The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-03-01
CHAPTER ~.

AS he stepped out OF the 'li'
ORourke remarked a light tn III
room, visible through the FahSon
over the door.
"Tbe femme de chambre" n
thought Sure and the poor lnIuB
still busy trying to clear up. D
To the contrary. he found the dooI
fast IT'S careless she was To ieaV'
the light on" he observed. httihs HI
key in the lock.
If thoughtless In that one way, th'
woman had fulfilled the letter oil ne'
word in the other. II was with com
prehensive relief (since he anuclpaleo
callerl that he found the room once
again presentable.
But one thing surprised him; and
more surprising still was the tact ina,
his ordinarily Indifferent eye shoNId
have detected it at the first glance
He had indeed hardly entered before
he became aware OF square ot "hlte
paper tucked in the corner OF the Du
reau mirror.
"The divvle, now!" he greeted It.
,.,rbot,s curious. Could one OF
me- many admirers have bribed the
femme de chambre to'bring note TO
me?" He chuckled. holding to the
light a much soiled envelope. grimy
with the marks OF many fingers. plas-
tered with stamps and black with
hostage marks and substitute ad'
dresses. having evidently been for
warded over half the world before II
reached the addressee: who was
in a bold hand. Colonel Terence
O'Rourke."
He whistled low over this, examin-
ing it intently, infinitely less concern
ed with it's contents than with the
manner by which it had reached MIN.
The drst postmark seemed to be that
of Rangoon, the original address, the
Cercle Miitaire, his club in Paris.
Thence. apparently, 1t had sought him
In Galway, ireland, Dublin, Paris again,
and finally-after half a dozen other
addresses-"C. of Nine. O'Rourke, Ho-
tel Carlton. London" The London
postmark was indecipherable. &.
He found himself trembling violent
ly. BY one hand alone could this
have reached him, since the post had
not brought it to Monte Carlo. g.
He recalled that woman's voice which
had so stirred him, the woman of the
Casino whose bearing had seemed to
him so familiar.
Some one tapped on the door; he
smothered a curse of annoyance, and
went to answer, thrusting the letter
Into his pocket
A page announced Monsieur lie
Comte des Trebes.
Show the gentleman up" snapped
O'Rourke. He was about to add, in
Ave minutes" when Des Trebes him
self appeared.
Anticipating that message, mon
sieur," he said, moving into view
from one side of the door, Il took the
liberty of accompanying this boy. l
am late. | fear"
O'Rourke forced a nod and smile of
welcome. Not to my knowledge" said
he.
The Frenchman consulted his watch.
Ten minutes late, monsieur; it is ten
past midnight"
Then. said O'Rourke, "the top O.
the morning to We. Enter, monsieur"
He stood aside, closing the door be-
him his guest. "'Tis no matter; if
| thought ye punctual, tbs SO ye are
TO all intents and purposes.
A chair, monsieur" He established
Des Trebes by window. And a Gig
arctic? A drop to drink?
AS ye will. And since
tbs to talk secret business that we're
nere-would ye like the door locked?"
THAT is hardly essential" Des IRE
0es reviewed his surroundings with
swift, searching glance. I'VE are at
least secure from interruption; one
could ask little more"
True for ye, laughed ORourke. He
moved toward the alcove. Now first
Of all I'm to submit proofs of me iden-
tity. ! believe" he added, intending to
die out Of his trunk a dispatch.box
containing MS passports ana OLueF pa
pers of a private nature.
But Des Trebes had changed his
mind. That is unnecessary, mon.
sieur. Your very willingness is sufi
cient proof | have your word and
am content"
That's the way of doing business
that / like" assented O'Rourke heart
lily, warming a little to the man as he
turned back a chair facing the vi
comte. Besides, quarrel with no
mans right to be reasonable. i
And now I'm at your service. mon
deur."
Des Trebes, lounging back, knees
crossed. thin white fingers interlac-
ng, black eyes narrowing, regarded !
The Irishman thoughtfully for a mo
ment. Abruptly he sat up and re-
moved from an inner pocket long
Thin white envelope, thrice sealed with
red wax and innocent OF any super
scription whatever.
Are you prepared, monsieur" he
demanded incisively, ito play blind
mans buff?
"Am whatT asked oRourke, star !