The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1912-04-03

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the deck wildly. but found no trace of
the round leather bag with its preci-
GUS burden. Despair gripped his heart
in clutch of ice, and for space the
ship reeled about him.
He found himself gazing blankly in
to the woman's solicitous eyes. What
Is it? What is it, he heard her voice
repeating breathlessly. He knew that
his own lips moved for some seconds
without sound as he strove to answer
her. The words, when they came,
should have been quite unintelligible
to her; he realized this almost as soon
as he had uttered them: THE Pool
of Flannel"
Then he stumbled forward, crying
aloud for the serang. Halfway to the
ladder he halted; that individuals
head and shoulders were lifting above
the level of the deck. O'Rourke COW
cred him and called him aft as he
again retreated to the scene of the
tragedy.
Had he been in condition to think
coherently, he might have acted more
prudently. But maddened, he was
able to grasp but one fact; that the
Pool of Flame was gone and must be
recovered at whatever hazard.
The lascar came with what might
have seemed suspicious alacrity, con-
sidering the fact that he was coerced,
that O'Rourke held him at the pistols
point. Gaunt and sombre in the
moonlight, moving noiselessly In his
bare feet. head up and arms swinging
limp. he advanced without pause un-
til about six feet from the Irishman;
at which distance O'Rourke, collect
ing his wits. found voice enough to bid
the fellow. "Stop!"
The serang halted, impassive, un-
moved.
THE sahib has called" he said In
an even voice. Il am come. What IL
the sahib's will with me?"
His words. together with his half
indolent, half-defant, wholly contemp-
tuous bearing. supplied the one thing
needful to restore to the adventurer
his self-control. O'Rourke drew him.
self up. master of self once more. and
looked the lascar In the eye.
You stand" he said slowly. choos-
ing his words, ION the edge Of the
grave. Do you comprehend that,
dog?"
AYE. sahib!"
II have called ye. then. to demand
back that which is mine, the leather
bag which ye stole when We slew your
brother, pretending falsely 1t was he
who had slain the captain. 1 counsel
ye. speak truth and render back to
me that which ye have stolen"
The serang stiffened. his eyes glist-
ening In the moonlight. "Sahib!" he
cried as II in supplication.
mo words, dog!" cried O.Rourke
sternly. do as bid ye, or abide the
result Of disobedience!"
THE sahib." said the serang slow
ly, "is full Of eyes and wisdom. He
sees what no man would believe he
could see. / am content" He bowed
his head with curious submissiveness,
stretching forth his palms as II in
token Of surrender.
O'Rourke caught at his breath. He
had scarcely hoped for this; he had
merely called the serang aft as the
leader Of the lascars. hoping to fright
en- him into revealing whichever Of
his comrades had stolen the great
ruby-if he knew.
Eye have. then, the leather bag?" he
demanded. exultation In his voice.
AYE. sahib; or. II not that, have
that which was therein"
1.-THE stone?"
AYE. sahib."
Then give 1t me-"
II am the sahib's slave" The So
rang flashed a strange smile at the
revolver in O'Rourke's hand. His at
titude puzzled O'Rourke; he would
hardly have believed this Of the man;
rather he could have conceived Of him
as denying the theft to the last and
fighting like an unclaimed fiend to re-
tain his booty. His present pose was
out Of character, or the Irishman mis-
judged him.
Out of character or no. 1t was COM
Portable. The serang, with head bent,
was fumbling in the folds Of his sash;
O'Rourke thought him over long about
1t. yet was inclined to give him time
In view of his abject surrender.
At length, still smiling oddly. the
man lifted his eyes and stretched
forth hand tight closed. THE sa-
hib." he said gently, shall see that
his servant spoke truth Let this