Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1912-07-26
CHAPTER xl.-(continued.)
And va have to propose-?"

And ye have TO propose
"A plan after your own heart; / do
your courage the credit to believe IT,
monsieur. With another man. "holp
had studied less exhaustlvely.
should propose combination or
forces, a division OF profits" O'Rourke
made an impatient gesture. But win
you. Colonel O'Rourke, no. ! esteem
your address and determination TOO
highly and-pardon me II | speak
plainly-I despise and hate you too
utterly to become willingly your part
Ter"
Go on-I begin to like ye better.
fe grow interesting.
THAT does not interest me.
1fie situation, then, is simplitied. rs
seI,tially 1t involves two propositions:
first. we cannot combine; second, di-
vided We both fail. While both OF us
live, mon colonel. the Pool OF Flame
will never earn its value"
"'Tis meself takes exception to
that. Let me once get me hands on
the stone monsieur. and I'll back me.
self against a dozen vicomtes-and
honorables."
while / live" the Frenchman stat
ed. unrufIied; you will not touch the
Pool of Flame: while you live. | can.
not dispose of 1t to the best ad-
vantage 1t would seem that one or
the other of us must die"
Il am armed" remarked O'Rourke
slowly. III ye mean we've brought me
here to murder me"
Monsieur pardon-crude
ly. | asked you, you came of your
own will-to fight for the Pool of
Flame" O'Rourke started; a CLINT OF
understanding danced in his eager
eyes. Il see you catch my meaning
What ! have to propose is this: you
will take pen and paper and wHte
the name of the person who offers the
reward with his address, This you
will enclose in an envelope. seal. and
place In your pocket. The Pool of
Flame-you see l trust you-is here"
O'Rourke got upon his feet with an
exclamation; the vicomte was play.
ing bold hand. Before the lrishman
had grasped his intention he had
thrown upon the table a ruby as large,
or larger, than an egg; an exquisite
jewel, superbl- cut and polished
Fascinated. O'Rourke remembered
himself and sat down.
You see." The vicomte's cold In
cisive tones cut the silence. Slowly
be extended hand and took up the
great ruby. replacing il in his pocket.
There is," he said evenly, level
stretch of grass beyond the veranda.
The night. | admit. is dark, but the
light from these long windows should
be sufiic icient for us. If you say me,
take the ruby and go in peace: this
sot"-with contemptuous glance at
the unconscious honorable-"will new
er hinder you. IL you die, | take the
note from your pocket The issue is
fair VIII you fight. lrishman?"
ORourke's fist crashed upon the
table as he rose Fight" he cried.
Faith, did not think ye had this in
ye Pistols. shall it her"
Thank you." said the vicomte. with
courtly bow, but am an indiffer-
eIt shot. Had you chosen rapiers at
Monte Carlo one OF us would never
have left the field alive"
He went to a side table. returning
with a sheet of paper. an envelope,
pen and ink. And when O'Rourke had
slipped the paper into his pocket he
saw the vicomte waiting for him by
one of the windows. two naked ra-
piers. slender and cleaning and long.
beneath his arm. AS the lrishman
came up. with a bow. the F'renchman
presented the hilts of both weapons
for his choice.
Together and In silence they left
iba dining-room strode across the vos