The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1922-04-13

said at last. ut puts one up III the
clouds and down in the ditch all at
the same time. / tell you this, Boyne
Pm going to stop. No mar ought to
play cards who hasn't a fortune; and
my fortune, Pm sorry to say, is onls
my facet" He laughed bitterly.
"And your sword-you've forgotten
that, Calhoun. You've a lot of luck In
your sword"
"Well, I've made no money out Of
it so far" Dyck retorted ~cynically.
"Yet you've put men with reputa-
lions out Of the running, men like
MallOw. Try a little more Of this
place, and it's got a lot Of good stuff.
I've been coming to the Harp and
Grown for many years, and I've never
had a bad drink all that time. The
old landlord Is a genius. He doesn't
put on airs. He's a good man, Is old
Swinton, and there's nothing good in
the drink of France that you can't get
here"
well, If that's true, how does 1t
%happenT' asked Dyck, with a little
fash of interest. ut means a lot of
trouble, ehY"
1T means some trouble. But let me
tell you"-he leaned over the table
and laid a hand on ,Dyck's, which was
q little nervous-"let me speak as an
old friend to you, If 1 may. Here are
the facts. For many a year, you know
as well as / do, ships have been com
ing from France to Ireland with the
very best wines and liquors, and TAX
Ing back the very best wool-smug-
gled, Of course. Well, our little land
lord here Is the d-dest rogue Of all.
The customs never touch him. From
the coast the stuff comes up to Dub
lin without a check, and, as he's a
special f~avorlte, he gets the best to be
had In la belle France"
"Why Is he such a favorite?" asked
Dyck.
Erris Boyne laughed, not loudly, but
suggestively.
"When a lady kisses a mar on the
lips, Of her own free will, and puts
her arm around his neck, Is 1t done, do
you think, because it's her duty to do
1t or die? No, it's because she likes
the man; because the man Is a good
friend to her; because it's money in
her pocket. That's the case with old
Swinton. France kisses him, as 1t
were, because'-he paused, as though
debating what to s~ay-"because
France knows he'd rather be under
her W revolutionary government
than under the monarchy of England"
His voice had resonance, and, as he
said these words, 1t had insistence. q.
DO you know, Calhoun, l think old
Swinton is right. We suffer here be-
cause monarchy, with its cruel hand
of iron, mistreats us, brutalizes u.s."
He did not see enlightenment come
into the half-drunken eyes Of Dyck.
He only realized that Dyck was very
still, and strangely, deeply interested.
II tell you, Calhoun. we need in Ire
land something of the spirit that's
alive in France today. They've cleaned
out the kings-Louis' and Marie's
heads have dropped into the basket.
They're sweeping the dirt out of
France; they're cleaning the dark
places; they're embarrassing Yer
sailles and s~awdusting the Tuileries;
they're starting for the world a refor-
nation which will make 1t clean. Not
America alone. but England, and all
Europe, will become republics"
"EnglandY asked Dyck In a low,
penetrating voice.
"Aye, England, through Ireland. Ire
land will come first. then Wales, Scot
land and England. Dear lad, the great
day is come-the greatest the world
has ever known. France, the spirit Of
1t. Is alive. 1t will purge and cleanse
the universe I"
The suspicious, alert look passed
from Dyck's eyes. but his face had be-
come flushed. He reached out and
poured himself another glass OF wine.
"What you say may be true. Boyne.
1t may be true, but I wouldn't put
faith in it-not for one Icy minute. !
don't want to see here In Ireland the
horrors and savagery Of France. !
don't want to see the guillotine up on
st. Stephens green"
Boyne felt that he must march care
fully. He wal sure Of his game; but
there were difficulties, and he must
not throw his chances away.
swell, I'll tell you. Calhoun. I don't
know which IL worse-Ireland bloody
with shootings and hangings, Ulster
up In the north and Cork In the south,
from the Giants causeway to Tralee
no two sets Of feet dancing alike, with
the bloody hand Of England stretching
out over the Irish parliament like
death itself: or France ruling ms. How
does the English government live herei
Only BY bribery and purchases. II
buys its way. Isn't that truef"
Dyck nodded.
"Yea. It's true In 4 way,w'he replied.