The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1912-03-01

rupt nor thieves preax m 70 s,e-s
ORourke misquoted solemnly.
STEADY. Don't call names-or I'll
forget meself. I mean that the letter
10 in fragments. scattered to the four
winds Of heaven, destroyed. There ye
have your answer. Ye fools, did ye
think would carry It about me?"
by Cod" said Glynn tencely. mo
don't shoot him, Des Trebes! He's
telling the truth. Make him tell what
was in the letter"
I'm afraid It's useless" O'Rourke
Knocked them. II have forgotten the
contents. What use to me to re-
member" he demanded, inspired.
what made We think I would have
1t at all? Sure, and the letter was
properly Chambret's. Why would I
not turn 1t over to him?"
"Oh, cut IT." Glynn interrupted i'm
patiently. I'VE know he's dead. The
news was photographed in from the
column day before yesterday"
quite so. Yet, II We know so much.
if-as gather-ye suspect that Cham.
bret turned over this precious jewel
to me, why do We not demand it as
well as the letter? Not that I have
either"
Because We jolly well know you
haven't got the ruby" blurted the
Englishman.
BE quiet" snapped the vicomte.
"Quite right" echoed O'Rourke with
assumed indignation. BE quiet. Ber-
tie. Children should be seen and not
heard. Mind your uncle" And, "Oho!"
he commented to himself. "And they
knew I didn't have the Pool of Flame!
Let me think. Oh, faith, it's
lust bluffing they are!"
"You say" the viscomte continued
slowly and evenly, you've destroyed
the letter"
O'Rourke took up pipe and tobacco.
II told ye," he replied, filling the
bowl. that the letter was non-exist-
ent. Now, me man." he continued, with
an imperceptible change of tone, drop
the bluff. Turn that pistol away from
me. Well know that We won't shoot,
for If We did ye would put beyond
your reach forever the information
that would win ye the reward-al.
ways providing We had got possession
of the ruby, be hook or crook. 'Twould
be crooks, I'm thinking"
He lit a match and applied the
flame to the tobacco. There's me last
word on the subject" he added in
distinctly. putting and cycling the pair
through the cloud Of smoke.
The revolver waved in the vicomte's
hand; he was livid with passion and
disappointed, yet amenable to rea-
son. Glynn bent and whispered brief.
ly in his ear, and the Frenchman, nod
ding acquiescence, laid aside his
weapon. The Honorable BERTHE con-
tinued to advise with him in whispers
until O'Rourke. though quite at loss to
understand this phase of the affair,
saw that their attention was momen-
tarily diverted and, with swift move
ment. leaned over, snatched up the re-
volver and. with a flirt of his hand,
flung it out of the window.
Glynn started back with an oath
his hand going toward his pocket; but
O'Rourke promptly closed with him. A
breath later a second pistol was eject
ed from the carriage and the English
man was sprawling over the knees Of
the vicomte.
They disengaged themselves and
mad with rage. started up to fall upon
and exterminate the wanderer.
think it must have been the very
impertinence of his attitude that
made them pause in doubt. fol
he had resumed his seat as calmly as
though nothing at all had happen
ed and was pulling soberly al
his pipe. AS they hesitated he re
moved the latter from his lips and
gestured airily with the stem. "Si'
ye down." he invited them, 'and take
1t easy, me dear friends. The mischief'i
done, and naught that ye can do will
repair it. Faith, said I'd not strike
back unless We crowded me. I re
member me words to the letter
Your guns made a crowd out of this
happy reunion. I've merely dispensed
with them; I call ye both to witness
that ye have neither of ye suffered
Sure, I'm as peaceable as any lamb
Sit down. sit ye down and take 1t like
little men. The situations unchanged
save that I've put temptation out o.
your reach"
And as they wavered. plainly o.
two minds, O'Rourke clinched the ar
gument of his attitude. 81 beg to cal
your attention." he remarked, ito tn,
fact that ye have left me own brace
of revolvers here at me feet. when "
so joyously turned me bag inside out
I'm not touching them, mind ye. bu
mind We further: I'll brook no non
sense. If ye make a move as II to at
tack me. I'll There! That,
much better. Wise lads, ye are, boti
of ye: graceful In defeat. Let me see
We've long ride together, though
ye did come unlimited. trust "
will help me beguile the tedium will
society chatter, me friend" with {
twinkle at the discounted vicomte