Page 168 - The snake's pass

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156 " — THE snake's pass.
a seat up here in my car, from Mrs. Kelligan's, the
night of the storm."
" I remember well," he said ; " and I was thankful
to you, for I was in trouble that night—it's all done
now." And he looked round the land with a sneer,
and then he looked yearningly towards his old farm.
" Let me introduce my friend, Mr. Sutherland," said I.
An' I don't wish to be rude
" I ask yer pardon, sir.
—but I don't want to know him. He's no frind to
"
me and mine !
Dick's honest, manly face grew red with shame. I
thought he was going to say something angrily, so cut
in as quickly as I could:
" You are sadly mistaken, Mr. Joyce ; Dick Suther-
land is too good a gentleman to do wrong to you or
"
any man. How can you think such a thing ?
" A man what consorts wid me enemy can be no frind
of mine !
" But he doesn't consort with him ; he hates him.
He was simply engaged to make certain investigations
for him as a scientific man. Why, I don't suppose
you yourself hate Murdock more than Dick does."
" Thin I ax yer pardon, sir," said Joyce. " I like to
wrong no man, an' I'm glad to be set right."
Things were going admirably, and we were all begin-
ning to feel at ease, when we saw Andy approach. I
groaned in spirit—Andy was gradually taking shape to
me as an evil genius. He approached, and making his
best bow, said :