The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-04-05
cHAprER xI.-tcontInuedl

GFIEAr@ I = n ENls- ANf~iaN'''
And We have to propose
"A plan after your own heart; l do
your courage the credit to believe It,
monsieur With another man, whom
had studied less exhaustively' /
should propose combination OF
lorces, a division Of profits" ORourKe
made an impatient gesture. But Win
you. Colonel ORourke, no. l esteem
Eour address and determination too
highly and-pardon me If speak
plainly despise and hate you TOO
utterly TO become willingly your part
ler"
GO on-I begin to like ye better.
Ye grow interesting.
THAT does not interest me. .
The situation, then. is simplifed. Es-
gentialy it involves two propositions;
first, we cannot combine; second, d.
yided we both fail While both of US
i've, mon colonel, the Pool of Flame
will never earn its value"
"'Tis meself takes exception to
that. Let me once get me hands on
the stone. monsieur, and I'll back me-
self against dozen vicomtes-and
honorables"
while / i've" the Frenchman stat
ed, unrufled; you will not touch the
Pool OF Flame; while you live, l can
not dispose of it to the best ad-
vantage. 1t would seem that one or
the other of US must die"
81 am armed" remarked O'Rourke
slowly. If ye mean ye'Ve brought me
here to murder me"
Monsieur speaks-pardon-c
ly. / asked you, you came Of your
own will-to fight for the Pool of
Flame" ORourke started; a CLINT of
understanding danced in his eager
eyes. Il see you catch my meaning.
What | have to propose is this: you
will take pen and paper and write
the name of the person who offers the
reward. with his address, This you
will enclose in an envelope, SEAL and
place in your pocket The Pool OF
Flame-you see l trust you-is here
O'Rourke got upon his feet with an
exclamation; the vicomte was play.
ing bold hand. Before the Irishman
had grasped his intention he had
thrown upon the table a ruby as large,
or larger, than an egg; an exquisite
jewel, superbly cut and polished
Fascinated, O'Rourke remembered
himself and sat down
You see" The Vicomtes cold in
cisive tones cut the silence Slowly
he extended a hand and took I'D the
great ruby replacing it in his pocket.
There is, he said evenly, a level
stretch of grass beyond the yeranda
The night. admit, is dark, but the
light from these long windows should
be sufficient for us. If you slay me.
take the ruby and go In peace: this
sot"-with a contomptuous glance at
the unconscious honorable-"will new
er hinder you. If you die, take the
note from your pocket The issue is
fair VIII you fight, IrishmanT
ORourke's fist crashed upon the
table as he rose Fight" he cried.
Faith, ! did not think ye had this in
ye Pistols. shall it he?"
THANK you" said the vicomte, with
a courtly bow, but am an indiifer-
ent shot Had you chosen rapiers at
Monte Carlo one of us would never
have left the field alive"
He went to side table, returning
with a sheet OF paper, an envelope,
pen and ink And when O'Rourke had
slipped the paper into his pocket he
saw the vicomte waiting for him by
one OF the windows, two naked ra.
piers, slender and cleaning and long,
beneath his arm. AS the Irishman
came up. with a bow. the Frenchman
presented the hilts of both weapons
for his choice.
Together and in silence they left
the diniEs-room. strobe across the YER
anda and down, short step. to the
lawn The vicomte stood aside quick
ly, bringing his feet together and sa-
luting in the full glare of light
ORourke whipped hilt to chin with
consummate grace, his heart singing
Work such as this he loved The
night was pitchy black the windows
barred 1t with radiance In the dark
spaces between a man might easily 4
blunder and run upon his death. Il
. Somewhere in the shadowy shrub
berry a night-bird was singing as
though its heart would break. There
was a sweet smell In the air
His blade touched tho vicomte'H