The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-01-05
He gasped, blinked, coughed and

ne SaSpeQ, OllnkeQ, cOugleO, anc
rolled resentful eye around the com.
partment. "Be the powers!" he sale
huskily; and no more. At first glance
it became apparent that he had mis-
! calculated the audacity and resource
Of the yicomte and Mr. Clynn. They
had literally caught him mapping.
The Honorable Bertie, O'Rourhe dis"
covered kneeling in the act Of turning
the adventurer's travelling gear inside
out; at least, he seemed to be try
ing to do so. Monsieur lie Vicomte
des Trebes on the contrary was seat
ed at case, facing O'Rourke, revolver
on the cushion beside him, his in
terest concentrated not upo@ his cap
tive, upon his collaboration. O'Rourke
remarked an expression on the French
mans face, a curious compound OF
eagerness, triumph and apprehension.
Without noting the Irishman's ejec-
ulation, he addressed Glynn: Find
it?"
''No-worse luck!" grumbled the
Englishman, rising and kicking the
handbag savagely. There isn't so
much as a scrap of paper anywhere
about him."
The vicomte favored O'Rourke with
vicious glance, muttering something
about a thousand devils. The Irish
man, quick to grasp the situation and
inwardly exulting, acknowledged Des
Trebes' attention with winning
smile.
Good evening"" he said, and nodded
amiably.
"Oh, shut up!" snapped the Honor
able Bertie, unhandsomely. where's
that letter."
O'Rourke chuckled 'Ye're hard
loser, me bright young friend" he
commented. II though Englishmen
always played the game as it laid"
Glynn grunted and flushed, shame
faced, but the Frenchman cut short
the retort on his lips by curt repe-
tition of Glynn's own question:
"Where's that letter, monsieur"
O'Rourke glanced at him languidly,
yawned, and smiled an exasperating
strictly personal smile. Then sig
nifcantly he clinked the handouts un-
til they rang on wrist and ankle.
ANSWER mel" snarled the vicomte,
! picking up his revolver.
"Divvle a word" observed O'Rourke,
twill ye get from me if ye shoot me
! dead, monsieur le vicomte. Put down
your pistol and be sensible"
Des Trebes' face darkened, suf.
fused with the blood of his rage. Yet
the man asserted that admirable con-
troll of self which he was able to en-
ploy when it suited his purposes. EVi'
dently, too, he recognized the cold
/ common-sense of the wanderers re-
mark. At all events he put aside the
weapon.
"Where's the letter." he demanded
again, more practically.
Again O'Rourke yawned with NAL
ice prepense, yawned deliberately and
exhaustively and dispassionately
Not word" he volunteered al
length, until ye loose me hands and
feet. Which, he added, I'VE need moi
hesitate to do, fer III not strike back
unless ye crowd me-"
The vicomte scowled darkly for a
moment, plainly dubious. Then pre-
sumably upon the consideration that
he could trust O'Rourke's word and
that most assuredly he would learn
nothing from him until his request
was complied with, he groWled an or
der to Glynn to unlock and remove
the handouts. The Englishman obey
ed.
Free, O'Rourke stretched himself
rubbed his wrists, and observed a
collection, of his pocket hardware ly
ing upon the seat by him, thrown
aside by Glynn in his disgust at moi
finding what he sought.
Yell not ~De wanting to deprive
me of these few trifes, me gay high
waymen, I'm thinking?" he inquired
placidly of the pair. IF ye've no OBJ
lection I'll make so free as to take
back me own
Take what you want" returned
Des Trebes in an ugly tone. "But-
I give you three minutes to tell me
where you have put that letter."
Indeed? Your courtesy overpowers
me-" The Irishman took up his watch
and calmly made a note of the hour
hard upon three in the morning; then
with easy nonchalance slowed it.awa!
with the rest of the miscellaneous col
lection-the knives, coins and keys
! his wallet, tickets and so forth.
your time" the voice of the vi
comte interrupted this occupation, "is
up" He fingered his revolver "Where
is that letter? I an losing patience.'
Where rust nor moth cannot cor
rupt nor thieves break in to STEAL
O'Rourke misquoted solemnly
STEADY. Don't call names-or III