Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-12-18
81 LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE

heard man cry out for help in. one
Of the narrow black alleys9of the
place. He thought he recognized
comrades voice, and surely enough
when he ran down to aid him, he
found Dutchman, man OF his own
regiment, fighting with half a dozen
natives. He was about done for, the
Dutchman,. when the O'Mahoney came
up, and so were three of the Arabs.
The O'Mahoney took care of the rest
of them, and left seven dead men be-
hind him when he went away-tae
six natives and the Dutchman, VINO
had died in his arms and given him
the Pool"of Flame with his last whls'
per.
"That's how it came to me-" said
O'Rourke.
.."And where Is 1t now?"
Back in Algeria, if I'm not mistak
on Ye remember Chambret
he was with us in the desert and
wanted We to marry him afterwards?
He has 1.-THE dear man: | love him
like a brother. He sickened OF
Europe when he found his case with
you was hopeless. and went to Al
giers, joining the Foreign Legion.
But how
"Well. we were fond of each other,
Chambret and l. l helped him out
of some tight corners aud he helped
me along when me money ran short
! as it always did, and will, I'm
thinking. After a while l got to won
dering how much l owed the man
and figured it up the sum total
frightened the life out CT me, and
made him take the ruby by way OF Sc
curity-and never was able TO redeem
il, for twas only a little after that
that I came into me enormous patrl-
mony and squandered it riotously get
ting married to the most beautiful
woman living.
"He warned me to mold the stone
the O'Mahoney did, saying that the
time would come when some native
prince would offer to redeem the LUCK
of the State as an act of ricty and pa
triotism. He prophesied a reward
at least Fifty thousand pounds. And
now it's ccme-twice over!
"And now what can you do?'
"Do?' cried O'Rourke. Faith,
what would l be doing? Dye realize
what. this means to me. dear heart!
1t means you-independence, little
fortune, the right to claim my wife,
He drew her to him. DO? Sure, and
by the first train and boat III 90 to
Algeria, find ChambNet. get him to
give me the stone. take it TO Rangoon
claim the reward. repay Chambret
and"
And what, my paladin?"
Dare We ask me that, madame?
Say, will We wait for me-"
She laughed softly. Have | not
waited, Ulysses?"
Tell me-" he demanded. "have We
talked with anyone about this letter.
only 10 Clara Plinlimmon!"
Good / ord" groaned the 1rshman.
"Only to Ter! Could ye not have
printed brsadsides, the better to make
the matter public?"
"Did ! d6 wrong?"
"'Twas indiscreet--and that's put
ting 1t mildly, me dear. Dye know
the woman's a walking newspaper?
How much did We tell her? Did ye
show her the letter.
"No." She answered his last ques-
ton first. "And told her very little
only about this reward for ruby
/ didn't know you owned. We were
wondering where to find you"
"And she told no one--or who do
you think"
The woman looked little fright
ened. she told-she must have told
that man-Monsieur des Trebes."
"That blackguard.'
"Ie was with us on the yacht, one
Of Clara's guests"
"She has pretty taste for COM
=, pany-ny word. How dye know she
told him. He asked you about il?
"The letter? Yes. He wanted 70
know the name OF the solicitors and
| their address. I wouldn't tell him. /
--disliked him"
''Had We told Lady Plinlimmon?
"No
praises be for that"
"Why?"
Because :" O'Rourke paused.
vague suspicious taking shape In his
mind "Why did he ask about. Cham
brett" he demanded. How could he
have learned that the jewel was with
him.
| He jumped UP and began TO pace
the floor.
His wife rose. grave with conster-
nation. what" she faltered-"what
makes you think. suspect"
,...Because the fellow lied to me about
YOU this very night. Te were With
Lady Plinlimmon in the Casino, were
We not? Faith, and didn't ! see ye?
Was in chase of We when the man