The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1912-06-21


Observation-Disclosures, well-groomed,
carrying himself with an indehnable
air of distinction. His face was rath-
err pale land therefore notable in that
concourse of dark skins), its features
strongly modelled. the mouth and chin
masked by a neatly trimmed and
pointed beard and mustache.
O'Rourke could not have said that
he had ever seen the man before; yet
there was this and that about him
which struck a spark of "Reminiscences
from his memory. A suspicion flashed
through his mind which he put aside
with disdain, as absurd and far-fetch-
ed. On the other hand. He
knit his brows in puzzlement.
The very fxity of his regard drew
the eyes of its object upwards. They
encountered O'Rourke's. fingered brief
ly in an unveiled, inquirlng stare in
which there was not to be detected
the least hint of recognition, and
passed onward casually, indifferently,
ignoring the impertinence.
The tenders passengers began to
stumble up the gang-plank TO a lower
deck of the liner; and O'Rourke. with
a sober face, went below, taking some
care to a-oid contact with the incom-
ing crowd
He found Danny was In his state
room, engaged with some details of
repair to the adventurer's wardrobe.
O'Rourke remained for a brief space
II 30 he
visibly ATTRACTED. Then abruptly
some Whimsical consideration seemed
to resolve bis dubiety-as lightning
will clear sultry, brooding air; smile
deepened the corners of his mouth,
the flicker in his eye merged magically
into a twinkle, the shrug Of his broad
shoulders conveyed an impression OF
casting care to the winds.
Danny, lad" be remarked reflect
lively, throwing himself ungracefully
upon the cushioned transom opposite
to his berth. Danny, We wouldn't lie
to me, would We now?"
"Aw-w," reproved Danny. "Shure,
yer honor knows ut isn't in me at al"
And to himself; "Phat the divvle
now?"
"Then tell me. Danny, truthfully;
did We ever see a ghost?"
"Aw-w!"-seeing cause to take the
query as joke.
"a ghost that had grown a beard
since 1t had become ghost. Danny?"
"Aw-aw-w!"-still willing to be
amused, If himself" chose to be face
tious.
because" continued O'Rourke with
slight frown, 81 have. and that not
five minutes since"
"Aw?"
'Wauce | left man for dead. Dam
ny, with a clean sword-thrust through
the body of him-a misbegotten black
guard he was; but killed him in fair
fight, sword to sword, and no ia
vor. And this bright and
beautiful morning, 10 and behold ye!
who should come tripping up the gang
plank but his ghost. as lively as ye
please, and with a neat new beard!
w?'-incredulously.
O'Rourke frowned lmpatiently. "Des
Trebes." he explained.
"Aw-"
stop it, ye parrot! Stop it, I say!
Have ye no word in the dark lexicon
Of your ignorance other than 'Aw-aw'
Get up, We omadhaun, and take me re-
epects to the purser and ask him
please will he show ye the passen'
ger-list."
The valet left with circumspect ala
Gritty.
Alone, O'Rourke rose and turned
thoughtfully to a revolver that made
conspicuous black spot on the white
Counterpart of the berth, with nerv
Gus. strong fingers Numbering the
weapon and taking account of the
brass dials of the cartridges that
nestled snug in its six-chambered
cylinder. The machine was in perfect
condition; O'Rourke snapped the
breech shut and thrust 1t in his peck
ct Then he sat down to think, sub
consciously aware from noises with
out that the tender had swung of and
the anchor was being tripped.
Could the resemblance be acciden
tai? 1t seemed hardly possible. The
Des Trebes he had known had been 9
type distinct, so clear and aloof from
the general Frenchman that not ever
the addition of beard to his physiog
: nomy could have proven thorough
. disguise. And 1t seemed REASONABLE,
enough to assume that, Mrs. Prynn'
having failed in her undertaking, Del
Trebes would resume his office as &C
tive head Of their conspiracy. If
were indeed he whom O'Rourke hat
Just seen, there was every chance i'm
! aginable that the final chapter In thu