The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-09-28
CHAPTER XIX.

If Fraser had been given to the analy-
sis of his own spiritual symptoms. he
might have been little surprised to dis
cover how aromatic and tonic draught
he had imbibed in learning to hate
O'Rourke
"Ive bit of news" he said one day
Ito Maskelyne. Maybe yell be able to
guess why l bring it. O'Rourke's going
to be married"
"Yes?" said Maskelyne, quietly. Fra
ser's bit of news was like a stab to him,
but he was not the sort of man to make
a show of his pain.
Hes engaged to friend of yours"
said Fraser. 1T was you that introduced
him to her.
Il think not" returned Maskelyne.
aye did though" cried Fraser. Il got
the news from Mrs. Farley, and she got
it from the lady herself
Il introduced O'Rourke to an Ameri-
can lady here" said Maskelyne, rising
from his seat involuntarily-"a Mrs.
Spry."
That's what I'm telling ye." said Fra
ser. They're going to be married" Mas
kelyne sat down again without word.
''Hector O'Rourke is going to be married
to the Mrs. Spry to whom you introduced
him month or two ago. There's no sort
of humbug or nonsense about it, for it's
q fact
Il can hardly believe it," returned
Maskelyne
ed" said Fraser, latter all. l thought
ye'd skip like young he goat upon
the mountains"
Il am very much obliged to you, in
deed" Maskelyne answered. Il will go
and see O'Rourke," he added, with an
air of sudden decision and awakening.
well" said Fraser, rubbing his hands
and beaming, 1.-The interview ought to be
a pleasant one. I'll not keep We from it
moment. I'll say good-morning."
The two shook hands on the pavement
In front of the hotel, and Fraser stood
there to watch Maskelyne as he stepped
into a cab and drove away.
Now" said Fraser, nodding and smil-
ing to himself, that's not moy oydoyal of
an ardent lover. But there's spoke mum.
Der nine in your wheel, Hector, me boy
and there's another or two in the course
of manufacture"
Maskelyne wandered about in his own
homemade labyrinth until he had quite
made up his mind that there was nc
way out of 1t, or through it, But finally
he packed up a portmanteau, took the
tidal train and carried his cobwebs to
Brussels. There they were just as strone
and unbreakable as ever, and even when
q day or two later, he carried them tc
Janenne, they seemed to bind him in like
strands of steel. But being actually al
Janenne, he found that he had added 9
new perplexity to the old ones. He was
still as far as ever from seeing his wa,
to Houfoy, but he saw quite clearly tina,
1t was impossible not to 20.
The day was inclining toward its clost
and there was a sense of ease in tb.
wide fields to which he was not alto
gether insensible, foolishly broken up an6
down in spirit as he was. The field,
were more inviting than the road in man,
ways. not least perhaps. because the,
offered fewer chances of encounter.
Sauntering in this downcast and irres
olute mood, he found himself suddenl,
charged by troop of half dozen dogs
who all leaped and bayed about him
with demonstrations of welcome. Follow
Ing them, gun under his arm, appearef
the major, and behind the major an at
tendant, who bore the dead bodies of 8
pair of well-grown foxes.
"Hillo!" cried the major cheerily. Will,
yet a hundred yards away. How ar,
you, old fellow? Upon my word, I'm GLAD
to see you. How's O'Rourke?'
He was in health u,bon so- ~:
last, said Maskelyne, on whose nerves
the mention of his wicked rival grated.