The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-02-29

through his pockets. Then, with a
very good" the latter stepped be-
tween the table and O'Rourke and
faced him.
you've apparently told the truth
thus far" he said. Nov what'dyou
know about this?" He waved hand
round the room. BE careful what
you say. l may as we'll inform you
I'm Couch, lieutenant sub-chief OF
police for this district"
Saint Patrick would be no more
welcome" declared O'Rourke. Il was
on the point Of trying to get ye by
telephone when We saved me the trou-
BILE. How the divvle did ye happen
to drop in so opportunely?"
II was coming upstream in the po-
lice launch, on the night tour Of in
spection, and stopped at the landing
just below this-the grounds here run
down to the river, you know-to tele-
phone back to headquarters on bust
ness. The exchange operator suggest
cd look in here and see If everything
was all right-said he'd been unable
to get any response since nightfall .
Now"
Carefully and concisely O'Rourke
wove the events of the day into a
straight narrative, starting with the
delivery to Sypher of the Pool Of
Flame, touching briefly upon Des Ire
bes' part-so far as he understood it
and concluding with the death OF
the coolie. The subchief of police
eyed him throughout with gravely
concentrated interest, nodding his
understanding.
Il see," he said slowly. "You make
it clear enough. Moreover, you've
convinced me. l didn't really believe
from the first you'd had any hand in
this CHASTITY mess, but couldn't take
chances, of course. You're at liberty
to take up these pistols as soon as you
! please; in fact, l advise you to do
80 Immediately. From what's taken
| place already, you may have need OF
'em within the next ten seconds. .
Now for this coolie. If he's able to
speak, I'll get some information out Of
him."
| "'Tis too far gone he is. I'm fear
ing"
We'll soon find out" The English
man bent over the man, who was now
very quiet, but, by the constant flick
er of his cunning eyes, still conscious.
A hasty examination told the investi-
gator all he needed to know about tho
nature of the wound He'll not last
long" said Lieutenant Couch, and be-.
nacular Of Pidgin-English, about one
word in ten of which was Ineligible
! to O'Rourke AS he continued to speak
the coolies scowl darkened and he in
| terrupted with a negative motion Of
his head. The sub-chief repeated his
remarks with emphasis. For reply he
got monosyllable that sounded, as
much as anything else, like an oath.
Couch looked up. He says he wants
water. and l suspect he won't speak
until he gets it. Can you
O'Rourke fetched the half-empty
Cara1e anu COuCQ put IL 10 Cue cOOlIe 5
lips, permitting him to drink as much
as he liked. But as soon as the bottle
was removed the fellow shut his
mouth like trap and refused word
In answer to the lieutenant's demands
| and persuasions.
stubborn brute" growled Couch.
Most of these animals here belong to
some devlish tong or other, and they'd
rather die than say anything touching
on the business of the society or af-
fecting the interests Of a brother
member. But think know way to
bring him to reason. Hand me that
knife, please"
Wondering, O'Rourke rendered him
the weapon that had brought death to
iSypher. The lieutenant wiped it cal
lousy on a corner of the coolies
blouse and held the keen shining
blade before his eyes, accompanying
the action with q few emphatic
phrases. A curious expression, com
pounded Of sullen fury and abject pan
10 fright, showed In the Chinaman's
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