THE RANT MILLION,

Lake County Press, Issue 2790, 19 June 1919, Page 2

THE RANT MILLION,

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Bv MARTIN J. McHUGH

cock Farm," "The Dream Song,"Etc

fC 0 P Y R I G H T.I

CHAPTER I-(Continued). Mr. Clair crossed the road slowly, and when he had come up to the clergyman and Larry, he laid his portmanteau down on the pavement with a sigh of relief. He was a tall man, whose age it would be difficult to guess. For he stooped, though perhaps merely with exhaustion, and his face, red and glistening with perspiration, looked worn, and had an expression of extreme fatigue. His dust-covered, well-worn clothes completed the picture of a very shabby dejected traveller. "Back with us again, Mr. Clair?" said Father Dolan, in a pleasant, commonplace tone. "Yes" answered Mr. Clair, tacitJy. . "Why" it seems only a few weeks since you left Ballyran, and yet it must be fully nine months," went on the priest. "I hope you liked America, Mr. Clair?" , ,"I liked it well enough," replied the traveller, sighing, as he wiped his face with a handkerchief. "But as I had nothing to do there, I came back." There was an interval of awkward silence Even Father Dolan, usually a fluent talker, felt at a momentary loss for conversation. He was too good-natured and well-mannered a

man to express in any words th< curiosity he could not help feeling "Could your father let me hav< a room for a day or two, until ] decide what to do?" suddenly askec • Mr. Clair, of Larry. "He could,indeed, Mr. Clair, anc welcome," replied the young man "If you step within you'll fine himself behind the counter." Mr. Clair took up his portman teau, and with a weary smile of parting salutation to Father Dolan entered the shop. "There's a lesson for you, Larry, if you wanted one," said Father Dolan, gravely, after a thoughtful silence. "Nine months ago Mr. Clair went away to America with two hundred pounds—or maybe it was nearer three—to seek a living there, just as you were talking of doing. And now he's back with us again —and you needn't be very sharp to tell by the look of him that he's a beaten and hopeless man I'm glad he's come here, for your father will be kind to him until myself and a few others put our heads together to try if we can't get him some way of living. Ah! Larry, Larry, Ballyran is not so bad, after all. So take care not to make the mistake of so many others that don't know when they're well off."

CHAPTER 11. The Clairs of Ballyran, as all who know anything about Irish genealogies are aware, claim to be the elect of all the Clairs, not alone of their province, but of the whole country. By what proofs this claim has been supported, and by what arguments assailed by those of the name not numbered among the elect, it is unnecessary to detail here. Those who might seek to depose the Clairs of Ballyran, however, had so little to gain by any possible victory that the attempt had not been made for three or four generations. For the distinction of supremacy had long been without any material advantage. The Clairs of Ballyran, dwindled to a few country gentlemen no longer possessing landed estate, now acknowledged as their social head, Colonel Marcus Clare, retired, who lived at Rosebank, a pretty bungalow, situated on the eastern bank of the River Shannon a couple of miles from the town of Ballyran. On the afternoon following Anthony Clair's return, Mrs. Clair of Rosebank was dispensing tea in her drawing-room to a few visitors, it beinp her "at home" dav. Tt was a dainty room, tastefully decorated with beautiful pictures and choice china, and

Author of "The Maid of-' the Mill," "The Death Mask," "Pea

through the open French windows there came wafted in the heavv scent from the flower garden. The view from the room on such a "•lorious August day was very fine. Beyond the garden—just then one mass of glowing colours a velvety lawn, centred by a tennis court, swept down to where a neat hedge, pierced by a wicket pate, bounded it from" the dusty road. On the far side of the road there was but a strip of grassy bank leading down to the Shannon, which spread away a wide watery expanse, more like a great lake than a river as it glittered in the westing sun. That lake-like impression was heightened by the presence of a large island that loomed mistilv some few hundred yards from the bank. Among the eight persons in the room general conversation had languished.. Colonel Clair, a stoutish, elderly, grev-moustached man, with an amiable face, sat in a wicker chair, exchanging an ocacsional remark with Mr. Daniel Power, a red-faced, typical country gentleman, and Mr. Brian Glynn, a rather dapner little solicitor. The hostess, Mrs. Clair a silver-haired ladv of somewha> stately aspect and formal man ners chatted in a low voice witl Mrs. Brian Glynn, a pretty young, woman, who was usually verv vivacious, but was just then too overcome bv the heat and also b" boredom, to show much animataion. The most active talker nresent was Mr. Brendan Clair, who stood at one of the windows chatting with an American gentleman and his daughter. Brendan Clair, a barrister of thirtv. was acknowledged as the most handsome and fascinating of the Clair menfolk. His cleanshaven face was like that on a cameo: his manner was courtly, and his voice charmingly modulated. To most peonle he was a verv attractive personality; on some its influence was almost magnetic. Something of this I clamour had fallen on Miss Sadie who stood with her father j m one side of the mantleniece. rail and straight her face, fram- J >d in dark curlv hair, was beautiful and sweet in its youthful!

