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

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dered him, not the least hitch delayed
his Decentralization. 1t was curious
it was incredible, it was disturbing.
He took away with him no ease of
mind whatever.
There were tikkagharries waiting,
and without a breath's delay the ad-
venturer ard his servant climbed into
tae nearest and desired to be con
veyed to the offices of Messrs. Sec
retain and Sypher. The vehicle whirled
them SWIFTLY away and into the main
travelled way of Rangoon, Mogul
street.
In frGnt of structure of stone and
iron SO palpably an office building
that it 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 flight up-and named his fare
O'Rourke paid him and alighted, with
Danny at his heels and his heart try
ing to choke him. The hour of full
filment was at hand-and all was
well! He who had faced death in a
hundred shapes of terror, unfinching
found himself in a futter of nerves
that would have disgraced school
girl
He lodged into the building, took
the steps three at stride anC
suddenly found himself in the pres
the man to meet whom he had crossed
half the world at peril of his life:
Mr.. Lansdowne Sypher.
Colonel O'Rourke?" Sypher's man
ner was very cordial. I'm glad to sec
you. You are within your time, yet
had begun to despair of you. Be
seated" He indicated 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 il
such manner that the light wa.
tempered and no portion of the room
could be visible to anyone spyin{
from window in one of the a1jacen
buildings. The he turned and smiled
cheerfully at the stupefied adventurer
II have it here" said C'Rourke; "saft
be the mercy of several highly poten
tial saints!" He laughed uneasily
fumbling in his breast pocket. There
it is" said he, tossing the stone in its
chamois covering upon the solicitor!
desk.
Sypher himself betrayed some evi
dences of nervousness as he sat for
ward and lifted the case by its leath
ern thongs. He let it bangle before
him for an instant, watching it with /;
curious, speculative smile.
Well" he said, really y
And after a pause; Il congratulate
you, Colonel O'Rourke. And admir-,
you immensely. You see
when this commission was offered us
considered seriously the project o
going in search of you in person anc
bringing the stone back to Rangoor
myself. But then-although I'm no
really a timorous mani knew the
! circumstances so WE'LL feared
| should never reach Rangoon alive
Yes" He thrust hand into his waist
coat pocket and produced a penknife
with which he began to slit The
stitches that enclosed the ruby
You've been wondering, no doubt
why so enormous a reward was of
fered. -
Il have that" assented O'Rourke.
1T 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 thu
major part of his fortune in building
a temple-or in some such work. This
particular gentleman very wealth.
| merchant-chose to give half of wha
he had to the restoration of the Poo
of Flame to the Budding from which i
was originally stolen. But he, too
was afraid. He's superstftious abou
the stone-believes it bad luck Il
touch 1t so long as it remains ava.
from its Buddha. So he came to US
/. x. / myself am not superstitious
| but -
He ceased to speak abruptly, for thu
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