River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-07-11
CHAPTER xxx.

AS time went on, however, II ms I'M
easiness we're not sensibly dimln-
ished, nothing happened, the voyage
1T0vihg entirely uneventful; and
O'Rourke was forced to the conclusion
that, If Monsieur de Hyeres were real
ly the Vtcomte des Trebes, he was
strangely content to play waiting
game
The Irishman, however, had known
stranger things than that one man
should seem the counterpart of an
other. And by nothing more than
this questionable accident of resem-
blance did De Hyeres give him reason
TO believe him anything but what he
1liamed to be. The mans demeanor
was consistently discreet and self
contained; he moved about the ship
openly and without any apparent at
tempt to pry upon the doings of the
adyenturer. whom he fell into the
easy ship-board way of greeting ami
ably but coolly. Only in one instance,
indeed, did they exchange more than
but courteous salutations, and then
De Hyeres himself seemed to seek
the interview, approaching O'Rourke
directly.
This, was at night, when O'Rourke
occupied a chair on the leeward side
of the saloon deck. consuming a medi-
tative after-dinner cigar. De Hyeres
stepped out of the companionway,
glanced swiftly this way and that, and
sauntered toward the Irishman with
an unlighted cigarette held conEpicu~
ously between his fingers.
O'Rourke likewise surveyed mis- sur
roundings in two brief glances: and
was contented to find that they were
alone, or as much alone as two can be
upon a steamship. For they were,
after all, wNll matched; and one of
them he knew to be armed. Shifting
in his chair so that his revolver lay
convenient to his hand, as De Hyeres
approached the Irishman removed his
cigar from between his teeth. fiicked
away an inch of ash and silently prof
fered it in the prescribed fashion.
The Frenchman accepted the cour
tesy with bow, applied the fire to his
cigarette. inhaled deeply and returned
the cigar with a formal phrase of
thanks. He fingered for moment,
putting and gazing off over the black.
starlit expanse of the Bay of Bengal.
lonely to its dim and far horizon, then
observed quietly: 81 am not mistaken.
helieye. in understanding l have the
honor tn address Monsieur lie Colonel
O,Rourke. Chevalier of the Legion of
Honour?"
You are not mistaken, monsieur"
returned O'Rourke pleasantly. then
with the directness which he some
times found useful watching the man
closely as he spoke: And | believe
1t is my pleasure to recognize Mon
sier lie Vicomte des Trebes?"
"Des Trebes, MONSIEUR" The
Frenchman's look of wonder was be-
yond criticism and there was no least
trace Of discontinue to be detected
In his manner. But no. You are
under a mistake. l am merely a
French gentleman without title;
Raoul de Hyeres is my name"
AZ" said the wanderer. Twas
the resemblance misled me. Pardon.
monsieur"
Granted. my dear sir. -. Des
Trebes? The name has a familiar
sound. Do l not remember reading
somewhere that the vicomte des
Trebes died last spring? In Tunis,
was it? Suddenly. l believe
rs it so?" said O'Rourke drily. "Pos-
sibly. The vicomte lived in the man.
ner of those who meet with sudden
dearlss."
The subject languished. and after