Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1912-04-17
The POOL
of FLAME
Continued from Opposite Page

Iuindpiy, quleL anu unSfSns
About six bells the moon got up
and its rays, filtering through the
heavy-ribbed glass Of the skylight
"Ah, madame!" expostulated the
wanderer. "But what makes ye 80
positive I'd not turn tail and run away
from any real danger?"
She gave him look that brimmed
with mirth. "a man who is cow
ard" she said slowly, doesn't stand
still and draw a revolver when a
heavy knife is thrown at his head"
"Quiok told ye, MADAME"
mo, / saw-heard the quarrelling
on the forward deck and got to the
companionway in time to see what
happened. Had you not been 30 in
tent on your search for the knife, you
would have seen me. AS it was, I
slipped below again without attracting
attention"
But why?"
ITO get my revolver, monsieur le
colonel"
"'Twas naught but an accident"
you do not believe that yourself,
colonel dear; for my part, L"
"Weu?"
Someone tried my door last night,
after you'd retired"
"Ye are sure?" doubted O'Rourke,
disturbed.
"Quite. I was awake-thinking; I
heard you come below and close your
door at eight bells; long after there
were footsteps-s someone walking in
his bare feet-in the saloon. Then
the knob was turned, very gently.
Fortunately, the door was bolted;
someone put shoulder to it, but it
held fast caught up my revolver
indeed and 1 am very reckless with it.,
sir!-end opened the door myself. The
saloon was quite empty"
"Ye shouldn't have risked that"
81 had to know, with SO much at
stake" she said simply.
O'Rourke endeavored to manufac-
ture a plausible and reassuring explain
alton to the fact. "Quick, Danny, or
Dravos, mistaking their rooms"
'Tt was none of them. Captain
Quick was on deck; I heard his voice
almost simultaneously. surely I
couldn't mistake that" She laughed.
"tNor would your man or Mr.. Dravos
have been SO stealthy, SO instant to
escape"
"But-but-"
my theory, If You will have it. is
that mine enemy Of the Pan1nab is
one Of the crew OF the Rance, mon
sieur."
Mrs. Prynne made this statement as
quietly as though she were comment
Ing on the weather. But her belief
chimed 80 exactly with his own that
ORourke was stricken witless and at
loss to frame a satisfactory refuta-
hon. He was silent for some mo-
ments, his lips a thin hard line, q
rrinkle Of anxiety between his brows.
+ IN ye'd only permitted me to attend
10 him1 he growled at length.
'You are right" she admitted. "but
II am desolated-the mischiers
done.~
Faith. yes," he sighed detectedly.
His gaze roved tho deck and fastened
upon the serang- TT might be any
one OF them," he considered aloud.
"Any one. For instance, though
the setang?"
why dye suspect him more than
another7" he demanded, startled.
Call It feminine intuition, II you
Hike. The man looks capable OF any
thing"
"Yes. But sure, there's no telling
at all"
mo telling" she concurred quietly.
I'VE can but wait, watch, hope that
imagined the hand at my door,"
There might be something IN
that"
81 am neither nervous nor an i'm
aginative woman"
"At all events. I'll go bail twill not
happen a second time"
How do you propose to prevent
it?"
Sure, the simplest way in the
world. I myself will stand guard in
the saloon, madam"
"But no, monsieur; can better af-
ford to lose a little sleep than have
you forfeit your rest. Besides, have
Cecile.
There ensued an argument without
termination; he remained obdurate,
she insistent. Only the appearance of
Quick on the stroke Of four bells
forced them to shelve the subject.
1t was resumed at the dinner table
and carried out in light manner OF
banter for a time, dropped and for
gotten, apparently by all but ORourke