to himself. Unfortunately it is not nearly sufficient for his needs. He is not married and so cannot plead a wife and family as excuses for getting into debt. But he is a man of i
m hurrying Dr. O'Grady over much. He grumbled a great deal, but he allowed the account in the shop attached to the hotel to run on. He even advanced sums of hard cash when some distant creditor, a Dublin tailor, for instance, who did not appreciate the doctor's personal charm, became importunate. Between what was due in the shop for tea, sugar, whisky, tobacco, and other necessaries, and the money actually lent, Dr. O'Grady owed Doyle rather more than £60. He owed Gallagher more than £1, being five years' subscription to the Connacht Eagle. He owed a substantial sum to Kerrigan, the butcher. He owed something to every other shopkeeper in Ballymoy. The only people to whom he did not owe money were Major Kent, Mr. Gregg, the District Inspector of Police, and Mr. Ford, the stipendiary magistrate. No one c
d at Portsmouth Lodge, the Major's house. Dr. O'Grady had given his opinion of a new filly which the Major had bought a few days bef
the doctor, "I'd sell that
" said the Major gloomily,
e for her in the fa
bout her she's not worth the h
I pulled him through his last attack of d. t.'s so I know all there is to know about him. He'd stick an archangel.
said the Major, "yo
y," said the doctor, "he spent th
wo
urned him out in the end he was saying that he had your cheque for £60 in his pocket. I do
I don't see that it mat
r her to him for £35 he'd think he was getting a bargain and he'd jump at it. Doyle's just the kind of foo
he archdeacon had a high opinion of the bishop beforehand, regarding him as a saintly man of childlike simplicity. He had a much higher opinion of him after he understood the failings of the animal he had bought. He then respected the bishop for his shrewdness. H
Mr. Billing's large motor-car standing outside the hotel. Doyle
otor," said the Major, "h
it's queer. I don't know what it's doing there. Nobody with money enough to own a car like
he square and greeted
big motor?" sa
tel. We're waiting for him this minute. He's getting his camera, and when
or Kent by the arm
n you tell me who was
jor, "but if he owns that car he
O'Grady, "you know that filly
d of her,"
for what he wants. His idea was to get something to do a bit of carting, and
t out of earshot of th
trifle, don
ooks," said Doyle, "you owe me £60, and I'd be tha
ll be found money to you, Doyle, if you get her at the price the Major's going to name, and you may be able to knock a pound or two off that. Under these circumstances and seeing that I'm putt
as I am," said Doyle, "and I do
. "You want anything that you can m
his camera, appeared a
otorcar," said Doyle. "Tell me this now, doc
he sort of man to be touring the country in a big motor. Go you off now and
hisper. "The General's dead this twenty years and it's a statue ther
It's just the same thing. I'll manag
ed Mr. Bill
elcome you to Ballymoy. You'll find it a most interest
, laid down his camera, and
e P. Billing. I come from America.
. "We thought you'd be sure to come sooner or later
He dropped Dr. O'Grady's hand abruptly and stared
tionship with that
ity," said
d in writing the first complete life of the founder
sibly have come t
t quiet places in which they are not likely to be over excited while engaged in their tryi
to find that you've no statue erected to th
cil is alive to its duty in the matter. At the last meeting-let me see now,
rangle between Doyle and Major Kent, shambled across to the doo
id Dr. O'Grady, "or was it the last but one, that you were
e question, but Gallagher was quite quick
last meeti
ch the memorial was to take. Some of them wanted a life-size statue in white marble. Mr. Gallagher
" said G
said Dr. O'Grady, "so as to spa
ght," said
"the question of expense ought not to be allowed t
dsome subscription or merely to say that he would help in collecting the necessary mon
il at the next meeting. Mr. Billing will hand over his subscription to the treasurer as
s interpretation of his unfinished sent
" he said, "on behalf of the people
ctor. "After all he did more fo
Mr. Billing, "and that's
n article in his paper next week saying how much we
ourse," sai
igh debate as to whether the price of the filly was to be £30 or £34. The Major had abated one pound of the price he asked at first. Doyle had, so far, r
about him," he said, "
e, "and I know as much abo
an guest, and was thinking only of the ani
tor says there's to be an article on the paper about him next week. But if there is the
of us," said Doyle. "Didn't he say a mi
t's more he says that the Urban District Council
atue to who?"
