The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1912-05-31


she was roughing 1t. Captain Quick's
quarters were by no means palatial,
and the bill of fare, while substantial
ly composed, lacked something OF va
riety; but that was all a part Of the
great and fascinating game she played
the game of secret service to His
Majesty, Edward VII.
Not that alone, but she was COM
forted by the assurance that her voy-
age would soon be over, her mission
discharged. her responsibility a thing
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
alone; the man at the wheel was a
nonentity- bronze statue in a faded
shirt, ragged turban and soiled cum
merbund.
Then It's yourself will be glad, l
gather, to be rid of us. madam"
She smiled, deprecatory. What
would you?" 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 a Colonel O'Rourke to
look to for protection"
"Ah, madame!" expostulated the
wanderer. But what makes We so
positive I'd not turn tail and run away
from any real danger?"
She gave him 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, madam"
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"
"Ye are sure?" doubted O'Rourke.
disturbed.
Quite. was awake-thinking /
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;
scmeone put a shoulder to 1t, but 1t
held fast. l caught up my revolver
indeed and am very reckless with II,
sir!-and opened the door myself. The
saloon was quite empty"
"Ye shouldn't have risked that"
IL had to know, with so much at
stake" she said simply.
ORourke 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 l
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 a 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 mischiers
done"
Faith, yes!" he sighed dejectedly
: His gaze roved the deck and fastened
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, II you
like The man looks capable of any.
thing"
Yes. But sure. there's no tellins
at ALL"
mo telling" she concurred quietly