The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1912-05-02

LOT anything he held
In trust. He built upon it a theory
whilst he listened-nor lost a point
n replied to the secretary.
The latter regretted excessively
that his ex%cellency was absent: his
excellency would undoubtedly be DESC
lated when he returned and found he
had missed Colonel O'Rourke.
Hell be back soon, MONSIEUR"
Alas, moi" with a shrug. He is
en- route for Paris-possibiy arrived
by this moment-on matters of state"
And he. left?"
Several days since, monsieur"
You know nothing of this package,
Endorsed with the name of Monsieur
Chambret?"
To the contrary: the secretary knew
1t very we'll. He could place his hand
upon 1t at any moment-monsieur
would appreciate that he burst not
surrender It without the Governors
authority.
O'Rourke drew a long sigh of relief
and was abruptly conscious of fatigue
and a desire to get away and rest.
I'm obliged to ye." he said slowly,
rising. I'll have to wait until the
returns, l presume. i.
BY the way, are We be any chance &C.
Quainted with Monsieur le Vicomte
des Trebes?"
But certainly; the vicomte was a
great friend Of his excellency's. He
had dined with his excellency some
thing over a week since, Just prior to
the latter's departure.
And l take 1t We have seen nothing
of the gentleman since?"
"On the contrary, monsieur: the VI
comte called here but two days ago"
1t appeared that he had desired some
trifing Information, with which the
secretary had obliged him.
I'VE didn't happen to leave him
alone in this room?"
h secretary, plainly much per
picked by this odd catechism, ad-
mttted that such had been the case:
the pursuit of the desired data had
necessitated his absence from the Gov.
errors room for a matter of some ten
minutes.
But ye say ye can put your hand
on this package?"
But certainly, monsieur"
Would ye mind making sure tits
safe. 'Twould save me a deal of
waiting, perhaps"
With alacrity and a smile that de-
precated his VISITORS anxiety over so
tri1fng a matter, the secretary rose.
went to the safe and confidently
enough thrust a hand into one of the
pigeon-holes. The hand came forth
empty. A frown of bewilderment
clouded the secretary's face. 1T must
be here" he announced with convic-
ton. 1T was In plain sight aud la
belled with the name of Monsieur
Chambret :" He turned. If
Monsieur lie Colonel will but return in
half an hour, l undertake then to
show him the packet itself. / shall by
then have found it-but assuredly!"
"Ye are very courteous, monsieur.
l will return"
This he did-in two hours. The
packet had not been found; the sec
rotary, In a 1utter of nerves, confessed
that through some culpable negligence
1T must have been misplaced. An ex-
tended search was even then in
progress. 1t would surely come to
light before evening.
Thank We; l shan't be back" re-
turned O'Rourke grimly; and went
away. downcast for the first time
since the inception of the adventure.
Faith! and to think I would not be-
lieve the truth when they slapped me
face with it! And all the time, belize,
twas in the vicomte's own pocket! {.
:" But he had no vocabulary ade.
quate to the task of expressing his
self-contempt.
D~isconsolate, %conceiving that he had
proven himself a blind, egregious fool,
he plodded with heavy steps and a
hanging head back to his hotel; where
the browning strokezo of the day was
presented to him in the shape of a
note, by the hand Of a black Biskri
porter.
Monsieur lie Colonel Terence
O'Rourke. Be hand" he conned the
address. Faith, and what's this?"
IF Monsieur lie Colonel O'Rourke
will do Monsieur des Trebes the hon
or Of dining with him, at seven or
seyen-thirty this evening, at the Villa
1'Orleans, st. Eugene, an arrangement
satisfactory to both himself and Mon
sieur lie Vicomte may be consummat-
ed.
"R. S. V. P.-The bearer waits"
A trap? A subterfuge? A trick to
throw him OF the scent whilst the two
blackguards escaped with their booty?
The adventurer frowned darkly over
it, dubious. Then, in a flush Of reck-
l~essness, he seized q sheet of paper
from a nearby desk, scrawled a
formal acceptance of the strange invi-
tation. and handed it to the Biskri boy.
All to gain, naught to lose" he sum-
med up the state Of mind which had
-