ge dead
black, which, combined with a slight squint, gave them a particularly
sinister appearance.

All else in the man--his noble proportions, his fine features, and his
frank bearing--fitted in with that jovial, man-to-man manner which he
affected. Here, one would say, is a bluff, honest fellow, whose heart
would be sound however rude his outspoken words might seem. It was only
when those dead, dark eyes, deep and remorseless, were turned upon a
man that he shrank within himself, feeling that he was face to face
with an infinite possibility of latent evil, with a strength and
courage and cunning behind it which made it a thousand times more
deadly.

Having had a good look at his man, McMurdo elbowed his way forward with
his usual careless audacity, and pushed himself through the little
group of courtiers who were fawning upon the powerful boss, laughing
uproariously at the smallest of his jokes. The young stranger's bold
gray eyes looked back fearlessly through their glasses at the deadly
black ones which turned sharply upon him.

"Well, young man, I can't call your face to mind."

"I'm new here, Mr. McGinty."

"You are not so new that you can't give a gentleman his proper title."

"He's Councillor McGinty, young man," said a voice from the group.

"I'm sorry, Councillor. I'm strange to the ways of the place. But I was
advised to see you."

"Well, you see me. This is all there is. What d'you think of me?"

"Well, it's early days. If your heart is as big as your body, and your
soul as fine as your face, then I'd ask for nothing better," said
McMurdo.

"By Gar! you've got an Irish tongue in your head anyhow," cried the
saloon-keeper, not quite certain whether to humour this audacious
visitor or to stand upon his dignity.

"So you are good enough to pass my appearance?"

"Sure," said McMurdo.

"And you were told to see me?"

"I was."

"And who told you?"

"Brother Scanlan of Lodge 341, Vermissa. I drink your health
Councillor, and to our better acquaintance." He raised a glass with
which he had been served to his lips and elevated his little finger as
he drank it.

McGinty, who had been watching him narrowly, raised his thick black
eyebrows. "Oh, it's like that, is it?" said he. "I'll have to look a
bit closer into this, Mister--"

"McMurdo."

"A bit closer, Mr. McMurdo; for we don't take folk on trust in these
parts, nor believe all we're told neither. Come in here for a moment,
behind the ba