The Lamar register., 1912-05-01

assumed, deciding. acting and direct
ing in the same thought. apparently.
Your wife. with Miss Pynsent.
said Couch abruptly. without looking
round-"at least / presume it's Mrs.
ORourke, from what you say-have
been kidnapped by a gang of highbind-
ers and are now aboard a junk In the
lower river, which will sail for God
knows-where at the turn of the tide.
That's the only thing that saves 'em.
Well be on EN- before they're able to
force a way down the river"
ORourke groaned. holding his head
with both hands. my wife y"
he said brokenly.
II know" Couch interrupted grim
Iy; Il know how you feel. Miss Pyn-
sent is there. too. you see."
oh" said O'Rourke. Il didn't un-
derstand that. I'm sorry" He
dropped a hand on the younger mans
shoulder and let 1t rest there briefly.
please God" he said reverently.
''there'll be many another polluted
yellow soul yammering at the gates
Of hell this night"
"Amen," said Couch. We
sba'n't be long now"
Silently O'Rourke removed his coat
and waist-coat, his collar and lawn
tie. and turned back his cuffs Even
ing clothes are hardly the thing to
fight in" he said; but I'm thinking
'twon't make a deal of difference to
me. Got any cartridges for a Webley
mark IVY"
wheeler has. Give Colonel
O'Rourke a few, Wheeler" said Couch.
addressing the orderly.
The latter rummaged in a locker
and pressed into O'Rourke's hand half
. dozen cartridges. with which the
empty chamber In his revolver.
I'd only discharged one." he OBJ
served, but It's likely we'll need that,
even, with only the three Of Us
against . junk-load."
~oh, / telephoned for reinforce
ments, Of course" returned Couch.
--rhey ought to be there ahead OF
u.s."
what did the coolie tell ye. II we've
ABuc " tnih
Couch laughed. II daresay you're
wondering how I made him speak at
all"
That's the true word for ye."
'T threatened to cut of his silly pig
tail and send him naked and dishonor-
cd to the ghostly halls of his ances-
tors. It's wonderful how much those
callous brutes dote on that decora-
ton. told him further. that II he
Lied, when found 1t out I'd return
and shave him bald as an egg. even II
he were dead by that time. So per-
suaded the truth from him, the whole
story-from his side Of it."
I'm listening.
He confessed he was in the pay
like these chaps we're after now-of
q highly respectable Chinese merchant
and head of one Of the tongs-one Of
the richest men In Rangoon. who, 1t
seems, was also after that ruby. 1
can't imagine what he wanted Of It,
but thatll come out. probably; the
mans rich enough to buy dozens Of
stones as fine. However
gather he'd laid his plan far ahead.
The coolies intimated you'd been
watched all the way from Bombay. At
all events, the brutes were ready
when you arrived; Sypher was q
doomed man from the moment you
handed over the Pool Of Flame. They
surrounded his house this night, COM
ing up from the river, just as soon as
1t was dark enough to conceal their
actions. Then they found a third ele-
ment In the business-your friend Des
Trebes. all unsuspicious of them, lurk-
ing on the veranda and watching Sy-
pher through the window. So they
waited to see what he was up to. And
pretty soon they found out. Sypher
came downstairs, went to the safe and
opened It; presume he had the stone
In his hand. ready to put away. While
he was standing there the Frenchman
slipped up behind and stabbed
him. annexing the stone and leav'
ing the way he got in. The in.
slant he stepped of the veranda the
Chinese got him; but he managed to
scream before they could silence him
and drew the attention Of the house
hold. Miss Pynsent. your wife and the
servants. So to cover things UP they
had to gather them all In. The serv
ants were killed-there were three OF
them-and the women
Neither man spoke for time. Then
Couch resumed.
nr,to