The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1912-05-03

stern a police orderly acted as me-
chanic, attending to the motor. These
three, no more, made up the rescue
party.
Though devoured by impotence and
anxiety, O'Rourke forbore to question
Couch, hesitating to divert his atten-
ton from his task and knowing that
as soon as he could the young lieu
tenant would speak. From the time
when the coolie had yielded, there
had been not a seconds rest for eth
er; neither had had time to confer
save on questions of the most imme-
diate moment; and control Of these
Couch had voluntarily and naturally
assumed. deciding, acting and direct
ing in the same thought, apparently.
Your wife, with Miss Pynsent,"
said Couch abruptly, without looking
round-"at least l presume it's Mrs.
O'Rourke, from what you say-have
been kidnapped by a gang of highbind-
ers and are now aboard a junk in the
lower river, which will sail for God
knows-where at the turn of the tide.
That's the only thing that saves 'em.
Well be on EN- before they're able to
force a way down the river"
O'Rourke groaned, holding his head
with both hands. My wife !"
he said brokenly.
81 know" Couch interrupted grim
ly; 81 know how you feel. Miss Pyn-
sent is there, too, you see."
oh" said o'Rourke, Il didn't I'M
derstand that. I'm sorry" He
dropped hand on the younger mans
shoulder and let it rest there briefly.
please God" he said reverently,
"there'll be many another polluted
yellow soul yammering at the gates
of hell this night
"Amen!" said Couch. We
sha'n't be long now"
Silently O'Rourke removed his coat
and waist-coat, his collar and lawn
tie, and turned back his cuffs. Even
ing clothes are hardly the thing to
fight in" he said; but I'm thinking
'twon't make a deal of difference to
me. Got any cartridges for a Webley
mark IV?"
wheeler has. Give Colonel
O'Rourke a few, Wheeler" said Couch,
addressing the orderly.
The latter rummaged in a locker
and pressed into O'Rourke's hand half
dozen cartridges, with which the
adventurer proceeded to replenish the
empty chamber in his revolver.
I'D only discharged one," he OBJ
served, but it's likely we'll need that,
even, with only the three of US
against junk-load."
"Oh, 1 telephoned for reinforce
ments, of course returned Couch.
They ought to be there ahead of
u.s."
what did the coolie tell We, If we've
time to TALK"
Couch laughed. 81 daresay you're
wondering how 1 made him speak at
ALL"
That's the true word for ye"
81 threatened to cut off his silly pig
tail and send him naked and dishonor.
ed to the ghostly halls of his ances-
tors. It's wonderful how much those
callous brutes dote on that decora-
ton. told him further, that if he
lied, when l found it out I'd return
ana shave him bald as an egg, even ii
he were dead by that time. So per-
suaded the truth from him, the whole
story-from his side of it."
I'm listening.
HE confessed he was in the pay
like these chaps we're after now-of
a highly respectable Chinese merchant
and head of one of the tongs-one or
the richest men in Rangoon, who, II
.l-t r,,1.
can't imagine what he wanted of it,
but that'll come out, probably; the
mans rich enough to buy dozens oil
stones as fine. However
gather he'd laid his plan far ahead.
The coolies intimated you'd been
watched all the way from Bombay. At
all events, the brutes were ready
when you arrived; Sypher was a
doomed man from the moment you
handed over the Pool of Flame. They
surrounded his house this night, com
ing up from the river, just as soon as
1t was dark enough to conceal their
actions. Then they found third ele-
ment in the business-your friend Des
Trebes, all unsuspicious of them, lurk-
ing on the veranda and watching Sy-
pher through the window. So they
waited to see what he was up to. And
pretty soon they found out Sypher
came downstairs, went to the safe and
opened it; presume he had the stone
In his hand. ready to put away While
he was standing there the Frenchman
slipped up behind and stabbed
him, annexing the stone and leav-
ing the way he got in. The in
slant he stepped off the veranda the
Chinese got him; but he managed to
scream before they could silence him
and drew the attention of the house
hold, Miss Pynsent, your wife and the
servants. So to cover things I'D they