Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-12-28
CHAPTER XVIII.

O'Rourke eyed the vessel With dis
favor from the shore; then dropped
into harbor dinghy, ensconced him
self at the tiller-ropes. and caused
himself, with his luggage and his
man-servant, to be conveyed alongside
the steamer.
Near the gangway he was held
back: another boat had forestalled
him. another passenger was shipping
for the East. O'Rourke was interested
idly.
He saw a woman, a slight, trim hg-
ure hecomingly attired in white. with
veil about her head, leave the boat
and mount the gang~ay steps with a
springy. youthful step, a cheerful and
positive air. certain but indefnable
calm Of self-possessiou. At the top
she paused, turned, looked down
watching fhe transfer Of her luggage
and her maid From Sundry
intangible indications O'Rourke as
sumed the second womans figure TO
be the lady's maid. And so did Danny.
The one eyed the mistress, the other
her servant. both with interest. .
The woman on deck threw back her
veil. She seemed to promise uncom-
mon beauty Of the English type, full.
colored and Of classic mold. :.
The Irishman was much too far away
to be certain, but he fancied that her
gaze wandered toward him and-but
this. of course. was only imagination
that she started slightly.
At all events. she was quick to drop
the veil and turn away. Her maid
joining her, both vanished beneath the
canvas awnings. The boat that had
brought her sheered off, and O'Rourke
was permitted to board the PanJnab
1t was a glad day. the O'Rourke told
himself, as he trod those decks; it
saw him definitely started on his way
TO the East
O'Rourkc reused upon his elbow
and pecrcd out of the port OF his
stateroom. The steamer was blowing
through the Bitter Lakes. He saw a
string OF huoys, a width OF water IKE
a jade. a. vista of sand. fiat, gray.
patched with gray-green desert shrub,
bounded only by the horizon. {.
Damn :. said he lishessly.
He slipper down again upon his back,
painted, and wiped his brow,
Danny, recognizing that he was not
expected to respond, and being a
young man remarkably acute to dag.
nose his masters moods, prudcntly re-
Trained from comment. He sat bunch
cd up on a cabin stool. his intensely
rcd. bullc'-shaped head bent low over
bit Of chamois skin. which he was
sewing into a rough, sturdy bag.
As the sun dipped beneath the rim
Of the horizon. a pleasant shadow in
vadcd the stateroom, until that mo.
ment blood-red with its level rays.
And Danny Strengthened up. dropping
thmble and thread, announcing tho
completion OF his necdlework by a
brief, coutcDted: THERE"
O'Rourke glanced at The article
dangling from his Wallets fingers. and
slammed the book against the bulk.
head at the foot of his berth.
Finished, is it," he exclaimed
Faith, It's about time, We lazy good.
Ifor-naught,"
Danny smiled serenely. And q good
job, too, sor" said he proudly
m amin no onrespect 10 yer honor
he added hastily.
O'Rourke took the subject OF discus
sion in his fingers and examined il
searchingly.
) Twill do" he announced. Twill
serve its purpose. il no more. Lay
out me evening clothes now" He
stood up, stopping to stare through
the port. Good enough" he com
mented on what he discovered with.
out; Its passing Suez We arc this
blessed minute. Praises be. W.
caught boat that doesn't stop here
Danny scratched an ankle thought
fully. "Yiss. yer honor" he asscuted
dubious But, for all that, pbwat's
TO hinder annywan from boordin' u
be boat. il they sh'u'd want to-"
O'Rourke turned and eyed the man
keenly. IT'S a great head yc have
on your shoulders, Danny" he said
Sometimes ye betray almost canine
intelligence. I'm be way Of having
hopes of We. Now get ye on deck and
watch 10 see who does come aboard.
if anyone, and report to me-"
"Yiss. yer honor"
O'Rourke boltcd the door after Dan.
ny and. assured himself that the key.
hole was properly wsdded. that no
crack existed through which his move.
ments might be observed from the
gangway. Struggling his broad shout
ders he returned to the seat vacated
by his valet and thrust hand be-
meath the coat OF his pajamas. with
drawing it moment later, fingers
tightly wrapped about rather bulky
object.
And the Pool OF Flame lay glitter
ing and stabbing his eyes with shafts
or blood-red light.
Into its depths of pellucid FIRE
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