The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-06-10
THE POOL Of FLAME
4 STORY OF ADVENTURE AND IN
TRIGIE

tBy Louis Joseph Eanca)
Free, O'Rourke stretched himself.
rubbed his wrists. and observed q
collection of his pocket hardware ~
ing upon the seat by him, thrown
aside by Glynn in his disgust at not
finding what he sought.
Yell not be wanting to deprive
me OF these few trifies. me gay high
waymen, I'm thinking?" he inquired
placidly of the pair. IF we've no OBJ
lection I'll make SO free as to take
back me own"
Take what you want" returned
Des Trebes in an ugly tone. But
| give you three minutes TO tell me
where you have put that letter"
Indeed? Your courtesy overpowers
me-" The Irishman took up his watch
and calmly made a note of the hour
hard upon three in the morning; then,
with easy nonchalance slowed it away
with the rest of the miscellaneous col
lection-the knives, coins and keys,
his wallet, tickets and so forth.
Your time" the voice Of the vi
comte interrupted this occupation, lis
up" He fingered his revolver Where
is that letter? I am losing patience"
Where rust nor moth cannot cor
rupt nor thieves break in to steal"
O'Rourke misquoted solemnly.
STEADY. Don't call names-or III
forget meself. I mean that the letter
&c i,, fro
winds of heaven, destroyed. There ye
have your answer. Ye fools, did We
think I would carry it about me-"
by Cod" said Glynn tensely. NO
don't shoot him, Des Trebes! He's
telling the truth. Make him tell what
was in the letter.
I'm afraid it's useless" O'Rourke
Knocked them. Il have forgotten the
contents. What use to me to re-
member" he demanded, inspired.
What made We think I would have
it at all? Sure, and the letter was
properly Chambret's. Why would l
not turn it over to him?"
"Oh, cut it," Glynn interrupted i'm
patiently. I'VE know he's dead. The
news was photographed in from the
column day before yesterday
Quite So Yet, If We know so much,
if-as I gather-ye suspect that Cham
bret turned over this precious jewel
to me, why do ye not demand it as
we'll as the letter? Not that l have
either"
because we jolly we'll know you
haven't got the ruby" blurted the
Englishman.
BE quiet" snapped the vicomte.
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 vlscOmte continued
slowly and evenly, you've destroyed
the letter.
O'Rourke took up pipe and tobacco.
81 told ye," he replied, filling the
bowl, that the letter was non-exist-
emit Now, me man." he continued, with
an imperceptible change of tone. drop
the bluff Turn that pistol away from
me- Well l know that We won't shoot,
for If We did ye would put beyond
your reach forever the information
that would win We the reward-al-
ways providing We 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
word on the subject" he added in
distinctly, putting and cycling the pair
through the cloud Of smoke.
The revolver waved in the vicomte's
hand; he was livid with passion and
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-
ment, leaned over, snatched up the re-
volver and, with a f1irt of his hand,
flung it 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 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
We down." he invited them, and take
it easy, me dear friends The mischief s
done, and naught that We can do will
repair it. Faith, said I'd not strike
back unless We crowded me. I re-
member me words to the letter.
Your guns made a crowd out Of this
happy reunion. I've merely dispensed
with them; | call We both to witness
that We have neither Of We suffered
Tn Ia h