Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1908-02-14
CHAPTER XVII.

In London, engaging less warmly than Of
old In his parliamentary and journalistic
warfare with the world. 1t all mattered
80 little now that he fought listessly.
He was gayer than ever in manner, and
more alphabetically charming than ever,
for he lad time to cultivate the friendly
emotions. The little widow stayed on in
Houfoy and kept her own secret.
Maskelyne came striding upstars with
a supernatural gravity of expression This
changed for one moment to a delightful
emile when O'Rourke ran out to the land
ing place to meet him, and with both
hands outstretched In friendly welcome.
my dear old fellow ]" said O'Rourke.
"Not tired of England yet? 1 have an
idle hour or two to-day, and had re-
solved to come round and take look at
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 whit fresh dlr. Lou re not lOOklHB
well, old fellow"
do you think not?" asked Maskelyne.
"O'Rourke, I'm going to surprise you"
"Are your" asked O'Rourke.
81 am causing some unnecessary anx-
iety to the authorities of Scotland Yard"
said Maskelyne. II think it's in conse-
quence Of my having been a good deal
with Dobroski of late. At any rate 1
am being watched. My goings out and
comings in are observed with constant
vigilance"
Stupid beggars," said O'Rourke, with
friendly petulance. "Abominably annoy
ing, isn't It'll"
81 don't know" returned Maskelyne
at makes me feel nice and safe. But
It is not worth while to cocker up a mere
private citizen of the United States in
that way. The old country is well to do
but she can't afford 1t. And 1 don't think
l should feel humbled any way if my
bodyguard got told off to some one else
who was more in want Of it."
iii 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 n voice cried
90 loudly that O'Rourke and his compan-
ion heard It.
"Mr. ORourlSe's within doors Don't
be telling me he's not, for l know he Is
III find the way myself"
THAT Is Fraser" said Maskelyne.
"Did you conjure him here?" ORourke
asked Steps flying up the staircase, and
Fraser, perspiring and pale, burst into
the room, holding in his left hand news
paper and walking stick. He closed
the door behind him, nodded strangely
to Maskelyne, and then, stridng to
O'Rourke, thrust the journal he carried
into his face, and hourishing his stick
as II he were trying the temper of a
foil, cried. Look at that, We voiper"
O'Rourke, with a look of wonder, took
the journal and retired a pace.
"Ohol" cried Fraser, rolling his head
at his ancient comrade so theoretically
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 a 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 a 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.
aye needn't fear" said Fraser. "I'l not
soil me hands with the dirty coat Of him.
For tew pins" he added, turning anew
upon ORourke, 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 - cried Fraser, snort
Ing. ITS that private there's a round
City thousand copies printed at the very
least. Would ye believe it, now, Mas
kelyne? l put it to you. Yere not the
smartest man alive. but ye're a man of
honor, and l put it to you. Here's this
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 l had sixpence in me peck
etc, and all the tonne he's been attacking
the anonymously. I've had him bring the
orticles-the very articles he's written
and wonder at me who was the blagyard
that wrote EN-, and making innocent owes
and swearing he'd like to know the viii
lain that did it,"
Come, come, Fraser" said O'Rourke.