Regan, of course,
ch talk," said Doyle, "no
will be now; and there might have been. Th
er on. I'm nervous, I'm confoundedly nervous about what the doctor may be doing. You n
. "Don't I tell you he's arrangi
r other. You never know what the doctor wi
ing together in the middle of the square almost opposite the police barrack
that I'd agree to no statue? Isn't the rates high enough already without
American gentleman that'll pay for the statue. He's just after saying he will, and the Urban District Co
the cost of it there'll be no objection to the statue.
r-car he came in,
y in the town deserved to be treated with every kind of politeness and respect. A statue still struck Doyle as an exceedingly useless thing; but
oduced Major Ken
f course, is a Home Ruler. But these little political differences of opinion don't really
e Major. "What General
Regan," said
t?" said
e General. You ought to have heard of him. The Major," he said aloud, "isn't as well up in the General's history as he might be. He
g, "that the centre of this square is the site that
later the list of subscribers will have to be published. Doyle," he looked round as he spoke and saw Doyle and Gallagher standing near him. "Doyle has promised another £5. He ought to be giving more, and I daresay he will in the end. He's a much richer man than the Major, though he doesn't look it. Gallagher is good for ano
ing, "you may put me down
dly, Doyle on the back of an old envelope, Gallagher on a sheet of paper already covered wi
" he said. "A gene
ed," said Doyle. "What
he dollar," said Galla
ong with that," said Do
gher, "it won't be l
ht in passing that vote of thanks to Mr. Billing at its next
about the landlords," said Gallagher, "on
you mean by saying that I'm going to subscribe £
uiet. As you've got a camera with you, Mr. Billing," he went on, "you might like to
aid Gallagher, "it's
eat General?" said Mr. Bi
you his birthplace this afternoon. This is the house in wh
amera. A view of that house will be most interesti
. He carried it to the middle of the square and set up th
ake a public exposure of you before a total stranger, b
ing a fool of anyone. I'm helping to persuade Mr. Billing to erect a statue in
said the Maj
ady, "haven't you grasped tha
crewing the lens of his camera backwards and forwards
the matter-- Mind you, I'm not saying a word against what you'
General," said Gallagher, "I'll need to know where it is. W
lectures on modern history; and I certainly haven't the temper
said th
f that American gentleman's £100? You do, of course. Very well then. Leave the matter in my hands and don't annoy me by asking frivolous questions. Thady, the birthplace of the General is one of those ruined cottages-it doesn't in the least matt
table Moriarty were appr
"but is that a camera that the gentleman has, and
e's doing it in an entirely different spirit. So there's no necessity for you t
me what notion he has in his head. But what Constable Moriarty was saying
id Moriarty, "as soon as ever he s
the sergeant, "but yourself. I'll not
s camera, squeezed a yellow bulb and clicke
"The people of Bolivia will be interested to see it.
speaking out promptly. The photograph is taken now and whatever
the sergeant, "for what Consta
, "is that he'd be glad if the gentlema
hese parts, and Constable Moriarty would have been pleased to be took on account of bei
dy up in Dublin," sa
t. He realised at once that both Sergeant Colgan and Co
yourselves in such a way as to look as ornamental as possibl
o his pocket, and was unscrewing his camer
d, "that you got you
Mr. Billing. "Well, it can't be
y. "You've got the proper house, bu
t," said
lived there. The Government added it afterwards when the place was bought for a police barrack. What you ought to do if you
ou," said Mr. Billing. "I
and Moriarty settled themselves in stiff att
s well?" said Mr. Billing, lookin
e Bolivians to see how this country is overrun with what
portunity, "so long as the people of this country is kept in s
ajor Kent, angrily, "I can't
y. "It's only poor old Thady. You know j
said Gallagher, "and the virtues of our families corr
recollect that the Major's a Unionist. He can't be expected to listen to you peaceably; and if we do
id Doyle soothingly; "sure the
nt Colgan and Constable Moriarty relapsed fro
ady Gallagher and see the General's birthplace. I'm sorry I can't go with you myself, but I happen to be rat
era," said Mr. Billin
, "what'll I do when he starts ask
f course," sai
General till to-day. For the love of God,
nying it. Don't you spend your whole life either talking or writing on subjects that you know nothing about? You do. And what on earth's the use of your pretend