The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-05-10
CHAPTER xx.-fcontlnued.l

Her spirit, through her eyes, an
swered his in a fash. Then cooling
she looked him over from crown to
tie, weighing him deliberately in the
balance of her knowledge of men.
He bore the inspection with equanim-
ity, quite sure of himself, as was nat
LTal in the 0'Rourke. Provoked, put
on his mettle, he felt himself irwin
cible, and showed it in. every line of
his pose. She could not have wavered
long; indeed, her decision was quite
manifest. Impulsively she caught his
two hands n her own.
YES" she cried, 81 do believe you!
take you at your word-your gener-
GUS word, Colonel O'Rourke! will
trust implicitly in you. You shall get
me to Bombay by the fifteenth"
"The fifteenth" he echoed thought
fully. This is the tenth"
"The Panjnab is scheduled to ar
rive on the fifteenth. All my plans
depend upon there being no delays"
Five days 1t shall be
managed, Mrs Prynne. Bombay by
the fifteenth it shall be. or the
O'Rourke will have broken his heart!"
She grew thoughtful You are very
gOod-I've told you that l believe
that you will accomplish what you
promise. Yet it seems hardly fair to
saddle you with my cares, my perils,
without informing you of their ma
ture-"
Madam. It's not the O'Rourke who
would ever be prying into your Sc
crets. Let's not complicate simple
situation with explanations"
''But, colonel, there is one thing
more" He paused. 'It is a question:"
she continued, "of chartering a ship
at Alden, is 1t not?"
Il see no other way"
'Then-spare no expense, Colonel
ORourke. Remember that 1 foot the
bill"
"But-er-"
"Or, If you insist, sir, pay nothing:
Great Britain pays for both Of u.s."
"Eh? Yes?" he stammered.
But see, colonel"
He had before then noted indiffer-
emily that she wore a chain of thin,
fine gold about her neck, its termina-
tion-presumably a locket Of some
sort-hidden in the folds of her cor
sage Now she quietly pulled this
forth, and displayed her pendant, a
little trinket of gold, a running grey
hound exquisitely modelled.
Stunned, he stared first at the top,
then at the woman. eye mean to say
-" he whispered, doubling.
"On the Kings service, Colonel
ORourke!"
"A Kings courier. madam? You
a woman"
"And why not?" she demanded
proudly. THE Kings messengers dare
many dangers, it's true. But In some
of them might not a woman serve bet
ter than a man?"
"True enough. Yet It's unprece-
dented-at least, yen admit, most un-
usual begin to understand. That
lascar, for instance-?"
Believe me, Colonel o'Rourke, I'm
at liberty to tell you nothing"
len ne lulSJ dL 4cdbIs WOulQ y0
know him if ye saw him again?"
"Truthfully," she said, looking him
in the eye, Il would not. viii say
one other word: had anticipated his
attack, although had never seen him
before"
Faith, It's yourself that has your
courage with ye. Mrs. Prynnel
But good night. madam! Your serv.
anti"
Good night, colonel" she said softly,
and as she watched him swing away
laughed lightly and strangely. Later,
gtill standing outside her door, she
sighed, and an odd light giowed deep
in her eyes OF grayish-green. Signing
again, and with another low laugh
that rang a thought derisive, as
though she were fiouting the man
whose service she accepted so gladly,
che turned and vanished within her
atateroom.
AZ ahs did %, the opposite door