ice whatever
of young Kerrigan's cornet. But the continual repetition of the tune
gradually beat it into his brain. He found his pencil moving across the
paper in a series of short staccato bounds every time young Kerrigan got
to "Never, never, never." He became by degrees vaguely uneasy. The tune
was one which he had certainly heard before. He could not remember where
he had heard it. He could not remember what it was. But he became more
and more sure that it was connected in his mind with some unpleasant
associations. At last he found it impossible to go on with his work. The
most passionate invective of the most furious of the County Councillors
failed to move him to any interest. He glanced at his watch. It was just
one o'clock. The meeting of the Reception Committee was to take place
at half-past one. Gallagher felt that he had just time to investigate
thoroughly the disagreeable tune. He got up and left his office.

Constable Moriarty was standing at the door of the barrack listening to
young Kerrigan. Being himself a musician, he appreciated the difficulty
of playing "Rule Britannia" on a cornet, and enjoyed hearing young
Kerrigan's efforts. When he saw Gallagher come out of his office he was
greatly pleased, and showed his feeling by grinning broadly. Gallagher
saw the grin, and his suspicion that the tune was an offensive one
deepened at once. He crossed the road.

"What's that," he said, "that young Kerrigan's playing?"

"It's a new tune," said Moriarty, "and it's hoped that the town band
will learn it."

"Where did he get it?"

"I'm after hearing," said Moriarty, "that it was the doctor taught it to
him. But I don't know is that true. You can't believe the half of what
you hear in this town."

"What tune is it?"

"I don't know that I could put a name to it this minute; but there's
no need for you to be uneasy, Mr. Gallagher. It's not what you think it
is."

"I'm not thinking about it at all," said Gallagher, very untruthfully.

"I'm glad of that," said Moriarty. "I was afraid from the look of you as
you came out of the office that you might be thinking it was 'God Save
the King.' But it's not."

"I was thinking no such thing, for young Kerrigan knows and the doctor
knows, and you know yourself, Constable Moriarty, that the people of
this town is all good Nationalists, and that if the tune you're after
naming was to be played in the streets----"

"It's not it, anyway," said Moriarty, "so you may