Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1912-06-21
CHAPTER Ill.

AS he stepped out Of the lift Colonel
O'Rourke remarked light in MS
room, visible through the transom
over the door.
THE femme de chambre,' he
thought Sure and the poor thing
still busy trying ~ clear up.
To the contrary, he found the door
fast. "'Tis careless she was to leave
the light on" he observed. fitting his
key in the lock.
IL thoughtless In that one way, the
woman had fulfilled the letter OF her
word in the other. 1t was with COM
prehensive relief (since he anticipated
a caller) that he found the room once
again presentable.
But one thing surprised him; and
more surprising still was the fact that
his ordinarily Indifferent eye should
have detected it at the first glance
He had indeed hardly entered before
he became aware of square OF white
paper tucked in the corner of the bu'
reau mirror.
THE divvle, now!" he greeted 1t.
"That's curious. Could one of
me many admirers have bribed the
femme de chambre to bring note to
me?" He chuckled. holding to the
light a much soiled envelope. grimy
with the marks of many fingers. plas'
tered with stamps and black with
postage marks and substitute ad-
dresses, having evidently been for
warded over half the world before it
reached the addressee: who was.
in a bold hand. Colonel Terence
O'Rourke."
He whistled low over this, examin-
ing it intently. infinitely less concern,
ed with its contents than with the
manner by which it had reached him.
The frst postmark seemed to be that
of Rangoon, the original address, the
Cercle Miitaire, his club in Paris
Thence. apparently. 1t had sought him
in Galway. ireland. Dublin. Paris again,
and finally-after half dozen other
addresses-"C. Of Nine. O'Rourke. Ho'
tel Carlton, London" The London
postmark was indecipherable. :.
He found himself trembling violent
have reached him. since the post had
not brought 1t to Monte Carlo. ..
He recalled that womans voice which
had so stirred him. the woman Of the
Casino whose bearing had seemed to
him so familiar.
Some one tapped on the door; he
smothered a curse of annoyance, and
into his pocket.
A page announced Monsieur lie
Comte des Trebes.
Show the gentleman up" snapped
O'Rourke. He was about to add, lin
five minutes" when Des Trebes him.
self appeared.
Anticipating that message, mon.
sieur." he said. moving into view
from one side of the door, 81 took the
liberty of accompanying this boy. /
am late. | fear"
O'Rourke forced nod and smile OF
welcome. Not to my knowledge" said
he.
The Frenchman consulted his watch
Ten minutes late. monsieur; it is ten
past midnight
Then" said O'Rourke, the top O
the morning to ye. Enter. monsieur"
He stood aside, closing the door be.
him his guest. "'Tis no matter; If
| thought ye punctual, 'tis SO ye are
to all intents and purposes. :.
A chair, monsieur" He established
Des Trebes by window. "And Gig
arctic? A drop to drink?
AS ye will. And since
tits to talk secret business that we're
here-would ye like the door locked ?"
That is hardly essential" Des Tre-
bes reviewed his surroundings with
swift, searching glance. I'VE are at
least secure from interruption; one
could ask little MORE"
True for ye." laughed O'Rourke. He
moved toward the alcove. Now first
Of all I'm to submit proofs of me iden
tity. believe" he added. intending to
dig out of his trunk dispatch box
containing his passports and other pa
pers of private nature.
But Des Trebes had changed his
mind. That is unnecessary. mon
sieur. Your very willingness is sufi
cient proof. | have your word and
am content"
That's the way of doing business
that like" assented O'Rourke heart.
iy. warming little to the man as ne
turned back a cnair Iaclna the vi.