The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1912-09-05
CHAPTER XVIII.

At a small hour Of the morning they
made Diamond Harbor in pitch dark
ness and without misadventure were
successful in causing themselves to be
transhipped, bag and baggage, to the
twinscrew steamship Poonah, which
vessel rode at anchor in midstream.
Toward eight o'clock OF the white
hot forenoon that followed, O'Rourke,
In the shadow Of long-boat on the
Poonah's promenade deck, stood dn-
fishing a matutinal cigar and watching
narrowly a tender ferry out final
boatload of passengers from the east
ern river bank.
Slowly the tender forged toward the
steamers side; and as 1t drew near.
O'Rourke forgot to smoke and bent
over the rail to inspect with unremit-
ting interest those upon It's decks.
The forward deck of the tender held
his regard but briefly; those who
waited there, eyeing impassively the
towering fanks Of the liner, were one
and all Of the east, Of races, creeds
and types too numerous to catalogue.
These the adventurer might not read.
save individually upon personal con-
tact. II trouble was to come from
them, collectively or individually, he
would not know until the blow had
fallen. On the other hand, he might
be able to hazard shrewd surmises as
to the potential animus inherent IN
any one Of the Europeans who were
to be his fellow passengers.
The latter were q mere handful;
half a dozen commercial travellers
from London, Paris, Berlin, their avo-
cations evident beyond dispute; q sal
low English missionary with his with
cred wife, sombre figures In the stark
sunlight, a red-faced deputy
thingor-other Of the Indian govern
ment, complacent in white drill and
new pith helmet with gay puggaree;
Q lone English girl, and Frenchman.
The two latter held the Irishman's
attention; the girl because, even at 8
distance, her slim whiteclad figure
and well.poised head seemed singu-
iarly fresh and attractive; the man
because-well, because O'Rourke was
susceptible to premonitions.
He was q tall man and broad, the
Frenchman-well-made, well-groomed,
carrying himself with an indefnable
air of distinction. His face was rath-
or pale land therefore notable IN that
concourse Of dark skins), its features
strongly modelled. the mouth and chin
masked by a neatly trimmed and
pointed beard and mustache.
O'Rourke could not have said that
he had ever seen the man before; yet
there was this and that about him
which struck a spark Of reminiscence
from his memory. A suspicion flashed
through his mind which he put aside
with disdain, as absurd and far-fetch-
ed. On the other hand. He
knit his brows in puzzlement.
The very fxity Of his regard drew
the eyes Of its object upwards. They
encountered O'Rourke's. fingered brief.
ly in an unveiled, lnquiring stare in
which there was not to be detected
the least hint of recognition, and
passed onward casually, indifferently,
Ignoring the impertinence.
The tenders passengers began to
stumble up the gang-plank to a lower
deck Of the liner; and O'Rourke, with
q sober face, went below, taking some
care to void contact with the incom-
Ing crowd.
He found Danny was in his state
room, engaged with some details Of
repair to the adventurers wardrobe.
O'Rourke remained for brief space
standing in the middle Of the cabin,
visibly distracted. Then abruptly
some whimsical consideration seemed
to resolve his dubiety-as lightning
will clear sultry, brooding air; smile
deepened the corners of his mouth,
the flicker in his eye merged magically
Into a twinkle, the shrug Of his broad
shoulders conveyed an impression Of
casting care to the winds.
Danny, lad" he remarked reflect
lively, throwing himself ungracefully
upon the cushioned transom opposite
to his berth. Danny, ye wouldn't lie
10 me, would ye now"
"Aw-w!" reproved Danny. "Shure.
yer honor knows ut isn't in me at all"
And to himself; "Phat the divvle
Row%
Then tell me, Danny. truthfully;
lid ye ever see a ghost?"
"Aw-w!"-seeing cause to take the
query as joke.
"a ghost that had grown beard
ince it had become a ghost, Danny"
"Aw-aw-w!"-still willing to be
amused, if himself chose to be face
aous.
Because" continued O'Rourke with
, slight frown, Il have, and that not
i've minutes since"
"Aw?"