The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-02-16

easy Sh1p-DOarQ way OIL SleeIAu6 GILL;
ably but coolly. Only in one instance
indeed, did they exchange more than
but courteous salutations, 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 medl
tative after-dinner cigar. De Hyeres
stepped out of the companionway
glanced swiftly this way and that, and
sauntered toward the 1rishnan with
an unltghted cigarette held conspicu
ously between his fingers.
O'Rourke likewise surveyed his sur
roundings In two brief glances: and
was contented to find that they were
alone. or NJ much alone as two can be
upon a steamship. For they were
after all, we'll 1eatched; and one Of
them he knew to be armed. Shifting
in his chair 20 that his revolver lay
convenient to his hand, as Do Hyerea
approached the Irishman removed his
cigar from between his teeth, f1ckeo
away an inch Of ash and silently prof.
tered It in the prescribed fashion:
The Frenchman accepted the cour
tesy with bow, applied the fire to his
cigarette, inhaled deeply and returned
the cigar with formal phrase Of
thanks. He fingered for moment
putting and gazing off oyer the black
starlit e1panse Of the Bay Of Bengal
lonely to it's dim and far horizon, ther
observed quietly: II am not mistaken
I believe, in understanding have the
honor to address Monsieur le Colone
ORourke, Chevalier of the Legion Of
Honour?"
"You are not mistaken, monsieur
returned O'Rourke pleasantly, the1
with the directness which he some
times found useful, watching the mai
closely as he spoke: "And l believe
it is my pleasure to recognize Mon
sier lie Vicomte des Trebes?"
sDes Trebes, monsieur?" The
Frenchman's look Of wonder was be
yond criticism and there was no leas
trace Of discontinue to be detected
in his manner. "But no. You ar
under q mistake. I am merely
French gentleman without title
Raoul de Hyeres is my name.
"Ah!" said the wanderer. "Twa'
the resemblance misled me. Pardon
monsieur"
Granted, my dear sir. -. De-
Trebes? The name has familia
sound. Do I not remember reading
somewhere that the Vicomte de-
Trebes died last spring? In Tun1s
was it? Suddenly, I believe"
s1s it so?" said O'Rourke drily. "Pos
sibly. The vicomte lived in the man
ner of those who meet with suddel
deaths"
The subject languished, and after
few more noncommittal observance
De Hyeres wandered of, presumabl,
in search Of the English girl, to whom
he had been paying assiduous atten
ton.
On closer scrutiny, she had prove'
to be a remarkably pretty girl; al
though, in point Of fact, O'Rourke, TO
all that he admired her looks i'm
mensely, had purposely avoided her
This he did from motives Of prudence
he mistrusted the combination formet
by De Hyeres and the girl. The latte
might be all that she looked and claim
ed to be: sweet, wholesome and rath
er ingenious young Englishwoman, al
orphan, resident in Rangoon in th'
household of an uncle, to whom sh'
was returning after visit will
friends in Simla, On the passengeI
list her name stood as Emilia Pyn
sent. But the adventurer felt it thF
course of wisdom to deny himself tht
pleasure of her acquaintance, SO Ions
as she permitted the attentions OF tht
Frenchman.
Altogether, considering the ho
weather and such self-imposed re
strictions, O'Rourke considered the
voyage hardly a success from socia
point Of view. He kept pretty mucf
to himself and to Danny, and to make
assurance doubly sure he Instituted {
new regime with regard to the Poo
of Flame: that jewel never left his
stateroom. When O'Rourke was or
deck or at meals, Danny sat behind
bolts, alert and under arms, and vice
versa. By night they stood regular
watches together, the one on guarc
while the other slept. Clearly the ad
yenturer was determined that no lack
of safeguards on his part should again
deprive him of the ruby.
But it's no easy matter to avoid
meeting any particular person on q
ship with small saloon list, unless
one is willing to be purposely rude
and discourteous. For all his war;