The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1912-06-28
masked by . neatly trimmed and
pointed beard and mustache.


he had ever seen the man before; yet
there was this and that about him
which struck a spark of "reminiscences
from his memory. A suspicion flashed
through his mind which he put aside
with disdain, as absurd and far-fetch.
ed On the other hand. He
knit his brows In puzzlement.
The very fixity of his regard drew
the eyes OF its object upwards. They
encountered ORourke's. fingered brief.
ly in an unveiled. inquiring stare in
which there was not to be detected
the least hint of recognition. and
passed onward casually, indifferently,
ignoring the impertinence
The tenders passengers began to
stumble up the gang-plank to a lower
deck Of the liner; and O'Rourke, with
sober face, went below. taking some
care to avoid contact with the incom.
ing crowd.
He found Danny was in his state.
room, engaged with some details of
repair to the adventurer's wardrobe.
O'Rourke remained for brief space
standing in the middle of the cabin,
visibly distracted. Then abruptly
some whimsical consideration seemed
to resolve his dubiety-as lightning
will clear sultry, brooding air; a smile
deepened the corners of his mouth,
the flicker in his eye merged magically
into twinkle, the shrug of his broad
shoulders conveyed an impression OF
casting care to the winds.
Danny, lad he remarked reflect
lively, throwing himself ungracefully
upon the cushioned transom opposite
to his berth. Danny. We wouldn't lie
to me, would We now?"
"Aw-w!" reproved Danny. "Shure.
yer honor knows ut isn't in me at all"
And to himself; "Phat the divvle
now?"
Then tell me. Danny, truthfully;
did We ever see a ghost?"
"Aw-w!"-seeing cause to take the
query as joke.
"A ghost that had grown beard
since 1t had become a ghost Danny?"
"Aw-aw-w!"-still willing TO be
amused, II himself chose TO be face
tious.
Because continued O'Rourke with
a slight frown. II have, and that not
five minutes since"
"Aw?"
Vance left man for dead, Dan
ny, with clean sword-thrust through
the body of him-a misbegotten black
guard he was; but l killed him in fair
fight, sword to sword, and no ia
vor. And this bright and
beautiful morning, 10 and behold ye!
who should come tripping up the gang
plank but his ghost. as lively as ye
please, and with a neat new beard"
-w?"-incredulously.
O'Rourke frowned impatiently. "Des
Trebes." he explained.
"Aw-"
Stop it. We parrot! Stop 1t. say!
Have We no word in the dark lexicon
of your ignorance other than 'Aw-aw'?
Get up, We omadhaun, and take me re-
spects to the purser and ask him
please will he show We the passen-
ger-list."
The valet left with circumspect ala
Gritty.
Alone, O'Rourke rose and turned
thoughtfully to a revolver that made
a conspicuous black spot on the white
Counterpart of the berth, with nerv-
Gus, strong fingers unlimbering the
weapon and taking account of the
soIc - ~
nestled snug in it's six-chambered
cylinder. The machine was In perfect
condition.; O'Rourke snapped the
breech shut and thrust 1t in his peck
ct. Then he sat down to think, sub
consciously aware from noises with
out that the tender had swung off and
the anchor was being tripped.
Could the resemblance be acciden-
tai? 1t seemed hardly possible. The
Des Trebes he had known had been a
type distinct. so clear and aloof from
the general Frenchman that not even
the addition of beard to his physiog-
nomy could have proven a thorough
disguise. And it seemed reasonable
enough to assume that, Mrs. Prynne
having failed in her undertaking, Des
Trebes would resume his Office as ac-
tive head of their conspiracy. If 1t
were indeed he whom O'Rourke had
just seen, there was every chance i'm
aginable that the final chapter in the
history Of the Irishman's connection
With the Pool of Flame would prove
| an STentful one. st2~f-
Maybe not" admitted O'Rourke
maybe | deceive meself. But I'm
persuaded I'll do well to keep both me
eyes open until the day I'm rid of the
damned thing!"
At this juncture Danny's knock tool
him to the door "Mongsere Raoul de
Hyeres," announced the valet breath
lessly: "'tis thot the purser says hi.
name is. yer honour"
YES" assented O'Rourke dubious
ly. But perhaps the purser's mista
ken-misinformed."
(TO BE CONTINUED)
BuckIng Horses,
A touch OF the spur 81 z flick Of the
II - a