO do what
| liked. and | set on on a tour around
the world My course was eastward
and took In England as my first land
Ing place. had always desire 10
visit ireland and. after seeing England
10 my hearts content, crossed the
obliged TO hunt up my debtor didn't
need the money had loaned him. and
didn't believe he would be In condi
ton TO pay II. TO tell the truth. lind
no idea | would find him on the estate
Of the Earl Of Ballygnrach or that I
would find him at all. This opinion
was not based on the belief that he was
dishonest, for he Ind an expression
that invited confidence. but on the fact
that necessity knows no law, and his
necessities Ind probably forced him TO
invent all he had told me
After visiting the principal cities in
southern Ireland worked my way
northward and one dny brought up ut