The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1912-03-15

front, and presently sat side by side
upon a bench looking out over the
harhor Then and then only aid Des
Trebes approach his subject-some-
thing which he had un.ll now studious.
ly avoided. distracfing the not over.
patient Irishman by falling hre OF
banalities.
81 dare say. Colonel O'Rourke." be
suggested abandoning his mother
tongue for excellent English-T dare
say you are wondering"
81 am that"
Il feared So But It was essential
that we should speak In privacy"
"Yes-?"
But before proceed, may put you
question or two bordering. perhaps.
upon impertinence. yet not so con-
ceived?"
what long-winded beggar!"
O'Rourke commented mentally. "As
for that" said he aloud, "'tis impos-
sible for me to calculate the imperti-
hence until It's put to me. Eh?"
Believe me. sir. am anxious only
to avoid indiscretion. 1t is the ques-
ton of your identity alone. desire
only to be assured that you are the
Colonel O'Rourke | take you to be"
MY faithl And who else would I
be. now?"
There's the bare possibility that
two of the same name might exist"
"'Tis so bare that It's fairly indie
cent" chuckled the freshman. But fire
away"
81 am not mistaken in assuming
that | address the Colonel Terence
O'Rourke who was at one time a party
to lie petit Lemercie's mad Empire du
Sahara project and who later mar
ried Lemarcier's widow, Madame la
Princesse de Grandeur"
O'Rourke took long breath and
looked his questioner up and down.
"Ye have a very pretty taste in the
matters of impertinences," ne said
gravely. However, let that pass. I'm
the same man."
"A thousand pardons. Caution in
matters such as this" A shrug COM
pleted the thought most eloq1ently.
You can give me proofs of your iden-
tity, them"
"Proofs!" O'Rourke got to his feet.
Believe me, monsieur, ye have all the
proof I'm willing to give We. and that's
my last word. If We find it insufficient.
why. then"
"Pardon!" Des Trebes interrupted,
rising. 81 am myself more than con-
tent. Blu, the Government of France"
"The Government of France"
O'Rourke whistled.
us more exacting than l. It knows
a certain Colonel O'Rourke and him
alone does it need"
1.-THE divvle it doesl And what will
1t be wanting with me?"
Il can say at present no more than
that | represent Government in an
affair demanding secrecy and dispatch.
have certain diplomatic mission to
and shall have need. mon
sieur, of a man strong, bold venture
some, willing to undertake a long and
perhaps perilous Journey" Had Des
Trebes been inspired he could have
no speech better calculated
to intrigue the Irishman; the merest
echo of its import would have fired
his hearers fancy. He added: "And 1
am authorized to retain for that pur-
pose, should | be fortunate enough to
find him unengaged. a certain Colonel
Terence O'Rourke."
Say no more, monsieur. IT'S
enough. Secrecy-dispatch-a long
and perilous journeyl' Faith I'm just
your mani"
sfUo,, boua ~ Othar It,e fuagc ~ fha
None whatever"
Then am indeed fortunate. And
now, presume. you will no longer
object to satisfying me as to your iden-
tity."
mot In the least Although to be
candid, monsieur. I'm not In the hab-
It OF carrying me Bertillion record
about me. But If yen have the good
over there. I'll put your mind at ease
before We can say knife"
Des Trebes nodded. 81 should be
delighted. but unfortunately" he
snapped the case of his watch-"I
have an appointment with a confrere.
May we fix a time-in half an hour.
say-when it will be convenient for
you to have me call at the Orient?"
in half an hour? I'll await ye
hen, monsieur"
Pardon, then. my haste. am late.
must be off,"
The mans hand touched O'Rourke's
n the most brief of clasps. singularly
irm and cold. The Irishman pondered
he sensation for some moments after
Des Trebes' hurrying figure had van.
shed in shad6..J.