Triple Pursuit by Ralph McInerny Read Free Book Online

than a …”
    â€œThan a priest’s?”
    â€œThat isn’t what I was thinking.”
    Active or not, Austin was happy enough, when prompted, to talk of his days as professor of literature. It was amazing the things Austin knew and loved—and those he did not. Bloy and Maritain and Claudel were only names to him.
    â€œI taught American literature, Father.”
    So they talked of Scott Fitzgerald and John O’Hara and Hemingway.
    â€œHemingway was a kind of Catholic, you know.”
    â€œHow many kinds are there?”
    They often sat together in Father Dowling’s study but if the pastor thought he was preserving the man from the attractions of Maud Gorman, he was wasting his time. The professor emeritus was as smitten as half a dozen others had been before him, and there are some things beyond the reach of reason. Besides, such infatuations among the elderly had always proved to be short-lived, however intense.
    â€œThe little vixen actually came to the door when the two of you were speaking,” Marie said when Austin had gone.
    â€œWhat did you tell her?”
    â€œThat you preferred to hear confessions in the church when a lady is involved.”
    â€œYou must never turn a penitent away, Marie.”
    â€œOh, it was I who brought up confession, not she. She scampered away at the mention of it.”
    Marie was incorrigible, and like many women she was particularly hard on her own sex. Edna Hospers told Father Dowling that Austin was a good influence on Maud.

    â€œShe’s never without a book now.”
    â€œDoes she read it?”
    â€œThat may come.”
    â€œHow are plans for the dance progressing?”
    â€œEverything is all set. And we won’t have to pay for a band. Desmond O’Toole has put together a trio. He himself is a marvel on the piano. And he sings.”
    â€œDesmond?”
    â€œHe is now enthusiastic about the dance. He sings like a bird. He plays by ear and he knows the lyrics of any song you can name.”
    â€œBut that will keep him off the dance floor.”
    â€œIt’s just as well. Then he can’t be turned down if he asks Maud for a dance. Anyway, I think his ardor has cooled.”
    Father Dowling could see that Edna was relieved. It would be difficult to have to tell people twice her age to grow up. Then he told her about the wedding and that the bride-to-be’s father might be coming to the center. “He is Austin’s brother-in-law.”
    â€œThe one he hates.”
    â€œDid he say that?”
    â€œOh, he’s too smooth for that. But Desmond told me all about it.”
    â€œMaybe Desmond is trying to start trouble.”
    Edna thought about it. “He really does sing like a bird.”
    3
    Some days later a tall, silver-haired man without an ounce of fat on him stood in Edna’s doorway, wearing an apologetic smile on his handsome face.
    â€œMrs. Hospers?”
    â€œYes.”
    He crossed the room to her and took her hand in both of his. “My daughter told me what you are doing here and I had to see for myself.”
    â€œYour daughter?”
    â€œColleen. I am Jack Gallagher.” He said this as if throwing off a disguise. “And there is to be a dance?”
    There were posters everywhere about the school, as he must have seen on his way in. She managed to free her hand. Jack Gallagher was decidedly a charmer and age had not dimmed his conspiratorial good humor.
    â€œYou must come.”
    â€œWild horses couldn’t keep me away. In the phrase. The very antiquated phrase.” He stepped back and looked around the room. “This was Sister Ellen Joseph’s room.”
    â€œYou attended this school?” Edna asked.
    â€œFor eight years. Eight of the most …” He stopped and gave her an apologetic smile. “The most eight years of my life. The nuns were saints, all but a few.”
    â€œAre you still in the parish?”
    â€œIs that