The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-03-29
cnaeTER IX.-(contlnued.A


"Suite right" echoed O'Rourke with
assumed Indignation. BE quiet Ber-
tie Children should he seen and not
heard. Mind your uncle" And, "Oho!"
he commented to himself. And they
knew I didn't have the Pool of Flame!
Let me think. Oh, faith, It's
Just blufing they 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, filling the
bowl, that the letter was non-exist-
eDt. Now, me man" he continued, with
an imperceptible change of tone, drop
the bluff Turn that pistol away from
me. Well know that ye won't shoot,
for If We 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. 'Twould
be crooks, Pm thinking"
He lit a match and applied the
uhllE W tllG LObAtLOs IhNl Z . LAAN AetoN
word on the subject" he added in
distinctly, putting and cycling the pair
through the cloud Of smoke.
The revolver waved in the vlcomte'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 BERTHE con-
unued 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 a swift move
ment, leaned over, snatched up the re-
volver and, with a flirt of his hand,
flung it out of the window.
Glynn started back with an oath,
his hand going toward his pocket; but
ORourke 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 yicomte.
They disengaged themselves and,
mad with rage, started up to fall upon
and exterminate the wanderer. /
think Il 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
ye down. he invited them, "and take
1t easy, me dear friends. The mischief's
done, and naught that ye can do will
repair it, Faith, | said I'd not strike
back unless ye crowded me- re-
member me words to the letter.
Your guns made a crowd out Of this
happy reunion. I've merely dispensed
with them5 | 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 OF
your reach"
And as they wavered,, plainly Of
two minds, O'Rourke clinched the ar
gument of his attitude Il beg to cali |
your attention" he remarked, ITO the
fact that ye have left me own brace
of revolvers here at me feet, when We
SO joyously turned me bag inside out. |
I'm not touching them, mind We, but |
mind ye further: I'll brook no non
sense If ye make move as If to at
tack me, I'll .. There! That's
much better. Wise lads, ye are, both
Of ye: graceful in defeat. Let me see:
We've long ride together though !
ye did come uninvited. | trust We
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, pray, but but
trust your nose Is convalescing?"
In high feather with himself,
O'Rourke entertained his companions
with a running flre Of pleasantries for
the balance Of the darkeled hours.
And he touched both more than once
with the rapierpoint OF his wit and
irony and had the pleasure Of seeing
both sqnirm In impotent rage. They
cut wretched iiGurea. two against one
vet failures, while be tauntod them IN
one breath, With the next declared
himself their captive, Toward The end
the reserve which me ylcomte I'm
posed upon the Honorable BERTHE waa
earn down tho AngiIshman turned