The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-05-29


might perhaps direct me. Ye didn't
by any chance happen to hear Mrs.
smyth-Herriot say where she was go
ing with Mr.. Glynn?"
"Cnhappily, no, monsieur"
Very we'll then. What can / have
The happiness to serve We in?"
The Frenchman hesitated briefly.
This is trife public" he suggest
ed. viii you not be kind enough to
walk with me a little distance, while
We converse?
Gladly. monsieur"
Des Trebes produced a cigarette case,
and together. smoking. the two turned
their backs upon the casino and wan
dered OF along the paths OF the tar
raced gardens. Ever descending, they
came at length to the secluded. little
lighted and less frequented portions OF
the grounds which border the water
front, and presently sat side by side
upon a bench, looking out over the
harbor. Then and then only did Des
Trebes approach his subject-some-
| thing which he had until now studious-
ly avoided, distracting the not over
| patient Irishman by q falling fire OF
banalities.
Il dare say. Colonel O'Rourke." he
suggested abandoning his mother
tongue for excellent English-'I dare
say you are wondering"
Il am that
that we should speak in privacy"
"Yes-?"
But before proceed. may I put you
! question or two bordering, perhaps,
upon impertinence. yet not so con.
ceived?"
What a long-winded beggar!"
| O'Rourke commented mentally. LAS
for that" said he aloud, "'tis impos-
sible for me to calculate the imperti-
nence until tbs put to me. Eh?"
Believe me, Sir, | am anxious only
to avoid indiscretion. 1t Is the ques-
ton of your identity alone. l desire
only to be assured that you are the
| Colonel O'Rourke l take you to be. "
MY faith! And who else would
be, now?"
There's the bare possibility that
| wv "a Tic ooLAlC ho1hC Ah26hI OAAot.
otis so bare that it's fairly indie
cent" chuckled the Irishman. But fire
| away"
Il am not mistaken In assuming
that | address the Colonel Terence
O'Rourke who was at one time party
to lie petit Lemercie's mad Empire du
Sahara project and who later mar
ried Lemarcier's widow. Madame la
Princesse de Grandeur?
O'Rourke took a long breath and
looked his questioner up and down.
"Ye have very pretty taste In the
matters of impertinences," he said
gravely. However, let that pass. I'm
the same man."
"a thousand pardons. Caution In
matters such as this" A shrug COM
pleted the thought most eloQuently.
you can give me proofs Of your iden-
tity, them"
'Proofs!" O'Rourke got to his feet.
Believe me, monsieur, ye have all the
proof I'm willing to give We. and that's
my last word. If We find it insufficient,
|, why, then"
4 ''Pardon!" Des Trebes interrupted.
rising. Il am myself more than con-
!, tent. But the Government Of France"
.'The Government of France"
O'Rourke whistled.
Us more exacting than l. 1t knows
a certain Colonel O'Rourke and him
alone does it need"
THE divvle 1t does! And what will
1t be wanting with me?"
IT can say at present no more than
that l represent Government in an
affair demanding secrecy and dispatch.
I'have a certain diplomatic mission to
discharge, and shall have need, mon
sieur, of a man strong, bold, venture
some, willing to undertake long and
perhaps perilous Journey" Had Des
Trebes been inspired he could have
formulated no speech better calculated
to intrigue the Irishman; the merest
echo of its import would have fred
his hearers fancy. He added: And
am authorized to retain for that pur-
pose, should be fortunate enough to
find him unengaged, certain Colonel
Terence O'Rourke."
Say no more, monsieur. IT'S
enough. 'Secrecy-dispatch-a long
and perilous Journey Faith I'm just
your mani"
You have no other business OF the
moment?"
None whatever
Then | am indeed fortunate. And
now, 1 presume, you will no longer
object to satisfying me as to your iden-
tity."
Not In the least. Although, to be
candid, monsieur, I'm not in the hab-
1t of carrying me Bertillion record
about me- But II yen have the good
mes to accompany me to the Orient.
over there, III put your mind at ease
before We can say knife"
Des Trebes nodded. II should be
delighted, but unfortunately" - he
snapped the case Of his watch-"1
have an appointment with a confrere.
May we Ak a time-in half an hour,
say-when it will be convenient for
you to have me call at the Orient?"
"In half an hour? I'll await ye
then, monsieur"
Pardon, then, my haste. am late.
must be off"
The mans hand touched O'Rourke's
In the most brief Of clasps, singularly
firm and cold The Irishman pondered
the sensation for some moments after
Des Trebes' hurrying figure had van
ished In shadows.
! Il don't like II" he ayerred "'tis