Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1914-01-16

The Red
LepreChaun
Tho Three Wishes Of Jimmy
O'Dea and His Sister.
By PERcIVAL S. RlSDALH
Copyright by PercivaI s. RiSdals.
By PERcTvAL s. RISDALH
COPYRIGHT by FercIvaI s. RIsaals.

Ie nina the Iairy Btnofy 4 was NJ
Their telin' ye this day week." asked
Barney McHale.
"It went in wan ear and out t'other,"
said his friend Condy McMonegal 20
renely.
"'Tis an empty head ye have, then"
said Barney.
mo thanks TO ye. Barney MeHale,"
was the rejoinder.
"sure the sthory was thrue." ex-
%postulated Barney. Didn't Darby
O'Dea tell the same to me, and hasn't
Jimmy O'Dea, his son, proved it be
catchin' a red leprechaun2"
"a whatT' asked COndy.
"a red l%eprechaun."
! Condy shook his head and pulled
silent contempt intoathe air.
Jaw, the ignorance Of the man."
sighed Barney.
"well, I'm not objectin' to the
sthory," said Condy coolly. "'Tis me
self has two ears"
"And him from Ballydahin," sighed
Barney.
mot me-" said Condy proudly.
Twas In Ballymagooly ! let me Hrst
yell. There, now"
"Well. Darby O'Dea was from Bally-
dahin. and twas from there he brought
the fairies acrost the wather in his
cobbler's chest"
HE says he did," said Condy pro.
vokingly.
"'Tis well yer beyand the reach o.
me fist, Condy McMOnegal." cried Bar
ney. "Sure be dacent and listen"
"I'm listenln'," said Condy; pass me
yer 'baccy."
well" said Barney, settling him
self. Eye know Jimmy, Darby O'Dea's
son. right well. Jimmy, ye know, Is
the LATEST mum this side Of the wather.
II l do say 1t. And for why2 Afther
his father died he did nothin' but lay
around in the shade and shmoke his
pipe and move when the sun caught
mp with him. And for~why, / ask ye
again? Just this-the heart Of him
was set on catchln' a red ~leprechaun.
'Tisn't for the likes of ignorant men
like ye to know what that Is. so I'll
Just tell ye. A red l%eprechaun is n
fairy. and just the meanest crOssest
stlngiest fairy ye ever seen-like your
self. Condy McAIonegal."
Condy took a big pipeful Of his
friends tobacco and threw 1t in the
mud.
There" said he; "'tis easier than
answerin' of We. Barney McHale."
Barney sputtered. but swallowed his
words and pufred himself back into
an even mind.
"Well," said he, "a red leprechaun is
so mean that they set 'em to guard all
the fairy gold. KNOWN they'd never
give II away unless they was forced
to, and Jimmy he knew just how to
force them, and what did he do but
spend all his time loOkin' for one, 80
that by the turn Of his finger he could
be a rich man."
N'WhewT' said Condy.
"And by and by what did Jimmy do
but catch one. Yes, he did. He had
searched in the low grass and the high
grass, on the hill aud of the hill. by
water and away from it, IN the road
side and in the forest. for years and
years. One day. just pnssin' along the
hedge by the Widow McShane's gar
den, what does he see but a bit Of Gerry
red In a bush. In be springs, and
maxim a quick grasp. what has he In
his fingers but n red leprechaun.
. "'Ah, ha,' says he, and I've got ye
at IastF
"'Well, l know 1t. Jimmy O'Dea,'
said the leprechaun. squirmin' and
kickln' and bIhn' and scratchln'.
"eNO, ye don't TITS / know how to
. hold ye,' says Jimmy. and he takes
him be the middle between his thumt
and ~fore6nger. Il aln't studied about
r fairies for nothip'.' say he.
"'"Tls a wise man ye are says the
loprechAun, and n handsome man, Will
. bOuld agure.' say be.
"'Yes. and n strong man. says Jim
my, givin' him a squeeze to let hiu
! know he wasn't to be won by any
; blarney.
"'And what are ye goin' to do Will
] me now ye've got meP says the lep
: Fechaun. says he.
""That' says Jimmy. coo as ye Hike
2 is for ye to say. whatTl ye give INT
! to let We RoT says he.
; ats 1t a wish ye wsnt1' asks tn,
x leprechaun.
u "'That's providin'.' says Jimmy.
n "'Well,' says the leprechaun. 'catcl
> me brother. then. He's there in thu
s bush and he points with his finger.
J. "'NO, ye don't says Jimmy. for wei
J. be knew that II ye take yer eyes on
3 leprechaun for ever the tlniest bit Of
It second "Poof!" says the l%eprechauT
+ and he's no longer where ye are hold
y in him.
d emo. We don't says Jimmy; tits
70 trick / know mesel'.' says he.
70 "''Tls ine eyes ye have, Jimm
q o'Dea.' says the leprechaun; cts tror
p BILE they make among the gir-Tls,' say
10 be.
,, That's neither here nor there say
a Jimmy.
sUyharaqs aab-a tho Ianrachaub Iool