ter him with tears
in her eyes.

"Wouldn't I give my life for Desmond!" she thought, as she watched him
until he turned a corner. For his part, indignation overcame every other
feeling. He was sufficiently young to resent interference, and to forget
for the moment the bonds of friendship that bound him to Molly Healy.

Turning to climb upwards to the Presbytery, the girl met Denis Quirk.
Like Kathleen O'Connor, Molly Healy was not quite sure how she regarded
the manager of "The Mercury." He was always brusque and unapproachable,
yet she infinitely preferred his attitude to the polish of Gerard.

"Looking at Desmond?" he laughed.

"And why not? Isn't it a pleasure to look at a handsome man?" she
answered.

"I hope you gave him a good talking to. My mother says that Molly Healy
is the one that can do that," he said.

"Wait until you are standing for Parliament, and then you will see what
Molly Healy can do," she replied. "But you should look after that boy,
or he will get into mischief so deep that there will be no getting him
out."

"I have an eye on him, never fear," he said, and left her abruptly, to
her infinite amusement.

"Denis Quirk has no manners, but he doesn't mean any harm," she told her
brother. "It is only his way; a hard crust, but a good wholesome crumb."

That very morning Denis Quirk summoned Desmond into his room.

"See here," he said, "we are not teetotal on this paper, but we know
where to stop. It's time you stopped. Make a note of that."

"Perhaps I had better go," cried Desmond in a passion.

"I don't actually say that, for there's good stuff in you, but if you
can't behave, you can't go too soon," said Denis.

Cairns was standing near the door, and he heard these exchanges. He had
a very kindly feeling for Desmond, and when the reporter came from Denis
Quirk's room Cairns drew him into his own.

"Quirk is blunt, but he is true," he said. "He sees that you are going
the way of many another real good fellow, and he wants to pull you up
short. Don't ruin a promising life, Desmond. Give Gerard a wide berth;
he's a bad companion for a man like you."

"Gerard is a good fellow. What have you against him?" cried Desmond.

"He is altogether too good a fellow for a penniless reporter that has a
place to win in the world," said Cairns.

"He is the only white man in Grey Town!" said Desmond.

Remonstrance was thrown away on the boy. One night he staggered into the
office in a half-drunke