The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-01-04

| who had been O'Rourke's valet in a
happier time and Of late in his hum
bier way an adventurer like his mas.
ter. He was there. In Alexandria,
half partner in a tobacco importing
house, by virtue Of money borrowed
from O'Rourke long since, at a time
when money was to be had OF the
man for the asking. And
Danny would help.
You must see O'Rourke revolving In
his mind this unhappy predicament of
his. on the last of the many afternoons
that he spent in Greece. Draw down
the corners OF his wide, mobile mouth,
stir up the devils in his eyes until
they flicker and flash their resentment,
! place pucker between the brows Of
his habitually serene and unwrinkled
forehead; and there you have him
| who sat beside the little table In the
purple of the Zappeion, with head
barred to the cool Of the evening
breeze, alternately putting at a me-
diocre cigar and slipping black coffee
from the demi-tasse at his elbow.
NOW JUST d. Iuc SUI was eAAnAAS 0o
hind the mountains and Hymettus was
clothing its long slopes IN vague violet
light of mystery and enchantment (for
this view alone O'Rourke took himself
to the Zappeion daily the Irishman's
somber meditations were interrupted.
"Phew! 'Otter'n the seven brass
Inges of 'ell!" remarked cheerful
voice, not two feet from his ear.
O'Rourke turned with an imper-
ceptible start-he was not easily sta
tied. True for ye," he assented, TAX
ing stock of him who, with his wealth
er-wise remark for an introduction,
calmly possessed himself of the va
cant chair at the other side of the
table and gyinned a rubicund grin
across it.
He showed himself man In stature
no whit inferior to the Irishman, as
to height; and perhaps he was
stone the heavier of the two. He
lacked, otherwise, O'Rourke's alert
habit, was of a slower, more stolid
and beefy build. The eyes that met
O'Rourke's were gray and bright and
hard and set In countenance fam
ing red-a color partly natural and
partly the result OF his stroll through
Athens heated streets.
His dress was rough, and there was
this and that about him to tell
O'Rourke more plainly than words
that his profession was something
nautical; he was most probably cap
tain, from a certain air of determina-
ton and command that lurked be-
meath his free-and-easy manner.
Therefore, having summed the
stranger up in a glance, And when
did ye get in, captain?" inquired
, O'Rourke.
The man jumped with surprise and
shot a frightened-at least a ques-
tioning-glance at O'Rourke. Then,
seeing that he was smiling in a friend
ly fashion, Gained and continued to
cool his face and heat his blood by
tanning himself vigorously with a
straw hat.
"'Ow the dooce do you know I'm q
captain?" he demanded, with a slight
ly aggrieved manner.
1T shouldn't take a man an hour to
guess that, captain-any more than
it would to pick ye out for an Eng
.lishman."
The captain stared, gray eyes wild
ening. "An' perhaps you'll tell me my
nyme next?" he suggested rather
truculently
"Divvle bit. IT'S no clairvoyant l
am" laughed O'Rourke. But can
tell ye me own. IT'S O'Rourke, and
tits delighted I am to meet white
man in this heather country. Sir, your
hand!"
He put his own across the table and
gripped the captains heartily.
Mines OLE" the latter informed
him.
"ole?" queried o'Rourke. "ole
what?"
mot Ole nothing" said the cap
tain with some pardonable asperity.
Il didn't sly ole, sgd ole"
"Of course" ORourke assented
gravely. I'm stupid, Captain Hole,
and a bit deaf In me of ear" This,
however, was a polite lie.
THAT explyns It," agreed the molli.
fed man. tits ole, plyn Willm ole,
master of the Pelican, fryghter, just
in from Malta"
A light of interest kindled in
O'Rourke's eyes. He reviewed the man
with more respect, as due to one who
might prove useful. And bound-?"
he insinuated craftily.
alexandria. just dropped
in for a d'y or two to pick up bit
Of cargo from chap down at Piraeus.
It's devlish 'ot and l thought as 'ow
I'd tyke q run up and see the city
-'aving bit OF time free, y'know."
Surely" sighed O'Rourke, far
away look in his eyes. For Alexan.
dria, Ell? Faith, I'd like to be sailing
with ye." -
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