The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-06-08

graeuIry larger than his ebbing means |
warranted. he had proceeded to FL |
Guerrah by the first daily train, and |
so now found himself on the direct |
line Of communication with Algiers |
and the Governor-General.
His chiefest concern now lay with
the future and the Pool Of Flame;
both bulked large upon the horizon
and were at once the architects and
the nuclei of a thousand different
plans OF action.
So far. the affair had worked
smoothly; he anticipated little trou-
BILE.
So thinking he drowsed, and In the
course of time luIled by the hammer
ing of a flat-wheel at the forward end
Of the coach, fell asleep. He wehen-
ed suddenly after a nap of sore two
hours or SO, to confusion of impress
sions: that the train had stopped;
that some one had invaded his COM
partment; that a cold blast was blow
ing across his Wrists. Bewildered and
not half master of his senses. he start
ed up and fell back with a thud, as
sisted to resume recumbent position
by a heavy blow upon his chest, deliv-
cred by some person for the moment
unknown. simultaneously he was
aware of a clicking sound, followed by
the sensation of being unable to move
his feet; and then, the clouds clearing
from his understanding, he realized
| that the cold upon his wrists was that
of steel. With handouts also on his
ankles, he lay helpless, unable even
to protest because of a cloth wadded
| tightly into his mouth and a firm hand
that prevented election.
| Other hands were rif1ing his peck
cts, swiftly but after bungling fash
| ion. The train, having paused briefly
at Setif Che afterwards located the
station by conjecture), began to
move again, was presently In
full laundering flight. Abruptly the
examination Of his person-which
was so thorough that 1t included
the opening of his shirt to as
sure the thieves that he carried moth
ing in the shape Of money-belt-
was concluded and the adventurer
was roughly jerked into sitting Pc
sition. At the same time his gag was
removed.
He gasped, blinked, coughed, and
rolled resentful eye around the COM
partment. BE the powers!" he said
huskily; and no more. At first glance
it became apparent that he had mis-
calculated the audacity and resource
of the vicomte and Mr.. Glynn. They
had literally caught him mapping.
The Honorable BERTHE, O'Rourke dis
covered kneeling in the act of turning
the adventurer's travelling gear inside
out; at least, he seemed to be try
ing to do so. Monsieur le Vicomte
des Trebes on the contrary was seat
ed at ease, facing O'Rourke, a revolver
On the cushion beside him, his in,
terest concentrated not upon his cap
tive, upon his collaboration. O'Rourke
remarked an expression on the French
mans face. a curious compound Of
eagerness, triumph and apprehension.
Without noting the Irishman's ejec-
ulation, he addressed Glynn: Find
it,"
"No-worse luck!" grumbled the
Englishman, rising and kicking the
handbag savagely. There isn't so
much as a scrap Of paper anywhere
about him."
The vicomte favored O'Rourke with
a vicious glance, muttering something
about thousand devils. The Irish
man, quick to grasp the situation and
inwardly exulting, acknowledged Des
Trebes' attention with q winning
smile.
Good evening"" he said, and nodded
amiably.
ooh, shut up!" snapped the Honor
able BERTHE, unhandsomely. where's
that letter."
| O'Rourke chuckled. "Ye're a hard
loser, me bright young friend" he
commented. Il though Englishmen
always played the game as 1t laid
Glynn grunted and flushed, shame
faced, but the Frenchman cut short
the retort On his lips by curt repe.
tition of Glynn's own question:
where's that letter. monsieur"
O'Rourke glanced at him languidly
yawned, and smiled an exasperating
strictly personal smile. Then sig.
nif1cantly he clinked the handouts un-
til they rang on wrist and ankle.
Answer mel" snarled the vicomte,
picking up his revolver.
"Divvle a word" observed O'ROurke,
will ye get from me if We shoot Lle
dead, monsieur lie vicomte. Put down
your pistol and be sensible"
Des Trebes' face darkened, suf-
fused with the blood Of his rage. Yet
the man asserted that admirable con-
troll of self which he was able to EN-.
ploy when 1t suited his purposes. Evil
IDENTIFY, too, he recognized the cold
common-sense of the wanderers re-
mark. At all events he put aside the