The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1912-09-12
CHAPTER Xxx.

day the Poonah dropped anchor in the
river roadstead off Rangoon and with
in the ensuing hour her passengers
had deserted her, De HyereS and Mss
Pynsent in their van. O'Rourke among
the last to leave. And nothing hin
dered him. not the least hitch delayed
his Decentralization. II was curious.
it was incredible, 1t was disturbing.
He took away with him no ease Of
mind whatever.
There We're tikkagharries walt.Tg,
and without breath's delay the Cd
venturer and his servant climbed into
the nearest and desired 10 be con-
veyed 20 the G!.!ces Of Mes$re. Sec
retap and SypAe-. The yHh:c'r yhirled
them swiftly away and lr'G the main
travelled way Of Rangoon, Mogul
street.
In front of a structure of stone and
iron so palpably an Office building
that 1t might have been transplanted
to the Strand without exciting COM
ment-save for the spotless cleanli-
ness Of it-their tikkagharry drew up
The gharriwallah indicated the Of
fees of Messrs. Secretan and Sypher,
one fight up-and named his fare.
ORourke paid him and alighted, with
Danny at his heels and his heart try
Ing to choke him. The hour OF full
flment was at hand-and all was
we'll! He who had faced death IN a
hundred shapes of terror, unfinching.
found himself in a futter Of nerves
that would have disgraoed q school
girl
He lodged into the building, took
the steps three at a stride and
suddenly found himself IN the pres
ence of, more than that, closeted with
the man to meet whom he had crossed
half the world at peril OF his LIE:
Mr.. Lansdowne sypher.
Colonel O'Rourke?" Sypher's man
ner was very cordial. I'm glad to see
you. You are within your time, yet l
had begun to despair Of you. Be
seated" He indicated a chair beside
his desk. "And permit me; you OF
all men will appreciate the precau-
ton"
He laughed and went to the win
dows, adjusting the wooden shades IN
such a manner that the light was
tempered and no portion Of the room
could be visible to anyone spying
from a window in one Of the adjacent
buildings. The he turned and smiled
cheerfully at the stupefed adventurer.
'Ihave it here" said O'Rourke; safe
be the mercy of several highly poten-
tal saints!" He laughed unessily,
fumbling In his breast pocket There
It is," said he, tossing the stone in Its
chamois covering upon the solicitors
des'-
Sypher himself betrayed some evil
dences Of nervousness as he sat for
ward and lifted the case by its leatht
ern thongs. He let 1t dangle before
him for an instant. watching 1t with a
curious, speculative smile. :.
well" he said, really !"
And after a pause; Il congratulate
you, Colonel O'Rourke. And l admire
you immensely. You see,
when this commission was offered US.
considered seriously the project OF
going in search Of you IN person and
bringing the stone back to Rangoon
myself. But then-although I'm not
really a timorous mani knew the
circumstances so well-I feared l
should never reach Rangoon alive.
Yes" He thrust hand into his waist
coat pocket and produced penknife,
with which he began to slit the
stitches that enclosed the ruby.
You've been wondering, no doubt.
why 30 enormous a reward was Of
T have that" assented O'Rourke.
TT was partly because Of the dan
ger" said Sypher. intent upon his oc-
cupation. You know, these Burmese
are curiously pious folk; when one
of them grows rich he employs the
major part of his fortune in building
q temple-or In some such work. This
particular gentlenan-a very wealthy
merchant-chose to give half Of what
he had to the restoration Of the Pool
of Flame to the Buddha from which 1t
was originally stolen. But ne, too.
was afraid. He's superstitious about
the stone-believes It bad luck to
touch 1t so long as 1t remains away
from its Buddha SO he came to Us.
myself am not superstitious.
but
He ceased to speak abruptly. for the
Pool OF Flame lay naked, q binding
marvel. In the hollow Of his palm.
O'Rourke heard him gasp and was
conscious OF his hastened respiration.
Watching the man intently, he saw
q strange shade Of pallor color his
face.
"'Tis meself," said the adventurer,
that's no more supersttious than ya
sir. Yet I'm willing to confess I'm
glad the things out OF me hands at