The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-01-12


Ard where would he be? Still was
he far by many q, long and weary
mile from the first gateway to the
East-Suez; and still he lacked many
an aloof and distant dollar the funds
to finance him thither.
# only he could contrive to get to
Alexandria,! Danny was there
Danny Malone, he Of the red, red
head and the ready fists; Danny, who
held the O'Rourke as only second to
the Pope in dignity and importance;
who had been O'Rourke's valet in
happier time and Of late in his hum
bier way an adventurer like his mas
ter. He was there, in Alexandria,
half partner in a tobacco importing
house, by virtue Of money borrowed
from O'Rourke long since, at a time
when money was to be had of the
man for the asking. And
Danny would help.
You must see O'Rourke revolving in
bis mind this unhappy predicament of
his, on the last of the many afternoons
that he spent in Greece. Draw down
the corners Of his wide, mobile mouth,
stir up the devils in his eyes unit
they flicker and fash their resentment
place pucker between the brows of
his habitually serene and unwrlnkled
forehead; and there you have him
who sat beside the little table in the
purple of the Zappeion, with a head
barred to the cool Of the evening
breeze, alternately putting at a me-
diocre cigar and slipping black coffee
from the demi-tasse at his elbow.
Now just as the sun was sinking be-
hind the mountains and Hymettus was
clothing it's long slopes in vague violet
light of mystery and enchantment (for
this view alone O'Rourke took himself
to the Zappeion daily the Irishman's
somber meditations iwere interrupted.
'Phew! 'Otter'n the seven brass
'inges Of 'ell!" remarked a cheerful
voice, not two feet from his ear.
O'Rourke turned with an imper'
ceptible start-he was not easily sta
tied. s'True for ye,'' he assented, tax
ing stock of him who, with his wealth
er-wise remark for an introduction
calmly possessed himself of the va
cant chair at the other side of the
table and grinned rubicund grin
across it.
hi,,oeN1f a in ctofnrG
no whit inferior to the 1rlshman, as
to height; and perhaps he was a
stone the heavier of the two. lie
lacked, otherwise, O'Rourke's alert
habit, was of a slower, more stolld
and beefy build. The eyes that met
O'Rourkes were gray and bright and
hard, and set in a countenance ham
ing red-a color partly natural and
partly the result Of his stroll through
Athens heated streets.
His dress was rough, and there was
this and that about him to tel
O'Rourke more plai2ly than words
that his profession was something
nautical; he was most probably a cap
tain, from a certain air of determine
ton and command that lurked be
meath his free-and-easy manner.
Therefore, having summed the
stranger up in a glance, "And wher
did ye get in, captain?" inquired
O'Rourke.
The man jumped with surprise anc
shot frightened-at least a ,ques
tioning-glance at O'Rourke. Then
seeing that he was smiling in friend
ly fashion, calmed and continued tc
cool his face and heat his blood BY
tanning himself vigorously with
straw hat.
"'Ow the dooce do you know I'm
captain?" he demanded, with slight
ly aggrieved manner.
1T shouldn't take man an hour tt
guess that, captain-any more thai
it would to pick ye out for an Eng
lishnan.'
The captain stared, gray eyes wild
ening. AN perhaps you'll tell me my
iyme next?" he suggested rathe1
truculently.
''Divvle a bit. IT'S no clairvoyant
am," laughed O'Rcurke. "But [ car
tell ye me own. 'Tis O'Rourke, anc
it's delighted I am to meet a white
man in this heather country. Sir, you1
hand!"
He put his own across the table and
gripped the captains heartily.
Mines 'Ole," the latter informed
him.
"Ole?" -queried o'Rourke. "ol'
what?"
Not Ole nothing" said the cap
tain with some pardonable asperity
Il didn't s'y 'Ole, sgd 'Ole."
"Of course" O'Rourke assentet
gravely. I'm stupid, Captain Hole
and a bit deaf in me of ear" This
however, was a polite lie.
THAT explyns it." agreed the molli
fed man. 'Tt's 'Ole, plyn Will'm 'Ole
master Of the Pelican, fryghter, JUS
in from Malta"
A light Of interest kindled i.