n condition, and the following day he disappeared
into the dark oblivion that we term "the world," taking 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 him while he was looking for
work.

Desmond O'Connor was the first victim to the friendship of John Gerard.
There were other young men who owed their downfall to him, not that he
bore any one of his victims malice; he was merely a man with a full
purse, and a lover of good-fellowship. "Let the young beggars look after
themselves. All that I ask is good company. It is not my place to teach
men morals," he said to one who remonstrated with him.

In the same spirit he continued to court Kathleen O'Connor, enjoying
placidly the game of love, and perfectly regardless as to the result.

CHAPTER IX.

DAYS OF STORM AND STRESS.

It was during breakfast at "Layton" that Kathleen O'Connor attacked
Denis Quirk on the subject of his treatment of Desmond. Mrs. Quirk was
breakfasting in bed; her husband had scrambled through his meal, and
rushed out to superintend the making of a drain, leaving Denis alone
with the girl. He had noticed her silence and aloofness, sure signs of
displeasure, and, as was his way, he calmly faced her in the moment of
bitter resentment.

"You are angry with me?" he asked abruptly.

"Why should I be? I have no claims upon your kindness," she answered.

"He had to go, for his own sake," he said, going straight to the point
without explanation. "It was the only hope of saving him."

She did not answer, but her eyes filled with tears, vainly though she
tried to repress them. Denis Quirk feigned not to see them.

"In Grey Town he must be ruined," he said, not unkindly.

"And what will he do alone in a great city, with no one to advise him?"
she cried.

"Fight it out and win, if he is made of the stuff I believe to be in
him. He had enemies here who were ruining him, body and soul."

"He had one friend at least in Mr. Gerard," she said.

"We had better not discuss Gerard," he replied, rising quietly.

"Mr. Gerard has told me----," she began.

"Never believe a hostile witness until he has safely stood the fire of
cross-examination," he remarked, oracularly.

"Oh, it was cruel not to give the boy just one chance