The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-01-04

Again the captain eyed O'Rourke
askance. ''Wot for?" he demanded
directly. "The Pelican's a slow old
tramp. You can pick up swifter pas.
sage on 'arf-a.dozen boats q day"
"'Tis meself that knows that, sure"
assented the Irishman. "'Tis but q
trifing difficulty about ready money
that detains me-" he pursued boldly,
| with a confidential jerk Of his head.
"There's bit of stuff-no matter
what-that don't want to pass
through the Custom House at Alex
andria. I'm not saying word, cap
tain, but If I could smuggle it into
Egypt, the profit would be great
enough to pay me passage-money a
dozen times over. I'm saying this to
ye in strict confidence, for, being an
Englishman, ye won't let on"
Never fear" Hole asserted stout
| ly. "Umm. Er-I don't mind
telling you. Mr.. O'Rourke, some
times do little in that line myself.
Being q casual tramp and sometimes
lyd by for weeks at stretch for want
of consignment"
mot another word, captain. 1 un.
,derstand perfectly. VIII ye be having
q bit Of drink, now?"
Captain Hole would. 1T won't urt
to talk this over" he remarked. Per-
APPS we might myke some sort Of Q
decker"
Faith, it's meself that's agreeable"
laughed the Irishman lightly.
And when, at midnight that night,
he parted from a moist and senti-
mental sailor-man, whose capacity for
liquor-even including the indescrib.
able native retsinato and masticha-
had proved enormous, the arrangement
had been arrived at, signed, sealed
and delivered by clasping of hands.
And it was O'Rourke was the happy
man.
"'Tis Danny who'll be giving me
the welcome" he assured himself, sit
ting on the edge Of his bed and star.
ing thoughtful!y into the dishevelled
depths Of the battered steel kit-box
that housed everything he owned in
the world-for he was packing to join
the Pelican at noon
II hope to hiven he has five
pounds" announced O'Rourke later,
frowning obviously.
Five pounds happened to be the
sum he had agreed to pay Captain
Hole for the accommodation, it being
further conditioned that the latter
was to accompany the adventurer
ashore at Alexandria and not part
from him till the money was forth.
coming: something which irked the
Irishman's soul. why could he not
take me word for it," he demanded
of midnight darkness tempered by
feeble lamplight. "But, faith, forget
what I'm dealing with. Besides, It's
sure I am to find Danny"
He arose and resumed his packing,
blowing an inaudible little air through
his puckered lips. "Divvilish awkward
If l don't BY the Gods! I'd
all but aforementioned -
He failed to state exactly what he
had misremembered, but stood mo-
tionless, with troubled eyes staring
at the lamp flame, for full five min.
! utes. Then
''Ill have to chance it," he said
slowly. 'Tisn't as If 1t were mine"
He unbuttoned the front of his shirt
and thrust hand between his under.
shirt and his skin, fumbled about I'm.
der his left armpit, his brows still
gathered thoughtfully. Presently he
gave little jerk and removed his
hand. It contained chamois-skin bag
about the size of ducks egg, from
which dangled the stout cord by
which he had slung it about his neck.
Holding this gingerly, as If he fear.
ed it would explode, O'Rourke glanced
at the window, drew the blind tight,
and tiptoed to the door, where he
turned the key in the lock. Then, re-
turning to his bed and making sure
that he was out of range of the key.
hole, he cautiously loosened the draw.
string at the mouth of the bag.
Something tumbled out into his
palm and lay there like ball of red.
fire, brilliant and coruscant.
O'Rourke caught at his breath sharp.
ly; his very voice had an ominous
ring In its timber when he spoke at
length.
Blood" he said slowly, blood. {.
|. I doubt not that rivers of blood
have flowed for the sake of ye. Be-
| like ye were fashioned Of blood in the
beginning, for it's that's your color.
and the story Of ye as I've heard 1t is
all told when I've said that one word
| blood! :"
And, after bit, I'D best put it away,
I'm thinking 'Twouldn't be safe to car.
ry it that way any longer. II some
thing should catch In me shirt on
board, and rip 1t, and Hole happen to
see it-why, me life wouldn't be worth
a moments purchase. I'll hide 1t in
me box there; they'll niver suspect"