CHAPTER XIII.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 9, 16 December 1892, Page 23

CHAPTER XIII.

The expected patient was leaning upon the window of the workshop, so absorbed in a newspaper some three weeks old, that Body PJynn had taken off his coat and hat ani was in the act of putting on his apron, before the absorbed reader was aware of his presence. " Begor, Body, there's fine readiu' in this paper," was his first remark on recovering from his surprise at finding that the cooper had opened the half-dour and passed in unknown to him. " Pot it in jour pocket and take it away with you," said Body Flynn, placing Mb paper cap upon his round ciose-cropped head. •'I never cared about readin' till I got this hurt," he replied, trying to fold the paper with one hand. " But now lam beginnin' to take pleasure in it, as I won't be idle. I asked Joe to keep any old newspapers he'd find goin' about at the priest*, An' now I'm beginnin' to take delight in 'em." Be was Joe Oooney'a eldest brother, Con, a tall broad-sbouldered young fellow ; but pale ani worn, and with a spirit-broken depression which it was saddening to look at. Julia Flynn thought so as she folded the crumpled newspapers for him, raising her eyes to his thin face, which, neverthelesp, she thought a very handsome face. And her look of compassion perhaps ouly deepened tbe sorrowful expression in Con Cooney'u eyes, as he ! gazed down gloomily upon her, as one might gaza after some treasure that had sunk into the deep sea, from which it was hopeless to think of recovering it. " Come in and let me see that band," saU Body Flynn, leading the way into a little back room where hu kept his ointments and plasters, together with a curious collection of bones and strips, a laocet, an instrument for drawing teeth, a phial, and a few other surgical and veterinary instruments. " Bring a basin and some warm water," he called out to his daughter. Having brought the water, Julia was returning to tbe kitchen ; but seeing Con Cooaey fumbling with bis left hand at tbe chord which passed through the two highest button-holes, and kept his coat from falling off his right shoulder, she went to his assistance. The string boing untied, the coat fell from the right shoulder— the arm not being through the sleeve— and Julia stood looking into the sad face, seeming at a loss whether she could be of any further service. " Never mind , Julia," he said eof tly. « When tbe hand is dressed I'll atk you to bdp me to tie on the coat again. But I'd rather you wouldn't see the hand, 'tis so bad." BoJy Flynn put on his spectacles, and carefully and softly undid tbe bandage. •• There's no improvement," he said, holding his head back to examine the wounded hand. « I don't like how 'tis goin 1 on at all,

I'm sorry you did not take my advice and get a ticket to the diapensary. But your pride wouldn't let you." •• What more could a doctor do than you are doin' ?" returned Oon Oooney. 11 Tbe fact is," said Body Flynn, continuing his examination, " you are starvin'. That is why it isn't goin' on as well as I expected. I knew a man— in the Qu«en'u County— that had to get his hand amputated because he wouldn't go into the hospital. Now I tell you, you must go to the hospital. I'll see the doctor an' you'll be well treated."

11 1 never thought 'twould come to that," said Con Cooney. Body Flynn dipped the wounded hand gently into tbe warm water, and glanced pitifully at the athletic young peasant, who, with his chin dropped upon bis chest, trembled from head to foot, while two big tears rolled down his emaciated cheeks, which for a moment flushed crimson and then became deadly pale. " I don't see any Bbame in going to hospital till your hand is well," said Body Flynn. "But you were always a fool— always a spender— never thinking of the rainy day. Now you see the difference of it."

"I always worked hard," retnrned Oon Oooney. I was neitner an idler nor a drunkard ; an' I always went to my duty." 11 But you ppent every sixpence faster than you could earn it. You should have as good a suit of clothes as the rich farmer's son— an* you got them on credit. I'll engage you're in debt, an' how are yon to get out of it with this hand ?"

11 1 always bad dacent notions,' returned poor Con Oooney, who seemed utterly crushed. " I never done an unmanly act in my

" Well, I'll say no more to you now," said Body Plynn. « Bnt if this is not better the next day, you must go into hospital. Keep yourself dry an' warm, an' be out in the fresh »ir, an* take nourishin* food. But don't mind whiskey. Don't look about you when yon go to the bridge to find some one to go into Larry Foley'e and have a glass. You think spendin' at least a shillen, every time you come in, a religious obligation."

" I'm very bare now," retured Oon Oooney, " havin* to hire two men all the Bpring, and wages bo high."

11 Could you pay 'em at all only for the Sunday-closin' I Answer me that question."

" I was glad of the Sunday .dosio 1 ," Con answered evasively. ♦■ I nevf r cared much for the dhrink myself, but didn't want to have people calliu' me a screw, like Matty Mullowny." 11 No, you wanted to be a good fellow," returned Body with a bitter, scornful laugh. "You wanted people to flatter you. Isn't there moro respect lor Matty Mullowny now than there is for you ? He's wan of the snuggeßt men in the parish. The people that called him a screw would lend him money if be asked i», an' court his friendship, while they'd give you the cold shoulder, though they flattered an' praised you while you were spendin' your money like a fool."

11 The divil a lie in tba»," returned Con Oooney with a shamefaced look. " But I'll think of what you say an 1 turn over a new leaf. Mr Armstrong siid something to me wan day I was talkin' to him on Oorriglea bridge much like what you're after sayin' now, because he found out I spent fifteen-and-sixpencj at Larry's the day before. I was surprised when I saw him down the river today. I thought the poor man would never be able to fish the river again. Everybody was glad to see him down again. I won. dtr if he will be able to come up the mountain for a run. Ponsonby tella me he'Jl give him his greyhound. I have my doubts about that dog. I'd bet my life Tom Dwyer's little bitch »ud bate him on tbe mountain at any rate. He's not a fie dog for any wan that 'ud want to have a run wdout lave. A gamekeeper 'ud see him five miles away."

