The Bourbon news., 1912-01-05

81 Have the Honor to Address Mon
sieur lie Colonel o'Rourke."
raced gardens. Ever descending, they
came at length to the secluded, little
lighted and less frequented portions or
the grounds which border the water
front, and presently sat side by side
upon bench, looking out over the
harbor. Then and then only did Des
Trebes approach his subject-some-
thing which he had until now studious-
ly avoided, distracting the not over
patient Irishman by a falling fire OF
banalities.
Il dare say, Colonel O'Rourke," he
suggested abandoning his mother
tongue for excellent English-'T dare
say you are wondering"
Il am that"
Il feared So But 1t was essential
that we should speak In privacy"
"Yes-?"
But before proceed. may put you
a question or two bordering. perhaps.
upon impertinence. yet not so cons
ceived?" r
"What long-winded beggar.'
iO'Rourke commented mentally, "As
for that said he aloud, "'tis impos
sible for me to calculate the impertk
nence until tbs put to me. Eh?'
Believe me, sir, | am anxious only
to avoid indiscretion. 1t is the ques
ton Of your identity alone. I desire
! hot oro
Colonel O'Rourke I take you to be-"
my faith! And who else would J.
be, now?"
There's the bare possibility that
two of the same name might exist"
"'Tis SO bare that it's fairly inde
cent" chuckled the Irfshman- But fire
away"
Il am not mistaken in assuming
that | address the Colonel Terence
O'Rourke who was at one time party
to le petit Lemercie's mad Empire du
Sahara project and who later mar
ried Lemarcier's widow, Madame Ia
Princesse de Grandlieu?"
| ORourke took a long breath and
looked his questioner up and down.
''Ye have a very pretty taste in the
matters of impertinences," he 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 eloquently.
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 II ye find 1t insufficient
why, then"
"Pardon!" Des Trebes interrupted.
rising. II am myself more than con-
tent. But the Government of France"
"The Government Of France
O'Rourke whistled.
'Is more exacting than I. 1t knows
certain Colonel ORourke and him
alone does it need"
"The divvle 1t does. And what viii
= it be wanting with me?'
81 can say at present no more than
: that 1 represent Government in an
affair demanding secrecy and dispatch.
), | have a certain diplomatic mission to
:. discharge, and shall have need. mon
+ sieur, Of man strong, bold, venture
a some, willing to undertake long and
), perhaps perilous journey" Had Des
: Trebes been inspired he could have
+ formulated no speech better calculated
$ to intrigue the Irishman; the merest
q echo of it's import would have fired
d1 his hearers fancy. He added: "And
k am authorized to retain for that pur
I pose. should / be fortunate enough to
Z find him unengaged, a certain Colone
e Terence O'Rourke."
!. ''Say no more, monsieur Tis
e enough. Secrecy -dispatch-a Ions
t and perilous Journey Faith I'm JUS
s. your mani"
O. 'You have no other business Of th'
moment?"
None whatever"
re "Then 1 am indeed fortunate. Ar'
now, I presume, you will no longe
v. object to satisfying me as to your fden
tity."
Not In the least. Although, to D.
candid. monsieur, I'm not in the har
it of carrying me Bertillion recor'
about me. But IL yell have the gqod
a mes to accompany me to the Orfenl
~ over there, I'll put your mind at cas-
w. before We can say knife.
er Des Trebes nodded. 'I should
ID delighted. but unfortunately" = 3
ng snapped the case OF his watch
H. have an appointment with confrer'
X Nay we fix time-in half an noul
re say-when it will be convenient 70
you to have me call at the Orfentf