The Elbert County tribune., 1912-05-31
masked By a neatly trimmed and
pointed beard and mustache-

there was this and that about him
which struck a spark of "reminiscences
from his memory. A suspicion flashed
through his mind which he put aside
with disdain, as absurd and far-fetch-
ed On the other hand He
knit his brows in puzzlement.
The very fixity of his regard drew
the eyes of its object upwards. They
encountered O'Rourke's. fingered brief
ly In an unveiled, inquiring stare in
which there was not to be detected
the least hint OF recognition. and
passed onward casually. indifferently.
ignoring the impertinence.
The tenders passengers began to
stumble up the gangplank to lower
deck of the liner; and O'Rourke. with
a sober face. went below. taking some
care to avoid contact with the incom-
ing crowd.
He found Danny was in his state
room. engaged with some details OF
repair to the adventurer's wardrobe.
O'Rourke remained for brief space
standing in the middle of the cabin.
visibly abstracted Then abruptly
some whimsical consideration seemed
to resolve his dubiety-as lightning
will clear sultry, brooding air; smile
deepened the corners of his mouth,
the flicker in his eye merged magically
into twinkle, the shrug of his broad
shoulders conveyed an impression Of
casting care to the winds.
Danny, lad" he remarked reflect
lively. throwing himself ungracefully
upon the cushioned transom opposite
to his berth. Danny. ye wouldn't lie
to me, would ye now?"
"Aw-w!" reproved Danny. "Shure.
yer honor knows ut isn't in me at all"
And to himself; "Phat the divvle
now?"
Then tell me, Danny. truthfully;
did ye ever see a ghost?"
"Aw-wl'-seeing cause to take the
query as joke.
"A ghost that had grown a beard
since it had become ghost. Danny?"
"Aw-aww,"-still willing to be
amused. If himself chose to be face
tious.
Because. continued O'Rourke with
slight frown. Il have. and that not
five minutes since"
"Aw?"
Vance | left a man for dead. Dan
ny. with a clean sword-thrust through
the body of him-a misbegotten black
guard he was; but killed him in fair
fight, sword to sword. and no IA
vor. And this bright and
beautiful morning. 10 and behold ye,
who should come tripping up the gang
plank but his ghost. as liyeE as ye
please. and with neat new beardi"
w?"-incredulously
O'Rourke frowned impatiently. "Des
Trebes." he explained
"Aw-"
Stop it. ye parrot, Stop IT. say
Have ye no word in the dark lexicon
of your ignorance other than 'Aw-aw'?
Get up, ye omadhaun. and take me re-
spects to the purser and ask him
please will he show ye the passen-
ger-list"
The valet left with circumspect ala
Gritty.
Alone, ORourke rose and turned
thoughtfully to revolver that made
a conspicuous black spot on the white
counterpane of the berth. with nerv-
Gus. strong fingers unlimbering the
weapon and taking account of the
brass dials of the cartridges that
nestled snug in its six-chambered
cylinder. The machine was in perfect
condition; O'Rourke snapped the
breech shut and thrust it In his pock-
et Then he sat down to think, sub
consciously aware from noises with
out that the tender had swung off and
the anchor was being tripped
Could the resemblance be acciden-
tai? 1t seemed hardly possible The
Des Trebes he had known had been a
type distinct. SO clear and aloof from
the general Frenchman that not even
the addition of beard to his physiog-
nomy could have proven a thorough
disguise. And it seemed reasonable
enough to assume that, Mrs Prynne
having failed in her undertaking, Des
Trebes would resume his Office as ac.
tive head of their conspiracy. II it
were indeed he whom ORourke had
Just seen, there was every chance i'm
aginable that the final chapter in the
history OF the Irishman's connection
with the Pool of Flame would prove
an eventful one.
Maybe not" admitted O'Rourke.
maybe l deceive meself But Pm
persuaded I'll do we'll to keep both me
eyes open until the day I'm rid of the
damned thingi"
At this juncture Danny's knock took
him to the door "Mongsere Raoul de
Hyeres." announced the valet breath.
lessly: " tbs thot the purser says his
name is, yer honour"
Yes" assented O'Rourke dubious
ly. But perhaps the purser's mista.
ken-misinformed"
(To BE coNTINUED)
BuckIuu Horxes