The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1912-03-08
CHAPTER XVI.

Az thS muCLLih III a hCi6h-
boring minaret turned his face to the
windswept sky and summoned the
faithful to prayer and meditation.
O'Rourke pulled thoughtfully at his
pipe until the musical, melancholy
vail had been whipped away by the
breath of the khamsin, and there was
silence save for the dull, heavy roar
ing overhead Then he resumed the
conversation where 1t had been inter-
rupted.
And We say we love the young wom-
an, Danny"
81 do that, yer honor"
"And We would marry herr"
vivid yer honor's consint-I'm ready,
sor."
Il bless the banns. Ye may have
her on one condition"
"Aw-w?"
1--WE need of ye as I've pointed
out"
Sure, yer honor knows we can count
on me to the last breath in me, sor."
Then yen come with me to Bur-
mah?'
DO you think. sor, I could Shape OF
nights, after hearin' from your own
Ups what we've been through and sus-
pectin' what more we must go through
with before we've won? VIII | be
comm, is ut? Faith, I'll go whether
ye want me or not"
And afterwards we can come back
to Miss Psyche here, or whatever her
name may be"
"Yiss, yer honor, and thank ye kind
H. CT ~ Cd
up. They'll be comm now. sor." he
said in an excited whisper. I'm think
in hear thin Numbering down the
alley"
He turned toward the rear of the
house, and as O'Rourke rose to follow
him, the signal sounded on the meta
door. Danny quickened his steps, ano
as he disappeared his master slipped
quietly into the shadows beneath the
overhanging gallery. From this point
of seclusion he could hear distinctly
the jar of the bolts as Danny opened
the iron door. followed by his hoarse
whisper: whist! is ut yersilves,
now?"
Holes voice answered him huskily:
"Who the hell else would 1t be? Let
us in, you damn harp"
The door creaked upon its hinges;
and was cautiously closed. The bolts
ratified again. Footsteps shuf6ed
slowly, as of men heavily burdened
over the floor of earth. Then. while
O'Rourke gathered himself together,
exultation in his heart, and the fore
taste of revenge sweet in his mouth.
two oloaked figures scuffied into the
courtyard. breathing hard beneath
their burdens of smuggled drug.
Hole promptly dumped his share OF
the load down upon the bench and
swung upon Danny. Where's Mic
covie?" he demanded, evidently In as
ugly a mood as he could muster
and starin' with yer balmy trap open
yer"
THAT will be about enough" sug
gested O'Rourke pleasantly, in con
versational tone. stepping from HE
place of concealment. Don't call
names. Hole-yere too near your God
If we have one, which I misdoubt."
In the clear. bright starlight the pis-
| tolls in his hands were plainly evident;
and one stared the captain in the eye;
one covered the head Of the Pelican's
first officer.
Eye will not move!" said O'Rourke.
sharply, save and except to put your
hands above your heads. So-dont
delay, Mr.. Dennison; I've never known
me temper to be shorter"
Hole began to splutter excitedly.
"Save your breath, ye whelp!"
IL
have need Of It before I'm done with
| ye." He added: Search and dis
arm them, Danny"
The servant set about his task with
alacrity; It is safe to say that he left
not so much as a match in the pocket
of either. While he was about 1t,
Hole, with his eyes steadily fixed upon
the unwavering muzzles of O'Rourke' 8
revolvers, managed to master his emo
ton enough to ask coherently:
what are you going to do with
us?"
"Yell see in good time" returned
O'Rourke grimly. Have ye found 1t,
Danny?"
Danny backed away from Hole,
whom he had searched after DENIM.
| son. "Yiss. sor," he returned "At
least, think SO. Is this ut?"
| II can't look at this moment, Danny.
Is 1t leather bag with something
hard inside, the size Of hens egg, or
a bit larger?"
1.-THE very same, yer honor"
VERY WELL" O'Rourke suppressed
the tremble Of relief in his voice.
PUT 1t In your pocket, Danny-the
very bottom of your pocket. Did ye
find a gun on either OF them?"
| zone on each, sor."
| "Loaded"