The Elbert County tribune., 1912-03-01

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
fast. "'Tis careless she was to leave
the light on" he observed. fitting his
key In the lock.
II thoughtless In that one way, the
woman had fulfilled the letter OF her
word in the other. 1t was with COM
prehensive relief tsince he anticipated
a calIer) 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 1t at the first glance.
He had indeed hardly entered before
he became aware of square OF white
paper tucked in the corner of the bu-
reau 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 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 bold hand. Colonel Terence
O'Rourke."
He whistled low over this. examin-
ing 1t intently, infinitely less concern
ed with its contents than with the
manner by which 1t had reached him.
The first postmark seemed to be that
of Rangoon, the original address. the
Cercle Militaire. his club In Paris.
Thence. apparently. 1t had sought him
in Galway, Ireland, Dublin, Paris again.
and finally-after half dozen other
addresses-"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 curse of annoyance. and
went to answer, thrusting the letter
into his pocket.
A page announced Monsieur lie
Comte des Trebes.
fha
O'Rourke. He was about to add, 'fn
five minutes" when Des Trebes him
self appeared.
Anticipating that message, mon
sieur," he said. moving into view
from one side of the door, 81 took the
liberty of accompanying this boy. l
am late. fear"
O'Rourke forced nod and smile of
welcome. Not to my knowledge" said
he
The Frenchman consulted his watch
Ten minutes late. monsieur; 1t is ten
past midnight"
Then" said ORourae. the top O.
the morning to ye. Enter. monsieur"
He stood aside. closing the door be-
him his guest "'Tis no matter; If
l thought ye punctual. It's SO ye are
to all intents and purposes. +.
A chair. monsieur" He established
Des Trebes by window. And a Gig
arctic? A drop to drink !?
AS ye will. :. And since
'tis to talk secret business that we re
here-would ye like the door locked?"
"That is hardly essential" Des Ire
bes reviewed his surroundings with
swift. searching glance. I'VE are at
leas. 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, l believe" he added. intending to
dig out of his trunk a dispatch-box
containing his passports and other pa
pers of a private nature.
But Des Trebes had changed his
mind. THAT is unnecessary, mon
sieur. Your very willingness is sufi-
cient proof | have your word and
am content"
That's the way of doing business
that like" assented O'Rourke heart
lily, warming a little to the man as he
turned back chair facing the vi