The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-05-31


room. engaged with some details Of
repair 20 the adventurer'a wardrobe.
ORourke remained for a brief space
standing IN the middle OF the cabin.
visibly abstracted Then abruptly
some whimsical consideration seemed
to resolve his dublety-as lightning
will clear aultry. brooding afr; a smile
deepened the corners OF his mouth,
the flicker In his eye merged magically
into a twinkle. the shrug Of bis broad
shoulders conveyed an impression Of
casting care 10 the winds.
Danny. lad," he remarked reject
lively, throwing himself ungracefully
upon the cushioned transom opposite
to his berth Danny, ye wouldn't lie
to me. would ye now?"
"Aw-wl" reproyed Danny. "Shure.
yer honor knows ut isn't In me at all. -
And to himself; "Phat the divvle
now?"
"Then tell me, Danny, truthfully;
did ye ever see a ghost?"
"Aw-w!"-seelng cause to take the
query as a joke.
"A ghost that had grown a beard
since It had become a ghost. Danny?"
"Aw-aw-w!"-s willing to be
amused, II himself chose to be face
tious
Because" continued ORourke with
a slight frown "a have. and that not
five minutes since"
"Aw?"
Vance left a man for dead. Dan
ny, with clean sword-thrust through
the body of him-a misbegotten black
guard he was; but killed him In fair
fight, sword to sword, and no ia
vor. And this bright and
beautiful morning, 10 and behold ye!
who should come tripping up the gans-
plank but his ghost. as lively as ye
please. and with a neat new beard!"
"Aw-w?"-incredulo
oRourke frowned impatiently. 'Des
Trebes," he explained.
"Aw-"
Stop 1t, ye parrot! Stop It. | say
Have ye no word in the dark lexicon
of your ignorance other than 'Aw-aw'?
Get up. ye omadhaun. and take me re-
spects to the purser and ask him
please will he show ye the passen.
ger-list."
The valet left with circumspect ala.
Gritty.
Alone, O'Rourke rose and turned
thoughtfully to a revolver that made
a conspicuous black spot on the white
counterpane of the berth. with nerv-
Gus. strong fingers unlimbering the
weapon and taking account of the
brass dials Of the cartridges that
nestled snug in its six-chambered
cylinder. The machine was In perfect
condition; O'Rourke snapped the
breech shut and thrust it in his pock.
ct. Then he sat down to think, sub.
consciously aware from noises with
out that the tender had swung of and
the anchor was being tripped.
Could the resemblance be acciden-
tai? 1t seemed hardly possible. The
Des Trebes he had known had been a
type distinct, so clear and aloof from
the general Frenchman that not even
the addition of a beard to his physiog-
nomy could have proven a thorough
disguise And it seemed reasonable
enough to assume that, Mrs. Prynne
having failed in her undertaking, Des
Trebes would resume his office as ac.
tive head Of their conspiracy. If it
we're indeed he whom O'Rourke had
just seen, there was every chance i'm
aginable that the final chapter in the
history of the Irishman's connection
with the Pool of Flame would prove
an eventful one.
Maybe not" admitted ORourke.
maybe | deceive meseR But I'm
persuaded I'll do well to keep both me
eyes open until the day I'm rid of the
damned thing!"
At this juncture Danny's knock took
him to the door. 'Mongsere Raoul de
Hyeres," announced the valet breath
lessly: 'tis thot the purser says his
name is, yer honour"
Yes" assented O'Rourke dubious
ly. But perhaps the purser's mista
en-misinformed."
(TO BE CONTINUED