The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1912-05-30
CHAPTER III.

As he stepped out OF the lift Colonel
O'Rourke remarked a Hight In mis-
room visible through the transom
over the door
THE femme de chambre," he
thought Sure and the poor thing .
atlll busy trying to clear up. :.
To the contrary. he found the do'r
fast, TITS careless she was to leave
the light on" he observed, httlng MS
key In the lock.
II thoughtless In that one way, the
woman had fulfilled the letter OF hcr
word IN the other. 1t was with com
prehensiye relief Csince he anticipated
"A caller) that he found the room once
again presentable
But one thing surprised him; and
more surprising stIll was the fact that
his ordinarily indifferent eye should
have detected II at the first glance.
lie had indeed hardly entered before
ne became aware OF n square of white
paper tucked IN the corner OF the bu
reau mirror.
THE dlyyle. now" he greeted IT,
That's curious. Gould one OF
me many admirers have bribed the
femme de chambre TO bring note To
me?" lie chuckled. holding to the
Hight much soiled envelope, grimy
with the marks OF many fingers plas'
tered with stamps and black with
postage marks and substitute I'D
dresses, having evidently been for
warded over half the world before 1t
reached the addressee: who was
in bold hand. Colonel Terence
O'Rourke."
He whlstled low over this, examin.
ing It intently, Infinitely less concern
ed with its contents than with the
manner by which 1t had reached him.
The first postmark seemed to be that
OF Rangoon. the original address. the
Cercle Militalre, his club In Paris.
Thence, apparently. It had sought him
In Galway, Ireland. Dublin. Paris again,
and finally-after half n dozen other
addresses-"C. of Nine, o'Rourke, Ho'
tel Carlton, London" The London
postmark was indecipherable. d.
He found himself trembling violent.
Iy. By one hand alone could this
have reached him, since the post had
not brought II to Monte Carlo. D..
Ele recalled that womans voice which
bad 80 stirred him, the woman OF the
Casino whose bearing had seemed TO
him so familiar.
Some one tapped on the door: he
8mothered n curse Of annoyance, and
went to answer. thrusting the letter
into his pocket.
A page announced Monsieur lie
Conte des Trebes.
SHOW the gentleman up" snapped
O'Rourke. He was about to add. in
Ave minutes" when Des Trebes him
self appeared.
Anticipating that message, mon.
sieur." he said. moving into view
from one side OF the door, Il took the
liberty OF accompanying this boy. |
am late, fear"
ORourke forced nod and smile OF
welcome. Not to my knowledge" said
he.
The Frenchman consulted his watch,
'Ten minutes late. monsieur It Is ten
past midnight"
Then" said o'Rourke. the top O.
the morning TO ye. Enter. monsieur"
He stood aside. closing the door be
him his guest. TITS no matter; II
thought ye punctual. It's so ye are
TO all intents and purposes. .
a chair, monsieur" He established
Des Trebes by window. And Gig.
arette? A drop to drink ?
AS ye will. And since
tits to talk secret business that we're
bere-would ye like the door locked?"
THAT Is hardly essential" Des Tire.
hes reviewed his surroundings with
swift. searching glance. We are at
.cas: secure from Interruption: one
could ask little more"
True for ye." laughed O'Rourke. He
moved toward the alcove, Now frs,
OF all I'm TO submit proofs OF me iden
city. | believe" ne added, intending to
dig out Of his trunk a dispatch box
containing his passports and other pa
pers of private nature.
But Des Trebes had changed his
mind. THAT is unnecessary, mon
sieur. Your very willingness is sufli
cisnt proof have your word and
am content"
That's the way of doing business
xhat like" assented O'Rourke heart
aly. warming q little 20 the man as be
<ufneds back q chair facing the VI