Thaddeus Gallagher, reassured and confident that Mr. Billing had not overheard his threat, stepped forward and stood bowing, his hat in his hands. Wealthy Americans may be objectionable, but they are rare in the west of Ireland. Gallagher felt that he would like to know Mr. Billing. Doyle introduced him.
“This is Mr. Gallagher,” he said. “Mr. Thaddeus Gallagher, J. P.”
Mr. Billing bowed courteously and shook hands with Mr. Gallagher.
“Proud to meet you, sir,” he said. “Proud to meet any prominent citizen of this section.”
“Mr. Thady Gallagher,” said Doyle, “is the proprietor of the Connacht Eagle, our principal newspaper.”
The Connacht Eagle was, in fact, the only newspaper in Ballymoy. It was the only newspaper published within a radius of forty miles from Ballymoy.
It could therefore be quite truthfully called the principal one. Mr. Billing shook Thady Gallagher’s hand again.
“I’m a newspaper man myself,” he said. “I control two-thirds of the press in the state where I belong.”
Thady Gallagher seemed greatly impressed by this statement. Doyle felt more than ever that his new guest was a man who ought to be treated with all possible consideration.
“It could be,” he said, “that them chops would be ready for you now, and if you’ll tell the girl what it is you’d like to drink——”