The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1912-01-26

waiting for her yacht to be put into
commission. Meanwhile she was max
ing up the party for this Mediter-
ranean trip. l had no idea
where to send you the letter. Have
you read it,"
Have I had time, sweetheart OF
miner"
There was an interlude.
In the distance the thunder rolled
and rumbled.
Resolutely the young woman dis
engaged herself and withdrew to lit
tie distance.
Read, monsieur" she insisted, per-
emptorily.
I've better things to do, me DEAR"
he retorted with composure.
You'll find it interesting"
Il find ME wife more interesting
than How dye know l will?"
perhaps have read it,"
O'Rourke turned the letter over in
his hand and noted what had thereto
fore escaped his attention-the fact
that the envelope, badly frayed on the
edges through much handling, was
open at the top. d.
80 We may" he admitted.
st was that way when l received it.
And have read it. How could | help
it?"
Then we've saved me the bother"
He prepared to rise and capture her.
She retreated briskly. Read"
she commanded. Read about the
Pool of Flannel"
He stopped short, thunderstruck.
1.-THE Pool of Flame?" he reiterated
slowly. What dye know about that?"
What the letter tells memo more.
What has become of it,"
But he had already withdrawn the
enclosure and tossed the envelope
aside, and was reading-absorbed ex-
cited, oblivious to all save that con-
veyed to his intelligence by the writ
ing beneath his eyes.
1t was singularly curt, dry and
business-like document for one that
was destined to mold the romance of
his life-strangely terse and tritely
far-reaching an influence over the lives
Of so many men and women. Upon a
single sheet of paper bearing their let
terhead, Messrs. Secretan and Sypher,
solicitors, of Rangoon, Burmah, had
caused to be typed communication
to Colonel Terence O'Rourke, inform
ing him that on behalf of client who
preferred to preserve his incognito
they were prepared to offer a reward
of one hundred thousand pounds ster-
ling for the return, intact and I'M
marred, of the ruby known as the
Pool of Flame. The said ruby was.
when last heard of, in the possession
Of the said Colonel O'Rourke, who
would receive the reward upon the
delivery of the said stone to the I'M
dersigned at their Offices in Rangoon
within six months from date. Said
delivery might be made either in per-
son or by proxy. With which Messrs.
Secretan and Sypher begged to re-
main respectfully his.
The Irishman read 1t once and again,
memorizing its import; then deliber.
ately shredded 1t into minute parti-
cles.
so it's come" he said heavily. "tust
as the OMahoney foretold 1t would"
He sank back In his chair, and his
wife went to him and perched herself
upon the arm of it. imprisoning his
head with her arms and laying her
cheek against his.
What has come, my hearth"
"One hundred thousand pounds"
he said. treble its worth.
double what the O'Mahoney expect
who is the O'Mahoney, dear?"
He reused. "An old friend, Beatty
an old comrade. He died some years
back. on the banks of the Tugela.
fighting with a Boer commando. He
was lonely man, without kith or kin
or many friends beside meself. That.
I presume, is how he came to leave
the Pool of Flame with me-" He
wound an arm round her and held her
close. "Hearken. dear. and Ill be
telling We the story of It,"
Behind them the Internal glare lit
IN the portentous skies. Thunder