The Oakes times., 1912-01-25

lei. For In the light of late events he
could not doubt but that Hole had
sought him out armed with the knowl
edge that O'Rourke was in possession
Iof the priceless jewel-more than
probably advised and employed by Des
'Trebes; assuming that he had failed
to inflict a mortal wound upon that
adventurer.
"Aw. the divvle, the diyvle!" COM
planned O'Rourke. Sure, and 'tis
pretty mess I've made of 1t all, now!"
Saying which he rose and clambered
to the top of the quay-with the more
haste than good will in view of the
fact that the splashing of oars. the
dimly outlined shape Of boat head
Ing directly for his refuge, had sud-
denly become visible. OF course, 1t
might not be the Pelican; but
ORourke was too thoroughly i'm
pressed with the conviction that the
laws of coincidence were working
against him, just then at any rate, to
be willing to run unnecessary risks.
Chance, too, would have it that
there should be an arc-light ablaze
precisely at the foot of the pier, be-
meath which stood, clearly defined In
the white glare, the figure of a hulk
Ing black native representative of the
municipal police. whom O'Rourke must
pass ere he could gain solid earth.
For this reason he dared not betray
evidences of haste; his appearance
was striking enough in all conscience.
without any additional touches. So he,
thrust his hands into his pockets and
sauntered with aswell-assumed but,
perhaps not wholly convincing air Of
nonchalance toward the officer
The latter remained all unsuspicious
until-and then the mischief Of 1t was
that O'Rourke was still full five
yards the wrong side of the man
Hole himself leaped from the boat
upon the end Of the quay and sent q
yell echoing after the fugitive.
"Hey!" he roared. "stop i'm! De-
serter! Thief! Stop thief"
The black vas facing O'Rourke in
an instant, but simultaneously the
1rishman was upon him and had put
an elbow smartly into his midriff in
passing, all but topping the man back
wards into the harbor.
1t had been well for him had he sue
ceeded. AS 1t was the fellow saved
himself by a hairs breadth and the
next minute was after O'Rourke, yell
ing madly.
The Irishman showed fleet pair of
heels, be sure; but, undoubtedly, the
devil himself was in the luck that
night! Who shall describe in what
manner rabble springs out of the
very cobbles of Alexandria's streets?
Men, women, naked children and yap-
ping pariah dogs, fellaheen, Arabs, Be-
douins from the desert, Nubians,
Greeks. Levantines-the fugitive had
not covered two-score yards ere mob
of such composition was swapping at
his calves.
Turning and twisting, lodging and
doubling, shifting this gratuitous en-
emy full in the face, treating the next
as he had the limb of the law (and
leaving both howling), he seized the
first opening and swung into narrow
back-way, leading inland from the wa
terfront.
He ran as seldom he had run be.
fore, straining and laboring, stumbling,
recovering and plunging onward. And,
by the gods, wasn't it hot! The
khamsin raved and tore like a spirit
of hell-fire through that narrow alley,
turning it into miniature inferno
But in the course of some minutes.
the end of the tunnel came in view;
ia lighted rift between house walls,
giving upon the illuminated street be-
yond. The sight brought forth fresh
burst of speed from O'Rourke. He
dashed madly out Of the alley
stumbled and ran headlong into a
strolling Greek, who grappled with
him. at first in surprise and then in
resentment, while the clamor of the
pursuing rabble shrilled loud and
near and ever nearer.
Exhausted as he was, the Irishmar
struggled with little skill before he
mastered his own surprise; and IN the
end saw his finis written along the
blade of thin. keen knife which the
Greek mad whipped from the folds O
ibis garments and jerked threateningly
Iabove his head.
1t was falling when O'Rourke saw
lit. In another breath he had beer
stabbed. Unexpectedly the Greel
jshrieked, dropped the knife as thougl
1T had turned suddenly white-hot il
his hands, and leaped back from
EiO'R Rourke, nursing a broken wrist
while voice as sweet as the singing
of angels rang in the fugitive's ears
though the spirit of its melody wa
simple and crude enough.
"O'Rourke, be all tn. powers! Th'
lmasther himself! Glory, ye beggar
;'tis sorry l am that didn't split tn
ugly face of ye wild me sthick
-. This way, yer honor! Com
vivid mel"
Blindly enough (indeed the worl,
was all awhirl about him) O'Rourke
his arm grasped by strong and conf
dent hand, permitted himself to b.
! swung to the right and across TIL
street. In thought blackness agail
was all about him, but the han,
J gripped his arm, hurrying him onward
and he yielded blindly to its guidanc
without power, for that matter, t
| question or to object; what breatl
he had he sorely needed. And as blind
ly he stumbled on for perhaps anothe
hundred yards, while the voice of tn