The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1912-04-12


TT"
"No-worse luckl" grumbled the
Englishman, rising and kicking the
hand bag savagely. There isn't 80
much as scrap OF paper anywhere
about him"
The v!comte favored O'Rourke With
a vicious glance. muttering something
about a thousand devils. The Irish.
man, quick to grasp the situation and
lnwardly exulting, acknowledged Des
Trebes' attention with q winning
smile.
Good evening"" he said, and nodded
amiably.
"Oh, shut upl" snapped the Honor
able BERTHE, unhandsomely. where's
that letter."
O'Rourke chuckled. "Ye're a hard
loser, me bright young friend" he
commented. II though Englishmen
always played the game as It laid"
Glynn grunted and flushed, shame
faced. but the Frenchman cut short
the ;etort on his lips by a curt repe-
tition of Glynn's own question:
Where's that letter, monsieur"
O'Rourke glanced at him languidly,
yawned. and smiled an exasperating
strictly personal smile. Then sig
nificantly he clinked the handouts I'M
til they rang on wrist and ankle.
Answer mel" snarled the vicomte,
picking up his revolver.
''Divvle a word" observed O'Rourke,
will we get from me If We shoot me
dead, monsieur lie vicomte. Put down
your pistol and be sensible"
Des Trebes' face darkened, suf-
fused with the blood OF his rage. Yet
the man asserted that admirable con-
troll of self which he was able to en-
ploy when 1t suited his purposes. Evil
IDENTIFY. too, he recognized the cold
common-sense Of the wanderers re-
mark. At all events he put aside the
weapon.
Where's the letter." he demanded
again, more Practically.
Again ORourke yawned with mai
ice prepense, yawned deliberately and
extensively and dispassionately.,
Not a word" he volunteered at
length, until ye loose me hands and
feet. Which," he added. I'VE need not
hesitate to do, for I'll not strike back
unless We crowd me-"
The vicomte scowled darkly for
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.
Free O'Rourke stretched himself.
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.
"Ye'll not be wanting to deprive
me of these few trifles, me gay high
waymen, I'm thinking?" he inquired
placidly of the pair. 'Tf 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
| 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 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,
II I1ak &c nd en-
"Your time" the voice of the vi
comte interrupted this occupation, lis
up" He fingered his revolver Where
is that letter? | am losing patience.
Where rust nor moth cannot cor
rupt nor thieves break in to steal"
O'Rourke misQuoted solemnly.
STEADY Don't call names-or I'll
forget meself. | mean that the letter
is in fragments, scattered to the four
winds of heaven, destroyed. There ye
have your answer. Ye fools, did ye
think would carry it about me?"
by God!" said Glynn tensely. mo
don't shoot him, Des Trebes! He's
telling the truth. Make him tell what
was in the letter"
I'm afraid tbs useless" O'Rourke
Knocked them. 81 have forgotten the
contents. What use to me to re-
member?" he demanded, inspired.
What made We think | would have
1t at all? Sure, and the letter was
properly Chambret's. Why would
not turn 1t over to him?"
"Oh. cut it," Glynn interrupted Inn
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.
lf-as gather-ye suspect that Cham.