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member me words to the letter
Your guns made a crowd out of thia
nappy reunion. I've merely dispensed
with them; I call ye both to witness
that ye have neither of ye suffered.
Sure, I'm as peaceable as any lamb.
Sit down, sit ye down and take it like
little men. The situation's unchanged,
save that I've put temptation out ol
your reach."
And as they wavered, plainly ol
two minds. O'Rourke clinched the ar
gument of his attitude. "I beg to cal)
your attention," he remarked, "to th?
fact that ye have left me own brace
o? revolvers here at me feet, when ye
BO joyously turned me bag inside out.
Tm not touching them, mind ye, but
mind ye further: I'll brook no non
sense. If ye make a move as if to at
tack me, I'll . . . There! That'?
much better. Wise lads, ye are, both
of ye: graceful in defeat Let me see:
We've a long ride together, though
ye did come uninvited. I trust ye
will help me beguile the tedium with
society chatter, me friend," with a
twinkle at the discomfited vicomte
"I'm in danger of forgetting me man
ners. Pardon me, I pray, but-but 1
trust your nose is convalescing?"
In high feather with himself.
OTRourke entertained his companions
with a running fire of pleasantries foi
the balance of the darkened hours
And he touched both more than once
with the rapier-point of his wit and
Irony, and had the pleasure of seeing
both squirm in impotent rage. They
cut wretched figures, two against one,
yet failures, while he taunted them in
one breath, with the next declared
Hmself their captive. Toward the end
the reserve which the vicomte im
posed upon the Honorable Bertie waa
worn down: the Englishman turned
with raw nerves upon his tormentor
"You damned ass!" he stammered,
all, but incoherent. "You sit there
and-and gloat, damn you! When all
the time we've got the upper hand!"
"Be quiet!" interposed the vicomte,
"I won't!" raged the honorable. "He
thinks himself so Infernally clever!
What 'dyou say, you Irish braggart, ii
I told you you'd never see the Pool
of Flame again?"
.Td say," returned O'Rourke, "that
you were either lying or a fool. In
either case a fool. If, as ye seem to
be trying to make me believe-which
I don't for one Instant-ye have suc
ceeded in stealing the Pool of Flame,
TU hunt the pair of ye to the ends ol
the earth, if need be."
He eyed them reflectively during a
moment or two made interesting by
Glynn's desperate attempts to blurt
out indiscretions against the prohibi
tion of the vicomte: something which
the older man enforced crudely by
clapping his hand across the English
man's mouth, as well as by whisper.
lng savagely in his ear.
"But there'll be no need," continued
the Irishman, when Glynn was calm.
"Let's consider the matter dispassion
ately, presupposing that ye have the
stone. Well, what then? Ye dare not
attempt to sell it-'twould resu!t in
instant detection. It would not pay
ye to have it secretly cut up into
smaller stones-the loss in value
would be stupendous, the whole not
worth your while, as I say. Ye can
not take the Pool of Flame (don't get
excited: I'm not going to tell yo
where) to claim the .reward, for ye
don't know where to go. 'Tis a white
elephant it would be on your hands."
"It dees not seem to strike mon
sieur that there are other ways of
finding out who offers the reward,"
the vicomte suggested icily.
"I can see ye wandering around ask
ing somebody please to relieve ye of
the Pool of Flame and pay ye a com
mission. I wonder how long ye think
ye'd last. But 'tis no use trying to
hoodwink me: I don't believe one
word ye say. I'll walt until I find out
the truth before I bother meself with
ye."
Their persistence In hinting that
they had gained possession, of the
ruby perplexed and discomfited him
He did not believe lt; 'twas Incon
ceivable: yet-he had known stranger
things to happen. Still, without a
due, to have stumbled upon the se
cret, co have made off with it from
fonder the very nose of the Governor
General-! No; lt was not reason
able to ask him to be"ne all that
Nevertheless, when he arrived at
Algiers, lils anxiety had grown so
overpowering that he called a cab and
desired to be conveyei post-haste to
tLe Palace de la Government
CHAPTER X.
It was high noon when O'Rourke
drove up before the Palace of the
Governor-General. Weary, dusty and
travel-stained as he was, he hesitated
ho Instant about sending in his name
?nd requesting an interview with the
representative of France's sovereign
power.
Disappointment awaited him at the
very outset; disappointment In the
shape of word that his excellency was
?way. But the name of O'Rourke was
pno^weU and favorablyJmowa in the
V
province, and secured him an invita"
tion to ascend to the Governor's office
and state his business-if he cared
to do so-to the gubernatorial secre
tary.
