Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 20, 2025
"Are you coming with us, Denis Ryan?" asked Murnihan. There was silence in the room for a minute. All eyes were fixed on Denis. There was not a man in the room who did not know how things were between him and Mary Drennan.
The men knew the locality in which they lived and knew the houses where there were arms. Sporting guns in many houses, revolvers in some, rifles in one or two. "There's a service rifle in Drennan's," said Murnihan, "that belonged to that nephew of his that was out in France, fighting for the English, and there's a double-barrelled shotgun there, too." "Drennan is no friend of ours," said a man.
The dead woman lay on the floor before their eyes, her daughter bent over her. Denis Ryan stood for a moment staring wildly, the hand which held the revolver hanging limp. Then he slowly raised his other hand and held it before his eyes. Mary Drennan moaned. "We'd better clear out of this!" said Murnihan. He spoke in a low tone, and his voice trembled.
None of the men present had ever taken part in any deed of violence, had ever threatened human life or openly and flagrantly broken the law. The delegate from Dublin, standing near Murnihan, looked round at the faces of the men. There was a cool, contemptuous smile on his lips. "Perhaps," he said, "you'd rather not do it. Perhaps you'd rather go away and tell the police that I'm here with you.
Without waiting for an answer, he walked on quickly towards the town. Mary stretched out her hands and clung tight to her lover's arm. She looked up at him, and fear was in her face. "What is it, Denis?" she asked. "What does Michael Murnihan want with you?" Women in Ireland have reason to be frightened now.
"He was always an enemy of Ireland." "And Drennan's away at the fair at Ballyruddery, with his bullocks," said another. "There'll be nobody in the house only his wife and daughter. They'll not be able to interfere with us." Murnihan asked for ten volunteers. Every man in the room, except Denis Ryan, crowded round him, offering to go. "Eight will be enough," said Murnihan.
They'll be glad of the information. You'll get a reward, I dare say. Anyhow, you'll be safe." Stung by his reproach, the young men raised their hands one after another. Denis Ryan raised his, though it trembled when he held it up. "So we're all agreed," said Murnihan. "Then we'll do it to-night. Where will we go first?" There was no lack of suggestions.
"What's to hinder us going out to-night?" said Murnihan. "Why shouldn't we take the guns that ought to be in our hands and not in the hands of men who'd use them against us? All of you that are in favour of going out tonight will hold up your hands." There was a moment's silence.
He marched in defiantly, staring insolently at the police-officer and at the magistrate. He displayed no emotion when he saw Mary Drennan. She looked at him, and once more shook her head. "Are you sure?" said Chalmers. "Quite sure?" "I am sure," she said. "He is not the man I saw." "Remove him," said Chalmers. Murnihan stood erect for a moment before he turned to follow the sergeant.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking