O'GRADY'S FOX 73 



" Good-niglit to ye, Pat, an' it's divil the penny less 

 nor five pounds he'll give ye for the varmint if he likes 

 it," were the rustic diplomat's parting words to the 

 keeper, as he gleefully set off homewards, carrying on 

 his shoulders a sack containing a sorry -looking specimen 

 of the vulpine family. Long ere the worthy Denis, 

 however, had reached his domicile he had transferred 

 his " bag of tricks " to the tender care of another 

 " gintleman," as our story will presently show. 



The day was still very young when Denis's landlord. 

 Squire Egan, and his cousin, Jack Despard, returning 

 from an early morning gallop, met 0' Grady hurrying 

 along the road leading to his homestead, as though he 

 were walking for a wager. As the farmer approached 

 nearer, they saw that he was splashed with mud from 

 head to foot, his clothes were snagged in a dozen places ; 

 in short, he bore the appearance of a man who had just 

 been dragged through an acre of furze. 



The horsemen, who were quietly walking their hacks 

 along the turfy margin of the russet-bracken-fringed road, 

 were almost upon Denis before he noticed them, and on 

 the Squire haihng him with, " Good-morning, Denis. 

 What brings you out so early in the day ? " he rephed, 

 somewhat sheepishly, " Sure, your honour, I've been 

 afther doin' some fencin' where the bullocks broke out 

 last night, an' I got up early to have everythin' done 

 in time for the hunt." 



" And do you think we shall find a fox in that Kttle 

 spinney of yours to-day ? " continued Egan, wondering 



