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KING PELLINORE’S LITERARY MAGAZINE

CHRISTY -- (bashfully.) I'm slow CHRISTY. I did not, mister, not
at learning, a middling scholar only. sixpence nor a farthing coin.
MICHAEL. If you're a dunce it- JIMMY. Did you marry three
self, you'd have a right to know that wives maybe? I'm told there's a sprin-
larceny's robbing and stealing. Is it kling have done that among the holy
for the like of that you're wanting? Luthers of the preaching north.
CHRISTY -- (with a flash of fam- CHRISTY -- (shyly.) -- I never
ily pride.) -- And I the son of a strong married with one, let alone with a
farmer (with a sudden qualm), God couple or three.
rest his soul, could have bought up the PHILLY. Maybe he went fighting
whole of your old house a while since, for the Boers, the like of the man be-
from the butt of his tailpocket, and yond, was judged to be hanged, quar-
not have missed the weight of it gone. tered and drawn. Were you off east,
MICHAEL -- (impressed.) If it's young fellow, fighting bloody wars for
not stealing, it's maybe something big. Kruger and the freedom of the Boers?
CHRISTY -- (flattered.) Aye; it's CHRISTY. I never left my own
maybe something big. parish till Tuesday was a week.
JIMMY. He's a wicked-looking PEGEEN -- (coming from coun-
young fellow. Maybe he followed after ter.) -- He's done nothing, so. (To
a young woman on a lonesome night. Christy.) If you didn't commit murder
CHRISTY -- (shocked.) Oh, the or a bad, nasty thing, or false coining,
saints forbid, mister; I was all times a or robbery, or butchery, or the like of
decent lad. them, there isn't anything that would
PHILLY -- (turning on Jimmy.) - be worth your troubling for to run
- You're a silly man, Jimmy Farrell. from now. You did nothing at all.
He said his father was a farmer a CHRISTY -- (his feelings hurt.) --
while since, and there's himself now That's an unkindly thing to be saying
in a poor state. Maybe the land was to a poor orphaned traveller, has a
grabbed from him, and he did what prison behind him, and hanging be-
any decent man would do. fore, and hell's gap gaping below.
MICHAEL -- (to Christy, mysteri- PEGEEN (with a sign to the men
ously.) -- Was it bailiffs? to be quiet.) -- You're only saying it.
CHRISTY. The divil a one. You did nothing at all. A soft lad the
MICHAEL. Agents? like of you wouldn't slit the windpipe
CHRISTY. The divil a one. of a screeching sow.
MICHAEL. Landlords? CHRISTY -- (offended.) You're
CHRISTY -- (peevishly.) Ah, not not speaking the truth.
at all, I'm saying. You'd see the like PEGEEN -- (in mock rage.) -- Not
of them stories on any little paper of a speaking the truth, is it? Would you
Munster town. But I'm not calling to have me knock the head of you with
mind any person, gentle, simple, judge the butt of the broom?
or jury, did the like of me. (They all CHRISTY -- (twisting round on
draw nearer with delighted curiosity.) her with a sharp cry of horror.) --
PHILLY. Well, that lad's a puz- Don't strike me. I killed my poor fa-
zle--the world. ther, Tuesday was a week, for doing
JIMMY. He'd beat Dan Davies' the like of that.
circus, or the holy missioners making PEGEEN (with blank amaze-
sermons on the villainy of man. Try ment.) -- Is it killed your father?
him again, Philly. CHRISTY -- (subsiding.) With
PHILLY. Did you strike golden the help of God I did surely, and that
guineas out of solder, young fellow, or the Holy Immaculate Mother may in-
shilling coins itself? tercede for his soul.

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