Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-01-04
CHAPTER XVIII

AT small hour Of the morning tney
made Diamond Harbor in pitch dark
ness and without misadventure were
successful in causing themselves TO be
transhipped, bag and baggage, to the
t4inscrew steamship Poonah, which
vessel rode at anchor in mldstream.
Toward eight o'clock Of the white.
hot forenoon that followed, O'Rourke,
In sthe shadow of long-boat on the
Poonah's promenade deck, stood fin
fishing matutinal cigar and watching
narrowly tender ferry out final
boatload of passengers from the east
ern river bank.
Slowly the tender forged toward the
steamers side: and as it drew near,
O'Rourke forgot to smoke and bent
over the rail to inspect with unrenot'
ting interest those upon its decks.
The forward deck Of the tender held
his regard but briefly: those who
waited there. cycling impassively the
towering tanks Of the liner, were one
and all Of the east. of races, creeds
and types too numerous 10 catalogue
These the adventurer might not read,
save individually upon personal con-
tact. If trouble was to come from
them, collectively or individually, he
would not know until the blow had
fallen. On the other hand. he might
be able to hazard shrewd surmjses as
to the potential animus inherent In
any one of the Europeans who were
to be his fellow passengers.
The latter were a mere handful;
half dozen commercial travellers
from London, Paris, Berlin. their syo-
cations evident beyond dispute; a sal
low English missionary with his with
cred wife, sombre figures in the stark
sunlight, a red-faced deputy-subsome.
thing-or.other OF the Indian govern
lnent, complacent in white drill and
new pith helmet with gay puggaree;
lone English girl. and Frenchman.
The two latter held the Irishman's
attention; the girl because, even at
distance, her slim white-clad figure
aud well-poised head seemed singu'
larly fresh and attractive: the man
because-well. because ORourke was
susceptible to premonitions.
He was q tall man and broad, the
observation-disclosures well.groomed,
CARRYING himself with an indefnaDle
air of distinction. His face was rath.
er pale land therefore notable In that
concourse of dark skinsl. It's features
strongly modelled, the mouth and chin
masked by neatly trimmed aud
pointed beard and mustache.
O'Rourke could not have said that
he had ever seen the man before: yet
there was this and that about him
which struck a spark of reminiscence
from his memory. A suspicion flashed
through his mind which he put aside
with disdain, as absurd and fsr-fetch
ed. On the other hand. He
knit his brows in puzzlement.
The very fixity Of his regard drew
the eyes Of its object upwards. They
encountered O'Rourke's. fingered brief
ly in an unveiled, inQuiring stare in
which there was not 10 be detected
the least hint OF recognition. and
passed onward casually indifferently,
inc lya. began to
st,folg,.. IL. TO lower
.1acS .! hr .ourkc, With
saIe l"a taking some
a ue.a h The incom-
in his state.
NJ as ,me details OF
,s, rer's wardrobe.
O'Rourke remained for brief space
standing in the middle OF the cabin,
yisibly distracted Then abruptly
some whimsical consideration seemed
to resolve his dubiety-as lightning
will clear sutry, broodlng air; smile
deepened the corners OF his mouth,
the flicker in his eye merged magically
into a twinkle, the shrug Of his broad
shoulders conveyed an impression o.
casting care to the winds.
Danny, lad" he remarked reflect.
lively, throwing himself ungracefully
upon the cushioned transom opposite
to his berth Danny, We wouldn't lis
to me. would We now
"Aw-w!" reproved Danny. "Shure'
yer honor knows ut isn't in me al ALL
And to himself; "Phat the divvle
now"
Then tell me, Danny. truthfully;
did We ever see ghost"
"Aw-w!-seeing cause to take the
query as a joke.
"A ghost that had grown beard
since il had become ghost, Danny
.'Aw-aw-w,"- still willing 10 be
amused. If himself chose TO be face.
tious.
Because" continued O'Rourke with
Slight frown Il have, and that not
Ave minutes since"
AVE-"