Evening star., 1921-08-21

strangle you" roared Jim. approach
ing her menacingly Unafraid, she
leered up at him and put out a skinny
claw of a hand as though to grasp
him by the coat, which made Jim
stop and draw back a step. Jimmie,
I'm old. old. and I know many old.
forgotten things; can tell you where
your grist is going
Then tell me before make a
quick end of you" cried Jim. taking
"'You can't frighten Goody Nc
Gonigail, Jimmie. Oh. no. But can
tell you if you will pay my price
am hungry. For ten rations of
meal I will let you see who is getting
your grist'
"'Ten cracked bones in your
shriveled old neckr cried Jim. "Out
with your
Jimmie. 1 declare to you, can
tell you who is robbing you. Think
minute. Wouldn't 1t be worth
many times more than ten rations of
meal to know who is stealing your
gristr
Jim refiected-perhaps she was
telling the truth. He'd risk II any
way Agreed. old witch. Here are
the ten rations of meal Now tell
me who is robbing me of my grist.'
''GOody ran a hand deep down into
her pocket and drew out a dry twig.
She traced some queer hieroglyphics
on the floor with her cane, mumbling
the while to herself. and the twis
began presently to take on branches
and the branches to bear leaves and
little buds which burst into full
bloom. 1t was sprig of foxglove. She
handed 1t to Jim and said:
Hide behind a bin in your mill
tonight. Jim. and put this foxglove
robbing you. But mind that you do
not nav for the SEEING
"Jim took the flower, and, for a mo-
ment, was too astonished to speak:
but, as Goody's doddering step and
humping cane grew fainter and
pitiless, stinginess returned. and he
muttered:
"'No fear. old beldam. The rogues
will do the paying unless you have
only tricked me into giving you my
meal. in which event you will do the
paying
That night Jim put the foxglove
in his hair. as Goody had told him.
and hid behind a bin to watch: and
presently a host Of fairies came
trooping into the mill, carrying sacks
to contain the meal and looking very
brave, indeed. all dressed out in
green and red velvet suits. feathers
in their hats and pointed-toed shoes
on their feet. They went to the bin
behind which Jim was hiding. lifted
the lid. and. taking up some of the
meal, began crushing and rolling 1t
in their hands to see II IL were sum
GENTLY dry. Whereupon Jim rose up
before them and exclaimed:
"'Why do you select me for all
your stealing? There are other mill
ers in Ireland. Why do you wish to
bring me to starvation?'
"'Jim.' said the fairies. do you see
usf
! "'Ay! roared Jim. by now in tow
ering rage, I see you.'
"'Then. Jim,' answered the fairies,
show US out OF which eye you see
"Jim closed first his right eye. then
his left, and answered. Out of my
right eye' The words were scarcely
spoken before he was rolling on the
| floor. bowling with pain, for the
| fairies had thrown q handful OF meal
| In his right eye and put It out"
IN6cCABE said that Bridgie keenan,
11 told the story to him and a
younger brother in the presence of
their mother. At the conclusion. his
brother. who had been q wide-eyed'
breathless listener throughout the
telling, now spoke UP. showing that
he was not to be imposed upon:
"Pshaw, Mrs. Keenan,, do you be-
lieve thatr'
MRS. McCahe. Mrs. McCabe!" cried
Bridgie, her voice riaing into suca
4 ehriI screech that IL cracked Oye
heax HIM asktn' me HAbeltsHs,