Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1916-11-09
Obe
O'Shaughnessey
Strain
By JOHN BARTON OXFORD
Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co.

OuueT propeT lcouultioHS hlidrucy
as a tune Is all right.
But there are circumstances which
make even Killarney" a consumma-
ton to be devoutly wished for-not!
Say, for instance, when it is played
on cornet next door between 1890
and II p. m.-played very badly. with
many breaks and false notes.
1t had lost every iota of its charm
for young Mr.. Timothy O'Shaughnes-
sey Scanlon. And when that evening
the operator Of the tortured instru-
ment next door essayed some very un-
certain double tonguing human endur-
ance could go no further.
Scanlon, with a nervous shiver, irri-
tably pushed the papers across the
Uttered table in front of him. tore off
his green eyeshade and jumped up to
pace the room with his fingers stuffed
into his ears.
The door of the little bedroom was
pushed open, and Mary Scanlon, every
gray hair on her head bristling with
wrath, came in.
How'll We ever be dom yer lessons,
Jimmy, If that spalpeen next door
kapes his wheezy foghorn goin' like
this?" she demanded. looking sympa-
thetically at her distraught son.
"Sure. l can't be dom 'em, mother"
Jimmy confessed. Its worse than
ever tonight. I'm near wild wit the
blamed uproar av it,
What are yer goin' to do about itr'
she asked with blazing eyes.
what Is there to do?" asked Tim
my YEARLY. 81 don't see nothin' but
to move-to find some place where
there won't be nothin' Of this kind 60
in on to disturb me-"
Mary Scanlon's eyes narrowed.
A disguised pucker showed itself on
the forehead just above her upturned
nose.
"Ye'd be drove out, would yerT she
said between set teeth. "Ye'd let yer
self be ousted outer the house we've
lived In for five years be them upstart
Brennans that moved in next door only
last month"
Mrs. Scanlon turned on her heel and
went irritably out of the room, slam
ming the door after her by way of Civ
Ing emphasis to her momentary feel.
ings.
This did not tend materially to soothe
Timmy's overweight nerves.
Moreover, the wabbly double tongu-
Ing batting forth again at that inaus-
picious moment, he strobe to the win
dow and threw 1t wide.
Hey" he beloved to make himself
heard above the din. Hey. hey. over
therer'
Killarney" ceased momentarily.
There came the sound Of window
In the next cottage slamming open.
well, what's the nature av the trou-
ble? asked Mr.. Brennan calmly.
I'll have writ out on yer for dis
turbin' the peace and bein' a public
nuisance" quavered Jimmy. his cour-
age already ebbing.
"Will yer SOP tainted the other.
"Mayhap yerll be findin' have right
be law to practice as much as>I choose
In the house that none av yer money
Is payin' the rint av."
Whereupon he slammed down the
window and Immediately Killarney"
blared tunelessly forth as If propelled
into the night by pair of gigantic
bellows.
Mrs. Scanlon, hanging out the weeks
wash In the back yard next morning.
was accosted by Mrs. Brennan, who
stepped to the dividing fence between
the two cottages and glared savagely
and forbiddingly at her neighbor.
Mrs. Scanlon, ma am" she counsel
cd, yer Jimmy don't want TO be start.
In nothin' wit my Eddie. He's likely
to get marked up for life IL he goes to
talkin' to Eddie and to sarsin him
like he done last night. and all because
Eddie is practicin' bit on his cornet,
which he's dom fine on, If do say 1t.
why. Eddie was all for goin' right
over to your place and givin' Jimmy
what for right OF for the nasty talk he
give him | had to hold on to Eddie
and fair push him back and do all
could to quiet him down."
Something hot and choking seemed
10 rise to Mary Scanlon's throat. half
her 3s~aT @@
And glad am yer do be broachin'
the subject. Mrs. Brennan" said she.
I've word or two Of me own for
you. Yer Eddie had better learn that
there's some other folks round here has
! few rights; also 1t might be well for
him to remember that Jimmy has the
blood Of the O'Shaughnesseys in him.
ma'am.
While you was hangin on TO yer
Eddie was havin' an awful time wit
Jimmy, me fingers grippin' his coat
.afls. ma'am. and me pleadin' wit him
searful. ma'am. not to 60 over and be
ndacent to the Brennans
They was new neighbors and per
aaps did not know AS yet what was
expected In respectable neighbor-
hood. they havin' just come here from