Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1912-05-15
ILLUSTRATIONS by
ELLSWORTH~YCUNC


and types too numerous to catalogue
These the adventurer might not read
save individually upon personal con
tact. If trouble was to come from
them, collectively or Individually, he
would not know until the blow had
fallen. On the other hand, he might
be able to hazard shrewd surmises as
Ito the potential animus inherent in
any one of the : lropeans who were
to be his fellow passengers.
The latter were q mere handful;
half dozen commercial travellers
from London, Paris, Berlin, their avo-
cations evident beyond dispute; sal.
low English missionary with his with
cred wife, sombre figures in the stark
sunlight, red-faced deputy-sub-some-
thing-or-other Of the Indian govern
ment, complacent in white drill and
new pith helmet with gay puggaree;
lone English girl, and Frenchman.
The two latter held the Irishman's s
attention; the girl because, even at a
distance, her slim white-clad figure
and well-poised head seemed singu-
larry fresh and attractive; the man
because-well, because O'Rourke was
susceptible to premonitions.
He was tall man and broad, the
Frenchman-well-made, well-groomed,
carrying himself with an indefinable
air of distinction. His face was rath-
er pale (and therefore notable in that
concourse Of dark skins), its features
strongly modelled, the mouth and chin
masked by a neatly trimmed and
pointed beard and mustache. =
O'Rourke could not have said that
he had ever seen the man before; yet
there was this and that about him
which struck a spark of reminiscence
from his memory. A suspicion flashed
through his mind which he put aside
with disdain, as absurd and far-fetch-
ed. On the other hand. He
knit his brows in puzzlement.
The very fxity of his regard drew
the eyes of its object upwards. They
encountered O'Rourke's. fingered brief
ly in an unveiled, inquidhs stare in
which there was not to be detected
the least hint of recognition, and
passed onward casually, indinrerently,
ignoring the impertinence.
The tenders passengers began to
stumble up the gang-plank to lower
deck of the liner; and O'Rourke, with
a sober face, went below, taking some
care to avoid contact with the incom-
ing crowd.
He found Danny was in his state
room, engaged with some details Of
repair to the adventurer's wardrobe.
O'Rourke remained for brief space
standing in the middle of the cabin,
visibly distracted. Then abruptly
some whimsical consideration seemed
to resolve his dubiety-as lightning
will clear sultry, brooding air; smile
deepened the corners of his mouth,
the flicker in his eye merged magically
into a. twinkle, the shrug of his broad
shoulders conveyed an impression Of
casting care to the winds.
Danny, lad," he remarked reflect
ively, throwing himself ungracefully
upon the cushioned transom opposite
to his berth. Danny, ye wouldn't lie
to me, would ye now?"
"Aw-w!" reproved Danny. "Shure,
yer honor knows ut isn't in me at ALL"
And to himself; "Phat the divvle
now?"
Then tell me, Danny, truthfully;
did ye ever see a ghost?"
"Aw-w!"-seeing cause to take the
query as joke.
"a ghost that had grown a beard
since it had become a ghost, Danny?"
"Aw-aw-w!"- willing to, be
amused, if himself chose to be face
tious.
Because" continued o'Rourke with
a slight frown, 81 have, and that not
five minutes since"
"Aw?"
"Wance I left man for dead, Dan
ny, with a clean sword-thrust through
the body of him-a misbegotten black
guard he was; but I killed hun IN fair
fight, sword to sword, and no ia
vor. And this bright and
beautiful morning, 10 and behold ye!
.ho should come tripping up the gang
plank but his ghost, as lively as ye
please, and with neat new beard!"
"Aw-w?"-incredulo
o'Rourke frowned impatiently. "Des
Trebes," he explained.
"Aw-"
"stop it, ye parrot! Stop 1t, I say!
Have ye no word in the dark lexicon
of your ignorance other than 'Aw-aw'?
Get up, ye omadhaun, and take me re-
spects to the purser and ask him
please will he show ye the passen-
ger-list."