The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-05-17

"ohe never knows. you know, Colo
mel O'Rourke," she said with a little
gesture expressive of her allowance
for the unforeseen.
O'Rourke OWNED she had something
on her mind which she hesitated to
voice. though they were practically
alone; the man at the wheel was a
nonentity- bronze statue in a faded
shirt. ragged turban and soiled cum
merbund.
Then It's yourself will be glad. 1
gather, to be rid of us, madam"
She smiled, deprecatory. What
would you?" she asked in French.
with significant glance up into
ORourke's eyes.
IT'S not precisely pleasant to be
constantly apprehensive," the woman
continued in the same tongue. "even
when one has a Colonel ORourke to
look to for protection"
"Ah, madame!" expostulated the
wanderer. But what makes ye so
positive I'd not turn tail and run away
from any real danger?"
She gave him a look that brimmed
with mirth. "A man who is a cow
ard" she said slowly, doesn't stand
still and draw a revolver when a
heavy knife is thrown at his head"
Quick told ye, MADAME"
mo, / saw-heard the quarrelling
on the forward deck and got to the
companionway in time to see what
happened. Had you not been so in
tent on your search for the knife, you
would have seen me. AS it was,
slipped below again without attracting
attention"
But why?"
ITO get my revolver. monsieur 10
colonel"
Twas naught but an accident"
You do not believe that yourself.
colonel dear; for my part, L"
"Well?"
Someone tried my door last night.
after you'd retired"
"Ye are sure?" doubted O'Rourke.
disturbed.
Quite. | was awake-thinking; l
heard you come below and close your
door at eight bells; long after there
were footsteps-someone walking in
his bare feet-in the saloon. TheI
the knob was turned, very gently.
Fortunately, the door was bolted;
someone put a shoulder to it, but 1t
held fast. l caught up my revolver
indeed and l am very reckless with it,
sir!-and opened the door myself. The
saloon was quite empty"
'Ye shouldn't have risked that"
81 had to know, with so much at
stake" she said simply.
O'Rourke endeavored to manufac-
ture a plausible and reassuring explain
alton to the fact Quick, Danny, or
Dravos, mistaking their rooms"
1T was none Of them. Captain
Quick was on deck; l heard his voice
almost simultaneously. surely Il
couldn't mistake that" She laughed.
Nor would your man or Mr.. Dravos
have been so stealthy, so instant to
escape"
'But-but-"
my -heory, 4 you will have It, is
that mine enemy of the Panjnab is
one of the crew of the Rance, mon
sieur."
Mrs. Prynne made this statement as
quietly as though she were comment
ing on the weather. But her belief
chimed so exactly with his own that
ctr yvvfkI A
a loss to frame satisfactory refuta-
tion. He was silent for some mo-
ments, his lips a thin hard line, a
crinkle of anxiety between his brows.
IF ye'd only permitted me to attend
to him" he growled at length.
You are right" she admitted, but
i am desolated--the mischiefs
done"
Faith, yes!" he sighed deiectedly
His gaze roved the deck and fastened
upon the serang. 1T might be any
one of them," he considered aloud.
Amy one For instance, though
the serang?"
why dye suspect him more than
another?" he demanded, startled
Call it feminine intuition, if you
like. The man looks capable Of any
thing"
Yes. But sure. there's no telling
at ALL"
mo telling" she concurred quietly.
1--WE can but wait, watch, hope that /
imagined the hand at my door,"
I'll. l.,
that"
81 am neither nervous nor an i'm
aginatlve woman"
AT all events, I'll go bail twill not
happen a second time"
How do you propose to prevent
it,?
"Sure, the simplest way in the
world. / myself will stand guard in
the saloon, madam"
But no. monsieur; / can better af-
ford to lose a little sleep than have
you forfeit your rest Besides. ! have
Cecile.
There ensued an argument without
termination; he remained obdurate,
she insistent Only the appearance Of
Quick on the stroke of four bells
forced them to shelve the subject.
It was resumed at the dinner table
and carried out In a light manner OF
banter for a time, dropped and for
gotten, apparently by all but O'Rourke,
CHAPTER XIV.