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The priest passed off the unthought irreverence without notice. "I'll go and see him now, Ann. The man may be very sick. Get me my hat. I left it in my bedroom when I came in last night from O'Leary's." Ann gave him his hat at the door, with another bit of information. "Miss Atheson telephoned for me to ask ye to drop in to Killimaga on yer way back. Ye'll be stayin' fer lunch, as they call it?"
His Excellency arrived at last in a low, swift-running automobile, the chauffeur of which seemed to know the road very well, and seemed also to be acquainted with every turn in the village. There was no one to notice that, when he passed the gates of Killimaga, he laughed quietly. At Killimaga the gardens had never looked lovelier. Autumn was kind and contributed almost a summer sun.
"Yes, I probably shall, Ann. It will save you a little work, and there are plenty of servants at Killimaga." He went down the walk to the street. Ann looked after him, the rebuke forgotten. "Savin' me work, is it? Faith, he ought to be thinkin' of savin' his pinnies, slashin' thim around to the likes of McCarthy."
If so, come to Killimaga to-day, quite early. Somehow I am always lonesome now. Ruth." It was rather strange or was it? that, in spite of what Mark knew, he watched his chance and, when the waiter turned his back, kissed the sheet of scented paper. Saunders was in the hotel office when Mark came out of the dining room. The constable was with him.
"You must pardon me, Father," began Mark, "for coming so soon after your noon meal " Mark hesitated about saying "luncheon," not knowing the habits of the rectory "but, frankly, I wanted to talk to you before " "Before we go to Killimaga," supplied Father Murray as Mark paused. "Yes, I know that you are invited. Sit down and open up. I am always glad to talk and to listen, too. What is it?"
Mon Dieu!" she cried, wringing her hands. "Miss Ruth is gone. They have taken her away in a great car. Mon Dieu, Father! Come come at once!" The priest stepped into the tree, and Mark followed closely. As he had surmised, the tree was a secret entrance into the grounds of Killimaga.
She's been in Sihasset well nigh on a month." "But where " the agent turned to look at the unbroken wall "where in thunder did she come from?" The constable, pushing back his helmet, scratched his head. "Damfino," he said. "That's the rub. There's no gate on this side of Killimaga." "Killimaga?" "A rich old Irishman built it and put a wall around it, too.
The Justice became serious. "Elder, I suppose you know Roberts who keeps the Depot Hotel?" "I know him only slightly." "He was in to see me to-day, on what he called 'important business. He is a crony of my constable. He had a cock and bull story about that lady at Killimaga, who goes to your church. I guess the constable told it to him.
Do you see why I suggest that Sihasset is greatly honored to-day?" Mark could not conceal his astonishment. "But why under heaven," he said, "should a foreign diplomat be mixed up in a camp of Slavic laborers?" "There are strange things in diplomacy," said Father Murray. "And stranger things in Sihasset when the town constable has so much interest in your taking of tea at Killimaga.
In fact, I do not believe you would care for the same kind of position you had before would you? I suppose I shall have to let you into a little secret. Mark is not going to stay all the time on his Irish estate. He has bought Killimaga and expects to be here for at least part of each year. I heard him say that he would try to influence you to become his intendent."
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