Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-12-20
50, LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE
CHAPTER vii.
ILLUSTRATIONS by
ELLSWCRTH~YCUNC
COPYRIGHT 1909 ey LouIs>JosEPE

CHAPTER viii u
I Preparations for breakfast were TO-
ward: an aroma of coffee and bacon
hung in the still, crisp air The. troop
ers were busting about. as if moth
ing had happened, laughing and jok'
ing, cleaning rifles, feeding the me-
hara, striking tents. drawing water
ON the palm-ringed we'll rounc
aich the camp had been made.
Out of sight beyond the edge OF the
4 nken oasis detachment was dig.
az shallow trenches for the dead.
In the open Chambret lay dying, g
ark grim figure in the growing
hit. ORourke sat by his side. near
e head of the improvised litter, ell
NV in knee, chin in hand, eyes. fixed
"a the face of his friend, /
Just before sunrise. the man on the
ter stirred. moaned, opened his eyes
I'd turned his head to see O'Rourke.
re smiled wanly. Mon ami" he; said
ii tones faint yet thick.
The freshman rose. Don't talk"
laid he. I'll be calling the surgeon"
But Chambret stayed him with G.
esture "Has he not told you, dear
.iend?" he asked. =
O'Rourke hesitated. Told me
hiatt"
That my wound was fatal-mortsl?
Surely he must have told you.
is so. Presently die Con.
ent. Let him be-this sur
con: ! am beyond his aid. Attend
me, in my last moments, C'Rourke,
~ friend,
The adventurer vacillated, torn by
N agony of compassion. Il must do
something for ye." he said miserablN,
4 must dc something. -. 7.
What can do?" !,
Comfort me" The dying man
closed his eyes and lay still for lit
lie. You are not gone. O'Rourke?"
le asked presently.
TN here. be your side. mon ami.
Tell me Of madame ;
your wife She is well?"
"She is very well Chambret."
You have seen her recently?"
Within ten days"
You have returned &c
aer?"
"No-and yes. Twas not for lack
Of love for her that gave her up"
Yes" said Chambret impatiently.
orehend utterly your feeling. :.
But you owe her happiness. though
YOU sacrifice your own-evcrything-
o give it her. She. loves you {,
IS she might have loved even me- had
,ou not come into her life.
TRUE.
You are about to pocket sour
,cruples that she may have her due
,crticn or happiEass?"
tive promised, Chambret."
IL am glad. But you-whac
las brought you hither?'
II wished to see ye,
But the dying are oftentimes ano
strangely endowed with curious In
sight into matters beyond their ken,
Without perccptible hesitation Cham
bret made this apparent.
You have come for the ruby he
said with conviction.
How did ye know"
1T is true. then? I fancleC
SO: | knew that some day you would
come to claim il. Bend nearer
to me. The Pool Of Flame is
in the keeping OF my good friend the
Governor.Generalo OF Algeria. It is all
arranged When am gone, take my
signet ring. tell him your name, ano
demand the package-a small morocco.
leather box, wrapped in plain broWI
paper and superscribed with my name
aud yours. He knows nothing OF Its
value. save that it is great. and viii
deliver it to you and only you without
question. That is all.
The hand that clasped O'Rourke's
was like ice.
"Chambret."
"Beatrix.
The cold fingers relaxed. Gently
O'Rourke disengaged his hand and put
It to the pitiful, torn bosom of the
man who had died with his Wife's
name upon his lips. !.
CHAPTER TX
Shortly before midnight the tri.
weekly train from Constantine 10 Al