" Now you're all right," said Body PJynn, puttiog the finishing touch to tbe bandage. " Mind, keep it always in the cling. Here, Julia, put that string through the button-hole an' tie (he coat so as that it won't slip off bis shoulder. Will you stop an' have a bit of dinner with me ?" he asked cheerfully as he dried his hands on a clean towet."

" Do, Oon," said Julia tenderly, as she drew the coat carefully round his shoulder. " Tis just ready." 11 No, thark you, Body," returned Con Cooney,glad of an excuse for declining the proffered hospitality.

"Joe is on before me wud the horse, an' he said he'd wait at th» mill, an' give me a ride as tar as Mr Oormack's gate." •' Are you takin' the paper ? " Body asked.

11 Yes, 'tis in my pocket," he replied. 11 Oh, Con," said Julia, « will you bring this book an' tell Joe to to give it to Miss Alice ? She told me last Snnday she was goin' back to a concert tbis week, an' maybe she might want to bring the book with her." And Julia got the book with some little trouble into Oon Cooney's coat-pocket, warning him not on any account to forget it,

Body Flynn, having eaJen his dinner, went to work briskly to fiaißh the firkin he had in bands when called away in the morning

by Joe Cooney. But great as his hurry was— knowing that tbe firkin j would be called for dnriog the evening— the good-humoured cooper ' ■topped more tban once to press bis hands on his ribs, and have a silent laugh as be recalled some of the incidents of the chase after the three Olenmoynan pigs, and the aob-oonstable's comments thereon. The graphic account of the episode of the tinker's wife, and tbe new tin kettle in pgrttojilUr, appeared irresistibly droll to Body Flynn ; and as pi«tbri?f the' scene to bimielf he unconsciously made his neighbour, Fell the cobbler, represent the principal female actor in the little drattNtr It'WWs then rather startling to Bee tbe identical Nell with a thrl!eule — though not a new one — in her hand, rush into the workshop with dishevelled bair and a wild, anxious expression in her not-to-be-described countenance. Nell pulled her hopeful son Jacky after her, and, pointing to that promising youth's forehead, looked with an inquiring and terrified gaze into Body Flynn's astonished face. "What happened him ? " Body asked. " Bidin' Teryy Hanrahan'a mule," Nell the cobbler answered, keeping her eyes still fixed upon the cooper's face.

"I thought it was only the skin was rubbed off till I saw him this minute in Bully's Acre, as I was goin' for a kettle ay water, and them big red lamps on his forehead like roseberries."

Body Flynn put on his spectacles, through which his eyes began to sparkle, as, with his head thrown back, he examined Jacky's wounds." " 'Tis proud flesh," he remarked.

" Is there any danger ? " Nell asked, in an intense terror.

"Let it alone," returned Body Flynn, ',an' 'twill be well in a couple of days. People have wrong notions about proud flesh. 'Tia only a sign that a wound is gettin' well."

" God-'lmighty bless you 1" ejaculated Nell tbe cobbler, dropping upon a firkin which happened to be placed conveniently for a seat near the door. " I'll never be the better of the fright. I thought 'twas his brain was comin' out. Hoi you limb of the devil." she exclaimed, suddenly recovering her energy, and seizins: Jacky by the hair of the bead. " What am Ito do wud you ? As bad as your father is, you are fifty times woreer, you are ! you are I " And her hard knuckles sounded sharply upon the culprit's skull, till with a yell he disengaged himself from her clutches, and rushed out of the door, displaying his bare feet aud long shanks in a manner which would at once have suggested to an unprejudiced observer that Bubconstable Joe Sproul had caught Jacky the cobbler's most characteristic personal peculiarity when he referred to him while passing Bully's Acre as, " that chap with the ankles."

At the moment Sub-Constable Sprcul and Acting-Constable Finucan were passing, baring spent quite a pleasant half-bour with their new friend the bailiff in Larry Foley'd tap-room before delivering their dispatch at the police barrack. They were comparatirely cheerful, and evidently beginning to take a brighter view of human iife. Joe Sproul bad just remarked that after all, he began to think their lives had fallen in pleasant places. He canght a glimpse of the cooper's merry face, and, remembering the pretty girl he bad seen at the door an hour or two before, felt a not unnatural desire to see her again.

" Come in for a minute," said Joe Sproul cheerily, " till we have a talk with ' mine host of the cherry-tree.' He'll tell as something about that mysterious sheriff's officer."

Joe Spronl walked smilingly towards the cooper's door. He laughed good-naturedly on seeing the " chap with the ankles " rush oat against him, rubbing bis shock head and howling fearfully. Bat in another instant Body Flynn was amazed to see Sub-Constable Bproul recoil into the middle of the road as if he had encountered a hyena. Nell the cobbler stood in the doorway with the tin kettle in her band.

" Were yon evsr a tinker's wife in Limerick 1 " Joe Sproul aslttd, dapping his open hand over his mouth.

" No," Nell the cobbler answered ; " bat I was A tinkei's first and second cousin in Limerick. I remember yon."

" Come away i " exclaimed Joe SprouJ, almost breaking into a run. " This is frightful ! This is the most memorable day of my life. Unmerciful disaster follows fast and follows faster. ' Tia on the cards that the Belfast Orangeman is waitin' at the next crossroads to paj bis respects to me. An' the Cappawhite four-year-old selectin' nice-rzed wans in the qaarry on the bill. An' if there's a bog

between tbia an' Gurthoaloher station bd' a Jacky-the-Lantera specially detailed to lead me into all the deep holes, 'twon't suipriee me in the least. A gentleman's life indeed I Hurry on an' be damned to you.