George A. Birmingham

“ Don't you be getting it into your head that I'm either a politician or a philanthropist. I'm going to run this pier scheme through because, when there's money going, we may as well get our whack of it here in Ballintra as let it be grabbed by some other place. That's what I'm thinking of. What's in your mind is the profit you'll make out of the job yourself. Devil the other idea there is in your head this minute."
Michael Geraghty smiled again. Then he winked slowly.
"You're a smart man, doctor," he said. "You're a mighty smart man. ”

“ No man living could do it. If the colonel goes, then Thady'll refuse, for he doesn't like the colonel any more than the colonel likes him; and if you have Thady engaged, the colonel will swear by this and by that that he'll not go near the Chief Secretary—not if he was never to see a Chief Secretary again as long as he lived."
"When I say I must have them both, I mean to get them both. Listen to me now, Michael. I'm going round now to Father Henaghan and the Rev. Mr. Jackson. They'll agree all right. Just you drop into the hotel and see Thady Glynn. ”

“ He added that the inhabitants of Ballintra might count upon having the pier they wanted. He himself would see to it that the necessary money was forthcoming. Then he shook hands with each member of the deputation, placed his wife in the motor-car, gave an order to the driver, and departed.
"Dr. Whitty," said the colonel furiously, "you have grossly abused my confidence, sir. I trusted your word as I might have trusted the word of a gentleman. I find——"
"The man you have to blame, colonel," said the doctor, "is Michael Geraghty. ”

“ He's an excellent man. I was attending his children when they had the measles last month, and I happen to know that he's a most charitable man. When I tell him all you've been saying about the poor fellows that are out of work, and the benefit the building operations will be to them in the way of wages, he'll join the deputation at once. There's no difficulty whatever so far. The next two people we must secure are Colonel Beresford and Thady Glynn. ”

“ Jackson and——"
"The Protestant minister!" said Geraghty. "What does he know about piers, or about Chief Secretaries for that matter?"
"Nothing," said the doctor. "But he'll be mighty useful to us. What impresses a Chief Secretary more than anything else is a union of all creeds for a common good object. When he sees Father Henaghan and Mr. Jackson standing hand in hand in front of his motor-car he'll be prepared to give us a lighthouse if we want it, let alone a paltry pier."
"Maybe the Rev. Jackson won't go with you. I'm told he's a queer sort of man." ”

“ Then the colonel pulled up his horse with a jerk and sat glaring furiously in the direction of the convent gate. Dr. Whitty felt that there was not a moment to be lost. He darted forward and took his place beside the colonel's trap.
"Good morning, colonel. You're just in time. The Chief Secretary is in the convent. He'll be out in two minutes. Mr. Jackson is here, and Father Henaghan is inside. We're all ready. Jump down."
The colonel, by way of reply, jammed his whip into its socket, raised his arm, and pointed a finger at Thady Glynn. Dr. ”

“ Maybe I oughtn't to have repeated the like; but it's out now, and if you hadn't heard it from me you would from another; so it's as well as it is."
"I'll teach him," said Thady. "I'll give him a lesson he'll remember."
"What's the use of talking? ”