The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-08-31
CHAPTER XII.

signs of fatigue, and O'Rourke having
seen her comfortably tucked away III
one first-class carriage, with his own
travelling rug for a pillow, sought another
Mrs. Spry was heavy-eyed when she
awoke, and yawned behind her little
gloved hand as she stood upon the plat
form watching the assiduous O'Rourke,
who hustled hither and thither in her
behalf in his own brightest and most
cheerful manner.
~ suppose your friends expect you at
i forget the name of the place. ia
nenne? Is it JanenneW He glanced at
her quickly and with so evident surprise
that she added: "Mr. Maskelyne tolo
me you were going there. Is that the
name of the placer"
There is a little place of that name,
said O'Rourke "Maskelyne and L were
there together few days ago. l may
20 on, or l may not. | shall probably
aave a day or two in Brussels IN any
use."
When the hotel was reached, O'Rourke
secured rooms for his delightful compan-
lon and ordered for her at her request
q cup of warm milk and biscuit. Inns
modest rejection was conveyed to her bed
chamber, and she retired, purring an &C
acknowledgement of obligation.
If Mrs. Spry had been charming the
night before, she was still more delight
full next morning. O'Rourke made guess
as to her age and set her down as being
between three and four and twenty. in
which he fattered her. Bearing in mind
all the while how time was flying, and
how it behooved him to make the most OF
chances which were likely to be limited,
he turned the conversation to the lady's
probable movements. Did she intend to
stay long in Brussels? he asked
"Well. no." she answered, with be-
coming little blush. There's only one
thing brings me here. There's an old
lady living here-a little hard up, I'm
afraid, Mr.. O'Rourke. She's a relative
of my poor dear late husband's-a distant
relative, but the only one he had, and he
left her out in the cold I'm afraid she's
not very likely to be very good friends
with me. but l want to make it up with
her if she'll let me-" O'Rourke's atten-
tive and sympathetic face was worth
volume of commonplace answers to this
statement. ''And them" said the widow,
''I've got friend to see, and then I've
done with Belgium. l shall go and see
Paris again, and l shall try to persuade
my friend to go with me. l haven't seen
her for two years, but she's the dearest
girl in the world"
THAT" said O'Rourke. sis a fattering
description. Is your friend ip Brussels?'
mo. From what l can learn, she's
gone and buried herself alive in some
dreadful quiet place; miles and miles
away from everywhere. I've looked it
up on the map, and / make out Namoor
to be the nearest city. It's little place
called Houfoy."
81 have been there" returned O'Rourke,
with admirable naturalness. There is
only one English family residing there.
have the pleasure to know them"
oh said the lady, rapidly and enthu-
siastically, do you know Angela Butler?
Oh, now, really! l say, what a little
place the world is, to be sure! Well,
now, | do wonder that young George
kIaskelyne never told me that you knew
Angela Butler"
II only know them very slightly" said
O'Rourke. Il only met them a fortnight
ago. No: three weeks since"
oh" purred the widow, making her
best and most expressive eyes at her
companion. Il adore Angela Butler.
Don't you adore her, Mr.. O'Rourke? Oh,
I'm sure you do"
Il think her a very charming girl
Frank, clever, English-thoroughly Eng
lish"
"Oh, so very English" said Mrs. Spry
Az 20
Miss Butler?" asked O'Rourke. THAT
is delightful news indeed to me- We
shall be neighbors. l am going to ia
nenne to see some old friends of mine,
and Janenne is the nearest village to
Houfoy"
THAT will be pleasant" said Mrs.
Spry. When she had said this she low
cred her head away suddenly, and Sec
ond or two later shot a most vanouishing
glance at O'Rourke.
She discharged her one little bit of
actual business, and she set out on a
bright afternoon in early June, with the
constant O'Rourke in attendance, for
Houfoy, having previously advised An
gela Of her coming by wire.
Let me see, now" said Mrs. Spry.
uOiOluS ucE ucdU ou Oue SlUe ana LOOKING
up at O'Rourke thoughtfully. How long
will it take this train to reach Houfoy 90
"It does not go on to Houfoy," return
ed ORourke. ut reaches Janenne in
four hours and five minutes"
81 think you know everything, Mr.,
O'Rourke," said the lady, admirinzly.
Then, clasping her hands with a soft fer
vor, Twill you do me a favor, Mr..
O'Rourke?'
"Try me-" said O'Rourke. with his
own admirable mixture of jest and earn
est
will you 60 to the telegraph bureau
and write a telegram? In French. or
these dreadful foreigners'll bungle il.
From Mrs. Spry, Brussels, to Miss Angela
Butler. the Chateau. Houfoy. To saw
that / shall be at-what's the name of
the station ?-at-when does the train get
there?-and to ask her to meet me there
Because she might forget"
May look at your books?" he said
Certainly" she answered. taking mn
a loose handful and handing them over
TO him. AS she did so his ovoc -. -