Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1912-09-20
masked by a neatly trimmed and

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 fixity of his regard drew
the eyes of it's object upwards. They
encountered O'Rourke's, fingered brief
ly 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 lower
deck of the liner; and O'Rourke. with
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 brief space
standing In the middle of the cabin,
visibly abstracted 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
I into twinkle, the shrug of his broad
shoulders conveyed an impression of
casting care to the winds.
Danny. lad" he remarked reflect
ivelN throwing himself ungracefully
upon the cushioned transom opposite
to his berth. Danny, ye wouldn't lie
to me, would ye now?"
"Aw-w!" reproved Danny. "Shure,
yer honor knows u isn't in me at all"
And to himself; "Phat the divvle
now?"
Then tell me, Danny, truthfully;
did ye 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 ghost. Danny?"
"Aw-aw-w !"-still willing to be
amused, If himself" chose to be face
tious.
Because" continued ORourke with
a slight frown. 81 have. and that not
five minutes since"
"Aw?"
"Wance l 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 ye
please. and with neat new beard!"
-w?"-incredulously
O'Rourke frowned impatiently. ''Des
Trebes." he explained.
"Aw-"
stop it, ye parrot! Stop It, I say!
Have ye no word in the dark lexicon
of your Ignorance other than Aw-aw'2
Get up, ye omadhaun. and take me re-
spects to the purser and ask him
please will he show ye the passen-
ger-list."
Gritty.
Alone, O'Rourke rose and turned
thoughtfully to a revolver that made
a conspicuous black spot on the white
counterpane 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 pock-
ct. Then he sat down to think, sub
consciously aware from noises with
out that the tender had swung off 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 thorough
disguise And it seemed reasonable
enough to assume that, Mrs. Prynne
having failed in her undertaking. Des
Trebes would resume his Office as ac-
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 l 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: "tis thot the purser says his
name is, yer honour"
YES" assented O'Rourke dubious
ly. But perhaps the purser's mista-
ken-misinformed."
(TO BE CONTINUEDJ
Bucklng Horses.
touch of the sDur or a flick of thl