The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-06-06
THE POOL Of FLAME
A STORY OF ADVENTURE AND IN
TRIGUE
(By Louis Joseph vance,

respite he had knocked about from pill
lar to post of Algiers, seeking news OF
Chambret; and not until the eleventh
hour had he secured the information
he needed. Then, hurrying back to
his hotel, he made arrangements to
have his luggage cared for during an
absence of indeterminate duration,
hastily crammed few indispensables
into kit box, and having dispatched
that to the railway terminal, sought
the restaurant for an early meal
In the act of consuming his soup he
became aware that the Honorable
BERTHE, in a dinner coat and state of
ndgets, had wandered down the outer
corridor, passed at he restaurant door
and espied his quarry. The fact that
O'Rourke was dining with one eye
on the clock and in a dust-proof, dust
colored suit Of drill, was enough to
disturb seriously the poise of the Eng.
lishman.
Evaporation stirred in O'Rourke.
He eyed the young man rather morose-
ly throughout the balance of his meal.
a purpose forming In his mind and
attaining the stature OF definite plan
of action without opposition from the
dictates Of prudence. And at length
swallowing his coffee and feeling his
servitor. he rose, crossed the room
with a firm tread. and came to full
stop at the Honorable Mr.. Glynn's Ia
ble
Momentarily he held his tongue,
staring down at the young man while
drumming on the marble with the fin
gers of one hand. Then Glynn, glanc-
ing up in a state of somewhat panic
stricken inquiry which strove vainly
to seem insouciant, met the level
stare of the adventurer and noticed
the tense lines of his lips.
I'll say" he foundered, whats
the matter with you, anyway? Can't
you leave me a-1one?"
1--WE been thinking" said O'Rourke
crisply, disregarding the others re-
mark entirely. that it might be of in
terest to We to save We bit of bother
alton to know that I'm going up to
Biskra by tonfght's train. 1t leaves In
ten minutes, SO I'll have to forego the
pleasure Of your society on the trip"
Glynn got grip on himself and
pulled together the elements of his
| insolence into his stare, and said
"Ow?" with that singularly maddening
| infection of which the Englishman
alone Is master; as who should say:
why the dooce d'you annoy me with
your bally plans?"
| Don't believe I know you, do II"
| he drawled.
II don't believe ye do, me lad"
Cant say I wish to very badly,
either"
81 believe that" O'Rourke chuckled
grimly.
! The meaning in his tone sent the
| blood into the young mans face, a
fiery food Of resentment.
| 'Oh, I'm not afraid of you, y'know,"
| not going to Biskra, or you wouldn't
tell me SO. But If you do, shall make
1t my business to find out and follow
by the next train-bringing Des
| Trebes with me-"
"Oh, will we SO? Ye mean to warn
me he's in Algeria, too?"
| His boats due now; I'm expecting
him at any moment, if you wish to
know" O'Rourke's smiling contempt
| dering him reckless. You'll be glad
to know you've made a dem ass of
yourself-if you really are going to
| Biskra"
Praise from Sir Hubert"
ooh, don't you think I mind giving
you a twelve-hour start; you won't
gain anything by it. Y'see / know
where you're going, and l know it's
not there. If you'll take a fools ad-
vice, you'll turn back now. You'll
come back empty-handed anyway.
don't mind telling you that we mean
to have that ruby. Des Trebes and 1
and we know where it is. You're only
taking needless trouble by interfer-
ing"
Truth was speaking from the bottom
Of the absinthe tumbler O'Rourke S
brows went up and he whistled noise
lessly, for he realized that at least
Glynn believed what he was admit
ting. $50 that's the way Of it. eh
l admire your candor, me boy; but be
careful and not 60 too far with 1t
Twill likely prove disastrous to We
I'm fearing. But tit-for-tat
we've made me a handsome present
according to your lights, of what ye
most aptly term a fools advice, and
tbs meself who'll not be outdone al
that game. For yourself. then, take
warning from the experience of one
who's seen a bit more Of this side OF
the earth than most men have, and
don't let Des Trebes know we've
talked so freely. He's a oad-tempereG
sort and But I'm obliged II
. ye and l bid We a good evening"