The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1912-04-10
CHAPTER XVIII.

made Diamond Harbor In pitch dark
ness and without misadventure were
successful in causing themselves to be
transhipped. bag and baggage. to the
twinscrew steamship Poonah. which
vessel rode at anchor in midstream.
Toward eight o'clock Of the white
hot forenoon that followed. O'Rourke,
In the shadow OF a long-boat on the
Poonah's promenade deck. stood I'm
fishing . matutinal cigar and watching
narrowly q tender ferry out q final
boatload Of passengers from the east
ern river bank.
Slowly the tender forged toward the
steamers side: and as It drew near,
O'Rourke forgot to smoke and bent
over the rail to inspect with unremit-
ting interest those upon its decks.
The forward deck Of the tender held
his regard but briefly: those who
waited there. cycling impassively the
towering tanks OF the liner. were one
and all OF the east. Of races. creeds
and types too numerous to catalogue.
These the adventurer might not read.
save Individually upon personal con-
tact. II trouble was to come from
them. collectively or Individually. he
would not know until tho blow had
fallen. On the other hand. he might
be able to hazard shrewd surmises as
to the potential animus inherent In
any one Of the Europeans who were
to be his fellow passengers.
The latter were a mere handful;
half q dozen commercial travellers |
from London. Paris. Berlin, their avo-
cations evident beyond dispute; a sal |
low English missionary with his with
cred wife. sombre figures in the stark
sunlight. . red-faced deputy-sub-some-
thingor-other of the Indian govern
msnt complacent in white drill and
new pith helmet with q gay puggaree;
. lone English girl. and q Ffenchman.
The two latter held the Irishman's
attention: the girl because. even at q
distance. her aim white-clad figure
and vellpoised head seemed singu-
larry fresh and attractive; the man
because-vell. because O'Rourke was
susceptible to prsmonitions.
He was . tail man and broad, the
Frenchman-wsu-made, well-groomed,
carrying himself with an indefinable
air Of distinction. His face was rath-
er pale land therefore notable In that
concourss Of dark skins), its features
strongly modelled. the mouth and chin
masked By . AaAtly trimmed and
pointed board ~ mustache.
ORourks could not have said that
he had ever sssa the man before: vet
there was this nd that about him
which struck . sDaxk Of reminisceuce
from his memory. A suspicion flashed
through his mtnA which he put aside
with disdain, - absurd and far.fetch-
ed. On the otAse hand. He
knit his brows h puxzlement.
The very nEfN Of his regard drew
the eyes Of it, object upwards. They
encountered ORourks's. fingered brief.
~ in an unveiled. inquiring stare in
which there was not to be detected
the least hint Of recognition, and
passed onward casually, indifferently,
Ignoring the impertinence.
The tenders passengers began to
stumble up the gang plank to a lower
deck of the liner: and O'Rourke. with
a sober face. went below. taking some
care TO avoid contact with the incom.
ing crowd.
He found Danny was in his state.
room. engaged with some details of
repair to the adventurer's wardrobe.
o'Rourke remained for brief space
standing in the middle OF the cabin.
visibly distracted. Then abruptly
some whimsical consideration seemed
to resolve his dubiety-as lightning
viii clear sultry, brooding air; a smile
deepened the corners OF his mouth
the flicker in his eye merged magically
into twinkle. the shrug of his broad
shoulders conveyed an impression of
casting care to the winds.
Danny. lad" he remarked reflect.
lively. throwing himself ungracefullv
upon the cushioned transom opposite
to his berth Danny. ye wouldn't lie
to me. would - now?"
Aw-w!" reproved Danny. "sbure
yer honor knows ut isn't in me at all
And to himself; "Phat the diyyle
now"
Then tell me. Danny. truthfully:
old ye ever sec . ghost?"
"Aw-w!"-seeing cause to taxa tho
query as 4 joke.
"A ghost that had grown a beard
since 1t had become q ghost. DANNY"
Aw-aw-w!"-still willing IN n.
amused, II himself chose to be faca-
tious.