The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-07-19
CHAPTER XXXlll.

A man stood In one Of the windows,
bis figure conspicuous against the
night IN cool white linen Of a semi.
military cut, his extended right hand
trimming a revolver on the lrishman's
head.
Faith cried O'Rourkc with Renu.
inc reiiof. you're more welcome than
a snowfall in Hades. Good evening to
ye, and many of them"
Hands up'"
with all the pleasure IN the world"
ORourke elevated his hands. i've
two reyolyers on me person." he vol.
unteered amlahly; before ye 80 any
further ven be wanting TO take EN-
away from me, I'm not doubling"
From what | see, / quito believe
shall" agreed the Englishman, with.
out relaxing his un]preludiced attitude.
AT all events, keep your hands where
they are, for the time being. u.
What the deuce does this mean?"
Tell me yourself and III make ye
n handsome present" returned the
O'ROurko c~ompOsedly. I've been ad-
ding me wits over It for tho last
thirty minutes. but peIther rhyme nor
reason can | read into It, But, see
now, would ya mind relieving me OF
the arsenal I've been telling ye about
that | may rest me arms without fear
Of being punctured?"
The other laughed shortly and en-.
tered the room--a clean limbed,
sturdy, well set.up boy Of four or hve-
and.twenty, or theroabouts. He pos
sessed, aside from an emphatic and
capable manner. good looks enhanced
by a wide good-humored mouth.
you might help me out a bit, you
know" said the boy briskly, You've
been so free with your information
that | don't doubt you will place me
still further under obligation to you
by turning your back and depoBlting
your weapons on that table. OF course,
| needn't bore you by remarks upon
the folly OF false moves"
"'Twould be quite super1uous," re-
piled O'Rourke. obeylng with a fair
and easy grace, There now, What
else may be your pleasure?'
Move back three PAGES and stand
still"
"RiEht,O, me lord"
O'Bourke executed the prescribed
evolution and, at rest, heard footsteps
behind him; a thought later he felt
the Englishman's hands rapidly going
through his pockets Then, with a
very good the latter stepped be-
tween the table and ORourke and
faced him.
You've apparently told the truth
thus far" he said. Now what'dyou
know about this?" lie waved a hand
round the room. BE careful what
yot say I may Ms well inform you
I'm Couch. lieutenant sub-chtef OF
police for this district"
Saint Patrick would be no more
welcome" declared ORourke. Il was
on the point Of trying to get 70 By
telephone when We saved me- the trou-
bic. how the divyle did We happen
to drop in so opportunely?
81 was coming upstream In the po-
lice launch, on the night tour Of in.
spectton, and stopped at the landing
Just below this-the grounds here run
down to the river, You know--to tele-
phone back to headquarters on bust
ness, The exchange operator suggest
ed look In here and see e everything
wRs all right-sald he'd been unable
to get any response since nlghtfall. D..
Now?"
Carefully and coucisely ORourke
woys the events Of the day into a
straight narrative, starting with the
delivery TO Sypher OF the Pool of
Flame. touching briefly upon Des Ire.
hes psrt-so far as he understood 1t
and concluding with the death Of
the coolle. The sub.chiof OF police
eyed him throughout with gravely
concentrated interest, nodding his
understanding.
u see" he said slowly. You make
It clear enough. Moreover, you've
convinced me. / didn't really believe
frnm tho nrst vnu'd had anv hand In