The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1912-03-08

:s.-ougn the Bitter Lakes. He saw a
string of buoys, width OF water like
Jade. a vista of sand, fat, gray,
patched with gray-green desert shrub,
bounded only by the horizon.
Damn said he nstiessiy'
He slipped down again upon his back.
painted, and wiped his brow.
Danny, recognizing that he was not
expected to respond. and being g.
young man remarkably acute to dag
nose his masters moods, prudently re-
Trained from comment. He sat hunch-
ed up on a cabin stool. his intensely
red. t,illet-shaped head bent low over
a bit of channels skin. which he was
sewing into a rough, sturdy bag.
AS the sun dipped beneath the rim
Of the horizon. a pleasant shadow In
vaded the stateroom. until that mo-
ment blood-red with its level rays.
And Danny Strengthened up. dropping
thimble and thread. announcing the
completion of his needlework by O.
brief. contented: "There!"
O'Rourke glanced at the article
dangling from his Wallets fingers, and
slammed the book against the bulk
uedu al Tue 1901 OI his DeTtu
Finished. is it," he exclaimed
Faith. It's about time, we lazy good
ifor-naught!"
Danny smiled serenely. And good
Job. too, sor," said he proudly
MANN no onrespect to yer honor
he added hastily.
O'Rourke took the subject of discus
sion in his fingers and examined 1,
searchingly.
| Twill do" he announced. Twill
serve its purpose. If no more. Lay
out me evening clothes now" He
stood up, stopping to stare through
the port. Good enough" he com
mented on what he discovered with
out: It's passing Suez we are this
blessed minute. Praises be. we
caught a boat that doesn't stop here
Danny scratched an ankle thought
fully. "Yiss. yer honor" he assented.
dubious. But. for all that. phwat's
to hinder annywan from boordin' us
be boat. If they sh'u'd want to?"
! O'Rourke turned and eyed the mar
keenly. Ills n great head we have
on your shoulders. Danny" he said.
Sometimes ye betray almost canine
hopes OF ye Now get We on deck and
watch TO see who does come aboard.
If anyone, and report to me"
"Yiss. yer honor"
O'Rourke bolted the door after Dan
ny and assured himself that the key
hole was properly wadded. that no
rack existed through which his move
nents might be observed from tho
Iangway. Struggling his broad shout
iers he returned to the seat vacated
~ his valet and thrust a hand be-
ieath the coat OF his pajamas. with
irawing It moment later. fingers
lightly wrapped about rather bulky
object.
And the Pool OF Flame lay glitter
ing and stabbing his eyes with shafts
II blood-red light.
| Into its depths Of pellucid fire
O'Rourke gazed long and earnestly. in
he most prnfound meditation.
But at length. slipping the ruby into
the new receptacle and drawing the
lanyard tight about It's puckered
throat. he stood up and threw the loop
over his head. permitting the bag with
Its precious contents to fall beneath
| of the sober mood inspired in him by
the study Of the stone. rang for
steward. to whom. when he responded,
he entrusted summons for Danny
'if so be 1t we're clear OF Suez"
In the course OF Ave minutes or so
Danny himself tapped on the door and
presented to his master a beaming
face
"Divvle n sowl!" he announced tri-
umphnntly. Sure. tbs ourselves have
given thin the slip entirely"
He flshed brand new kitbox from
beneath the berth and, opening It. be-
ban to lay out O'Rourke's clothing.
His master INDUCED In a sigh Of re-
lief. Then no boat put of to us at
alp he questioned indifferently.
only wan" replied the servant.
land thot wild no wan in ut but nay
CUR"
"A negro?" demanded O'Rourke, IA
cling about. what do ye mean? Did
he come aboard?"
Sure and he did that, yer honor.
and caught us be no moore thin tho
skin av his lathe and"
O'Rourke bent over the man and
selling him by the shoulders swung
him around 30 that their eyes met