freshness, with a certain added, cravitv that looked out of her bi(? hazel eves. Claid in a simple white shirt blouse with red roses at the belt and a dark skirt, she looked the picture of feminine graceful loveliness. "That is settled, then, Miss; Gegan," said Brendan, with a' 'graceful wave of his hands, as disdaining all further opposition to his arguments "You and Mr. ' ( Geean will not alone stay over- ( night with the Colonel, but honour < him by remaining on as his ( guests until you will have decided —as I am sure vou will—to take t Ballvran Castle." | £ He bowed as if he himself were c the gracious bestower of the t proffered hospitality. ( "If my daughter wants that s castle, I'll take it," smiling re- hj plied Mr. (iegan, a clean-shaved, s souare-faced man. "But 1 do sav f 1 haven't cottoned to it myself ' t "Of course, you must stay wit!', me as long as vou can; I -JutJc 1 n ie deeplv offended i r y u did hj lot," hispitably put ;ii tiie ( o'on- w d. "As for the castle, com 11 lake hj :o it when you have looked p :hrough it thoroughly and teal- w sed what can be made of it. If ai •on decide to settle down in lie- ai and, Mr. (iegan, you < oukl Pot s( ind a nicer spot to settle in than w Jallyran." ec "You certainlv could not.'' he ■aid Brendan. "That castle is lv (radically a ruin now, and we ould not expect it to make a ec •ood impression on you at a first wl isnection. But 1 can assure you ' eo liat in Sir Donal's time it was a fa elightful residence. That's not lie o verv long ago; but a few years ha

of neglect in this humid climate work havoc. Our food friend Mr. Glvnn will get the place for a mere song, and then you will onlv have to give '-our orders for it to be transformed into a fainpalace worthy to house even the most charming of princesses." Miss Gegan smiled and flushed slip-htlv.

"e shall look over it again tomorrow, anyhow, and then decide," she said, rather cooly, and with a suggestion of dismissing the subject. Brendan perceived that, for hi did not pursue it. 1 here was ! lull of complete silence, durinp, which he looked out of the window.

"Whv, there's Tony (lair! ' he suddenlv exclaimed. "So he's hack again from America!" "Yes," said the Colonel, rousing himself, and sitting upright "And that reminds me of something I had altogether forgotten I was surprised to receive a let i ter from him this morning ani nouncing his return, and saying ! he would call on me to-day tc 1 communicate a matter of imI oortance to the Clair family." i "What impertinent nonsense!' \ exclaimed Mrs. Clair, Mrs. Glynr ; and he husband and Brendei hutched in chorus. | "Something of imuorlance tt i the Clair family!" repeated Bren •dan airily. "A request for us t< pass round the hat, 1 suppose, tc keen a namesake out of th< workhouse." "I have quoted his own word: —but I cannot imagine what hi ' i can have to say," said the Colone j with a puzzled look. "I don' I know what I did with his letterthrew it away, I fancy." "Well, he's coming in at th< the gate now," said Brendan. "I shall tell the maid to sa} vou are engaged, Marcus," saic [ Mrs. Clair. "Pet ring the bell fo: ; Marv." I ' "No, my dear, I will see him,' , ; said Colonel Clair, quietly. "H< wrote me a. civil letter, and it wil do me no harm to see him am learn what he has to say." I "The same name," said Mr Gegan to Brendan, watching froir. the window the figure that approached on the oath skirting the lawn. "I think I notice some resemblance to you. Mr. Clair." "Oil, you merelv fancv that,' returned Brendan with a touch of irritation. "This Tony Clair is on 1" a very distance connection—and I believe he is not even that. But, of course, evervgody with the same name is desirous of nrovin"- himself our relation." "I see," commented ?Tr. Gegan rather drib - . "Well, now, I expect Tony Clair mav be a decent enough fellow in his way, but as a matter of fact, I have never known him per. sonallv. or even met him," went on Brendan, in a careless tone, conscious that he might have given a bad impression. "And all I can tell you about him is that he was a small farmer who fail"inpr to mind his own business, was bought out nearlv a vear ago bv his own herd, who had had everything in his hands. Then Tony emigrated to the United States, and 1 now he is back here again. But what he can want to say to any of us is more than I can imagine.'' Mr. Power and Mr. Glynn wenl towards the windows and looked out at Anthony Clair as he came up to the house. Colonel Clair i left the room as soon as the maid i was heard to open the hall door eto the visitor. "I got your letter, and understand that you wish to speak to me." said the Colonel, somewhat brusquely, confronting the intruder in the hall. "You have something to say which vou believe is of importance to the Clair

