Page 51 (1/1)

When the time of departure approached, Mr Van Wink went to the bar and paid both their own and Haldane's bill, saying that they would now vacate the room On his return Ketchem had so far aroused Haldane that he was able to leave the house with their assistance, and yet so intoxicated as to be incapable of thinking and acting for himself They took him down a side street, now utterly deserted, and left hiery, from whence still issued the voices of some late revellers Five minutes later the "owl train" bore froht be called with a certain aptness birds of the night and of prey

Haldane re stupidly at a distant street la--that a misfortune of some kind had befallen hione to sleep again had not the door opened, and a ed, who exclaimed: "Faix, an who have we here, noddin' to himself as if he knew more'n other folk? Are ye waitin' for some un to ax ye within for a comfortin' dhrop?"

"Take me 'ome," mumbled Haldane

"Where's yer ho himself in his native town

"By me sowl, if it isn't Boss Arnot's new clerk Sure's me name is Pat M'Cabe 'tis Misther Haldane I say, are ye sick?"

"Takeat two or three of his cronies who had gathered at the open door; "it's a disase I'ood care to kape out o' the way of ould man Arnot when I'm so afflicted He has a quare way o' thinkin' that ivery aler as if made in a mash-shine shop, bad luck till 'im"

Perhaps all in Mr Arnot's employ would have echoed this senti the his eot that the latter was often oiled, but that he entirely neglected to lubricate the wills of the former with occasional expressions of kindness and interest in their welfare Thus it came to pass that even down to poor Pat M'Cabe, , all felt that their e taskmaster, who ever looked beyond them and their interests to what they accomplished for hi the men, and the tendency of each one to look out for hiard to others was increased If Pat had served a kinder and reater consideration for the intoxicated youth; but Pat's favorite phrase, "Divil take the hindmost," was but a fair expression of the spirit which animated his master, and the majority in his employ When, therefore, Haldane, in his thick, iain said, "Take me 'ome," Pat concluded that it would be the best and safest course for hi hty onstiddy on yer pins; but I' house afore et sober, and ould man Arnot find it out, I'd be in the street meself widout a job 'fore he ate his dinner Stiddy now; lean aginst s so"