"An' the childer--what about thim?" "They'd be no standin' 'em. Why, man alive, they'd be as proud as peacocks." "D'ye think so?" "Think so, no; I know so, sure!" "That settles it. Say, Mr. Handy,"--addressing the manager,--"have yez a good fiddler that can play Irish chunes?" At this juncture Weston took a hand in the discussion, and, with an anxious desire to solve the musical problem, suggested: "We'll fix that all right, all right, as we intend to have the Weston Philharmonic Handel and Hayden Society--I think that's the name of the union--to operate as an orchestra, and Herr Heintzleman, the leader, who is a corking good fiddler, will play the dance music for you." "Heintzleman!" repeated Myles, in apparent disgust. "No, sur! No Heintzleman for mine. Not much! What! Have a Pennsylvania Dutchman play an Irish jig for me? Arrah, what the divil are yez all dreamin' about?" "Hold on, Myles, hold on! Don't get mad. Keep yer shirt on," interposed McGowan, as a peacemaker. "Myles, you and Dinny Dempsey, the blind piper, used to be good friends. Now, suppose we get Dinny. How will he suit you?" "Now yez are spakin' something like rayson, Ed McGowan. If Dinny Dimpsey does the piping work, I'll do the dancin'." "Is that a go, Myles?" "There's me hand on it." "Then Dempsey will be hired specially for you, even if I have to put up for him myself." "But he must come on the flure wid me." "Sure, Myles." "An' another thing, he must come on sober. I won't shake a leg or do a step if Dinny has any drink in him beforehand. Yez had betther understhand that." "That's a go. I promise you shall have Dempsey, and, what's more, I guarantee he will not have a sup of anything until after the show; but after the show is over he can have all he can conveniently put under his skin." This brought the preliminary proceedings to an end. By the way of closing the bargain, all hands, on the invitation of the proprietor, stepped up to the bar and made another attack on McGowan's best. The evening was drawing to a close; night had set in, and Handy and Weston, having finished their business, were anxious to get away. Gotown was a short distance from the railroad station. After they had lighted their cigars they were ready to start homeward bound. "Hold on a minute and I'll walk over with you to the train." Patsy came from behind the bar and helped the boss on with his coat, and the three started away. On their way across lots they talked of many things appertaining to the forthcoming entertainment. "By the way, Mr. McGowan," said Handy, "is there any danger about the hall not being ready for us on Saturday night?"