Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-12-29

long, lnQeeQ, leT decision was qulLS
manifest. Impulsively she caught his
two hands in her own.
eyes," she cried, "I do believe you!
! take you at your word-your gener-
GUS word, Colonel O'Rourke! l will
trust implicitly in you. You shall get
me to Bombay by the fifteenth"
"The fifteenth" he echoed thought
fully. This is the tenth
"The Panjnab is scheduled to ar.
rive on the fifteenth. All my plans
depend upon there being no delays"
{. Give days! 1t shall be
managed. Mrs. Prynne Bombay by
the fifteenth it shall be. or the
C'Rourke will have broken his heart!"
She grew thoughtful "You are very
good-I've told you that. believe
that you will accomplish what. you
promise. Yet it seems hardly fair to
saddle you with my cares, my perils,
without informing you of their ma
ture-"
Madam, It's not the O'Rourke who
would ever be prying into your &C.
crets. Let's not complicate a simple
situation with explanations.
But, colonel. there is one thing
more" He paused. 1T is a question:
she continued, "of chartering ship
at Alden, Is 1t not?"
HJ coo M other way'
"Then-spare no expense. Colonel
O'Rourke. Remember that foot the
bill -,
.'But-er-"
COR. if you insist, sir, pay nothing:
Great Britain pays for both of U.S.
"Eh? Yes?" he stammered
But see, colonel"
He had before then noted <indiffer-
emily that she wore a chain of thin,
fine gold about her neck. its termina-
tion-presumably a locket Of some
sort-hidden in the folds Of her cor
sage. Now she quietly pulled this
forth. and displayed her pendant,
little trinket of gold a running grey
hound exquisitely modelled.
Stunned. he stared first at the top.
then at the woman. I'VE mean to say
-" he whispered. doubling.
ION the Kings service, Colonel
O'Rourke."
"a Kings courier, madam? You
a woman!"
And why mott" she demanded
proudly. THE Kings messengers dare
many dangers. it's true. But in some
OF them might not woman serve bet
ter than a MANI
True enough. Yet tbs unprece.
dented-at least. yell admit, most I'm
usual. | begin to understand. That
lascar. for instance"
Believe me- Colonel O'Rourke, I'm
at liberty to tell you nothing
Tell me this. at least; would ye
know him II We saw him again."
"Trnthfully." she said. looking him
in the eye, Il would not. I will say
one other word: had anticipated his
attack. although / had never seen him
before"
Faith It's yourself that has your
courage with ye Mrs. Prynne! =.
But good night. madam! Your sery
anti"
Good night. colonel" she said softly
and as she watched him swing away
laughed lightly and strangely. Later,
still standing outside her door, she
sighed. and an odd light glowed deep
in her eyes OF grayish.green. Signing
again. and with another low laugh
shat rang thought derisive, as
though she we're iouting the man
whose service she accepted so gladly,
she turned and vanished within her
stateroom.
As she did so. the opposite door
that of An inside stateroom on the
same gangway-was opened cautious
~ 4 turbaned head peered out. its
eyes glancing swiftly up and down the
corridor. Long since. however. the
excited passengers had been reassur
ed and had returned to their berths;
the coast was clear.
The lascar stepped noiseiessly out
shut the door without a sound. and
sped swiftly forward: long. brown
man with an impressive cast OF coun
tenance in which his eyes shone with
curious light.
AS he swung into the space at the
foot OF the saloon companionway. he
collided violently with an understood
and excessively red-headed Irishman.
nearly upsetting the latter, to say
nothing OF glass OF brandy-and'soda
which he was conveying 10 certain
stateroom.
'Phwat the divvle. We domned nay
CUR. Pwhy dye not look where ye'rs
going?" demanded Danny with some
heat
The East Indian backed away, box.
ed profoundly mumbling something in
articulate, and sprang UP the steps
Danny looked after him. for moment
hesitant, then put down the tray and
pursued. He caught the flicker of the
lascar's cummerbund as the latter es'
caped TO the deck. and himself arrived
atthe forward end of the promenade
ls-