Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-01-08
CHAPTER XxxlV.


She ran without lights, these having
been extinguished BY COUGHS direc
'ons. regardless OF harbor regulations
81 danger. Happily the hour was late
enough to relieve them of much fear
ofTrouble with other craft; the upper
reaches of the river were practically
deserted.
In the bow Couch was handling the
wheel with the nonchalance OF one
from whom the river had no secrets
by night or day. To O'Rourke it seemed
no light task to pilot so slight craft
at such high speed through that
Stygian darkness; yet the sub.chlcl
was accomplishing the feat without
observable trace of fear or tremor
tf uncertainty.
O'Rourke sat beside him. In the
stern police orderly acted as me-
chanic, attending to the motor. These
three, no more, made up the rescue
party.
: Though devoured by Impotence and
,nxiety, ORourke forbore TO question
! ouch, besitating 10 divert his atten-
ion from his task and knowing that
soon as he could the young lieu
,nant would speak. From the time
hen the coolie had yielded. there
ad been not seconds rest for eth
r. neither had had time 10 confer
we on questions of the most imme
tate moment: and control of these
ouch had voluntarily and naturally
stunned. deciding, acting and direct
e In the same thought apparently.
Your wife. with Miss Pynsent
i'd Couch abruptly, without looking
ind-"at least l presume it's Mrs.
Rourke, from what You say-hafe
cen kidnapped By gang OF highblnd'
Is and are now aboard a junk in the
ower river. which will sail for God
nows-where at the turn OF the tlde.
" hats the only thing that saves EN-.
Wen be on EN- before they're able TO
force way down the river
,.OsRourke groaned, holding his head
with both hands. my wife !"
he said brokenly.
IT know" Couch interrupted grim
"; Il know how you feel Miss Pyn'
sent is there, too. you see
"Oh," said O'Rourke, II didn't un
derstand that. =. I'm sorry. He
dropped a hand on the younger mans
shoulder and let it rest there briefly
Please God" he said reverently
,.rhere'n be many another polluted
yellow soul yammering at the Gatss
Of hell this night
Amen" said Couch. We
shan't be long now.
Silently O'Rourke removed his coat
and waist.coat. his collar and lawn
tie, am turned back his cuffs. Even
Ing clothes are hardly the thing &c
fight in" he said; but I'm thinking
'twon't make a deal of difference TO
me. Got any cartridges for Webley
mark W."
wheeler has. Give Colonel
OtRourke few. Wheeler" said Couch,
addressing the orderly.
The latter rummaged in a locker
and pressed into ORourke's hand hall
a dozen cartridges. with which the
adventurer proceeded to replenish the
empty chamber in his revolver.
IT'D only discharged one" he oh.
seived, but It's likely we'll need that,
even, With only the three OF US
against a junk-Ioad"
"Oh, telephoned for reinforce
!,meats, OF course" returned Couch.
;oThey ought to be there ahead OF
Ius.'
!! What did the COOL" tell ye, il we've
time to TALK"
j. Couch laughed. 81 daresay you're
I wondering how / made him speak at
all
\, That's the true word for ye."
Il threatened to cut off his silly pig
Il and send him naked and diShonor.
y % the ghostly halls of his ances.
re It's wonderful how much those
'lous brutes dote on that decora
J.. | told him further. that if h,
;, when | found 1t out Id return
shave him bald as an egg, even II
we're dead by that time. So per
~ ,ded the truth from him, the "nole
sury---from his side Of it"
I'm listening.
j, HE confessed he was in the pay
like these chaps we're after now-o'
i highly respectable Chinese merchant
and head of one Of the LONESOME Of
the richest men in Rangoon, who. IT
seems. was also after that ruby.
can't imagine what he wanted of 1t.
but thatll come out. probably; the
mans rich enough to buy dozens OF
stones as fine. However |
gather he'd laid his plan far ahead.
The coolies intimated you'd been
watched all the way from Bombay. At
all events. the brutes were ready
when you arrived; Sypher was
doomed man from the moment you
handed over the Pool of Flame. They
surrounded his house this night. com
ing up from the river lust as Soor AS