family?" "It is not at all a matter of n: believing it to be so," replic Anthony Clair, very deliberateh "What I have to communicate )f the utmost importance to th family." "Very well," said the Colone n a tone that was half-incredu jus and half-resigned. "If yo :are to tell me what you have t ;av here and now, we shall not b iverheard." "I saw Mr. Brendan Clair ii he window as I came to the door ,nd I fancied I recognised sorm ther members of the family ii he room with him," said Anthom lair, quietly. "If, then, you de ire me to'make my statemen ere in the hall, will you kindh ummon any members of the Claii imilv who ma l ' be in the house ) hear it. Colonel Clair had never recogised his visitor as a social equal, ad never spoken half a dozen ords to him before, but he knew in to be a genuine relation, if a >or and humble one. Hut there as something in Anthony's tone id manner that surprised him, id made him uncomfortably conious that his own attitude was intint? in courtesy. That touch- [ not alone his pride but his art, for the Colonel was a kind--dispositioned man. "Oh, in that case you must me into the drawing-room, lere Mr. Brendan Clair and a uple of other members of the milv do happen to be just now," said, quickly. "If what you ve to say is agreeable as well

!now." "You will find before you die Mr. Clair, that neople who hav« I snent all their money are not oftei s ' considered interesting to listei el to." said Brendan, with a con temptuous laugh. "I am going to nrove the excep - tion, then," retorted Anthony i with a good-humoured smilt. "Foi i though T spent mv own money ir ; Amreica, and did not earn one cent there, I have brought home i nearlv a million pounds. And ] , think that should be found ex- > tremelv interesting news—especially by the Clair famliy." CHAPTER 111. Anthony Clair, placing his cup and saucer on the adjacent piano, beamed around him in evident enI joyment at the amazed faces before him, while he slowly rubbed his i knees with his hands, which were [ shapely and white. His gaze once more came to rest on the face of ' Sadie Gegan, whose big hazel eyes were full of grave surprise. j "But—great heavens!" suddenly blurted out Colonel Clair, arrested with his hand on the door-knob in the act of hastening his unwelcome visitor's departure. "Are , you joking, Anthony Clair, or are you mad!" "No, I am not joking; and I am ready to prove that as soon as you are all seated again," answered j Anthony, calmly. "And, of course, i I am not mad. Did you ever hear of a Clair of Ballyran with enough brains to go mad?"

as important, thev will be glad to J hear it." "They certainly will—l promise you that." Anthony Clair unexpectedly rejoined, in a confident tone, as he hung his hat on the hall stand. When Colonel Clair rather fussik- ushered his visitor into the drawing-room, a wave of something very like consternation sceTned to sweep over the faces of most of those present.

"Ponpa and I will go and walk in the garden," whispered Miss Gegan to her hostess.

"Be so kind as to stay with us," returned Mrs. Clair. "This person, who is nuite a stranger, could not possiblv have anything private to say to us."

"Sit down, sit invited the Colonel, pushing a chair towards his visitor. And then he announced generallv, in a slightly uneven voice, "Mr. Clair has called on me to make a statement which he believes of importance teo the Clair familv."

"Of the verv Greatest import ance—you will admit that whe vou hear it/' corroborated th visitor, seating himself very dc liberately. And then he looke from one to another of the con nany, his gaze at length restin on Sadie Gegan, the sight <_ whose fresh beautv made hii smile so happilv that she had t smile back at him. The maid entered with fres tea. ordered before the advent c Anthony, who sat a moment silen and still, evidentlv. collecting hi thoughts, which seemed to be c an agreeable nature. "Will you have a cup of tea? Mos. Clair asked him. rigidlv. in "lied by a strict sense i etinuette to voice the invitation. "I will, and thank you," re turnes Anthonv eClair. "It ha been a iry walk from Ballyran t hereffi but to know what thirst is vou should have had my throa when I got out of the train yes terdav at Ballvran. Whv. I ha< hardh- voice enough to ask Shawi Tumnane if he could put me ir for a few days." "Ah, so you are staying a Tumnane's?" said the Colonel just to say something. "Has hi I comfortable rooms?" "Well, they're not what om would call verv comfortable," re i olied Anthony. "But after hav i ir"* been knovking about for nin< months without a home of np own, I'd take even worse and be r dad of them." "You evidently did not find it easier to make money in ricr America than in poor Ireland, Mr ('lair." said Brendan, in an insolent tone, his handsome lips curliiv- with a sneer. "At least, vom words have given me that impression." "I did not," admitted Anthonv. r.andidly. "Indeed, not alone that, but I snent almost even penny of the money I took with me. America is a wonderful country; but if vou wished to stav there as lone as I did without earnino* a dollar, you'd have to take a very full nurse with you in order to bring back anything worth counting." Mrs. (Hair looked freezing at the sneaker, and others exchanged glances. The Colonel, whose face had fallen, then said, abruptly: "You said in vour letter that vou had something of importance to the Clair familv to tell me. I am afraid I must conclude it can lie of importance onlv to yourself. To be plain, is it anv request you have to make—anything to do with money?" "It has indeed," replied Anthonv. And then, as the Colonel rose to his feet, and others did the same, he went on, "If vou will all sit down quietlvj again, I shall tell you about it j

