Cinder Path Tales

PADDY'S PROBATION 9 1 must dress better orhe would have no show for "that job." Now, you must not think that Paddy was anybody's fool. He was green enough, but began to pick up in a wonderful fashion after the boys got at him. He became more and more handy anduseful, until Ibegan tothink I might do worse than to keep him after all, though not a hint did I give him of the pos­ sibility. It was on a Saturday night, when I had nearly made up my mind to give hima trial, that Paddy had his experience with the "ghostly hurdler," his last and crowning test, —a test that made nothing of all that had preceded, and that tried Paddy's soul almost tothe limits of its endurance. Indeed, the rough horse play and physical trials through whichPaddy went,I more than half believe he enjoyed as well as the boys, and he probably blundered into traps which he clearly saw, and did not care to avoid, if they gave anybody any satisfaction. But with all Pat's courage he was as arrant a coward as ever breathed whenthe powers of the unknown world were arrayed against him. He believed most firmly in banshees, spooks, goblins, andlittle people. Now he was to be assailed where his soulwas weakest. I was at work in my little office at the gym-