Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-12-11
So LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE

: What a long-winded beggar"
O'Rourke commented mentally. AS
for that" said he aloud, It's impos
sibIe for me to calculate the impertl
nence until tbs put to me. En-"
Believe me, sir, am anxious only
to avoid indiscretion. 1t is the ques'
ton of your identity alone. desire
only to be assured that you are the
| Colonel O'Rourke | take you to be.
my faith! And who else would !
be, now?'
There's the, bare possibility that
two of the same name might exist"
|: "'Tis so bare that It's fairly inde'
cent" chuclSled the Irishman. But fire
away"
81 am not mistaken in assuming
that address the Colonel Terence
O'Rourke who was at one time party
to lie petit Lemercic's mad Empire do
Sahara project and WHO later mar:
ried Lemarcier's widow, Madame la
Princesse de Grandeur"
O'Rourke took long breath and
locked his questioner up and down.
Eye have very pretty taste IN the
matters of impertinences," he SAID
grayely. However, let that pass. I'm
the same man"
"a thousand pardons. Caution IN
matters such as this" a shrug COM
pleted the thought most eloquently.
You can give me proofs of your iden-
tity, them"
Proofs" O'Rourke got to his feet.
Believe me, monsieur, ye have all the
proof I'm willing to give we. and that S
my last word. If ye find it insufficient,
why, then
Pardon" Des Trebes Interrupted,
rising 81 am myself more than con-
tent. But the Government of France
"The Government Of Trance!
ORourke whistled.
is more exacting than !. It knows
certain Colonel ORourke and him
alone does it need"
"The divvle it does! And what will
It be wanting with me?"
:" It present no more thah
oyernment in an
81, ecrecy and dispatch.
Il Diplomatic mission to
~ shall have need, mon
Ii strong. bold, venture
10 undertake a long ard
Ious journey" Had Des
inspired he could have
ITO speech better calculated
to ln,I,- the 1rishmGu; the merest
echo of its import would have fired
his hearers fancy. He added: And l
am authorized TO retain fer that pl!r-
nose, should be fortunate enough to
find him unengaged. certain Colonel
Terence ORourke. >
Say no more, monsieur. IT'S
enough. 'Secrccy-dispatch-a long
and perilous journey Faith I'm just
your mani"
you have no other business Of the
moment"
"None whatever"
"Then am indeed fortunate. And
now, I presume, you will no longer
object to satisfying me as TO your iden-
tity."
"Not in the least Although, to be
candid, monsieur, I'm not in the hab-
it of carrying me Bertiliion record
about me. But il yell have the good
mes to accompany me TO the Orient,
over there, III put your mind at ease
before ye can say knife"
Des Trebes nodded. ~ should be
delighted, but unfortunately = he
snapped the case of his watci-"l
have an appointment with a confrere.
May we fix time-in hall an hour,
say-when it will be convenient for
YOU to have me cali at the Orient?'
In half an hour? III await ye
then. monsieur"
Pardon, then. my haste. am late.
must be Off"
The mans hand touched O'Eourke's
in the most brief of clasps, sinSUi2riy
firm and cold. The Iri.hman pondered
the sensation for some moments after
Des Trebes' hurryins figure had van
ishcd in shadows.
q don't like it." he avcrred: It's
bad sigma hand that's naturally
cold. l never yet touched one like it
that belonged to a man We cou,d trust.
misdoubr he's sound al the core,
Des Trebes. But then. whats
the odds? Can not take care OF ne
self? And since It's the Government
Of France I'm treating with. ard him
self only the ncdium-that puts alto
gether a different complexion on the
matter"
He spent the ensuing haif-hour loi-
tering in the more populous portion
OF the grounds. smoking IS he stroll
ed, his eyes keen to scrut!n!ze each
woman who came his way. Br. he dis
covered none resembling her whom ne
teS &C.: =. - c.,
TO DC cOniinu&l.)