y; he thinks it's his last visit
to them, and I agree wid him--he'll soon have a greater 'sizes and a
different judge to meet."

"Ay, Charley, think of that now; an' tell me, he sleeps in Ballynafail,
as usual; eh, now?"

"He does of course."

"An' Jemmy Branigan goes along wid him?"

"Are you foolish, Kody? Do you think he could live widout him?"

"Well, I b'lieve not. Throth, whenever the ould fellow goes in the next
world, there'll be no keepin' Jemmy from him. Howandiver, to dhrop that.
Isn't these poor times, Charley, an' isn't this a poor counthry to live
in--or it would be nearer the truth to say starve in?"

"No, but it would be the truth itself," replied the other. "What is
there over the whole counthry but starvation and misery?"

"Any dhrames about America since, Charley? eh, now?"

"Maybe ay, and maybe no, Rody. Is it true that Tom Dalton threatens all
kinds of vengeance on the Sullivans?"

"Ay, is it, an' the whole counthry says that he's as ready to knock one
o' them on the head as ever the father before him was. They don't think
the betther of the ould man for it; but what do you mane by 'maybe ay,
an' maybe no,' Charley?"

"What do you mane by axin' me?"

Each looked keenly for some time at the other as he spoke, and after
this there was a pause. At length, Hanlon, placing his hand upon Rody's
shoulder, replied:

"Rody, it won't do. I know the design--and I tell you now that one word
from my lips could have you brought up at the assizes--tried--and I
won't say the rest. You're betrayed!"

The ruffian's lip fell--his voice faltered, and he became pale.

"Ay!" proceeded the other, "you may well look astonished--but listen,
you talk about goin' to America--do you wish to go?"

"Of coorse I do," replied Body, "of coorse--not a doubt of it."

"Well," proceeded Hanlon again, "listen still! your plan's discovered,
you're betrayed; but I can't tell you who betrayed you, I'm not at
liberty. Now listen, I say, come this way. Couldn't you an' I ourselves
do the thing--couldn't we make the haul, and couldn't we cut off to
America without any danger to signify, that is, if you can be faithful?"

"Faithful!" he exclaimed. "By all the books that was ever opened an'
shut, I'm thruth and honesty itself, so I am--howandiver, you said I was
betrayed?"

"But I can't tell you the man that toald me. Whether you're able to
guess at him or not, I don't know; but the thruth is, Rody, I've taken
a likin' to