The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1921-11-03
CONTINUED from Last Week,
CHAPTER ~.
The Killing of ErrIs eoyne.


The Killing Of ErrIs Hoyne.
There's many government has
made mess of things in Ireland"
said Erris Boyne; "but since the day
OF Cromwell the Accused this is the
worst. Is there a man in Ireland
That believes In 1t, or trusts 1t? There
are men that support 1t, that are
served by 1t, that fill their pockets
out of II; but by Joseph and by Mary,
there's none thinks there couldn't be
a better ! Have littlesmore ma rsala,
Calhoun?"
With these words, Boyne filled up
the long glass out Of which Dyck Cal
houn had been drinking drinking too
much. Shortly before. Dyck had lost
all his cash'at the card-table. = He had
turned from 1t, penniless and diseom-
fitted to bee Boyne, smiling, and gay
with wine, In front of him.
Boyne took him by the arm.
Come with me-. said he. There's
no luck for you at the tables today.
Let's go where we can forget the
WORM, where We can lift the banner
on freedon>and beat the drums of pur-
pose. Come along, lad"
The time was critical for Dyck-A
critical and dangerous He had lost
money heavily; he had even exhaust
ed his mothers legacy. OF late he
had seen little Of his father, and the
little he had seen was not fortunate.
They had quarreled over Dyck's way
ward doings. He had angered his IA
ther terribly, and Miles, In a burst of
temper, had disclosed the fact thnt
his own property was in peril. They
had been estranged ever since; but
the time had come when Dyck must
at Ienst secure the credit of his fa-
Tiers name ut his bank to find the
means Of living.
1t was with this. staring him In the
face that Erris --Boyne's company
seemed to offer at least recovery of
his good spirits. Dublin knew little Of
Boyne's present domestic life. It did
not know that he had injured his Sec
ond wife as badly as he had wroDged
his f1rst---with this difference, how
ever. that his first wife was a lady,
while his second wife, Noreen, was a
beautiful, qulck-tempered. lovable,
eighteen-year-old girl, graduate of
the kitchen and dairy, when he took
her. to himself. He had married her
In mad moment after his first wife
Mrs. Llyn, as she was now called
had divorced him; and after the first
thrillsof married life was over, moth
Ing remained with Boyne except re-
greet that he had sold his freedom for
what he might, perhaps, have had
without marriage.
Then began a process of domestic
torture, whichaalienated Noreen from
him, and reused in her the worst pas
siofs Of human hatute. She came to
know of his infidelities, and they mad
dened her. They had no children. and
in the end he had threatened her with
desertIon. When she had retorted in
strong words, he slapped her face, and
left her with an ugly smile. =
visitors they had few. II any, and
the young wife was left alone to brood
upon her wrongs. Erris Boyne had
slapped her face on>fhe morning Of
the day when he met Dyck Calhoun In
the hour Of his bad luck. He did not
see the look In Der face a, he left the
house. Z
) Ruthless as lie, WINS, he realized the
time had COME when by bold effort he
might get young Calhoun wholly into
his power. He began by getting Dyck
into the street. Then he took him by
an indirect route TO what was, re-
putedly, a tavern'of consequence. Out
class, specifically sedate, and called
the Harp and Crown. None save a
very few consprators knew how great
a part It played in the plan to break
the government Of Ireland and to ruin
Jngland's position in the land.
The entrance was by two doors
one the ordinary public entrance, the
other at the side Of the house, which
was Oh a corner. This could be
opened by skeleton KY owned by
Erris Boyne.
He .ani Dyck entered, however, by
the general entrance, because Boyne
had forgotten his. key. They passed
through the bar parless nodding to one
or two hnbhues. ana presently we're
bestowed In n room, not large, but
well furnished. - .
They played cards. and Dyck won.
He won FIVE times what he Ind lost
at the club. ThfS m(ds him compan-
ionabfe. IN "
ITS poor bnsiness- -cards," he
said at last. 1T puts one up in the
clouds and down IL the ditch all at
the same time. I tell yov this, Boyne
I'm going tostop. No man ought to-
play cards who hasn't A fortune; and
my fortune. I'm sorry to say. is onls
my. facet" He laughed bitterly
-sAnd your sRord-ycu've forgotten
that. Calhoun. You've lot of luck 10
your sword"
"Wel, I've made no money out OF
1t 50 far" Dyck retorted cynleaiiy.
HYak vn,,sx~ .s,x x~on with reDut4'