Cinder Path Tales

PADDY'S PROBATION a shudder at the thought, " 'twas fullas near it was to me, before me brith came, an' I got me stringth to yill; an' did yes hear me cry at all, at all, Misther Brown?" " Yes, Paddy," I answered, " I certainly heard you yell, and if there isany Comanche Indian can beat you, he'sa wonder. You're very sure the spook was not transparent, and that he made a noise when his feet touched the cinders, and the robe flapped in the wind ?" "Tis sure I am." "Well, you blooming idiot,"said I, chang­ ing my tone abruptly, " did you ever hear of a ghost that casta shadow, orwho made a noise with either feet or robe?" " I hev not," heanswered, witha stubborn shake of his head ;" but 'tis little av ghosts I know, an' liss I want; but tillme, thin," he said, with his head on one side and an argumentative twist to his mouth,— "till me, thin, if 'twas no spook, whatwas it?" "Nothing at ll but theworking of Larry Costigan's benzine whiskey in that thick skull of yours; or perhaps theboys have put up another game onyou." "The byes it may be, thin," he said, with an assumption of injured innocence, " but the whiskey 'tis not. Only three drinks did I take, andthot by way av frindship; a