The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-01-12

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He Gripped the Captains Hane
Heartily.
that detains me-" he pursued boldly
with confidential jerk of his head
'There's a bit of stuf-no matter
what-tbat I don't want to pass
through the Custom House at Alex
andria. I'm not saying a word, cap
tain, but if I could smuggle it into
Egypt, the profit would be great
enough to pay me passage-money a
dozen times over. I'm saying this to
ye in strict confidence, for, being an
Englishman, ye won't let on"
Never fear," Hole asserted stout
Iy. "Umm. Er-1 don't mind
telling you, Mr.. O'Rourke, l some
times do little in that line myself
Being a casual tramp and sometimes
lyd by for weeks at stretch for want
of consignment"
''Not another word, captain. I un-
derstand perfectly. Will ye be having
a bit of a drink. now"
Captain Hole would. ut won't >urt
to talk this over" he remarked. per
'aps we might myke some sort Of a
dicker."
Faith, It's meself that's agreeable" ]"
laughed the Irishman lightly.
And when, at midnight that night,
he parted from a moist and senti-
mental sailor-man, whose capacity for
liquor-even including the indescrib-
able native retsinato and masticha-
had proved enormous, the arrangement
had been arrived at, signed, sealed
and delivered by a clasping Of hands.
And it was O'Rourke was the happy
man.
otis Danny who'll be giving HE
the welcome" he assured himself, sit
ting on the edge of his bed and star
ing thoughtfully into the dishevelled
depths of the battered steel kit-bo1
that housed everything he owned IN
the woyld-for he was packing to JON
the Pelican at noon.
'I hope to hiven he has five
pounds" announced O'Rourke later
frowning obviously.
Five pounds happened to be the
sum he had agreed to pay Captain
Hole for the accommodation, it being
further conditioned that the latter
was to accompany the adventurel
ashore at Alexandria and not part
from him till the money was forth
coming: something which irked the
Irishman's soul. 'Why could he not
take me word for it?" he demanded
of midnight darkness tempered by
feeble lamplight. ''But, faith, I forget
what I'm dealing with. Besides, tlS
sure am to find Danny"
He arose and resumed his packing
blowing an inaudible little air through
his puckered lips. "Divvilish awkward
if l don't By the Gods! Ic
all but misremembered
He failed to state exactly what h
had nisremembered, but stood mo
tionless, with troubled eyes staring
at the lamp fame, for full five min
utes Then
'I'll have to chance it," he saic
slowly. "'Tisn't as if it were mine
He unbuttoned the front of his shir
and thrust a hand between his under
shirt and his skin, funlbled about un
der his left armpit, his brows still
gathered thoughtfully. Presently III
gave a little jerk and removed hi:
hand. It contained chamois-skin baE
about the size of a ducks egg, from
which dangled the stout cord By
which he had slung it about his neck
Holding this gingerly, as If he fear
ed it would explode, O'Rourke glancet
at the window, drew the blind tight
and tiptoed to the door, where he
turned the key in the lock. Then, re
turning to his bed and making sure
that he was out of range Of the key
hole, he cautiously loosened the draw
string at the mouth Of the bag.
Something tumbled out into hi:
palm and lay there like ball of red
fire, brilliant and coruscant.
O'Rourke caught at his breath sharp
ly; his very voice had an ominouE
ring in its timber when he spoke al
length,
Blood" be said slowly, blood.
I doubt not that rivers of blood
have flowed for the sake Of ye. Be
like ye were fashioned of blood In the
beginning, for It's that's your color
and the story of ye as I've heard 1t Il
all told when I've said that one wore
blood! ="
And, after bit, I'D best put it away
I'm thinking 'Twouldn't be safe to car
~ it that way any longer. If some
thing should catch in me shirt or
board, and rip. it. and Hole happen tc