Out of the West

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18807, 1 December 1932, Page 4

Out of the West

A Charming Irish Love Romance,

CHAPTER XVIII (Continued). ‘‘Good Lord!" cried Terry. “That’s a storm coming. We must run for it!’’ As though to emphasise his remarks a distant boom of thunder echoed among the hills. “We must take shelter somewhere,” he continued as he set the car in motion. "There’s rain coming, and they don’t put covers on these cars, unfortunately.” ’ A flash of lightning ripped the clouds and was followed by a louder crash of thunder. Like an advancing host of malignant spirits the writhing cloud shapes spread themselves gradually seaward until the beautiful effulgence of the afterglow was completely obscured. The lightning became more frequent and vivid, and as the | thunder rolled like heavy artillery the I rain lashed the road with such fury I that the water bounced up in spray. "In here quickly I" called Terry, as he stopped the car and helped Sheelagh to alight. Together they ran to a cave in the mountain side. They were Just in time. The rain came down as though the clouds had burst, and the little car, looking like a long metal box on wheels, ITlied almost quicker than the water could run out below the doors. "Aro you wet?" Terry asked, brushing away the drops that stood on his woollen jumper. “No,” replied Sheeiagh, taking off her cloak. "It was lucky I brought this. What a pity the weather has turned out so badly 1 Look, you can’t see a thing now'." A veil of mist and rain obscured what had shortly before been a beautiful scene, and the gathering darkness made matters worse. "I'm awfully sorry I have brought you into this, Miss Coolln,” said Terry apologetically. "Oh, don’t be sorry at all, Air Brandon. It was my fault entirely. I should not have come so far. Nora said there was going to be a storm." "I’ll soon run you home when the rain oases off." Sheeiagh had the greatest difficultyin keeping the conversation away from herself. Time after time she fenced questions and asked Terry about Inisroe I-lall. lie spoke about his people and Oxford, and the coincidence of the note being delivered to MacDonagh, who happened to be his father’s landlord for Ihe time being. “I’d like to fake you over to Inisroe," he said rather wistfully. "Whatever for?" asked Sheeiagh, her heart heating rapidly. "To sec my people," was the bold reply. "Now you’re blarneying again, Mr Brandon.” "No, I’m not. And don’t call me Mister Brandon. I’m Terry, and I’m going to call you Mary!" Sheeiagh laughed, but it was more to 'hide her emotion than to express mirth. "Surely! You couldn’t be taking a farmer’s daughter to a place like Inisroe Hall, where the quality— ’’ “Farmer’s daughter or not! I love you, Mary, I love you I" Before Sheeiagh could prevent it—even if she wished—he had seized her in his arms and kissed her passionately. “We’d better go," she said with holghtencd colour, "The storm’s over. I thought you were an English gentleman!” "I’m sorry, but I'm not," said Terry penitently,. as he helped her into the car and started the engine. "I’m an

I Irishman!" I CHAPTER XIX. Larry Shaughncssy, the Spanish sailor, and one of his other boon companions, were at the shebeen in the wood behind Inisroe Hall when the storm broke. IThe weather favoured them, as on such a dreadful night there was no need for a guard. Nobody would willingly venture out in the tempest of , rain. To the ordinary observer the ram- = shackle building which contained the illicit still was just an old shed used by woodcutters on their infrequent visits to fell trees, but underneath was a good-sized chamber dug out of the soft earth, and supported by props provided by the forest Itself. Access was through a trap door in the floor of the shed and down a wooden ladder. A thick layer of earth on the cellar flap completely hid any sign of an entrance below ground, butventllation was furnished by a series of air shafts which were cut from the cellar 2 in an oblique direction, the various entrances being hidden In the bracken, and guarded by sharp pieces of stone to prevent the incursion of rabbits and other small burrowing animals. The Spaniard was due to Join his ship at the nearest port the next day, and the three men had met for a final convivial gathering, Larry Shaughncssy pointed to a row of large stone bottles which could just be seen by the light of the oil lamp that hung from the wall. “ There they are, Alvarez," he said, "all ready for ye when ye go. “ Carry them In box—eh?” 1 “Of course Paddy and me will be | helping you when It's dark." I " All right. Manana." a " You and your manana,” sneered

j Larry. "It's manana every time with j you. Rut It won't do now. We’ve done putting off. You’ve to get the stuff in the boat to-night, so that you can hand it over to the captain when he waits off the shore for you.” The Spaniard laughed. “ Let’s taste some of it 'first.’’’ lie was about to take one of the row of bottles when Larry stopped him. “Not |<hat. That’s new potheen, an’ not good for ye. It’s too new. It'll be ready when it reaches tin* oilier side of the ocean, but you mustn't touch il now. Resides, we want Hie money for it.” "Am I a thief? Won't you get the I money?” I i “I’m mil saying Ih:i I . I’m saying that liio hollies are full, and nothing j must he taken out of lliem. There's ! the stuff for us.” I lie indicated an uncorked holllc as lie spoke. ’’l’.omc on, hoys, let's drink II ourselves good luck.” lie Illicit the three tin mugs, and they clinked them together as they drank the toast. The pledge, in fact. ■ was 'honoured so many limes th.it the ' stone holt le- -which had heen ra I her | less Ilian half fill I —was soon com- | plolely einply. j I Paddy Lauiguu wanted to sing, but i

Herbert Galway. (Author of “The Squire of Redesby," "Fetter? of Silk,” etc.)

