Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1912-02-14
Thunderstruck. o'Rourke ran

sS1At
ped out stupefied oath, then in a
stride forestalled the man. With him
it was as if suddenly a circuit had
closed in his Intelligence, establishing
definite connection between the three
now four--most mystifying incidents
of the evening.
LESS haste, monsieur" he coun-
seled in voice of ice. His hand fell
VIII almost paralyzing force upon the
others wrist as he sought to grasp
the curtain, and swung him roughly
back. yourself will never know who's
there-whoever the lady may be. -. I.
All, but no, monsieur!"
Maddened beyond prudence, Des
Trebes had struck at his face.
O'Rourke warded off the blow and in
what seemed the same movement
whirled the man round by his captive
wrist and caught the other arm fror
the back. The briefest of struggles y
sued. The Frenchman, taken at aror-
plete disadvantage, was for all his re-
sistance hustled to the door and
thrown through it before he fairly COM
pretended what was happening.
!. Free at length, if on all fours, he
scrambled to his feet TO find O'Rourke
had shut the door behind him, calmly
awaiting the next move.
Haven't ye had enough?" demand
ed the Irishman as the vicomte, blind
ed with passion, seemed about to re-
new the attack. Cor are We wishful
to be going downstairs in the same
fashion?"
Des Trebes drew back, snarljng
You dog!" he cried Then abrupt
". by an admirable effort, he Gained
himself surprisingly. drawing himself
up with considerable dignity and throt-
ting his temper as he quietly adjust
ed the disorder Of his clothing. Only
in his eyes, black as sloes and small,
did there remain any trace of his ma
lignant and unquenchable hatred.
81 am unfortunately" he sneered,
incapable of participating in such
brawls as you prefer, Colonel o 'Rourke.
But am not content. l warn
you . Ny rank prevents me from
Furnishing you personally; am obliged
to fight gentlemen only"
O'Rourke laughed openly.
"But / advise you to leave Monte
Carlo before morning. Should you re-
main, or should you come within my
neighborhood another time-at what
ever time-I will kill you as | would a
rabid cur-or cause you to be shot"
There's always the towards ar
tentative" returned the 1rishman.
"But We mustn't forget ye've only the
one leg to stand upon in society-your
notoriety as duelist. And l shall
take steps to see that We fight me be-
fore sunset. Else shall all Europe
know We for a coward"
Behind the vicomte the lift shot up,
paused, and discharged a single pas
senger. AS swiftly the cage disap-
peared.
Out of the corner Of his eye,
O'Rourke recognized the newcomer as
an old acquaintance, and his heart
swelled with gratitude while a smile
of rare pleasure shaped itself upon
his lips. He had now the Frenchman
absolutely at his mercy. i
Captain Won Einem," he said
quickly, "by your leave, a moment OF
your time"
The man paused stiffly, with the
square-set and erect poise OF an officer
of the German army. "At your service,
Colonel O'Rourke," he said in impeq-
cable French.
But the Irishman had returned undi-
vided attention to Des Trebes. "Mon-
sieur," he announced, your nose an
noys me-" Aud with that he shot out
a hand and seized the offensive mem
ber between strong and capable
thumb and forefnger. ut has annoy
ed me-" he explained in parenthesis,
"ever since first clapped me two eyes
upon ye, scum of the earth that ye
| are"
And he tweaked the nose of Mon.
sieur lie Viscomte des Trebes, twealS-
ed it with will and great pleasure,
tweaked 1t for glory and the Saints;
carefully, methodically, even painstak-
ingly, he kneaded and pulled and twist
ed it from side to side, ere releas-
ing it.
Then stepping back and wiping bis
fingers upon handkerchief, he cock
ed his head to one side and admired
the result of his handiwork. "Tis
an amazingly happy effect" he OBJ
served critically-"the crimson blotch
1t makes against the chalky complex
ion ye affect, Monsieur des Trebes.
And now l fancy ye'll fight.
Your friends may call upon mine here
Captain Won Einem, with your per.