DENIS QUIRK'S HOMECOMING.
There is a large field beside the house at "Layton," sloping downwards
from the rise, on which the house stands, towards the road. It is
particularly green in spring and early summer, while scattered here and
there about it are giant gum-trees, left purposely for shade. Here Denis
Quirk gathered the employees of the "Mercury," their wives, children,
and relations, soon after his return to Grey Town. In the centre of the
field was a huge marquee, with a great table in it spread with
snow-white linen and adorned with flowers and coloured ribbon. The
silver, cutlery, and glass, together with a multitude of eatables and
tempting drinks, proclaimed that this was provided for hungry appetites
and for the thirsty. Waitresses in black dresses, with white aprons and
caps, flitted backwards and forwards, arranging the table; occasionally
an inquisitive child peeped in to view the arrangements, while now and
again Molly Healy or Kathleen O'Connor entered to confer with the
caterer.
There were other marquees in the field, places of interest and curiosity
to the smaller guests. In one of these were sweets in abundance, to be
had for the asking. The young lady in charge was the kindest and most
obliging dispenser of sweets that any child had ever yet seen. She did
not ask, "How much?" nor did she expect payment in base metal. A "Thank
you" and a smile was sufficient to satisfy her. In another there was an
amusing man, whose purpose it was to make children, both young and grown
up, laugh. With him was a mysterious gentleman who performed the most
wonderful feats of magic, and two young ladies who sang and danced as
never young ladies had done before.
Outside there were sports and cricket, the big "Layton" motor to ride
in, and the whole range of the field for romps and games. Finally, to
complete the day, there was to be a picture show after dark, with music
from the Grey Town Band to add greater enjoyment. Was it to be wondered
at if children and adults vowed that this was a picnic complete to the
smallest detail?
Denis Quirk had arranged the entertainment to celebrate his return to
the "Mercury" Office. He had begun on a very small scale, his intention
being to limit the pleasure to those immediately interested in the
paper. But the invitations had spread from one to another, from the
staff to their relations, then to their friends, and finally to their
friends' friends.
"Let them all come," cried Denis Quirk. "If the thing is to be done, the
more who find pleasure in it the better. Every child in Grey Town who
cares to and can squeeze in, is welcome."
He had returned to the town without fuss or excitement, and had strolled
into the "Mercury" office as if he had never been absent from it. Cairns
had rushed to welcome him, a broad smile on his face, and a suspicious
dimness, about the eyes.
"Upon my word, Quirk, I am glad to see you," he cried.
Then he turned away for an instant.
"I never knew I was an emotional man before, but it makes my eyes wet to
see you," he explained, as he blew his nose violently, and gripped Denis
Quirk's hand. "You swear not to leave us again?" he asked.
"Not until I am called for, Cairns. Upon my life, Cairns, I never knew
how much I loved you until to-day," Denis answered. He wrung Cairns'
hand until the editor winced. Then he went in haste to interview the
staff.
"Tim O'Neill!" he cried, meeting that youth outside the editor's office,
"how far up the ladder have you climbed?"
"Senior reporter, sir. Glad to see you back, Mr. Quirk."
"Thank you, Tim. I suppose you will be leaving us soon, now that you are
famous?"
"Not unless you tell me to go, sir. I am quite happy here--plenty of
work, and, now you are back," Tim asked wistfully, "there will be some
fighting to do?"
"You are a worthy descendant of a fighting race, Imp. Is there anything
perfect in Grey Town?"
"No, sir, nothing quite perfect--excepting Miss O'Connor," Tim answered
with a blush.
"Nothing perfect! Then we must fight. Take down your blackthorn, Tim,
and get your muscle up."
In this manner he passed from one to another, and the "Mercury" staff
was one broad smile of joy and satisfaction, for they all loved the big,
ugly man.
A week after his return the picnic was arranged. Kathleen O'Connor and
Molly Healy had charge of the minutiæ, while Denis ordered the big
things, and opened his purse to its widest extent.
"They shall remember this, every one of them, right down to the babies
in arms," he said. "They welcomed me when I returned; it is for me to
show my gratitude."
