Page:The Social War.djvu/46

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THE SOCIAL WAR OF 1900; OR,


to git a doctor for to trate Mr. Juno; an' I had me idees rubbed up that this Dacon Stew, what luvs yer lady, an' hates Mr. Juno, becase ye luv, or raspect, Mr. Juno more than he like to sea; I mane, that Dacon Stew has played ye an' yer father false, by gittin' a tricky doctor what will pison Mr. Juno!" said Pat, with great agitation.

"Oh, Pat, you surely cannot think that of Deacon Rob Stew! He is a good Christian, and would not do such a foul act as to employ a murdering physician," ejaculated Miss Armington, with an internal shudder.

"Be me sowl, Miss Armington, may I stop to belave me own senses, ef it aint the trooth," said Pat, earnestly.

"But, Pat, how do you suspect or know all these things?" responded Miss Armington.

"Good lady, only kape sacret, an' I'll tell ye. That day whin Dacon Rob Stew was at yer bedside, whin ye axed yer father to imploy a doctor for Mr. Juno, I tould Judy McCrea, who tould me somethin' aboot him what strengthened me suspicions, that I wanted her to sind Dacon Rob Stew out by the side doore, whin I runned accidentallee against his honor, which made him spake to me; I humbly apolo gist, an' axed him aboot Victor Juno in a manner what made him belave I hated Mr. Juno, whin the ould curmudg—beg yer pardon for forgittin' meself"—stammered Pat, when Miss Armington interruptingly said: "Go on."

"Well, yer ladyship, I was agoin' to say, Dacon Stew spake confidenge to me, an' said: 'Pat, if I could trust ye, I have a job that would make ye rich.' I suspected his diviltry, whin I blarneyed him, an' what ye tink, he unbossomed the dirtiest plans of his hypocretcal hart to meself, and I t ought, be jabers, Pat, here bees a way to larn sacrets that will be of sarvice to me luvly mishtress, whin I swore, wid one eye shut an' a mental resarves, to lade him into the faild of battle.

"He tould me anough to conclude that he meant to pison Mr. Juno; an' me plans air, that ye sacretly go to