The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-02-27

deserted.
In the bow Couch was handling the
wheel with the nonchalance OF one
from whom tho river had no secrets
by night or day. 70 ORourke it seemed
no light task to pilot so slight craft
at such high speed through that
Stygian darkness: yet the sub-chlet
was accomplishing the feat without a
discernable trace OF fear or tFemor
of uncerta6&&J.
O'Rou-ke ret hDside him In the
stern a. pedioe ee&sEsy acted as me-
ehanie, attsadi0s u the moor. These
three, no uaoeo, made up the rescue
party.
Though dsFouaaA by impotence and
anxiety, OHIo<rhe serboEe to question
Couch, he&badDE 70 divert his atten'
ton from his task and knowing that
as soon as be co&s4d the young lieu
tenant would speak. From the time
when the ooolie had yielded, there
had been not a seconds rest for eth
er; neither had bad time to confer
save on questions of the most imme-
diate moment; and control of these
Couch had voluntarily and naturally
assumed, deciding, acting and direct
ing in the same thought, apparently.
Your wife, with Miss Pynsent,"
said Couch abruptly, without looking
round-"at least I presume it's Mrs.
O'Rourke, from what you say-have
been kidnapped by a gang of highblnd-
ers and are now aboard junk in the
lower river, which will sail for God
knows-where at the turn Of the tide
That's the only thing that saves EN-
Well be on 'em before they're able tc
force way down the river
O'Rourke groaned, holding his head
with both hands. MY wife !!
he said brokenly.
st know" Couch interrupted grim
ly; Il know how you feel. Miss Pyn
sent is there, too, you see."
"Oh," said O'Rourke, Il didn't un
derstand that. I'm sorry" He
dropped a hand On the younger mans
shoulder and let it rest there briefly
please God" he said reVerently:
"therel be many another polluted
yellow soul yammering at the gates
Of hell this night"
"Amen!" said Couch. We
sha'n't be long now
Silently O'Rourke removed his coat
and waist-coat, his collar and lawn
tie, and turned back his cuffs. Even
ing clothes are hardly the thing to
fight in,' he said; ''but I'm thinking
'twon't make a deal of difference to
me. Got any cartridges for Webley
mark IV?"
wheeler has. Give Colonel
O'Rourke Few, Wheeler" said Couch,
addressing the orderly.
The latter ruaemaged in locker
and pressed into O'Rourbe's hand hall
a dozen CARTRIDGES, with which the
adventarer procssaed to replenish the
empty chamber in his revolver.
"I'd only discharged one," he OBJ
served, but 'tis likely Wen need that
even, with only the three Of us
against a juRk-load.'
"Oh, I telephoned for reinforce
ments, of course" returned Couch
"They ought to be there ahead OF
U.s."
what did the coolie tell ye, if ye've
time to talk?"
Couch laughed. 'I daresay you're
wondering how I made him speak at
all.'
That's the true word for ye."
81 threatened to cut off his silly pig
tail and send him naked and dishonor
ed to the ghostly halls of his ances
tors. It's wonderful how much those
callous brutes dote on that decora
tor. told him further, that if he
found it out I'd return
and shave him bald as an egg, even II
be were dead by that time. So per-
suaded the truth from him, the whole
story-from his side of it"
I'm listening.
''He confessed he was in the pay
like these chaps we're after now-of
a highly respectable Chinese merchant
and head Of one of the tongs-one OF
the richest men in Rangoon, who, 1t
seems, was also after that ruby.
cant imagine what he wanted of it,
but .that'll come out, probably; the
mans rich enough to buy dozens of
stones as fine. However =
gather he'd laid his plan far ahead.
The coolies intimated you'd been
watched all the way from Bombay. At
all events, the brutes were ready
when you arrived; Sypher was a
doomed man from the moment you
handed over the Pool Of Flame. They
surrounded his house this night, COM
ing up from the river, just as soon as
1t was dark enough to conceal their
actions. Then they found third ele-
ment in the business-your friend Des
Trebes, all unsuspicious Of them, lurk-
ing on the veranda and watching Sy-
pher through the window. So they