The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1911-12-14


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-the
six natives and the DutchnIan, who
had died in his arms and given him
the Pool of Flame with his last whis.
That's how It came to me-" said
O'Rourke.
And where is 1t now?"
Back in Algeria, If I'm not mistak-
en-. Ye remember Chambret
he was with us in the desert and
wanted we to marry him afterwards?
He has 1.-THE dear man; I love him
like 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 and he helped
me along when me money ran short
as it always did, and will, I'm
Sinking. After a while got to won
dering how much l owed the man
and figured it up; the sum total
frightened the life out Of me, and
made him take the ruby by way of Sc
curity--aad never was able to redeem
1t, for twas only a little after that
that l came into ne enormous patri-
>aony and squardered it riotously get
ting married to the most beautiful
woman living.
"He warned me to hold the stone.
the O'Mahoney did, saying that the
time would come when some native
prince would offer to redeem the In2k
q We Gt;tc as an act of piety a1d pa
vi; 10 Hrophesied a reward Of
at least fifty thousand pounds. And
now it's come-twice over!"
"And now what can you do?"
"Do?" cried O'Rourke. Faith,
what would be doing? Dye realize
what this means to me, dear heart?
1t means neutrality-suspicious. a little
fortune, the right to claim my wife!"
He drew her to him. go? Sure, and
by the first train and boat I'll go to
Algeria, find Chambret, 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 ye wait for me-"
She laughed softly. "Have I not
waited, Ulysses?"
"Tell me-" he demanded, have We
talked with anyone about this letter."
"Only to Clara Plinlimmon!"
Good Lord" groaned the Irishman.
"Only to her! Could ye not have
printed broadsides, the better to make
the matter public?"
did I do wrong?"
"'Twas indiscreet-and that's put
ting it mildly, me dear. Dye know
the woman's a walking newspaper?
How much did We tell her? Did ye
show her the letter."
mo" She answered his last ques-
| ton first. "And told her very little
only about this reward for a ruby
l 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!"
"He vas with us on the yacht, one
of Clara's guests"
"She has a pretty taste for com
pany-my word! How dye know she
told him? He asked you about it?''
1.-THE letter? Yes. He wanted to
know the name of the solicitors and
their address. I wouldn't tell him.
-disliked him."
Had We told Lady Plinlimmon?"
mo
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 faSered- what
makes you think, suspect"
because the fellow lied to me about
you this very night. Ye were with
Lady Plinlimmon in the Casino, were
ye not? Faith, and didn't see ye?
was in chase of we when the man
stopped me with his rigmarole about
representing the French government
and having secret commission for
me. We heard him just now. .
And when asked him was he of your
party, he denied knowing Lady Pin
limmon. He made later ap-
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