of things under way.
Have patience. And tell me now how many Republicans should you estimate
there are in New Ireland?"

"Estimate? Sure, and that's a large word for them. There's Grimmer, the
cashier and chief clerk o' the savin's-bank. There's Handy, who keeps
the real-estate office. And did ever ye notice, Mr. Riley, how, when a
man has a soft-payin', easy-workin' job, 'tis ten to one he's a
Republican?"

"I've spoken of it so often myself, Mr. Kearney, merely by way of
humorous observation, that my party loyalty has been doubted. If you
would never have your loyalty suspected, Mr. Kearney, you must never let
on that you possess intelligence; but have patience and we'll have that
changed some day--maybe. So those two are the leaders, are they?"

"Leaders, man! That's all of 'em."

"Two? Two out of nigh five hundred! Well, glory be, what kind are those
two? The fighting kind?"

"Har-rdly the fightin' kind, Mr. Riley. They couldn't well be that in
New Ireland, bein' Republican, and remain whole. Har-rdly! No, not if
they were John L. Sullivans, the pair of 'em. Among five hundred
quarrymen, d'y'see, Mr. Riley, and they mostly young men, there's always
plenty of what a man might call loose energy lyin' round--specially
after hours and Sundays and holidays; surely too much for any two, or
two dozen, disputatious individuals to contend against. And yet, as I
said, the easiest, quietest people living here----"

"Yes, yes; I'll bet a leprechaun's leap against a banshee's wail I know
what peaceable kind they are. And I think I know now why I was--No
matter about that though. Could you, Mr. Kearney, get somebody to pass
the word to the quarries that the Republican speaker is here according
to announcement, and that his name is Riley?"

"I'll send me boy. Dinnie!" called the landlord. No answer. "Dinnie!" No
answer. The landlord opened his lungs and roared: "Dinnie!!" Then he
looked out of the dining-room window. "H-m! I thought as much. Look at
him peltin' it on his bi-sigh-cle for the quarries! He heard you say
Republican and 'twas enough. No fear now--not a soul in New Ireland but
will know it before dark. And--but excuse me one minute, Mr. Riley."

The landlord stood up to greet a forlorn-looking old woman, who, with a
man's overcoat wrapped round her, had appeared at the dining-room door.

"How are you to-day, Mrs. Nolan? About as usual? Well, don't be
worryin'. Yes, you'll find Delia in the kitchen. Go in."