The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1912-05-03

his pose. She could not have wavered
long; indeed, her decision was quite
manifest. Impulsively she caught his
two hands In her own.
"Yes," she cried, IT do believe you!
! take you at your word-your gener-
GUS word, Colonel O'Rourke! I will
trust implicitly in you. You shall get
me to Bombay by the fifteenth"
"The fifteenth?" he echoed thought
fully. This is the tenth"
"The Panjnab Is scheduled to ar
rive on the fifteenth. All my plans
depend upon there being no delays"
Five days! 1t shall be
managed, Mrs. Prynne. Bombay by
the fifteenth 1t shall be, or the
O'Rourke will have broken his hearth"
She grew Thoughtful. "You are very
good-Ive told you that. believe
that you will accomplish what you
promise. Yet 1t seems hardly fair to
saddle you with my cares, my perils,
without informing you Of their ma
ture-"
MADAM. tits not the O'Rourke who
would ever be prying into your Sc
crets. Let's not complicate a simple
situation with explanations"
but, colonel, there is one thing
more" He paused. 1T is a question:"
she continued, "of chartering a ship
at Alden. is 1t not?"
81 see no other way"
0Thnn-cnar1
ORourke. Remember that I foot the
bill"
"But-er-"
"Or, if you insist, sir, pay nothing:
Great Britain pays for both Of u.s."
"Eh? Yes?" he stammered.
"But see, colonel"
He had before then noted indiffer.
emily that she wore a chain of thin,
fine gold about her neck, its termina-
tion-presumably locket of some
sort-hidden in the folds of her cor.
sage. Now she quietly pulled this
forth. and displayed her pendant, a
little trinket of gold. running grey
hound exquisitely modelled.
Stunned, he stared first at the top,
then at the woman. aye mean to say
-" he whispered, doubling.
ION the Kings service, Colonel
O'Rourke!"
"a Kings courier, madam? You
q woman"
"And why not?" she demanded
proudly. "The Kings messengers dare
many dangers, it's true. But in some
Of them might not woman serve bet
ter than a man."
True enough. Yet It's unprece-
dented-at least. yell admit, most un-
usual. begin to understand. That
lascar, for instance"
Believe me, Colonel O'Rourke, I'm
at liberty to tell you nothing"
TELL me this, at least: would ye
know him II We saw him again."
"'Truthfully." she said, looking him
da the eye, 81 would not. will sag
| enc other word: had anticipated his
attack, although had never seen him
before"
Faith, -tis yourself that has your
courage with ye, Mrs. Pryme!
But good night. madam! Your ;serv.
anti"
Goodnight, colonel !" she said'softly
! and as 'Bhe watched him swing away
laughed nightly and strangely. Later.
still standing outside her door, she
sighed, and an odd light glowed deep
in her eyes Of grayish-g@en. Signing
again. and with another low laugh
that rang thought derisixs. az
though me were nuufiug tho man
whose service she accepted 30 GLADLY.
she turned and vanished within her
-stateroom.
As she did 20. Tie opposite door
THAT OF an inside stxteyoom ,on the
ssame gaNgway-was opened cautious
lily. A unnamed head peered out. its
eyes glaming swiftly ~ md down the
corridor. Long since. however, the
excited passengers had been reassur-
ed and had returned u their berths;
the coast was clear.
The lascar stepped noiselessly out,
smut the door without q sound, and
sped swiftly forward: a long, brown
man with an impassive cast of coun-
tenance in which his eyes shone with
q curious light.
AS he swung into the space at the
foot of the saloon companionway, he
colhded violently with an understood
and excessively red-headed drishman.
nearly upsetxing the latter. to say
nothing of a glass of brandyand.soda
which he was conveying to . certain
stateroom.
"Phwat the divvle. ye domned nay
CUR! Pwhy dye not look where ye're
goingr demanded Danny with some
heat.
The East Indian backed away, bow
ed profoundly. muMbling something in
sarticulate. and sprang up the steps.
Danny locked after him. for q moment
besitant. then put down the tray and
pursued. He caught the flicker Of the
lascar's cummerbund as the latter es-
capped to the deck. and himself arrived
at the forward end OF the promenade
just In time to see a white shape dis
appear into the steerage companion
WAY