The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-09-21
CHAPTER XVII.

so little now that he fought listlessly
He was gayer than ever in manner. ano
more alphabetically charming than ever
for he lad time to cultivate the friendly
emotions The little widow stayed on II
Houfoy and kept her own secret.
Maskelyne came striding upstairs with
a supernatural gravity of expression. This
changed for one moment to delightful
smile when O'Rourke ran out to the land
ing place to meet him. and with botf
hands outstretched in friendly welcome.
my dear old fellow said O'Rourke
mot tired of England yet? l have al
Idle hour or two to-day, and had re
solved to come round and take a look al
you"
Upon my word" said Maskelyne, you
are a man to be envied. You have the
power of beneiting your fellow creatures
You are like fresh air"
O'Rourke laughed breezily, and took
stock of his friend with smiling eyes. He
saw that Maskelyne was pale, and almost
haggard.
Come" he said. ut strikes me that
you want fresh air. You're not looking
we'll, oil fellow"
"Do you think not?" asked Maskelyne
"O'Rourke, I'm going to surprise you.
Are you" asked O'Rourke.
II am causing some unnecessary an1,
iety to the authorities of Scotland Yard,
said Maskelyne. II think it's in conse,
quence of my having been good deal
with Dobroski of late. At any rate
am being watched. My goings out and
comings in are observed with constant
vigilance"
Stupid beggars," said O'Rourke, with
friendly petuance. "Abominably annoy
ing, isn't it?
II don't know" returned Maskelyne.
ut makes me feel nice and safe. But
1t is not worth while to cocker up mere
private citizen of the United States in
that way. The old country is well to do,
but she can't afford it. And don't think
/ should feel humbled any way if my
bodyguard got told off to some one else
who was more in want of it."
"I'll stop all that for you," said
O'Rourke.
There's a good fellow" answered Mas
kelyne and fell into silence.
At this instant the knocker on the hall
door was brought into play with violence.
There was an audible whirl and scurry in
the hall as the housemaid ran to the
door to answer this unusual summons,
and a second or two later a voice cried
so loudly that O'Rourke and his compan-
ion heard it.
"Mr. O'Rourke's within doors! Don't
no TO hos I ho io
III find the way myself"
''That is Fraser" said Maskelyne.
"Did you conjure him here?" O'Rourke
asked. Steps flying up the staircase, and
Fraser, perspiring and pale, burst into
the room, holding in his left hand news
paper and a walking stick. He closed
the door behind him, nodded strangely
to Maskelyne, and then, striding to
O'Rourke. thrust the journal he carried
into his face, and fourishing his stick
as if he were trying the temper Of a
foil. cried. Look at that, We voiper!''
O'Rourke, with look of wonder, took
the journal and retired a pace.
"Oho" cried Fraser, rolling his head
at his ancient comrade so energetically
that he rolled his hat off. Don't be
making your faces of innocence at me,
Hector O'Rourke. Maybe We didn't write
that? Come. now. Maybe We didn't
write it? Well, ye're loyar, for write
1t We did. And here's the manuscript in
your own dirty fist, We smiling snake
He tugged a little rolled-up bundle of
paper from his breast pocket and stood
In white heat of passion, fourishing it
and the stick. O'Rourke smiled with
less than his usual Spontaneous charm, and
Maskelyne set himself between the two
"Ye needn't fear" said Fraser "I'll not
soil me hands with the dirty coat Of him
For tew pins" he added, turning anew
upon O'Rourke, I'D cleave the life out
Of ye"
This seems likely to be private af.
fair" said Maskelyne, in his quiet way
"and l won't NEEDLE with It. But we'll
have no fighting"
Private, begorra I" cried Fraser, snort.
ing. Its that private there's a round
fifty thousand copies printed at the very
least Would ye believe it, now, Mas
kelyne? l put it to you. Ye're not the
smartest man alive, but ye're a man Of
oSASi, oAO put IL " you. here C01s
dirty villain, here, has been going about
with me for years and damaging moy
reputation by calling me his friend, and
borrowing money from me by the handful
whenever had a sixpence in me pock
etc, and all the tonne he's been attackins
me anonymously. I've had him bring the
orticles-the very articles he's writer
and wonder at me who was the blagyar6
that wrote 'em, and making innocent owe.
and swearing he'd like to know the vii
lain that did it."
Come, come, Fraser" said O'Rourke
don't make a mountain out of a mol.
hill"
There was something in this repl,
which so exasperated Fraser that, bu
for Maskelyne's interposition, he woulf
then and there have assaulted O'Rourke
III mole hill the villain ~ cried Fra
ser. III mountain him :" He struggled
to- get past Maskelyne, who held hin
back with an unexpected strength an,
adroitness. "1e take that ruffian's mart
DO ye!' he said, suddenly ceasing his Of
forts. "Then l disown We. Ye're n,
friend of mine"
My dear Fraser" returned Maska
lyne, L am taking your part as much a.
VR0urkeS. / know NOTHING of ~