The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1908-02-14
CHAPTER XVII.


warfare with the world. 1t all mattered
20 little now that he fought listlessly
He was gayer than ever in manner, and
more sympathetically charming than ever
for he had time to cultivate the friendly
emotions. The little widow stayed on in
Houfoy and kept her own secret.
Maskelyne came striding upstairs with
. 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 both
hands outstretched in friendly welcome.
"My dear old fellow!" said O'Rourke.
"Not tired of England yet? I 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 man to be envied. You have the
power of benefting 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. "It strikes me that
you want fresh air. You're not looking
we'll, old fellow"
do you think not7" asked Maskelyne.
"O'Rourke, I'm going to surprise you."
"Are you" asked O'Rourke.
II am causing some unnecessary anx-
Lefty 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?"
II don't know" returned Maskelyne.
"It 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 we'll 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 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 voice cried
30 loudly that O'Rourke and his compan-
ion heard it.
"Mr O'Rourke's within doors! Don't
be telling me he's not, for know he is.
I'll find the way myself"
Nl,c% T.
'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 a 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 fiourishing his stick
as If he were trying the temper Of a
foil. cried, Look at that, ye voiper!"
O'Rourke, with look of wonder, took
the journal and retired pace.
"Oho" cried Fraser, rolling his head
at his ancient comrade 80 energetically
that he rolled his hat off. Don't be
making your faces of innocence at me-
Hector O'Rourke. Maybe 70 didn't write
that? Come, now. Maybe ye didn't
write It? WE'LL ye're a loyar, for write
It ye did. And here's the manuscript in
your own dirty fist, ye smiling snake
He tugged a little rolled-up bundle OF
paper from his breast pocket and stood
In white heat Of passion, hourishing II
and the stick. O'Rourke smiled with
less than his usual Spontaneous charm, and
Maskelyns set himself between the two
Eye needn't fear" said Fraser. "IIl moi
soil me hands with the dirty coat Of him
For tsw pins" he added. turning anew
upon O'Rourke, I'D cleave the life out
Of ye." y
'"This seems likely to be a private at
fair" said Maskelyne, in his quiet way
land won't NEEDLE with It. But well
have no fighting"
Private, begorra r. cried Fraser, snort
ing. Its that private there's q rount
fifty thousand copies printed at the very
least. Would ye believe it, now, Mas
kelyne7 I put 1t to you. Ye're net tn,
smartest man alive, but ye'rs q man o
honor, and 1 put 1t to you. Here's thi
dirty villain, here, has been going abeu
with me for years and damaging mo!
reputation by calling me his friend, an.
OoIAOWAA8 AAOAOy hAVh1 Aio W Iu0 uAuUIu
whenever had a sixpence in me pock
etc, and all the tonne he's been attackin,
me anonymously. I've had him bring tn
orticles-the very articles he's write,
and wonder at me who was the blagyar,
that wrote 'em, and making innocent oye
and swearing he'd like to know the vii
lain that did It."
Come, come, Fraser" said O'Reurke
"don't make q mountain out Of a mol
hill"
There was something In this repl
which SO exasperated Fraser that, bu
for Maskelynes interposition, he woul
then and there have assaulted O'Rourks
"Ill mole hill the villain !" cried Era
ser. "I'll mountain him p He struggle
to get past Maskelyne. who held hir
back with an unexpected strength an
adroitness. Eye take that rufian's par,
DO ye?" he said, suddenly ceasing his 81
forts. 'Then 1 disown ye. Ye're n
friend of NINE"
"My dear Fraser" returned Maskt
lyme, II am taking your part as much a
o'Rourke's. ! know nothing of the mel
its of the quarrel, but you shan't fgt
II can help it."
"If ever We speak to me again." sal
Fraser stOoniny for his hat md shakip