The Elbert County tribune., 1912-04-12

to apply to the authorities or to at
tempt to lodge a complaint against
Captain Hole would more likely than
| not result in Incarceration on a charge
of vagrancy more real than technical.
And-the Pool of Flannel He
fumed with impotent rage when he
saw how blindly he had stumbled into
Holes trap. how neatly he had per
mitted himself to be raped of the jew
ell For in the light of late events he
could not doubt but that Hole had
sought him out armed with the knowl
edge that O'Rourke was in possession
of the priceless jewel-more than
probably advised and employed by Des
Trebes; assuming that he had failed
to infiict a mortal wound upon that
adyenturer
"Aw, the divvie. the divvle!" com
planned O'Rourke- Sure, and It's
pretty mess I've made of it all, now!"
Saying which he rose and clambered
to the top of the quay-with the more
haste than good will in view of the
fact that the splashing OF oars. the
dimly outlined shape of boat head
ing directly for his refuge, had sud
denly become visible OF course, it
might not be the Pelican; but
O'Rourke was too thoroughly i'm
pressed with the conviction that the
laws of coincidence were working
against him, just then at any rate, to
be willing to run unnecessary risks.
Chance, too, would have it that
there should be an arc-light ahlaze
precisely at the foot of the pier, be-
meath which stood, clearly defined in
the white glare. the figure of a hulk
ing black native representative of the
municipal police. whom O'Rourke must
pass ere he could gain solid earth
For this reason he dared not betray
evidences of haste; his appearance
was striking enough in all conscience,
without any additional touches. So he
thrust his hands into his pockets and
sauntered with well-assumed but
perhaps not wholly convincing air of
nonchalance toward the officer.
The latter remained all unsuspicious
until-and then the mischief of 1t was
that O'Rourke was still full five
yards the wrong side of the man
Hole himself leaped from the boat
upon the end of the quay and sent a
yell echoing after the fugitive.
"Hey!" he roared. stop i'm, De-
serter! Thief! Stop thiefl"
The black was facing O'Rourke in
an instant. but simultaneously the
Irishman was upon him and had put
an elbow smartly into his midriff In
passing, all but toppling the man back
wards into the harbor.
1t had been well for him had he sue
ceeded. AS it was the fellow saved
himself by hairs breadth and the
next minute was after ORourke. veil
ing madly.
The Irishman showed a fleet pair of
heels,~be sure; but. undoubtedly, the
devil himself was in the luck that
night! Who shall describe In what
manner rabble springs out of the
very cobbles of Alexandria's streets?
Men, women, naked children and yap-
ping pariah dogs, fellaheen, Arabs. Be-
douins from the desert, Nubians,
Greeks, Levantfnes-the fugitive had
not covered two-score yards ere a mob
of such composition was swapping at
his calves.
Turning and twisting, dodging and
doubling, shifting this gratuitous en-
emy full in the face, treating the next
as he had the limb of the law (and
leaving both howling). he seized the
first opening and swung into narrow
back-way, leading inland from the wa
terfront
tTO BE CONTINIIED