The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1912-07-04
masked by a neatly trimmed an,
pointed beard and mustacha

pointed beard and mustache.
O'Rourke could not have said that
he had ever seen the man before; yet
there vas this and that about him
which struck a spark Of Renaissance
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 axity Of his regard drew
tho eyes Of It's object upwards. They
encountered o'Rourke's. fingered brief
" in an unveiled, inquiring 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 avoid 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
standing in the middle of the cabin,
visibly distracted. Then abruptly
some whimsical consideration seemed
to resolve his dubiety-as lightning
will clear sultry. brooding air; a 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" he remarked reflect
lively. throwing himself un%gracefully
upon the cushioned transom opposite
to his berth. Danny, ye wouldn't lie
to me, would We now?"
"Aw-w!" reproved Danny. "Shure,
yer honor knows ut isn't in me at ALL"
And to himself; "Phat the divvle
now?"
"Then tell me, Danny. truthfully;
did We ever e a ghost?"
"Aw-w!"-seeing cause to take the
query as a joke.
"A ghost that had grown a beard
since 1t had become a ghost. Danny?"
, "Aw-aw-w!"-still willing to be
amused, If himself" chose to be face
tious.
Because" continued O'Rourke with
a slight frown, II have, and that not
five minutes since"
"Aw?"
"Wance I left a nan for dead, Dan.
with a clean sword-thrust through
the body of him-a misbegotten black
guard he was; but l 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 We
please, and with a neat new beard!"'
"Aw-w?"-incredulously.
O'Rourke frowned impatiently. "Des
Trebes," he explained.
stop 1t, We parrot! Stop it, 1 say!
Have ye no word in the dark lexicon
OF your ignorance other than 'Aw-aw'?
Get up, ye omadhaun. and take me re-
spects 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
a 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 a
type distinct, 10 clear and aloof from
the general Frenchman that not even
the addition of a beard to his physiog.
nomy could have proven a thorough
disguise. And it seemed reasonable
enough to assume that. Mrs. Prynne
having failed in her undertaking, Des
Trebes would resume his office as &C.
tive head Of their conspiracy. II 1t
were indeed he whom O'Rourke had
just seen, there was every chance i'm.
aginable that the final chapter In the
history Of the Irishman's connection
with the Pool Of Flame would prove
an eventful one.
Maybe not" admitted O'Rourke,
maybe I deceive meself. But I'm
persuaded I'll do we'll to keep both me
eyes open until the day I'm rid of the
damned thing!"
At this juncture Danny's knock took
him to the door. "Mongsere Raoul do
Hyeres," announced the valet breath
lessly: "'tis thot the purser says his
name is. yer honour"
Eyes," assented O'Rourke dubious.
ly. But perhaps the purser's mista.
ken-misinformed."
.(TO BE CONTINUED.)
euekIns Horses.
A touch Of the spur or q flick Of tho
quirt signals the start, Rays the Ameri-
can Magazine, in an article on our
we4tern horsaa. His know1ndoo ~