The Bourbon news., 1912-01-09
She Flung Herself Upon Him, Sob
bing.


ing the long envelope from his pocket
and tearing 1T open. Behold his
sealed orders, if We please!"
He shuffied rapidly through his fin
gers six sheets of folded letter paper,
guiltless of a single pen-scratch,
crumpled them into a wad and threw
it from him.
What more do l need to prove that
he's conspiring to steal the Pool Of
Flame and claim for himself the re-
ward? A bankrupt, discred-
tied, with nothing but his title and
his fame as a duelist to give him
standing; is it wonderful that he's
grasping at any chance to recoup his
fortunes?" He took swift stride to-
ward the door, halted, turned. ''And
young Glynn?" he demanded. "Was
he with you, and was he thick with
this precious rogue of vicomte?"
They were much together"
Faith, then it's clear as window
glass that the two of them, both
broke, have figured out this thing be-
tween them. :. Well and good!
/ want no more than a hint of warn
Ing. =.
He was interrupted by a knocking.
With start and muttered exclama-
tion he remembered Van Einem, and
stepped to the door and out into a cor
ridor, shutting the woman in.
hn he h,I f~f}
her, her pretty brows knitted with
thought, for a time abstractedly con-
scious of a murmur of voices in the
hallway. These presently ceased as
the speakers moved away. She turned
to one of the windows, leaning against
its frame and staring at the ominous
flicker and flare of sheet-lightning
which lent the night a CHASTITY lumin-
osity.
A cool breeze sprang up, bellying
the curtains. The woman expanded to
it, reviving in it's fresh breath from
the enervating influence of the even
ing's still heat Her intuitive facul-
ties began to work more vivaciously;
she began to divine that which had
been mysterious to her ere now.
The lightning grew more intense
and incessant, the thunder beating the
long roll of the charge. A heavy
gust of air chill ss death made her
shiver. She shrank away from the
windows, little awed, wishing for
O'Rourke's return, wondering what
had made him leave her so abruptly.
Then suddenly she knew.
She could have screamed with hor-
ror
Almost simultaneously the door
slammed; her husband had returned.
With little cry she flung herself
| upon him, clinging to him, painting,
sobbing
'Tell me-" she demanded, what you
intend to do? Do you mean to fight
him-Des Trebes?"
I'm the morning" he answered
lightly, holding her tight and comfort
| ing her. "'Tis unavoidable; / pro.
voked his challenge He was obliged
to fight But don't let that worry
ye-'
"Oh, my dear, my dear!" She
sobbed convulsively upon his breast
"'Twill be nothing-hardly that; an
annoyance-no more. Believe me
dear"
What can you mean-?"
THAT the man will never consent
to weapons worthy the. name. He
values his precious hide too highly
and he's not going to put himself in
the way of being injured when he has
the Pool of Flame to steal. Be easy
on that score, darling-and have faith
in me a little. I'll not let him harm
me by so much as a scratch"
| "Ah, but how can | tell? =.
Dearest, my dearest, why not give II
up-not the duel alone, but all this life
of roaming and adventure that keeps
us apart? Am / not worth little
sacrifice? Is my love not recon
pense enough for the loss of your alb
solute independence? Listen, dear,
have thought of something: | vii