The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1912-06-28
Copyright l&t. By Louis Joseph Vance
CHAPTER XVI,

reHecteu through the pOrth0le by the
waters without. His mind for the
time was blank; he was merely con.
scious that he was rested and very
thirsty. and that the ship was mo-
tionless.
Then In binding fash memory
returned to him. He rose. curiously
light-headed and strangely weak,
pushed open the door and stepped in.
to the saloon.
Ii was lighted. II poorly. by a smoky
kerosene lamp dependent from beam
above the comfortable, and wore hol.
low. dingy air Of desolation for all
that Danny slept there. his vivid head
pillowed on arms crossed before him
on the table. The ship was utterly ST.
lent, and the O'Rourke's sensitive in.
stinct told him that 1t was tenanted
only by himself and the servant.
He clapped hand on Danny's
shoulder and shook him into wakeful-
ness. The boy leapt to his feet with
a cry and. Selling O'Rourke's hand. be.
gan TO sob upon it-a touching but
disconcerting performance, to the last
degree exasperating to a man thirst.
ing and famished.
ORourke. as gently as he could. dis
engaged his hand and thrust Danny
away. at the same time indicating In
no uncertain tones that he preferred
meat and drink to emotional crisis
Provided with a duty. Dannys senti.
al nj a Cd h.,
led away and returned with an excel
lent cold meal-sandwiches, a salad,
cheese, and other edibles upon a tray
graced likewise by bottle of cham
payne. And you are to believe that
the master fell to and wolfed 1t all,
to the last crumb and the last drop.
A new man. refreshed, he demanded
a pipe. and. with his head cooked on
one side and something of his old hu.
NOR twinkling In his eye. what time
II was not clouded with bewilderment
and concern at the answers he re-
ceived. cross-examined his valet.
How long" was his first question.
will have slept now. Danny ye
dvvle?"
Wan complete round av the clock.
yer honor"
Where are WEI"
AT anchor. scr. of the Fort In Bonn.
bay harbor."
"Umm-hm. I'm by way Of remem-
oering something Of that. What Of
:he captain?"
'Raymoved. yer honor. to horse
9ittle ashore. sor. to con-valesce. At
laste. I'm thinking thot's the word
he doctor used. sor."
O'Rourke pulled at his cigar. re-
,arded regretfully the empty glass be-
ore him, and with some visible reluct-
Ince put the question that. more than
aught else, he had wished to put eveI
since he had eaten.
And Mrs. Prynne?"
''Aw. yer honbr!"
whats the matter, Danny"
Sure. sor, and akin yor pardon for
spakin' SO, and manin' no manner Of
disrayspict Whatsoever"
What the divvle. Danny"
Danny drew himself up with an air
bristling indignation. Sure. and tits
meself never seen the lOike av thin
wimmin for rank ingratichude. sor
And afther all thot meself had said
to thot black-eyed Frinch vixen"
Danny"
mo, sor, not wan word av ut will
widdror, not II yer honor discharges
me wild me usual months notice. sor
this minute. Faix. didn't see? No
more and the anchor was down. sor
and yersilf did to the world In yer
berth, sor, thin thin two does be after
hailin' boat and intendin to 60
ashore, widout SO much as fare-ye
well, and me meanin' the most hon
orable intintions In the world toward
the maid"
Have your intentions ever been
aught else toward any woman ye ever
won smile from, spalpeenr'
Jaw, now, yer honor"
Get ON with your story. What
about Mrs. Prynne?" demanded
O'Rourke, cycling his servant curiously
and trying to fsthom his but half-dis
guised and wholly awkward air Of self
esteem. Plainly the boy thought
highly of himself because Of some
thing he had accomplished. some ex
plot Of prowess or stroke OF diplo
macy a. yet undiscl0sed.
"Yiss0r. ! was telltn' ye II
seemed to me the height Of manenesf
she was displayin'. ma'nin' this same
Mrs. Prynne. whin twas mesilf knew
none betther. how much we've laid
out on her account and hersilf moi
waitin' to settle up wild We"
what business was that Of yours?
Twas none. sor. But yerstlf had
keeled over and was did to ivrything
and what am | for II not to look oul
for ye at such times? Sc
,usvrn afthap ath0nnin' thin tWO tuat n