The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-06-17

He opened his eyes again, alone on
the cool, damp, earthen floor, but as
sured that the feminine element in his
adventure had been no hallucination,
after all; for he could see the girl
standing a little to one side and look
ing down upon him, her face so deep
in shadow that he could gather moth
ing from its expression, whether it
were of displeasure or of perplexity.
From this and that, however, he de-
duced that she, discovering herself
lavishing endearments on the wrong
man, was not utterly delighted with
the situation. The circumstances TAX
en- into consideration, such state OF
mind he thought not unreasonable;
and being now to some extent recov-
cred, he saw no profit in making her
suffer more. So with a show Of
| faintness not wholly assumed, he
rolled his head to one side, opening
wide his eyes and looked the woman
| in the face, inquiring with his faint,
! thin brogue: whats this, now, me
dear?"
| The girls face darkened She shook
her head impatiently. Il have no Eng
lish," she told him in excellent French.
who are you? Why do you come
| here? You are not Danny"
Ohio" commented ORourke know
ingly, and that's the explanation, is
i it?" He sat up, embracing his knees
and drawing a rueful face. Faith, me
dear" he admitted, Il concede -ye the
| best of the argument, thus far. | am
not Danny-'tis true as Gospel"
| She frowned. Then what are you
doing here, monsieur? How did you
learn-who told you-the signal?'
Faith, from no less a person than
| Danny Malone himself He showed
me the way and babe me Knockout
niver a word said he of yourself. me
dear"
| 'Monsieur does not recall that l ad-
mitted him." she persisted but with
a tightening face. nor anything that
/ happened thereafter?'
Not the least in the world What
did happen, now?'
But she f1anked that embarrassing
question adroitly, evidently much re-
lieved by O'Rourke's reinsurance
Which was just what he wished her
frame of mind to be. Nothing that
matters" she replied, continuing to
employ the French tongue, and that
very prettily, with fetching little &C
cent. Il think you tainted. Then-but
you know my Danny"
Your Danny" said O'Rourke, his
mood quizzical. None better, me dear.
| I've known him since he was so high,
or Whereabouts" And he held a palm
some six inches or SO above the floor.
! And he-he brought you here?"
Who else? How else would | be
knowing the signal9 Ye see, there was
a bit Of a shindig down the street and
me In the middle thereof and getting
all the worst of tiff We must know
when along comes Danny and lends
me a hand and whips me off here and
says he'll be back in moment He'll
tell We the details himself; but r.
he eyed her quizzically-"would now
ask We to overlook the unceremoniOus
manner Of me entrance and a certain
lack of dignity as to me attire, which
l beg ye to believe is not me ordinary
| evening dress, and-and faith, me
throat is baked entirely, if me clothes
are not. May 1 ask for a drink at
mademoiselle's fair hands?"
He was on his feet now and en-
joying the situation hugely. "And It's
the Irish eye for beauty Danny has,"
he told himself II commend his taste
the rogue!"
4 For the girl was exceedingly fair to
see; slender and straight and girlish
and SWEET; a Greek, if he were to
/ judge Of her features and her dress
and in that odd light, with perturba.
ton in her pose, smile half-perplexed
trembling on her lips (because OF
4 O'Rourke's conceit) and the shadow OF
anxiety clouding her eyes, she made a
charming picture indeed.
She was quick to grant his request
Danny will explain she agreed with
conviction. This way, then, if you
please, monsieur, and"-as they passed
through a low doorway-'1f you will
fetch wine"
She smiled enchantingly, dropped
him bewitching little courtesy with
a Difference evoked, no doubt, by the
mans subtle yet ineradicable air OF
distinction, and left him wholly capti
waited. BLESS her heart and pretty
facet" he murmured, cycling her re
treating figure. "'Tis Danny who's
the lucky dog not that he's
not deserving -
He reviewed his refuge summarily
4 discovering that he stood in one cor
ner of small courtyard, the center
OF a hollow cube of masonry; a dwell
ing of two stories, round whose upper
floor ran an inner gallery to which
steps led up from the court and from
i which access was to be had 10 the liv
ing rooms-all dark and silent
In the center Of the courtyard g
little fountain tinkled, a tiny jet Of
water rising from the central upright
of stone to spray the black. star-smit
| ten pool beneath. There was a little
| plot of grass, likewise with flowers
/ generous of their cordial perfume.
The girl came silently out from tht
/ shadows beneath the gallery. bringing
/ him a cup and a jar Of earthenware
! brimming with wine
/ He accepted the service with a bow
"Mademoiselle is as kind as she i:
/ beautiful" said he, and with the ap
probation OF a connoisseur frs