Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-01-04

rnem ne knew to De armed. Snt1tlng
In his chair so that his revolver lay
convenient to his hand, as De Hyeres
approached the Irishman removed bis
cigar from between his teeth, licked
away an inch OF ash and silently prot
fered 1t in the prescribed fashion.
The Frenchman accepted the cour'
tesy with a bow, applied the fire to his
cigarette. inhaled deeply and returned
the cigar with a formal phrase oil
thanks. He fingered for moment
putting and gazing off over the black
starlit expanse of the Bay of Bengal
lonely to it's dim and far horizon, then
observed quietly: II am not mistaken
I believe, in understanding have the
honor to address Monsieur lie Colonel
O'Rourke. Cheyalier OF the Legion OF
Honour"
"You are not mistaken, monsieur
returned O'Rourke pleasantly, then
with the directness which he some
times found useful, watching the man
closely as he spoke: "And believe
it is my pleasure to recognize Mon
sier LIE Vicomte des Trebes?'
"Des Trebes, monsieur" The
Frenchman's look of wonder was be
yond criticism and there was no least
trace Of discontinue to be detected
in his manner. "But no. You are
under a mistake. | am merely
French gentleman without title;
Raoul de Hyeres is my name"
"Ah!" said the wanderer. "'Twas
the resemblance misled ma Pardon
monsieur"
Granted. my dear sir. :. Des
Trebes? The name has familiar
sound. Do ! not remember reading
somewhere that the Vicomte des
Trebes died last spring? In Tunis
was it? ;. Suddenly. l believe"
as 1t so?" said O'Rourke drily. POS
sibly. The vicomte lived in the man
| ner Of those who meet with sudden
deaths"
The subject languished. and after 2
| few more noncommittal observances
De Hyeres wandered off. presumably
/: in search Of the English girl. to whom
he had been paying assiduous atten
| ton.
i On closer scrutiny, she had proved
| to be remarkably pretty girl; al
though. in point of fact, O'Rourke. fol
all that he admired ner looks i'm
mensely. had purposely avoided her
! This he did from motives Of prudence
he mistrusted the combination formed
by De Hyeres and the girl. The latter
might be all that she looked and claim
| ed to be: sweet, wholesome and rath
er ingenious young Englishwoman, ar
orphan, resident in Rangoon in the
household of an uncle, to whom she
was returning after visit with
friends in Simla. On the passenger
list her name stood as Emilia Pyn
sent. But the adventurer felt It. The
course OF wisdom to deny himself the
pleasure OF her acquaintance, SO lone
as she permitted the attentions Of the
Frenchman.
Altogether. considering the hot
weather and such selfimposed re
strictions, O'Rourks e@eonsidered the
voyage hardly a success from a socia1
point OF view. FIe kept pretty much
to himself and 10 Danny. and to make
assurance doubly sure he instituted q
| new regime with regard to the Poo
of Flame: that jewel never left his
! stateroom. When O'Rourke was or
deck or at meals, Danny sat behind
bolts, alert and under arms. and vice
versa. BY night they stood regular
watches together. the one on guard
while the other slept. Clearly the ad
venturer was determined that no lack
of safeguards on his part should again
deprive him of the ruby.
J But it's no easy matter 20 avoid
! meeting any particular person on a
I ship with a small saloon list. unless
one is willing to be purposely rude
and discourteous. For all his war;
ness the Irshman was to carry with
him a personal impression Of Miss
! Pynsent.
On the last day OF the passage. TO
ward evening. the Poonah raised the
! coast of Burmah; ny dark she vas
steaming steadily southwards along
! the liltoral. heading for the delta OF
| the 1rrawaddv.
A still. bright night with little wind
| O'Rourke was not one 10 resist It's al
! lure. Four bells saw him lounging at
| the rail below the bridge staring hun
! grily over toward the land. Il vas in
! his mind that another twelve hours
or so would see him relieved Of his
trust; and as the time drew nigh i'm
patience burned holly within him; ne
/ had become full weary OF the Pool OF
| Flame and was anxious to be free oil
the thing. to have its chapter in his
! history closed forever.
Far over the water white AND
| flashing light lifted up and caught his
eye, nameless beacon bright against