He was very tired, but the warmth of his welcome brought a merry twinkle to his eyes and the ready blarney to his tongue.
"Och! divil a bit wud ye be glad to see Mike Conlin if ye knowed he'd come to arrist ye.

Jim, ye're me prisoner.

Ye've been stalin a pauper--a pair iv 'em, faith--an' ye must answer fur it wid yer life to owld Belcher.

Come along wid me.

None o' yer nonsinse, or I'll put a windy in ye." Jim eyed him with a smile, but he knew that no ordinary errand had brought Mike to him so quickly.
"Old Belcher sent ye, did he ?" said Jim.
"Be gorry he did, an' I've come to git a reward.