The Delta independent., 1912-04-19
ruoi or Flame into the hands of Mr.
Lansdowne Sypher.
CHAPTER Xxx.

Toward the close of the following
day the Poonah dropped anchor in the
river roadstead off Raagoon; and with
in the ensuing hour her passengers
had deserted her, De Hyeres and Miss
Pynsent in their van, ORourke amons
the last to leave. And nothing hin.
dered him, not the least hitch delayed
his Decentralization. 1t was curious.
it was incredible, ii was disturbing.
He took away with him no ease of
mind whatever.
There were tikkagharries waiting.
and without a breath's delay the ad.
venturer and his servant climbed into
the nearest and desired to be con-
veyed to the offices of Messrs. Sec.
retain and Sypher. The vehicle whirleG
them swiftly away and into the main
travelled way of Rangoon, Mogu'
street.
In front of a structure of stone and
iron so palpably an office building
chat it might have been transplanted
co the Strand without exciting COM
ment-save for the spotless cleanli-
ness of it-their tikkagharry drew up
The gharriwallah indicated the Of
fees of Messrs. Secretan and Sypher,
one flight up-and named his fare.
O'Rourke paid him and alighted, with
Danny at his heels and his heart try
ing to choke him. The hour of full
filment was at hand-and all was
well! He who had faced death in
hundred shapes of terror, unflinching,
found himself in a flutter of nerves
that would have disgraced a school
girl
He lodged into the building, took
the steps three at stride and
suddenly found himself in the pres
ence of, more than that, closeted with
the man to meet whom he had crossed
half the world at peril of his life:
Mr.. Lansdowne Sypher.
Colonel O'Rourke?" Sypher's man
ner was very cordial. I'm glad to see
you. You are within your time, yet l
had begun to despair of you. Be
seated" He indicated a chair beside
his desk. And permit me; you of
all men will appreciate the precau-
ton
He laughed and went to the win
dows, adjusting the wooden shades in
such a manner that the light was
tempered and no portion of the room
could be visible to anyone spying
from window in one of the adjacent
buildings. The he turned and smiled
cheerfully at the stupefied adventurer.
Il have it here" said O'Rourke; safe
be the mercy of several highly poten-
tial saints." He laughed uneasily,
fumbling in his breast pocket. There
1t is" said he, tossing the stone in its
chamois covering upon the solicitors
desk.
Sypher himself betrayed some evil
dences of nervousness as he sat for
ward and lifted the case by its leath
ern thongs. He let it dangle before
him for an instant, watching it with a
curious. speculative smile.
We'll" he said, really !"
And after pause; Il congratulate
you, Colonel O'Rourke. And l admire
you immensely. You see,
when this commission was offered us,
considered seriously the project of
going in search of you in person and
bringing the stone back to Rangoon
myself. But then-although I'm not
really a timorous mani knew the
circumstances SO WE'LL feared l
should never reach Rangoon alive.
Yes" He thrust hand into his waist
coat pocket and produced a penknife,
with which he began to slit the
stitches that enclosed the ruby.
You've been wondering, no doubt,
why SO enormous a reward was Of
fered. -
81 have that" assented O'Rourke.
1T was partly because of the dan
ger" said Sypher, intent upon his &C.
cupation. you know, these Burmese
are a curiously pious folk; when one
of them grows rich he employs the
major part of his fortune in building
a temple-or in some such work. This
particular gentleman-a very wealthy
merchant-chose to give half of what
he had to the restoration of the Pool
of Flame to the Buddha from which 1t
was originally stolen. But he, too,
nnlInMWt