The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1912-02-06

under level brows; and he did not in
pared to make good and effectual use
Of the revolver which she held pointed
directly at the opening.
Why?
From her mistress poise, too-one
arm rigid at her side, the hand con-
O'Rourke OWNED that she was alert,
armed, on her guard no less than the
maid. But she left him no time to
puzzle over the mystery.
'Well?" she demanded breathlessly.
otis as I thought, Mrs. Prynne. A
cylinder-head has blown off and done
no end of damage. We're crippled, if
in no danger. The other screw will
take us far as Alden, but there We'll
have to wait for the next boat"
Mrs. Prynne's face clouded with dis
may. How Tonga day or two?" she
demanded.
''Mayhap," he replied, no less dis
consulate; "mayhap as much as
week. Faith, tits meself that would it
were otherwise, but fear there's no
mending matters"
She regarded him thoughtfully for
an instant.
"Then you, too, travel in haste, colo
nel?"
Indeed l do SO, madam. Me for
tune hangs upon me haste. If l get
he nh
the word Rangoon upon his lips-"too
late, twill be all up. I'm heavy with
an urgent enterprise, madam" And
he smiled
The woman looked past him, down
the dusk of the gangway, apparently
bordering her dilemma What will
you do?" she inquired at length.
FAITH" he said, disturbed, "that's
hard to say
She flashed him an fronic look.
you mean you are resigned to the in
evitable?"
BE the powers!" he cried in re-
sentiment, I'm resigned to nothing
that doesn't please me. Is it that We
ask me aid? Sure, if We do, neither
the inevitable nor the impossible shall
keep We from arriving at Bombay, and
on time!"
Her spirit, through her eyes, an
Swered his in a flash. Then cooling,
she looked him over from crown to
tie, weighing him deliberately in the
balance of her knowledge of men.
He bore the inspection with equanim-
ity, quite sure of himself, as was nat
ural in the O'Rourke. Provoked, put
on his mettle, he felt himself irwin
chile, and showed it in every line Of
his pose. She could not have wavered
long; indeed, her decision was quite
manifest. Impulsively she caught his
two hands in her own.
EYES," she cried, "T do believe youi
l take you at your word-your gener-
Gus word, Colonel O'Rourke! I will
trust implicitly in you. You shall get
me to Bombay by the fifteenth"
''The fifteenth" he echoed thought
fully. "This is the tenth
''The Panjnab is scheduled to ar
rive on the fifteenth. All my plans
depend upon there being no delays"
Give days! 1t shall be
managed, Mrs. Prynne Bombay by
the fifteenth it shall be, or the
O'Rourke will have broken his heart!"
She grew thoughtful. ''You are very
good-Tve told you that. l believe
that you will accomplish what you
promise. Yet it seems hardly fair to
saddle you with my cares, my perils,
without informing you of their ma
ture-"
Madam, tits not the O'Rourke who
would ever be prying into your Sc
crets. Let's not complicate a simple
situation with explanations"
But, colonel, there is one thing
more" He paused. ct is a question"
she continued, "of chartering a ship
at Alden, is it not?"
81 see no other way"
"Then-spare no expense, Colonel
O'Rourke. Remember that 1 foot the
bill"
Cor, if you insist, sir, pay nothing:
Great Britain pays for both of u.s."
"Eh? Yes?" he stammered.
"But see, colonel
He had before then noted indiffer-
emily that she wore a chain of thin,
fine gold about her neck, it's termina-
tion-presumably locket of some
sort-hidden in the folds of her cor
sage. Now she quietly pulled this
forth, and displayed her pendant, a
little trinket of gold, running grey
hound eXquisitely modelled.
Stunned, he stared first at the top,
then at the woman. .'Ye mean to say
p" he whispered, doubling.
ION the Kings service, Colonel
| O'Rourkeio