Part 3 (2/2)
”I a,” murmured the priest
Dr Marsh, however,a convenient tie at his ene him critically After a moment's pause, he asked:
”Are your affairs in order, Brown?”
”Mind your own business, sub-dividing men into small allote everything if I were you Your money won't buy you a passport,” said the doctor ”Increase your subscription to the hospital from threepence to sixpence, and lower your rents to that they should be, before it is too late Your tiet a penny ofor dead,” replied Ebenezer Brown
”That shows you have a little wisdo, for I would poison you, and believe I was perforet to business,” cried the priest, anxious to terle ”Dr Marsh and I am here to discuss what is to be done with Michael O'Connor's children”
”I am here to help the children,” said Ebenezer ”Not with money,” he added hastily, ”but with sound advice”
”The only thing you ever gave away,” commented the doctor
”Eh? Yes; it isinto deafness ”Now, Des”
To this reht----”
”You rowled Ebenezer ”Your father was ienerous man,” replied the doctor, hotly
”No doubt you think so He lined your pockets, I believe”
Dr Marsh could stand this no longer He rose, pale with fury, but Father Healy gently pushed hi attention to the old lared at one another across the table; the doctor growled out ”Miser,” Ebenezer muttered ”Quack” But, fortunately, Desmond O'Connor entered the room at that moment, and distracted the attention of the company
”Well, Desmond,” cried Ebenezer Brown, ”I need an office-boy; hoould you like the billet?”
Des crimson He was 18, and to be ter his shaer, went to the boy and placed a hand kindly on his shoulder
”Take the rungs one by one if you would be at the top, Des there,” sneered Ebenezer Brown
Father Healy offered no reply He had not come to quarrel, and where was the use? But Dr Marsh answered quickly:
”You may sneer now, Ebenezer Brown--it is easy to do that--but the day will co Father Healy to help you, for he is as certain to be saved as you to be lost”
This defence came as a surprise to everyone present, perhaps most of all to the priest The doctor was accustomed to scold and taunt him; this unexpected championshi+p alreatly annoyed even to retort, but he glanced vindictively at the doctor
”And now for Kathleen Mrs Quirk would like to have her at Layton as a corunted the doctor ”Quirk was a grocer”
”And where is the harm in that?” asked Father Healy, ”if he were honest?”