Motion Picture Story Magazine (Aug 1912-Jan 1913)

THE SHAUGHRAUN 43 Corry Kinchela went from that interview burning with rage. As he paced the floor of his luxurious library, after supper, his restless mind busy with its schemes, a tapping on the window drew him quickly acros the room. It was Harvey Duff, shorn of his bushy red whiskers, and wearing, for further disguise, a black wig. Kinchela opened the window. Duff was in a tremor of excitement. "There was a fire last night on Rathgarron Head. Ye know what that means?" he whispered. "A signal to some smuggler at sea that the coast is clear," answered Kinchela, indifferently. ' ' Divil a thing was landed from that ship, barrin' only one man that was put ashore. Not a boy was on the strand to meet the boat, nor a car to hurry off the kegs. Only one thing met the boat — and that was Conn, the Shaughraun. 'Twas himself that lighted the signal — 'twas him that stud up to his middle in the salt say to carrv the man ashore." "Well, what's all this to me?" rasped out Kinchela. 1 ' Wait ! ' Who 's that, ' ses I to meself, 'that Conn would carry in his two arrums as tendher as a mother would hould a child? Who's that,' ses I, 'that he's caperin' all around, for all the world like a dog that's just unloosed? Who's that he's houlding by the two hands of him, as if 'twas Moya Dolan herself he'd got before him, instead of a ragged sailor boy ? ' " "Well, did you find out who it was ? ' ' asked Kinchela, impatiently. ' ' Robert Ff olliott ! 'Twas himself, I tell you ! ' ' answered Duff, in an agitated whisper. "Are you sure?" demanded Kinchela, his face ghastly with fear. "Am I sure? Do you think I can mistake the face that turned upon me in the coort whin they sintinced him on my evidence, or the voice that said, 'If there's justice in heaven, you and I will meet again on this side of the grave. ' ' Then, ' ses he, ' have your soul ready!' An' the look he fixed upon me shriveled up my soul inside like a boiled cockle that ye might pick out with a pin. Am I sure? I wish I was as sure of heaven ! ' ' Kinchela forced his reeling brain to think. "He has escaped from the penal settlement — ay, that's it — and where would he go to straight but here, into the trap baited with the girl he loves?" "There'll be a price offered for him, sir. Wouldn't they hang him this time?" insinuated Duff. ' ' Listen to me, ' ' snapped Kinchela. 1 ' D 'ye know what took me to Dublin ? I heard that the Queen had resolved to release the Fenian prisoners under sentence. I saw the Secretary. He mistook my fear for hope. 'It is thrue,' ses he. 'I'm expecting every day to get the despatch. I wish you joy!'" "Be jabers!" exclaimed Duff, "I'd like to have seen your face whin ye got that polthogue in the gob!" Kinchela did not heed him. "Robert Ff olliott returned ! " he murmured, distractedly. "A free man, he will throw his estates into chancery. He's a fugitive convict still; can't we deal with him?" Then, an idea forming in the midst of his confusion, he said: "Keep a watch on the Shaughraun; find out where the pair of them lie hiding. Meanwhile, I'll think what's best to be done. Be off, quick!" Conn, the Shaughraun, jaunty, happy-go-lucky, having left Robert at Shuil-a-beg with Claire and Arte, proceeded to Father Dolan 's cottage to prepare him for the great surprise. Outside the priest's door he interrupted an animated conversation between his mother, Mrs. 0 'Kelly, and Moya, Father Dolan 's niece. Conn caught the word "blackguard," as it fell from his mother's lips. "There's somebody talking about me," he said. ' ' Conn ! ' ' exclaimed Moya, running to him. Putting his arms about her, he said: "My darlin', was the mother makin' little of me? Don't belave a word that comes out of her ! She 's as