River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-05-30

dangling from his Wallets fingers, and
slammed the book against the bulk
head at the foot of his berth.
FINISHED, is it?" he exclaimed.
Faith, It's about time. We lazy good
for-naught!"
Danny smiled serenely. And a. good
job, too, sor," said he proudly.
MANN no onrespect to yer honor"
he added hastily.
O'Rourke took the subject of discus
sion in his fingers and examined it
searchingly.
Twill do" he announced Twill
serve its purpose, if no more. Lay
out me evening clothes now" He
stood up, stopping to stare through
the port Good enough" he COM
mented on what he discovered with
out; It's passing Suez we are this
blessed minute. Praises be, we
caught boat that doesn't stop here"
Danny scratched an ankle thought
fully. ."Yiss, yer honor" he assented.
dubious. ''But, for all that, phwat's
to hinder annywan from boordin' us
be boat, if they sh'u'd want tor"
O'Rourke turned and eyed the man
keenly. "'Tis a great head We have
on your shoulders, Danny" he said.
Sometimes We betray almost canine
intelligence. I'm be way of having
hopes OF We. Now get ye on deck and
watch to see who does come aboard,
if anyone, and report to me-"
"Yiss, yer honor"
O'Rourke bolted the door after Dan
ny and assured himself that the key
hole was properly wadded, that no
crack existed through which his move
ments might be observed from the
gangway. Struggling his broad Shout
ders he returned to the seat vacated
by his valet and thrust a hand be-
meath the coat Of his pajamas, with
drawing it a moment later, fingers
tightly wrapped about rather bulky
object.
And the Pool of Flame lay glitter
ing and stabbing his eyes with shafts
of blood-red light.
Into its depths OF pellucid fire
ORourke gazed long and earnestly, in
the most profound meditation.
But at length. slipping the ruby into
the new receptacle and drawing the
lanyard tight about it's puckered
throat, he stood up and threw the loop
over his head, permitting the bag with
it's precious contents to fall beneath
the folds of his jacket; and, shaking
off the sober mood inspired in him by
the study of the stone, rang for a
steward, to whom, when he responded,
he entrusted summons for Danny
IF so be it we're clear of Suez."
In the course of five minutes or so
Danny himself tapped on the door and
presented to his master a beaming
face.
"Divvle a sowl!" he announced tri-
umphantly. Sure, It's ourselves have
given thin the slip entirely!"
He fished brand new kit-box from
beneath the berth and, opening it, be-
ban to lay out O'Rourkes clothing.
His master INDUCED in a sigh of re-
lief. Then no boat put off to us at
all?" he questioned indifferently.
only wan," replied the servant,
and thot wild no wan in ut but nay
CUR"
"A negro?" demanded O'Rourke, ia
cling about. What do We mean? Did
he come aboard?"
Sure and he did that, yer honor,
and caught us be no moore thin the
skin av his lathe and"
O'Rourke bent over the man and
selling him by the shoulders swung
him around so that their eyes met.
What the divvle!" demanded the ad-
venturer, did We mean by telling me
nobody boarded us, then? What
Sure. yer honor. Aw, yer
honor! IT'S mesilf meant no
harm at all, at ALL" protested Danny.
Didn't l say thot divvle a sowl came
aboord? Sure, thin. Is a naygur a hui
man?"
With an exasperated gesture