The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1912-04-05
CHAPTER VI.

O'Rourke planned came serenely to
pass He experienced a day as re-
plete with emotions as the night that
preceded It and more marked by ac-
tivity. Nothing hindering, he left the
battlescarred Vicomte des Trebes
upon the field OF honor at half-past
six; at seven forty-iive he settled him
self in a coach of the Cote d'Azur
Rapide, en- route for Marseilles--a
happy man, for he was alone. Z.
At a quarter to one in the afternoon
of the same day he boarded the little
steamer Tabarka of the Mediter-
ranean ferry service; and half an hour
later stood by the after-rail of its
promenade deck, watching the dis
tances widen between him and all that
he held beloved.
"In ninety days, dear boy" she had
said. "Ah, Terence, Terence.
if you should fail me I"
Il shall not fall Rangoon
in ninety days, Dear heart. | will be
there.
AS If to feed the hunger of his
heart he strained his vision to see
the last of the land that held her.
At length 1t disappeared, and then for
the first time he consciously moved
drew a hand across his eyes, sighed
and turned away.
Picking his way through the cos
mopolitan throng of passengers, he
went below, found his stateroom, and
subsidized into the berth for a sorely-
needed nap; instead Of indulging In
which, however, he lay staring wide
eyed at his problem. He had much to
accomplish, much to guard against.
Des Trebes bulked large in the back
ground of perils he must anticipates;
O'Rourke was by no means disposed
to fiatter himself that he had scotched
the schemes of the vicomte.
He made his second public appear
ance ON the Tabarka at the hour of
sunset; and in the act of making It,
turned a corner and ran plump into
the arms of young person in tweeds
and a steamer cap-a stoutish young
Englishman with a vivid complexion
and a bulldog pipe nervousness tenn
pering his native home-brewed inso-
lence, the blank vacuity of his eyes
hopelessly betraying the caliber of his
intellect
A sudden gust of anger swept
ORourke off his figurative feet. He
stopped short, blocking the gangway
and the young mans progress. So this
was what had been set to spy upon
himl
Good evening to ye," he said cold
ly. fixing the Honorable Mr.. Glynn
with an interrogative eye that served
to deepen his embarrassment and con
sternation. 81 trust l didn't hurt ye,
Mr.. Glynn."
"Oh, no-not at ALL" stammered the
Englishman. mot in the least No."
He looked right and left of
O'Rourke for a way round him, found
himself with no choice but to retreat.
and lost his presence OF mind com
pletely. IL say" he continued des-
perately, 81 say. have you a match?"
Possibly" conceded O'Rourke.
But I've yet to meet him. OF this
We may feel sure, however: If have,
tbs neither yourself nor Des Trebes.
Now run along and figure 1t out for
yourself-what I'm meaning. Good
night"
He brushed past the man, leaving
him astare in sudden pallor, and went
his way, more than a little disguised
with himself for his lack of discre-
ton. AS matters turned out, however,
he had little to reproach himself with;
for his outbreak served to keep young
Glynn at respectful distance
throughout the remainder of the voy.
age, They met but once more, and
on that occasion the Englishman be-
haved himself admirably according to
the tenets of his caste-met ORourke's
challenging gaze without a flicker of
re ognition looked him up and down
calmly with the deadly ennuied air
peculiar to the UNDERGONE British
youth of family and social position,
and wandered calmly away.
O'Rourke watched him out OF sight,
smile of appreciation curving his
lips and tempering the perturbed and
dangerous light In his eyes. There's
stuff in the lad, after ALL" he con-
coded without grudge. "if he can
carry a situation off like that. I'm
doubling not at all that something
might be whipped out Of him, II he
weren't what he's made himself--a
slave to whisky"
For all Of which appreciation, how
ever. he soon wearied OF Mr. Glynn.
During the first day ashore 1t was not
so bad; there was something amusing
in being so openly dogged by we'll
set-up young Englishman who had