The Lamar register., 1912-02-21
81 LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE,

where's the letter." he demanded
+ again, more paciflcally.
| Again O'Rourke yawned with mall
ice prepense. yawned deliberately and
extensively and dispassionately.
MOT word" he volunteered at
length, until ye loose me hands and
feet. Which," he added. "ye need not
hesitate to do. for I'll not strike back
unless ye crowd me-
The vicomte scowled darkly for q
moment. plainly dubious. Then pre-
sumably upon the consideration that
he could trust O'Rourke's word and
that most assuredly he would learn
nothing from him until his request
was complied with, he growled an or
der to Glynn to unlock and remove
the handouts. The Englishman obey
ed
rubbed his wrists. and observed a
collection of his pocket hardware ly-
ing upon the seat by him, thrown
aside by Glynn In his disgust at not
finding what he sought.
Yen not be wanting to deprive
me of these few trifies. me gay high
waymen. I'm thinking?" he inquired
placidly OF the pair. IF we've no OBJ
lection I'll make SO free as to take
back me own"
Take what you want" returned
Des Trebes In an ugly tone. But
l give you three minutes to tell me
where you have put that letter"
Indeed? Your courtesy overpowers
me-" The Irishman took up his watch
and calmly made n note of the hour
hard upon three In the morning: then.
with easy nonchalance slowed 1t away
with the rest OF the miscellaneous col
, lection-the knives. coins and keys.
his wallet. tickets and so forth.
Your time" the voice OF the VI
comte interrupted this occupation, is
up" He fingered his revolver where
10 that letter? am losing patience"
Where rust nor moth cannbt cor
rupt nor thieves break in to. steal"
O,Rourks misquoted solemnly.
STEADY. Don't call names-or I'll
forget meself. I mean that the letter
IL In fragments. scattered to the four
winds Of heaven. destroyed. There ye
have your answer. We fools. did ye
think would carry It about mel"
BY God!" said Glynn tenseiy. NO
don't shoot him. Des Trebesl He's
telling the truth. Make him tell what
was In the letter.
I'm afraid It's useless" ORourke
Knocked them. Il have forgotten the
contents. What use to me to re-
member" he demanded. inspired.
What made ye think l would have
1t at all? Sure. and the letter was
properly Chambret's. Why would
not turn 1t over to him?"
"oh. cut IT," Giynn interrupted i'm
patiently. I'VE know he's dead. The
news was photographed In from the
column day before yesterday"
Quite SO. Yet, II ye know SO much,
ff-as gather-ye suspect that Cham
bret turned over this precious jewel
to me. why do ye not demand 1t as
well as the letter? Not that I have
either"
Because we jolly well know you
haven't got the ruby" blurted the
Englishman.
Be quiet!" snapped the vicomte.
Quite right" echoed O'Rourke with
assumed Indignation. BE quiet. Ber-
tie. Children should be seen and not
heard. Mind your uncle" And. "Ohoi"
he commented to himself And they
knew didn't have the Pool Of Flame!
Let me think. oh, faith, It's
Just blufiing they are!"
you say" the viscomte continued
slowly and evenly, you've destroyed
the letter"
O'Rourke took up pipe and tobacco.
Il told ye." he replied, filling the
bowl. that the letter was non-exist-
ent. Now. me man." he continued, with
an imperceptible change OF tone. drop
the blur. Turn that pistol away from
me. Well I know that We won't shoot.
for II ye did ye would put beyond
your reach forever the information
that would win We the reward-al-
ways providing We had got possession
Of the ruby. be hook or crook. 'Twould
be crooks. I'm thinking"
He lit q match and applied the
flame to the tobacco. There's me last
word on the subject" he added In
distinctly. pulling and cycling the pair
through the cloud of smoke.
The revolver waved in the vicomte's
hand; he was livid with passion and
disappointed, yet amenable to rea-
son. Glynn bent and whispered brief
ly In his ear, and the Frenchman, nod