The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-03-22
CHAPTER TX.

Shortly before midnight the tri-
weekly train from Constantine to AL
giers pulled up over an hour late at
the town of ElGuerrah. It took up a
single passenger, discharged none, and
presently thundered on westwards,
rocking and jarring over a road-bed
certainly no better than 1t should have
been. Such, at least was the passen-
gers criticism, as, groaning in an
ticipation Of the long night of discom-
fort ahead of him, he disposed himself
and his belongings about the cushions
of the first-class compartment which
he occupied in solitary grandeur.
ORourke had no intention of leaV-
ing anything undone that might tend
to mitigate the terrors of the journey
Five days had elapsed since that
morning in the oasis. In the interval
he had again dared the danger of the
desert, returning to Biskra alone by a
route more direct than that which had
brought him up with the flying col
umn. Discharging the guide with a
gratuity larger than his ebbing means
warranted, he had proceeded to FL
Guerrah by the first daily train, and
so now found himself on the direct
line Of Communication with Algiers
and the Governor-General.
His chiefest concern now lay with
the future and the Pool of Flame;
both bulked large upon the horizon
and were at once the architects and
the nuclei Of a thousand different
plans of action.
So far, the affair had worked
smoothly; he anticipated little trou-
BILE.
So thinking he drowsed and in the
course of time lulled by the hammer.
ing of flat-wheel at the forward end
Of the coach, fell asleep. He waken'
ed suddenly after a nap Of some two
hours or so, to a confusion of impres.
sions: that the train had stopped
that some one had invaded his com
partment; that a cold blast was blow
ing across his wrists. Bewildered ant
not half master of his senses, he start
ed up and fell back with a thud, as
sisted to resume a recumbent position
by a heavy blow upon his chest, deliv
cred by some person for the moment
unknown. simultaneously he wa:
aware of a clicking sound, followed by
the sensation Of being unable to move
his feet; and then, the clouds clearing
from his understanding, he realized
that the cold upon his wrists was tina
of steel. With handouts also on hi
ankles, he lay helpless, unable ever
to protest because of cloth waddet
tightly into his mouth and firm hanC
that prevented election.
Other hands were rifling his pock
cts, swiftly but after bungling fash
! ion. The train, having paused brief!
at Setif Che afterwards located thu
station by conjecture), began Il
move again, was presently II
full laundering flight. Abruptly th'
examination Of his person -whicl
was so thorough that it includes
the opening of his shirt to as
sure the thieves that he carried moth
ing in the shape Of money-belt-
was concluded and the adventure
was roughly jerked into a sitting po
sition. At the same time his gag wa'
removed.
He gasped, blinked, coughed, an(
rolled a resentful eye around the com
partinent. BE the powers!" he saiC
huskily; and no more. At first glance
It became apparent that he had mis-
calculated the audacity and resource
of the vicomte and Mr. Glynn. They
had literally caught him mapping.
The Honorable Bertie, O'Rourke dis
covered kneeling in the act Of turning
the adventurous travelling gear inside
out; at least, he seemed to be try
ing to do so. Monsieur le Vicont6
des Trebes on the contrary was seat
ed at ease, facing O'Rourke, q revolver
on the cushion beside him, his in
terest concentrated not upon his cap
tive, upon his collaboration. O'Rourkt
remarked an EXPRESSION on the French
mans face, a curious compound o.
eagerness, triumph and apprehension
Without noting the Irishman's eiec
ulation, he addressed Glynn: "FinC
itF"
'No-worse luck!" grumbled the
Englishman, rising and kicking th'
handbag savagely. "There isn't Sc
much as a scrap Of paper anywhere
about him."