The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-01-05

heard. Mind your uncle And, "Oho!'
he commented to himself. And they
knew 1 didn't have the Pool of Flame!
Let me think. On, faltn, LIZ
Just blufing th-1T are!"
"You say" the viscomte continued
slowly and evenly, you've destroyed
the letter.
O'Rourke took up pipe and tobacco.
Il told ye," he replied, filing the
bowl, that the letter was non-exist-
ent. Now, me man" he continued, with
an imperccptible change of tone, drop
the bluff Turn that pistol away from
me. Well know that ye won't shoot,
for if ye did ye would put beyond
your reach forever the information
that would win ye the reward-al-
ways providing ye had got possession
of the ruby, be hook or crook. 'TWouId
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 eyeing the pair
through the cloud of smoke.
The revolver waved in the vicomte's
hand; he was livid with passion and
disappointed, yet amenable to rea'
son. Glynn bent and whispered brief
ly in his ear, and the Frenchman, nod.
ding acquiescence, laid aside> his
weapon The Honorable Bertie COZ.
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.
tarily diverted and, with swift move
ment. leaned over snatched up the re-
volver and, with flirt 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 a 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
be had resumed his seat as calmly as
though nothing at all had happen
ed and was pulling soberly al
i his pipe. AS they hesitated he re-
moved the latter from his lips anc
gestured airily with the stem. sit
ye down." he invited them, "and take
it easy, me dear friends. The mischief's 8
done, and naught that ye can do Will
repair it. Faith, I said I'd not strike
back unless ye crowded me. re-
member me words to the letter
Your guns made crowd out of this
happy reunion. I've merely dispensed
with them; I call ye both to witness
that ye have neither Of ye suffered
Sure, I'm as peaceable as any lamb
Sit down, sit ye~ down and take it like
little men. The situations unchanged
save that I've put temptation out O.:
your reach"
And as they wavered, plainly o
two minds, O'Rourke clinched the ar
gument CT his attitude. II beg to cal
your attention." he remarked, Ito th'
fact that ye have left me own brace
CT revoivers here at me feet, when "
so joyously turned me bag inside out
I'm not touching them, mind ye, bu'
mind .ye further: I'll brook no non
sense. If ye make a move as if to at
tack me, I'll There! That'i
much better. Wise lads, ye are, bott
of ye: graceful in defeat. Let me see:
We've long ride together, though
ye did come unlimited. trust ye
will help me beguile the tedium with
society chatter, me FRIEND" with {
twinkle at the discounted vicomte
I'm in danger of forgetting me man
ners. Pardon me, I pray, but-but
trust your nose is GONZALES cing?"
In high feather with himself
O'Rourke entertained his companion:
with running fire of pleasantries fo!
the balance of the darkened hours
And he touched both more than once
with the rapier-point of his wit ane
irony, and had the pleasure of seeins
both squirm in impotent rage. The!
cut wretched figures, two against one
yet failures, while he taunted them II
one breath, with the next declared
himself their captive. Toward the enc
the reserve which the vicomte i'm
posed upon the Honorable Bertie was
worn down: the Englishman turned
with raw nerves upon his tormentor
You damned asst" he stammered
all but incoherent. "You sit there
and-and gloat, damn you! When al
the time we've got the upper hand!
"Be quiet!" interposed the vicomte
Il WON'T" ragged the honorable. He
thinks himself so Internally clever;
What 'dyou say, you Irish braggart, il
1 told you you'd never see the Poo