Part 17 (1/2)

Denis Quirk laughed heartily at her remark

”You don't like liest man in Grey Town? And proud I am of it”

”Good-day!” cried Molly Healy ”I will not ruin your paper, after all, as I had intended doing But my heart is sore for poor Desmond--out there”

She, in turn, pointed towards the east before she left the office

This day was spent by Denis Quirk in fighting In the council coarded as the greatest opponent to the progress of Grey Town This was Councillor Garnett, and he was not above the suspicion that he es to further his own ends Apart from this, he was at once narrow-minded and obstinate For such men as he Denis Quirk had no mercy

The council of Grey Toas not unlike other reater part, but many of them s should not be moved Forthe i to entlemen Councillor Garnett was the chief

This specialof the council had been summoned to consider the condition of the roads in the town Year after year the council had spent less money on the roads than they deserved, and year after year the roads had degenerated At this time they were deplorable, and Denis Quirk had compelled his fellow-councillors to take action After a drive around the town, they met to discuss ways and means, and then occurred a scene that was the first skirn

At this time Denis Quirk stood practically alone Opposed to him was a body of resolute Conservatives; between the two factions, a feho hesitated, favouring Denis Quirk rather than Councillor Garnett The debate began gently, but it ended in such a storm as the municipal council chamber had never witnessed before

The mayor, a kindly ain he called the two parties to order, until finally thebeen defeated

But he was the last man to accept defeat From the municipal chanationweek Meanwhile he laid his case before the public in the columns of ”The Mercury” This accomplished, he turned holove with Ebenezer Brown, and the latter was, above all things, a good hater He had little cause to love Denis Quirk, and he possessed not a little power in the town, gained by illicit means In those days there were factions in Grey Town, as there alill be where progress confronts stagnation The skirht over ht none the less bitterly for that reason Day after day Denis Quirk found hith, a member here and there from the doubtful councillors, and public approbation abroad

But at honised relentless hostility on the part of Kathleen O'Connor, and he realised that John Gerard was too intiirl It was not for hiht to speak, no reasons to advance against Gerard, beyond an unreasoning antipathy In his heart of hearts he believed that Gerard, now an agent in the toas a worthless fellow, but such unproven beliefs are useless He could only look on hopelessly, and trust that tiht

Des visit to ”Layton” in the summer He came quite unexpectedly, and surprised Kathleen one afternoon when she was reading to Mrs Quirk out in the garden Molly Healy was there, too, cutting flowers for the church, returning every now and again to interrupt the reading

Des up the avenue, lined by trees and shrubs, and paused to look at the group on the green lawn under the shade of a large elh it had lost some of the tan associated with country life His eye was clear, and his step free; there was the dignity of self-respect in the way in which he carried hi her eyes with her hand to avoid the glare of the sun, she took one look at him Then she dropped her basket of flowers, and hurried towards hi:

”It is Des up and dropped her book The two girls hastened to meet him

”Take him away to your room, Kathleen,” said Mrs Quirk, when she had welcomed Desmond ”I can look after myself, and you have much to talk about”

”Let me look after you, Granny,” cried Molly Healy; but she cast a regretful eye at Kathleen and Desmond

”No, Molly; you can come with us and hear what he has to say for himself,” said Kathleen

”May I, then? But I would only be in the way,” suggested Molly

”Not one bit, Molly Come and listen to my wonderful tale of adventure--a story of robbers slain, wild aniood fairies and witches,” said Deserous place for young ht,” replied Desmond, airily ”I am not on the side of the saints or the sinners”

Molly Healy noted this reply, but she abstained fronise that theless than tepid

”You will be coested