At one o'clock the adults assembled for dinner in the large marquee. Old
Samuel Quirk was wheeled in in an invalid chair, but, though he smiled
urbanely on the company, he did not gather the significance of the
proceedings, for he was now as much an infant as the head compositor's
youngest baby. Father Healy came to bless the proceedings, and Dr. Marsh
to stand by in case of sickness. After the dinner Cairns rose to his
feet, to the sound of loud applause.
"Reverend Father, ladies and gentlemen," he began; "I want you to drink
the health of the finest man in Grey Town. Mr. Quirk went away against
our wish, and he has not come back a minute too soon. We needed him all
the time he was in Melbourne. The 'Mercury' missed his power of
organisation, his splendid gift of pugnacity. The old gang has been
broken up, but there are a few of the same type prowling about. See that
your gun is loaded and cocked, Quirk; there is plenty of shooting to be
done in this town yet."
"Ebenezer?" Denis Quirk asked, with a broad grin.
"Ebenezer is crippled, but a few of the same species remain with us,"
replied Cairns. "We will put you back into the Council, and send you to
Parliament if you like."
At this there was loud applause, while from the distance could be heard
the sound of a baby squalling.
Before Cairns could continue his speech Molly Healy appeared at the door
and cried out to Mrs. Crawford, the baby's mother:
"You will have to come to him yourself. Sure, I fancy he must have
swallowed a pin, and it is scratching his inside."
Mrs. Crawford sprang from her seat and hurried to the succour of her
offspring, while Molly remarked to Cairns:
"No wonder the child is scared, with you shouting so loud."
Thereupon she whisked out of the marquee.
"We want a few of your stamp in Parliament," continued the orator. "So,
whenever you pass the word, we will be up to put you into Parliament.
Meanwhile, here is your good health, Quirk, and we are glad to have you
with us."
Men, women, and children shouted themselves hoarse as Cairns sat down,
and Denis Quirk rose to his feet.
"Not yet, Cairns," he said. "I don't intend to leave the 'Mercury' just
now, when I am realising all she is to me. The sound of her heart, as
she turns out the news of the world, is music to me. I love to sit at
work with my coat off and sleeves rolled up, preparing a daily
stimulant for Grey Town. But when Grey Town is braced up, if you still
need a man who will make your interests his, and battle for you in
Parliament, just call on me. I am glad to be with you again. There is
not one man in the office that is not dear to me--I love even his wife
and children. Dr. Marsh and I have been consulting as to the future
management of the paper, turning over, at the same time, the great
social problem. Now, we offer you a partnership in the profits of the
paper. Dr. Marsh and I will take one-third of the sum, and divide
two-thirds between you, on a graduated scale, to be decided in
conference. Mr. Cairns will, of course, receive the largest share, and
from him, down to the printers' devil, you will all be partners. How
does that suit you?"
A shout of applause showed that his proposal was satisfactory to the
whole staff.
"Then an agreement shall be drawn up between us, but we rely upon you
all to work hard and prove your appreciation of the offer. This scheme
is an attempt to find a solution to the labour problem. You all realise
that fact? Dr. Marsh and I have purchased the machinery; we have
initiated the enterprise, and we are not prepared to divide our property
among you; we are merely trying to pay you on an equitable basis. This
is to be a partnership of profits, not of the stock. I wish you all to
understand that. I now ask you, if you approve, to hold up your hands."
Every man, woman, and child signified their acceptance.
"Thank you. I hope it will prove a success, and that we shall never
regret our new departure. I have only a few more words to say to you at
present. Mr. Cairns tells me that you are loyal, every one of you. That
is what I ask of you--loyalty to your own interests. Put your best work
into the paper, and remember that the 'Mercury' is the production of
every member of the staff. Thank you again for your welcome; you have
made me realise that the 'Mercury' is home, the staff a happy and united
family, to whom I am a father."
He spoke simply, in a straightforward, manly style, that went to their
hearts. When he sat down they continued to applaud for several minutes
before filing out to view the pictures.
"Denis Quirk is white," a compositor remarked emphatically to Tim
O'Neill.
"White!" replied Tim. "He is snow-white. He is the biggest and the
whitest thing in Grey Town--outside Miss O'Connor."