River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-06-20

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of the past. She would be glad to see
Bombay
"One never knows, you know, Colo
mel O'Rourke." she said with a little
gesture expressive of her allowance
for the unforeseen.
O'Rourke OWNED she had something
on her mind which she hesitated to
voice, though they were practically
alone; the man at the wheel was a
nonentity- bronze statue in faded
shirt, ragged turban and soiled cum
merbund
Then It's yourself will be glad, /
gather, to be rid of us, MADAME"
She smiled, deprecatory. What
would your" she asked in French,
with significant glance up into
O'Rourke's eyes.
Its not precisely pleasant to be
constantly apprehensive." the woman
continued in the same tongue, ''even
when one has Colonel O'Rourke to
look to for protection"
"Ah, madame!" expostuIated the
wanderer. But what makes We so
positive I'd not turn tail and run away
from any real danger?"
She gave him a look that brimmed
with mirth. "A man who Is cow
ard" she said slowly, doesn't stand
still and draw a revolver when a
heavy knife is thrown at his head"
Quick told we, MADAME"
mo, / saw-heard the quarrelling
on the forward deck and got to the
companionway in time to see what
happened. Had you not been so in
tent on your search for the knife, you
would have seen me. AS it was, |
slipped below again without attracting
attention"
But why?"
ITO get my revolver, monsieur lie
colonel"
Twas naught but an accident"
you do not believe that yourself,
colonel dear; for my part, l."
"Well?"
Someone tried my door last night.
after you'd retired"
Eye are sure?" doubted O'Rourke,
disturbed.
Quite. / was awake-thinking l
heard you come below and close your
door at eight bells; long after there
were footsteps-someone walking in
his bare feet-in the saloon. Then
the knob was turned. very gently.
Fortunately, the door was bolted;
someone put a shoulder to it, but it
held fast. l caught up my revolver
indeed and I am very reckless with it,
sir!-and opened the door myself. The
saloon was quite empty"
Eye shouldn't have risked that"
Il had to know, with so much at
stake" she said simply.
O'Rourke endeavored to manufac-
ture plausible and reassuring explain
alton to the fact. Quick, Danny, or
Dravos, mistaking their rooms"
1T was none Of them Captain
Quick was on deck; / heard his voice
almost simultaneously. surely /
couldn't mistake that" She laughed.
Nor would your man or Mr.. Dravos
have been SO stealthy, so instant to
escape"
'But-but--''
MY theory, T. you will have it, is
that mine enemy of the Panjnab is
one of the crew of the Rance, mon
sieur."
Mrs. Prynne made this statement as
quietly as though she were comment
ing on the weather. But her belief
chimed so exactly with his own that
O'Rourke was stricken witless and at
loss to frame satisfactory refuta-
ton. He was silent for some mo-
ments, his lips a thin hard line, a
crinkle of anxiety between his brows.
''If ye'd only permitted me to attend
to him" he growled at length.
You are right" she admitted. "but
Il am desolated-the mischief
DONE"
Faith, yes!" he sighed dejectedly
His gaze roved the deck and fastene ed
upon the serang. 1T might be any
one of them," he considered aloud.
ANY one. For instance, though
the serang?"
why dye suspect him more than
another?" he demanded, startled.
Call it feminine intuition. IL you
like. The man looks capable of any
thing"
''Yes. But sure. there's no telling
at ALL"
mo telling" she concurred quietly
I'VE can but wait. watch. hope that
imagined the hand at my door,
There might be something in
that"
Il am neither nervous nor an i'm
aginative woman"
At all events, I'll go bail twill not
happen a second time
How do you propose to prevent
it,"
Sure, the simplest way in the
world. myself will stand guard in
the saloon. madam"
But no, monsieur; / can better af
| ford to lose a little sleep than have
you forfeit your rest. Besides. have
/ Cecile.
There ensued an argument without
/ termination; he remained obdurate
she insistent. Only the appearance Of
/ Quick on the stroke of four bells
| forced them to shelve the subject
| 1t was resumed at the dinner table
and carried out in light manner Of
banter for time, dropped and for
gotten, apparently by all but o Rourke