The Bourbon news., 1912-01-16
lContinued F1om Page q

ways plOFlUiuS 20 Adu 6OI pO0cCoSiOu
of the ruby, be hook or crook. 'Twould
be crooks, I'm thinking"
He lit a match and applied the
fame to the tobacco. There's me last
word on the subject" ne added in
distinctly, putting and eyeing the pair
through the cloud of smoke.
The revolver waved in the vicomte's
hand; he was livid with passion and
disappointed, yet amenable to rea-
son. Glynn bent and whispered brief
ly in his ear, and the Frenchman, nod
ding acquiescence. laid aside his
tinued to advise with him in whispers
until O'Rourke, though quite at loss to
understand this phase of the affair,
saw that their attention was momen-
tarily diverted and, with swift move
ment. leaned over, snatched up the re-
volver and, with fiirt of his hand,
flung it out of the window.
Glynn started back with an oath,
his hand going toward his pocket; but
O'Rourke promptly closed with him. A
breath later a second pistol was eject
ed from the carriage and the English
man was sprawling over the knees Of
the vicomte.
They disengaged themselves and,
mad with rage, started up to fall upon
and eXterminate the wanderer. /
impertinence Of his attitude that
made them pause in doubt, for
he had resumed his seat as calmly as
though nothing at al had happen
ed and was pulling soberly at
his pipe. AS they hesitated he re-
gestured airily with the stem sit
ye down." he invited them, "and take
it easy, me dear friends. The mischief's
done, and naught that ye can do will
repair it. Faith, said I'd not strike
back unless ye crowded me. l re-
member me words to the letter.
Your guns made a crowd out of this
happy reunion. I've merely dispensed
with them; l call We both to witness
that ye have neither of We suffered.
Sure, I'm as peaceable as any lamb
Sit down, sit We down and take it like
little men. The situations unchanged
save that I've put temptation out OF
your reach"
And as they wavered, plainly OF
two minds, O'Rourke clinched the ar
gument of his attitude. 81 beg to caH
your attention" he remarked, ito the
cf hot -
of reVolvers here at me feet, when ye
SO joyously turned me bag inside out
I'm not touching them, mind ye, but
mind ye further: I'll brook no nor.
sense. If We make move as if to at.
tack me, I'll There! That's
much better. Wise lads, We are, both
Of ye: graceful in defeat. Let me see:
We've a long ride together, though
ye did come unlimited. | trust ye
will help me beguile the tedium with
society chatter, me friend" with a
twinkle at the discomfited vicomte
I'm in danger of forgetting me man
ners. Pardon me, I pray, but-but !
trust your nose is conValescing?"
In high feather with himself.
ORourke entertained his companions
with running fire Of pleasantries for
the balance of the darkened hours.
And he touched both more than once
with the raDier-point, of his wit and
irony, and had the pleasure of seeing
both squirm in impotent. rage. They
cut wretched figures, two against one,
yet failures, while he tainted them in
one breath, with the next declared
himself their captive. Toward the end
the reserve which the vicomte i'm
posed upon the Honorable Bertie was
worn down: the Englishman turned
W.th raw nerves upon his tormentor.
You damned asst" he stammered,
all but incoherent You sit there
and-and gloat, damn you! When all
the time we've got the upper hand!"
BE quiet" interposed the vicomte.
L WON'T" ragged the honorable. He
thinks himself so Internally clever!
What 'dyou say, you Irish braggart, if
l told you you'd never see the Pool
OF Flame again."
I'd say returned O'Rourke, that
you were either lying or a fool. Ia
either case fool If, as We seem to
be trying to make me believe-which
don't for one instant-ye have sue
ceeded in stealing the Pool of Flame,
III hunt the pair OF We to the ends of
the earth, if need be-"
He eyed them refectively during a
moment or two made interesting by
Glynn's desperate attempts to blurt
out indiscretions against the prohibi-
ton OF the Vicomte: something which
the older man enforced crudely by
clapping his hand across the English
mans mouth, as we'll as by whisper
ing savagely in his ear.
But there'll be no need" continued
the Irishman, when Glynn was calm. !
Lets consider the matter dispassion-
ately presupposing that We have the
stone. Well, what then? Ye dare not
attempt to sell it-twould result in
instant detection If would not NOW