The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-06-12

absent, the safe open, the name ON the
packet stared me In the face. What
could I do?'
Precisely. I'm convinced that, be-
Ing what ye are. We did only what ye
could"
The yicomte bowed, amusement
hickering In his glance. Touched"
he admitted We'll II
have the jewel, you the information"
And ye have to propose"
A plan after your own heart: I do
your courage the credit to believe, it.
monsieur. With another man. whom
had studied less exhaustiye,y. |
should propose combination of
forces. a division of profits" O'Rourke
you, Colonel ORourke, no. l esteem
your address and determination too
highly and-pardon me If speak
plainly-I despise and hate you too
utterly TO become willingly your part
ner."
go OIL begin to like ye better
Ye grow interesting"
THAT does not interest me.
The situation, then, is simplifed. Es-
sentially 1t involves two propositions:
| first, we cannot combine; second, di-
vided We both fail. While both Of US
live, mon colonel, the Pool of Flame
| will never earn its value"
otis meself takes exception to
that. Let me once get me hands on
the stone, monsieur, and I'll back me-
self against a dozen vicomtes-and
honorables."
while / i've" the Frenchman stat
ed, unruffled; you will not touch the
Pool of Flame; while you live, 1 can
not dispose of it to the best ad
vantage. 1t would seem that one or
the other of us must die"
81 am armed" remarked O'Rourke
slowly, 'if We mean we've brought me
here to murder me"
| Monsieur speaks-pardon-c
ly. l asked you. you came of your
own will-to fight for the Pool OF
Flame" O'Rourke started; CLINT OF
understanding danced in his eager
eyes. II see you catch my meaning.
What l have to propose is this: you
will take pen and paper and write
the name of the person who offers the
reward, with his address. This you
will enclose in an envelope, seal, and
place in your pocket. The Pool of
F1ane-you see l trust you-is here"
O'Rourke got upon his feet with an
exclamation; the vicomte was play
ing bold hand. Before the Irishman
had grasped his intention he had
thrown upon the table ruby as large,
or larger, than an egg; an exquisite
| jewel, superbly cut and polished.
Fascinated, O'Rourke remembered
himself and sat down.
You see." The vicomte's cold In
cisive tones cut the silence. Slowly
he extended a hand and took up the
great ruby, replacing 1T In his pocket.
There is" he said evenly. a level
stretch of grass beyond the veranda.
The night, / admit, Is dark, but the
light from these long windows should
be sufficient for us. If you slay me,
take the ruby and go in peace: this
sot"-with contemptuous glance at
the unconscious honorable-"will new
er hinder you. If you die, take the
note from your pocket. The Issue is
fair. Will you fight, Irishman?"
| O'Rourke's fist crashed upon the
table as he rose. Fight" he cried
Faith, 1 did not think We had this in
We. Pistols, shall 1t be?"
Thank YOU" said the vicomte, with
a courtly bow, "but l am an indiffer-
ent shot. Had you chosen rapiers at
Monte Carlo one of us would never
have left the field alive"
He went to a side table, returning
with a sheet of paper, an envelope,
pen and ink. And when O'Rourke had
slipped the paper into his pocket he