Part 15 (2/2)
She pointed to where an oldthe road, a dilapidated wreck of humanity, for Mason was the champion drunkard of Grey Town
”It is such an old man as that you will become,” said Molly
Desmond flushed crimson at her words, and he turned in repressed fury on her
”Mind your own business,” he said ”Refore pensioners, and kindly allow me to look afterher to look after hiive ht, as she watched hination overca to resent interference, and to forget for the moment the bonds of friendshi+p that bound hi to cliirl met Denis Quirk
Like Kathleen O'Connor, Molly Healy was not quite sure how she regarded the er of ”The Mercury” He was always brusque and unapproachable, yet she infinitely preferred his attitude to the polish of Gerard
”Looking at Deshed
”And why not? Isn't it a pleasure to look at a handsoood 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 intohim 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 wholeso Denis Quirk summoned Desmond into his room
”See here,” he said, ”we are not teetotal on this paper, but we knohere 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 ood fellow, and he wants to pull you up short Don't ruin a pro life, Desmond Give Gerard a wide berth; he's a bad coood fellow What have you against hiood 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 Desht he staggered into the office in a half-drunken condition, and the following day he disappeared into the dark oblivion that we ter with him a letter of recommendation from Cairns to the editor of a metropolitan paper
”I recommend you for your talent, not for your bad habits See that you cure them, or Smythe will shoot you out as Quirk has done,” said Cairns
But he gave the boy five pounds to help hi for work
Desmond O'Connor was the first victim to the friendshi+p of John Gerard
There were other young men ed their downfall to him, not that he bore any one of his victims malice; he was ood-fellowshi+p ”Let the young beggars look after theood company It is not my place to teach men morals,” he said to one who remonstrated with him
In the sa placidly the gaardless as to the result