The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1912-07-19
CHAPTER xxx.

1OWaTO the close OF the IOIIOWmR
day the Poonah dropped anchor in the
river roadstead OF Rangoon; and with.
In the ensuing hour her passengers
had deserted her, De Hyeres and Miss
Pynsent In their van, O'Rourke among
The last to leave. And nothing him
aered him, not the least hitch delayed
bis Decentralization. II was curious,
L was incredible, 1t was disturbing.
He took away with him NO ease Of
mind whatever.
There were tikkagharries waiting,
md without q breath's delay the ad.
'enturer and his servant climbed into
he nearest and desired to be con-
'eysd to the ofbces Of Messrs. Sec
etan and Sypher. The vehicle whirled
hem swiftly away and into the main
Travelled way of Rangoon, Mogul
street.
In front of structure of stone and
iron SO palpably an office building
that II 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 fight 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.
fi!ment was at hand-and all was
well! He who had faced death in a
hundred shapes of terror. unfiinching,
found himself in a futter of nerves
that would have disgraced q school.
girl ,-s--~s~1NnA~sSsoAinnep..
He lodged into the building, took
the steps three at a stride and
suddenly found himself in the pres
ence Of, more than that, closeted with
the man to meet whom he had crossed
half tbs yorld at peril of his life:
0r. Lansdowne sypher.~~.
Colonel 0Rourke?' sypher's man
ner was very cordial. I'm glad to see
you. You are within your time, yet |
had begun to despair Of you. Be
seated" He indicated a chair beside
his desk. "And permit me; you Of
all men will appreciate the precau-.
ton" -.,-rrvUgewE1y -
He laughed and went to the win
dows, adjusting the wooden shades in
such 4 manner that the light was
tempered and no portion Of the room
could be visible to anyone spying
from q window In one Of the adjacent
buildings. The he turned and smiled
cbeerfully at the stupeied adventurer.
Il have 1t here" said O'Rourke: cafe
be the mercy of several highly poten.
tial saints!" He laughed uneasily,
fumbling in his breast pocket. There
1t is" said he, tossing the stone in its
channels covering upon the solicitors
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 1t dangle before
him for an instant, watching It with a
curious, speculative smile. . q.
WELL" he said, really ="
And after y pause; Il congratulate
you, Colonel O'Rourke. And admire
you immensely. You see,
when this commission was offered us.
l considered seriously the project Of
going in search of you in person and
bringing the stone back to Rangoon
myself. But then-although I'm not
really . 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 q pepknife,
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
fersd. .~--->@nxas~
Il have that" sssented O'Rourke.
N Vas partly because of the dan.
GER" said Sypher. intent upon his &C.
cupation. You know, these Burmese
are a curiously pious folk; when one
III them grows rich he EMPLOYS the
MAJOR part OF his fortune in balioins
a temple--or in some such work. This
particular gentleman--a very weakly
merchant-chose TO give half Of what
he had to the restoration Of the Pool
| - U~,o ~. IN tho t2sxhAha from which II