River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-07-04

room. engaged with some details OF
repair to the adventurer's wardrobe.
O'Rourke remained for 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; smile
deepened the corners of his mouth.
the flicker In his eye merged magically
into twinkle. the shrug of his broad
shoulders conveyed an impression OF
casting care to the winds.
Danny. lad" he remarked reflect.
lively. throwing himself ungracefully
upon the cushioned transom opposite
to his berth. Danny. We wouldn't lie
to me, would We now?''
AVN" 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 see a ghost?'
"Aw-w!"-seeing cause to take the
query as joke.
"A ghost that had grown a beard
since it 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 / left man for dead. Dan
ny, with a clean sword-thrust through
the body of him-a misbegotten black
guard he was; but killed him in fair
fight, sword to sword. and no ia
vor. And this bright and
beautiful morning, 10 and behold We!
who should come tripping up the gang
plank but his ghost. as lively as We
please, and with neat new beard!"
w?"-incredulously
O'Rourke frowned impatiently. ''Des
Trebes." he explained.
stop it, We parrot! Stop it, / say
Have We no word in the dark lexicon
of your ignorance other than 'Aw-aw'?
Get up. We omadhaun, and take me re-
spects to the purser. and ask him
please will he show We the passen-
ger-list" Et
The valet left with circumspect ala
Gritty.
Alone, O'Rourke rose and turned
thoughtfully to revolver that made
a conspicuous black spot on the white
counterpart of the berth, with nerv.
Gus, strong fingers unlimbering 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. SO clear and aloof from
the general Frenchman that not even
the addition of 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 well 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 de
Hyeres," announced the valet breath
lessly: tbs thot the purser says his
name is, yer honour"
YES" assented O'Rourke dubious
ly. But perhaps the purser's mista.
-misinformed.'
(TO BE CONTINUED