The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-08-28

Good evening" Mrs. O'Brien"
Good evenin'. Mister Crawfcr d," she
answered.
Timid, embarrassed ana in evident
distress, she stood near the door,
"Come in. Won't you take seat?'
he asked.
Mrs. O'Brien seated herself diflident-
~ on the edge Of the chair nearest to
her. The assurance that the ancient
Paisley shawl and black silk dress had
impaired to her had entirely abandon
ed her.
"Thank you, sor. OF hope yell par
don the intrusion" she said, her voice
quavering.
Intrusion! Oh, it's no intrusion, l
assure you," he said encouragingly. He
felt that this time his task of getting
rid Of his caller would be an easy one.
"Oi'm in great trouble, Mister Craw,
ford" she informed him.
"Yes?" he answered interrogatively.
"Oi've had tirrible freight. l can't
foind trace av me girls. We came up
from Maple Grove intindin' to surproise
them, an they amt there"
"Dear me! How's that, l wonderw
"Oi doan't know, an OF doan't know
phwat to do"
"Can I be Of any assistance to you:"
"Yis. That Is, Owe somethin' to ask
ye, Mister Crawford. Promise We won I
take offinse at an old woman, sor."
"Of course I'll not take offense Go
ahead
He seated himself to listen.
do yez know ought Of me Nora?"
Crawford looked puzzled.
II don't understand" he said.
MALLORY was here jist now, wasn't
he?"
"Yes."
eyer was here whin O'Brien till.
phoned?"
Eyes. He said you didn't recognize
your daughters on the stage"
"Oi did not, an for good reason
They wasn't there. OF was SO skeerc,l
OF couldn't wait for Danny, SO O'Bricl,
an me found our way to the back dool
of the theater, thinkin' they might be
|
"And weren't they?"
'The man there wouldn't let lis ill.,
but OF raised sich shindy that they
had to take notice nv us. Somebody
sent down an iligant lady, a Miss Silnp.
son. She said they didn't know where
Patsy was, but that maybe Nora had
gone toto Crawford's. She give nc
the address. First we wint to the place
where they live. There was no ono
there. Thin O'Brien was for comm
here with me. but he's hasty, an O
thought he moight offend you, SO O
told him to wait at the theater 70,
Danny"
"Well," said Crawford, rising to sit.
Nifty that the interview was ut an end
"I'm sorry am unable to give yo;
any assistance but If you can think o
any way in which l can be Of servic.
to you, why, shall he very glad to d
what can, Mrs. O'Bricn. Good even
ing"
The old woman, who had also risen
hesitated
"How comes my Nora's name to b
linked with yours?" she questioned fal
teringly.
ooh, that's merely chorus girls g,r
sip. I've tried to be nice to both o.
your daughters because Of my friend
ship to you and O'Brien. and | SUP
pose that set the others talking. You
mustn't take any notice Of such things.
"'Tis meant koindly. sir. Oi'm sure.
but it has done harm, for phwat thai
young lady told me made me ashamed
for me darlin. She said-she said
oh, Mister wford-she said. She.
probably gone Off to spree suppc;
with her lover an is wurrukin' him
for tips or diamonds"
The old woman REDEEMED with shame
and confusion.
Crawford's worst suspicious Of Nora
were confirmed beyond question by
this remark of the Simpson woman.
"1'm very sorry. Mrs. O'Brien," he
said, reddening also, but with annoy
ance. II meant no harm, and it's n
pretty tough thing when n gentleman
can't even he polite to a girl without
such things being said"
ut is. indade," she agreed. can It's
relieved OF am to foind she isn't here
She an Patsy's off somewhere together
most loikely."
"Quite probably" he agreed. II
think you said they didn't expect your
"Yis. We wanted to surproisc thin.
Danny sent in word at the thcatcr, but
J OF misdoubt they got it. Orll just be
goin' along. Thank ye, Mister Craw-
ford, for yir koindncss."
He shook hands with her and was
escorting her out when the valet ap-
peared and announced that Mallory
was at the door. Even as he spoke the
trainer brushed past Rogers and en-
tered the room. There was wrath IN
his eye and an ugly expression Of de-
termination on his face.
81 followed you, mother" he ex-
planned, addressing Mrs. O'Brien in
loud tones. "O'Brien told me you'd
come here to fetch Nora"
"She's not here, Danny, praise the
Lord" the old woman announced.
"I'm not so sure Of that" said NAL
lory.
"Phwat dye mean, Danny7" she
asked.
Eyes. I'd like to know what you
mean by such an intimation," said
Crawford, with rising choler. He did
not like his partners attitude at all.
Miss Simpson was very positive that
Nora had come to see you, and she