Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1912-07-19
CHAPTER lx.-(Contlnued.)

Quite right" echoed O'Rourke with
assumed indignation. BE quiet, Ber-
tie. Children should be seen and not
heard Mind your uncle" And, "Oho!"
he commented to himself And they
knew l didn't have the Pool OF Flame!
Let me think oh, faith. It's
Just bluffing they are!"
"You say" the viscomte continued
slowly and evenly, you've destroyed
the letter"
O'Rourke took up pipe and tobacco.
Il told ye," he replied. filling the
bowl, that the letter was non-exist-
ent. Now, me man" he continued. with
an imperceptible change of tone, drop
the bluff. Turn that pistol away from
me- Well know that ye won't shoot,
for If ye did ye would put beyond
your reach forever the information
that would win ye the reward-al-
ways providing ye had got possession
Of the ruby, be hook or crook. 'Twould
be crooks, I'm thinking"
He lit a match and applied the
fame to the tobacco. There's me last
distinctly, putting and eyeing the pair
through the cloud of smoke.
The revolver waved in the vicomte's
hand; he was livid with passion and
disappointed, yet amenable to rea-
SON Glynn bent and whispered brief
ly in his ear, and the Frenchman. nod
ding acQuiescence, laid aside his
weapon. The Honorable BERTHE con-
tinued to advise with him in whispers
until O'Rourke, though quite at loss to
understand this phase Of the affair,
saw that their attention was momen-
tarily diverted and, with swift move
ment leaned over. snatched up the re-
volver and, with flirt Of his hand,
flung 1t out of the window.
Glynn started back with an oath,
his hand going toward his pocket; but
O'Rourke promptly closed with him. A
breath later a second pistol was eject
ed from the carriage and the English
man was sprawling over the knees OF
the vicomte.
They disengaged themselves and.
mad with rage, started up TO fall upon
and exterminate the wanderer.
think it must have been the very
impertinence of his attitude that
made them pause in doubt. for
he had resumed his seat as calmly as
though nothing at all had happen
ed and was pulling soberly at
his pipe. AS they hesitated he re-
moved the latter from his lips and
gestured airily with the stem. "Sit
ye down. he invited them, "and take
1t easy, me dear friends. The mischief's
done, and naught that ye can do will
repair 1t. Faith, said I'd not strike
back unless ye crowded me. | re-
member me words to the letter
Your guns made crowd out of this
happy reunion. I've merely dispensed
with them; l call ye both to witness
Sure. I'm as peaceable as any lamb
Sit down, sit ye down and take it like
little men. The situations unchanged
save that I've put temptation out oi
your reach"
And as they wavered. plainly o.
two minds, ORourke clinched the ar
gument of his attitude. Il beg to cal
your attention" he remarked, ito tn,
fact that ye have left me own brace
OF revolvers here at me feet, when "
SO joyously turned me bag inside out
I'm not touching them, mind ye, bu
mind ye further: I'll brook no non
sense II We make a move as If to at
tack me, III There! That
much better. Wise lads, ye are, boti
of ye: graceful in defeat. Let me see
We've long ride together, though
ye did come unlimited trust y,
will help me beguile the tedium will
society chatter, me friend" with
twinkle At the discounted vicomte
TN In danger OF forgetting me mar