“'Oh! there's the funny whiskers,' he sings out. “'Good evenin', my son,' says the priest. “'Who's the fat man?' remarks Archibald, sociable. 'I never saw such a red fat man. What makes him so red and fat?' “These questions didn't make Father McGrath any paler. He laughed, of course, but not as if 'twas the funniest thing he ever heard. “'So you think I'm fat, do you, my boy?' says he. “'Yes, I do,' says Archibald. 'Fat and red and funny. Most as funny as the whisker man. I never saw such funny-lookin' people.' “He commenced to point and holler and laugh. Poor Margaret was so shocked and mortified she didn't know what to do. “'Stop your noise, sonny,' says I. 'This gentleman wants to talk to your nurse.' “The answer I got was some unexpected. “'What makes your feet so big?' says Archie, pointin' at my Sunday boots. 'Why do you wear shoes like that? Can't you help it? You're funny, too, aren't you? You're funnier than the rest of 'em.' “We all went into the library then, and Father McGrath tried to ask Margaret some questions. I'd told him the heft of the yarn on the way from the church, and he was interested. But the questionin' was mighty unsatisfyin'. Archibald was the whole team, and the rest of us was yeller dogs under the wagon. “'Can't you keep that child quiet?' asks the priest, at last, losin' his temper and speakin' pretty sharp. “'O Archie, dear! DO be a nice boy,' begs Margaret, for the eight hundredth time. “'Why don't you punish him as he deserves?' “'Father, dear, I can't. The mistress says he's so sensitive that he has to have his own way. I'd lose my place if I laid a hand on him.' “'Come on into the parlor and see the pictures, Archie,' says I. “'I won't,' says Archibald. 'I'm goin' to stay here and see the fat man make faces.' “'You see,' says Sim, apologizin' 'we can't touch him, 'cause we promised his ma not to interfere. And my right hand's got cramps in the palm of it this minute,' he adds, glarin' at the young one. “Father McGrath stood up and reached for his hat. Margaret began to cry. Archibald, dear, whooped and kicked the furniture. And just then the front-door bell rang. “For a minute I thought 'twas Cousin Harriet and the Holdens come back, but then I knew it was hours too early for that. Margaret was too much upset to be fit for company, so I answered the bell myself. And who in the world should be standin' on the steps but that big Dempsey man, the boss of the Golconda House, where me and Simeon had been stayin'; the feller we'd spoke to that very mornin'. “'Good evenin', sor,' says he, in a voice as deep as a well. 'I'm glad to find you to home, sor. There's a telegram come for you at my place,' he says, 'and as your friend lift the address when he come for the baggage this afternoon, I brought it along to yez. I was comin' this way, so 'twas no trouble.' “'That's real kind of you,' I says. 'Step inside a minute, won't you?'