Larry Shaughnessy advised packing the spirit ready for shipment first. 5 Tll e Spaniard enthusiastically agreed and began immediately to drag the box into the centre of the floor. Ite | was placing the bottles on a layer of straw when Lanigan suggested they sll °uld spend the evening In the town ! Shaughnessy, who was tacitly ’ acknowledged as the chief, demurred, j hut the other two men expressed a determination to go by themselves if , ho refused. There was no confidence I among them——root one wouf.d ,trust , the other—so Larry, to his annoyance, I was obliged to agree. ' As though to prove his readiness to . complete his task, Alvarez obtained a . hammer and nails, and prepared to , fasten the box. i “Go see what the weather is like,” i he suggested to Larry, and Paddy • Lanigan followed his leader up the steps. i While the two men were lifting the ■ heavy trap-door, and struggling -up the narrow stairway, at the same time ! the Spaniard deftly knocked off, with i the hammer, the top of one of the s stone bottles he was packing. As the feet ot the others disappeared 1 in the darkness of the upper floor, he seized a mug and rapidly filled it ’ with the new liquor. The bottle; was broken close to the j firmly-embedded cork, and could 1 easily be handled by the curling , "ear.” “■lt's all right," called Shaughnessy ' from above, a minute or so later. "It’s stopped raining. Gome on; we haven’t much time." Alvarez drained the mug, and went after them, first extinguishing the hanging lamp. Thg night was quite dark as they , Picked their way along the narrow 7 track that ran down from the wood to the deep lane. The Spaniard was in- . dined to be talkative, but as he was , rather Incoherent, and speaking in his native tongue, his companions took little notice of him. As though by common consent they wenl across the bridge, down a narrow street to a waterside inn that bore an old sign supposed to represent a flight of wild geese, but. which was familiarly known as Andy’s. Sitting almost doubled up close by the dying tire was a very aged man. lie wore an old hat, and had a s*'ort day pipe between his toothless gums. He turned bleary eyes towards the newcomers as they entered, then resumed the monotonous crooning which their advent bad apparently interiuptAndy served the three men without any question of payment. He knew they would pay if and when they had tlie money. Larry Shaughnessy settled with him at odd times ' when funds permitted. Paddy Lanigan—under the influence of the gloomy interior and the remembrance that his Spanish companion was leaving later that night—began to sing the "Irish Emigrant” in a voice whose mournful tone was induced to a great extent by the quantity he bad consumed. At the same time the old man in the . corner was droning a ballad reminiscent of Irish oppression, with a native refrain. No one appeared to understand what it was all about, but the landlord had heard it many times and knew the drift of it. So" far af the rest of the company were concerned, however, the only audible line was the refrain: Ala chreevin evln alga, 01" (Aly fair, noble maid), “ Can’t ye hold yer whisht?” exclaimed Lanigan, after several attempts to render his own musical contribution. "iSittln’ groanin’ there while better men. . ." "Whose a better man?" came a truculent challenge from the semidarkness. “ What does he be making that bother about, then?” “Lave him be. Old Dinny’s a friend o’ mine." “ Och. Listen to the boy. Well, I’m going to sing this song,‘an’ if yc ■ interrupt again i’ll hit ye." The answer was prompt. The , speaker sprang out from the darkness ] as the song started, and Paddy Lani- - gan was too busy to slug any more. As lie and the Spaniard were likely to become Involved in the row, Shaughnessy acted on the precept that discretion was the better part of 1 valour, and led the way back to the ! street. 1 Lanigan came out backwards, still fighting his pursuer. Larry Shaugh- , nessy seized his collar as he drew near and dragged him out of tho danger zone. "Let go," protested Paddy, "while j I kill him." J For answer Larry jerked him along ( Still further. . “ Where’s Alvarez?" < "Stay where ye are till I find him,’” t commanded Shaughnessy as he returned to the inn, but tho Spaniard 1 was nowhere to bo seen. t A sudden suspicion came lo him. Perhaps Alvarez iiad gone back to the \ shebeen alone lo have his 1111 of the ’ forbidden polhcen. i " Como up with me as quick as ye ' can,” he said to Lanigan. ‘‘An’ wc’ll get Iho stuff down to the boat as 1 soon as it’s ready. ] s (To be Continued.) j ’