The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-05-03
CHAPTER Ix.--(continued.l

CHAPTER K.--(Continued-l
Quite right" echoed O'Rourke with
assumed indignation. BE quiet, Ber-
lie. Children should be seen and not
heard. Mind your uncle" And, "Oho!"
he commented to himself. And they
knew | didn't have the Pool Of Flame!
Let me think. Oh, faith, It's
Just bluf1ng they are!"
you say" the vlscomte continued
slowly and evenly, you've destroyed
the letter"
O'Rourke took up pipe and tobacco.
81 told ye," he replied. filing the
bowl, that the letter was ~non-exist-
ent. Now, me man" he continued, with
an imperceptible change of tone, drop
the bluff. Turn that pistol away from
me. Well | know that We won't shoot,
for If We did ye would put beyond
your reach forever the information
that would win ye the reward-al-
ways providing We had got possession
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" he added in.
distinctly, putting and cycling the pair
through the cloud of smoke.
The revolver waved In the vlcomte's
hand; he was liyid 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
weapon, The Honorable BERTHE CON
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 a swift move
ment, leaned over, snatched up the re.
VolVer and, with a firt of his hand,
nnng it out of the window.
Glynn started back with an oath,
MS hand going toward his pocket; but
oRourke promptly closed with him. A
breath later q 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.
think 1t must have been the very
ilmpertfnence of his attitude that
made them pause In doubt, for
me had resumed his seat as calmly as
though nothing at all had happen
ca n was pulling soberly at
MS pipe. As they hesitated he re-
moved the latter from his lips and
gestured airily with the stem. sit
ye down." he invited them, and take
u easy, me dear friends. The mischief's
done, and naught that ye can do will
repair 1t. Faith, | said I'd not strike
oack unless ye crowded me. re-
membe me words to the letter. I
TOUR guns made a crowd out of this |
HAPPY reunion. I've merely dispensed
VIVID them; call ye both to witness r
mat ye have neither of ye suffered. /
cure, I'm as %peaceable az any lamb. 8
on down. sit ye down and take 1t like 6
little men. The situations unchanged, 9
save that I've put temptation out OF 6
your reach" :
And as they wavered, plainly of 5
TWO minds, o'Rourke clinched the ar t
eument Of his attitude. q" beg 20 call {
,ouF attention" he remarked, ito the |
iact h a ye have left me own brace v
VI reviewers here at me feet, when ye a
10 Nyously turned me bag inside out.
: IN not touching them, mind We, but d
'uiud ye further: I'll brook no nom e
sense. II We make q move as IL to at !;
'Ack me, I'll -. There! That's h
.uch better. Wise lads, ye are, both
se: graceful In defeat. Let me see:
a long ride together, though e
nc come unlimited. | trust We b
help me beguile the tedium with
society chatter, me friend" with a
.nlnkle at the discounted vicomte.
IN IN danger of forgetting me man In
s' Pardon me, I pray, but--but C
gst your nose is convalescing?"
nigh feather with himself, 1t
noufke entertained his companions VI
a running fire OF pleasantries for W
~ balance Of the darkened hours. ST
~. ne touched both more than once al
nn the rapier-point of his wit and
s' and had the pleasure of seeing ar
!. squirm in impotent rage. They al
y wretched figures, two against one,
- Nsiiures, while he tainted them in Ri
preatn, with the next declared G.
h tne'r captive. Toward the end b.
leserye which the vicomte i'm gu
? a the Honorable BERTHE was de
the Englisbman turned