The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-07-05
CHAPTER xxx.

As time went on, however. II hts IN.
caslneRs were not sensibiy dlmln.
iBhed, nothing happened, the voyage
proving entirely unoventfui; and
O'Rourko was forced to the conclusion
that, If Monsieur dc Hyercs were real.
ly the Vicomte des Trebes, he was
strangely content to play a waiting
game
The lrlshmau, however, had known
stranger things than that one man
should seem the counterpart Of an.
other. And by nothing more than
this questionable accident OF rcsem-
blanco did De Hyeres give him reason
to believe him anything but what he
cliamod TO be. The mans domeanor
was consistently discreet and self.
contained; he moved about the ship
openly and without any apparent at.
tempt to pry upon the doings Of the
adyenturer, whom he fell into the
easy s%hip,board way Of greeting ami
ably but coolly. Only in one instance.
indeed, did they exchange more than
but courteous saIutations, and then
De Hyeres himself seemed to seek
the interview, approaching O'Rourke
directly,
This was at night, when O'Rourke
occupied a chair on the leeward side
Of the saloon deck, consuming a medl.
tative a]fter-dinner cigar. De Hycres
stepped out Of the companionway,
glanced swiftly this way and that, and
sauntored toward the Irishman with
an unlighted cigarette held consplcu.
ously between his fingers.
O'Rourke likewise surveyed his sur
r]oundings in two brief Rlauces. and
was conteHted to find that they were
alone. or as much alone as two can he
upon a steamship For they were.
after all, wNll matched; and ono of
them he knew to be- armed Shifting
In his chair so that hts revolver lay
convenient to his hand, as De Hyeres
approached the Irishmau removed his
cigar from between his teeth. Aicked
away an inch OF ash and silently prof.
fcred 1t In the prescribed fashion.
The Frenchman accepted tho cour.
tesy with a bow. applied the fire to his
cigarette. inhaled deeply and returned
the cigar with a formal phrase of
thanks, He fingered for a moment
putting and gazing OF over tho black.
starlIt expanse Of the Bay Of Bengal
lonely TO It's dian and far horizon, thor
observed quietly; Il am not mistaken
! believe, 10 understanding | have the
honor to address Monsieur lie Colonel
O'Rourke, Cheyalier Of the Legion of
Honour
you are not mistaken, monsieur "
returned O'Rourke pleasantly, then
with the dlrectness which he soma.
times found useful, washing the man
closely as he spoke: And | believe
It Is my pleasure to recognize Mon.
sier lie vicomte des Trebes7"
"Des Trebes. monsieur" The
Freuchman's look OF wonder was he.
youd criticism and there was no least
trace Of discontinue to be detected
in his manner, But no. You are
under a mistake. | am merely a
French gentleman without a title;
Raoul de Hyeres Is my name"
All" said the wandger. Twas
the resemblance misled me, Pardon.
monsieur"
Granted, my dear SIR. Des
Trebes? The name has a familiar
sound, Do | not remember reading
somewhere that the Vlcomte des
Trebes died last spring? In Tunls.
was III . Suddenly, | believe"
is II sol" said o'Rourke drily. Pos.
sioiy. The vicomte lived in the man.
ner OF those who meet with uddep
deaths" ~
The subject languished. and after .