The Elbert County tribune., 1912-03-29


and replied to the secretary.
The latter regretted excessively
that his excellency was absent: his
excellency would undoubtedly be desc
lated when he returned and found he
had missed Colonel p'Rourke.
He'll be back soon, monsieur?"
ALAS, mol" with shrug. He is
en- route for Paris-possib,y arrived
by this moment-on matters of state"
And he left?"
Several days since, monsieur"
You know nothing of this package.
indorsed with the name of Monsieur
Chambret?"
To the contrary: the secretary knew
1t very well. He could place his hand
upon 1t at any moment-monsieu
would appreciate that he burst not
surrender 1t without the Governors
authority.
O'Rourke drew long sigh of relief
and was abruptly conscious of fatigue
and desire to get away and rest.
I'm obliged to ye." he said slowly,
rising. ''Ill have to wait until the
Governor returns. l presume.
By the way. are ye be any chance ac-
quafnted with Monsieur le vico.nte
des Trebes?"
But certainly; the vicomte was a
great friend of his excellency's. He
had dined with his excellency some
thing over week since. just prior to
the latter's departure.
And l take 1t ye have seen nothing
of the gentleman since?"
"on the contrary. monsieur: the VI
comte called here but two days ago
1t appeared that he had desired some
trffiing Information. with which the
secretary had obliged him
"Ye didn't happen to leave him
alone in this room?"
The secretary. plainly much per-
picked by this odd catechism, ad-
mitted that such had been the case;
the pursuit OF the desired data had
necessitated his absence from the Gov
ernor's room for q matter OF some ten
minutes.
But ye say We can put your hand
on this package?"
But certainly, monsieur"
Would ye mind making sure It's
safe. 'Twould save me deal OF
waiting. perhaps"
With alacrity and smile that de-
precated his visitors anxiety over SO
trifiing matter, the secretary rose,
went to the safe and confidently
enough thrust hand into one of the
pigeon-holes. The hand came forth
empty. A frown of bewilderment
clouded the secretary's face. 1T must
be here" he announced with convic-
tion. 1T was in plain sight and la
belled with the name of Monsieur
Chambret {. . He turned. "If
Monsieur lie Colonel will but return in
half an hour, undertake then to
show him the packet itself l shall by
then have found it-but assuredly,"
"Ye are very courteous. monsieur.
| will return"
This he did-in two hours. The
packet had not been found. the sec
retary. in a futter of nerves, confessed
that through some culpable negligence
1t must have been misplaced. An ex-
tended search was even then in
progress. 1t would surely come to
light before evening
THANK ye: l shan't be back" re-
turned O'Rourke grimIy: and went
away. downcast for the first time
since the inception of the adventure.
Faith! and to think l would not be-
lieve the truth when they slapped ms
face with 1t! And all the time, belize,
twas in the vicomte's own pocket! :.
:" But he had no vocabulary ade-
quate to the task of expressing his
self-contempt
Disconsolate, conceiving that he had
proven himself blind, egregious fool,
he plodded with heavy steps and a
hanging head back to his hotel; where
the crowning stroke of the day was
presented to him in the shape of a
note, by the hand of a black Biskri
porter.
Monsieur le Colonel Terence
O'Rourke. Be hand" he conned the
address. Faith, and what's this?"
IF Monsieur lie Colonel O'Rourke
will do Monsieur des Trebes the hon
or of dining with him, at seven or
seven-thirty this evening, at the villa
fOrleans, St. Eugene, an arrangement
satisfactory to both himself and Mon
sieur le Vicomte may be consummat-
ed.
"R- s. v. P.-The bearer waits"
A trap? A subterfuge2 trick to
throw him off the scent whilst the two
blackguards escaped with their booty !?
The adventurer frowned darkly over
It. dubious. Then. In flush of reck-
lessness, he seized a sheet of paper
from a nearby desk, scrawled a
formal acceptance Of the strange invi-
tation, and handed It to the Biskri boy.
"All to gain, naught to lose" he sum-
med up the state OF mind which had
dictated his response; and Al six-