, room, and a pair of boots after him I 'What's the matter?' I asked 'Gentleman very bad with sciatica sir,' answered the man, with ; frightened face. 'Oh, if that's al that's the matter with him, I'v< got something that will do hin good,' said I. And with that ] went into my room again anc fetched a bottle of embrocatior from my valise. I don't know whal the attendant said in introducing me, but I fancy it was that I was an Irish doctor with an infallible cure. However that may be, th< invalid let me treat him, and I gave him a splendid rubbing. He went to sleep soon after that, and I returned to my room. And when I got there I was surprised to find that what I had been rubbing the patient with was horse embrocation, taken in my valise by mistake." He paused, smiling broadly. Miss

| Gegan gave a little laugh, but j everybody else was in too tense a ,' state even to smile. "Nevertheless, the rubbing did . that poor man all the good in the .world," resumed Anthony. "The ' next morning, when he called me to ■ him, he was comparatively well and very cheerful. 'You're an Irish- . man, by your ascent,' he said, when ' i he had greeted me and thanked me j for my services; 'a big bug of a medical specialist, I guess?? 'No, | j then,' I answered, 'l'm just a poor , i Irish country gentleman, sold out ] ■of my little home -and come to

J "erica to look for something 1 do.' 'And what can you do?' hj asked, surprised. 'Well,' I ar ' swered, taken aback at such an ur, expected question, 'l'm one of th Clairs of IBallyran, who are mostl good at doing nothing, and if hard to know what to turn one' hand to after forty years of that However,' I added, hopefully, Tvi read a lot, and can play the B flat clarionette rather well, and per haps in time I may corao across some easy employment that might suit me.' 'Well, Anthony Clair,' he said, laughing, 'While you're waiting to come up against that, and have nothing better to do, you might take on a sit, as my companion, reading to me now and then and rubbing my back when I need it—for I guess you can do that, anyhow. You've got my front name—and that's a personal bond between us to begin.' And that's how 1/ became a companion to Mr. Anthony Van Rant." (To be Continued.)

"A million pounds!" repeated' the Colonel, in a dazed voice. "A million pounds!" He gropingly found his wicker Ichair and sat down heavily, heavily. "Do you mean to tell us that you got a million pounds in America, and have that sum at your disposal?" sharply asked Mr. Glynn, after a long stare. "I should have more than that, but I have the best part of it, at any rate," returned Anthony. "You see, Mr. Glynn, the lawyers in America are just as great robbers as you Irish attorneys, and they had to get their share out of my windfall." "A windfall of nearly a million pounds!" broke in Brendan. His handsome face had gone quite white, and the sneer had entirely left it. "How in the name of all that's wonderful did vou come in for that!" i "I can understand your surprise, and must give you a little time to recover your senses," said Anthony, still rubbing his knees. "Indeed, when I went to lodge my papers in the bank in Ballyran this morning, the manager fell into a dead faint, and the accountant had to pour a ' whole carafeful of water over his ; had before he came to."

"You have actually lodged the money, and——"began Mr. Glynn. "Tell us all about the amazing business," interrupted the Colonel. "Certainly, as soon as you all are ready to hear me," andswered Anthony, pleasantly. "Isn't that what I came here for?"

"We are quite ready now, my dear fellow," said the Colonel, quickly. ; "To begin at the beginning, then," said Anthony, in his leisurely way, "I may remind you that, just nine months ago, when I found myself obliged to sell out of Peafield, my man Christy Minogue I offered me three hundred pounds for ! tihe place. I had to take that, . though I should have got three times the amount, for I owed the • i villain a lot of wages, and he wanted the place, and wouldn't have let anybody else bid for it. And by , the time I had paid my debts, I j had little more than a hundred j pounds to face the world with. Notj j knowing where to go then, i] thought of America, and booked a] passage to New York, as being as good a place as any other. When I got there, I put up at the Fifth ' Avenue Hotel, the only one I knew by name, and did myself well there after the fatigue of the voyage." r "Your hundred pounds would not go far there, sir," commented Mr. Gegan, with a dry smile. ' "Judging by my first week's ' bill, it would have been spent in about three weeks, only for a lucky adventure," went on Anthony, j cheerfuly. "One evening, at the beginning of my second week in the hotel, I had gone to my bedroom when I heard someone making a terrific row. Going out to the corridor, I was in time to see a bedroom attendant bounce out of a