The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1912-04-04
CHAPTER Ill.

CHAPTER III.
AS he stepped out Of the lift Colonel
O'Rourke remarked a light In his
room, visible through the transom
over the door.
THE femme de chambre." he
thought. Sure and the poor things
still busy trying to clear up. ;
To the contrary, he found the door
VASE; "'Tis careless she was to leave
the light on he observed. fitting his
key in the lock.
If thoughtless in that n way, the
woman had fulfilled the letter of her
word in the other. 1t was with COM
prehensive relief (since he anticipated
a caller) that he found the room once
again ~presentable.
But one thing surprised him; and
more surprising still was the fact that
his ordinarily Indifferent eye should
have detected it at the first glance.
He had indeed hardly entered before
he became aware of a square of white
paper tucked in the corner of the bu-
real mirror.
1.-THE divvle, now!" he greeted it.
That's curious. . Could one of
me many admirers have bribed the
femme de chambre to bring a 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
postage marks and substitute ad-
dresses. having evidently been for,
), warded over half the world before 1t
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 its contents than with the
manner by which it had reached him.
The first postmark seemed to be that
of Rangoon, the original address. the
Cercle Militaire, his club in Paris.
Thence. apparently, it had sought him
in Galway, Ireland. Dublin. Paris again,
and fnally-after half a dozen other
a~ddresses-''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. +. .
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
S1s.asnt 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
five 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. |
am late. | fear"
b.. 1(Ou1 nc olSSo " In SllllS VI
welcome. mot 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 tt ye. Enter. monsieur"
He stood aside. closing the door be-
him his guest. ""'Tis no matter: If
i thought We punctual. it's so We are
H5hl intents and purposes.
"A chair, monsieur" He established
Des Trebes by a window. And a Gig
arette? . A drop to drink?
AS We will. +. And since
tbs to talk secrag,is business that we're
here-would We .A-Skhe door locked?"
That is hardly essential" Des Ire
hes reviewed his surroundings with
swift, searching glance. I'VE are at
least secure from interruption; one
could ask little more"
True for ye." laughed O'Rourke. He
moved toward the alcove. Now first
Of all I'm to submit proofs Of me iden.
tity, | believe" he added. intending to
dig out of his trunk a d]ispatch-box
containing his passports and other pa.
pers Of a private nature.
yBut Des Trebes had changed his
mind. THAT is unnecessary, mon.
sieur. Your very willingness is sufi.
cient proof. l have your word and
am content"
That's the way of doing business
that l like" assented O'Rourke heart
lily, warming a little to the man as he
turned back. a chair facing the VI