Upon consideration he accepted, and
a little later was seated in a -.road,
low, cool room in the old Moorish
palace, the affable secretary- a
young, lively and engaging French
man-solicitously sounding him as tc
bis errand.
It was obviously the office of a man
!>f great affairs, presenting an eminent
ly business-like look for all its Ori
ental setting. To one side, set in the
solid masonry of the wall, was a mas
live safe with doors ajar, exposing a
cavity well stocked with documents,
lt occurred to the adventurer that
such a safe might easily have been
the place of security selected by the
UovWnor-General for anything he held
In trust He built upon it a theory
whilst he listened-nor lost a point
md replied to the secretary.
The latter regretted excessively
?hat his excellency was absent: his
excellency would undoubtedly be deso
lated when he returned and found he
lad missed Colonel O'Rourke.
"He'll be back soon, monsieur?"
"Alas, no!" with a shrug. "He is
in route for Paris-possibly arrived
?y this moment-on matters of state."
"And he left? '
"Several days since, monsieur."
"You know nothing of this package,
Indorsed with tie name of Monsieur
Dhambret?"
To the contrary: the secretary knew
lt very well. Hi* could place his hand
apon it at anjr moment-monsieur
would appreciate that he durst not
surrender it without the Governor's
suthority.
O'Rourke drew a long sigh of relief
md was abruptly conscious of fatigue
md a desire to get away and rest.
"I'm obliged to ye," he said slowly,
rising. 'TH have to wait until the
Governor returns, I presume. . . .
By the way, are ye be any chance ac
jualnted with Monsieur le Vicomte
les Trebes?"
But certainly; the vicomte was a
great friend of his excellency's. He
had dined with his excellency some
thing over a week since, just prior to
the latter's departure.
"And I take lt ye have seen nothing
pf the gentleman since?"
"On the contrary, monsieur: the vi
;omte called here but two days ago."
lt appeared that he had desired some
A Frown of Bewilderment Clouded
the Secretary'? Face.
trifling information, with which the
secretary had obliged him.
"Ye didn't happen to leave him
alone in this room?"
The secretary, plainly much per
plexed by this odd catechism, ad
mitted that such had been the case;
the pursuit of Ute desired data had
necessitated his absence from the Gov
ernor's room for a matter of some ten
minutes.
"But ye say ye can put your hand
on this package?"
"But certainly, monsieur."
"Would ye mind making sure 'tie
safe. 'Twould nave me a deal ol
waiting, perhaps-"
With alacrity end a smile that de
precated his visitor's anxiety over sc
trifling a matter, the secretary rose
went to the safe and con fl de ntl j
enough thrust a hand into one of thc
pigeon-holes. The hand came forth
empty. A frown of bewilderment
clouded the secretary's face. "It mus?
be here," he announced with convie
tion. "It was in plain sight and la
belled with the name of Monsieur
Chambret . . He turned. "Il
Monsieur le Colonel will but return in
half an hour, I undertake then tc
show him the packet itself. I shall by
then have found it-but assuredly!"
"Ye are very courteous, monsieur,
I will return."
This he did-in two hours. The
packet had not been found; the sec
retary, in a flutter of nerves, confessed
that through some culpable negligence
lt must have been misplaced. An ex
tended search was even then In
progress. It would surely come gc
ngut ueiurc evening.
"Thank ye; I shan't he hack," re
turned O'Rourke grimly;1 and went
?way, cfowncasti for the first time
since the Inception of the adventure.
"Faith! and to think I would not be
lieve the truth when they slapped me
face with lt! And all the time, beliko,
'twas in the vicomte's own pocket! .
. ." But he had no vocabulary^ ade
quate to the task of expressing his
Iself-contempt.
Disconsolate, conceiving that he had
proven himself a blind, egregious fool,
Une plodded with heavy steps and a
ihanging head back to his hotel; where
'the crowning stroke of the day was
(presented to him in the shape of a
?^note, by the hand of a black Biskri
"porter.
i "Monsieur le Colonel Terence
[O'Rourke. Be hand," he conned the
address. "Faith, and what's this?"
"If Monsieur le Colonel O'Rourke
i will do Monsieur des Trebes the hon
,or of dining with him, at seven or
.seven-thirty this evening, at the "Villa
. d'Orl?ans, St Eugene, an arrangement
? satisfactory to both himself and Mon
sieur le Vicomte may be consummat
ed.
i. "R. S. V. P.-The bearer waits."
. A trap? A subterfuge? A trick to
. throw him off the scent whilst the two
i blackguards escaped with their booty ?
?The adventurer frowned darkly over
. it, dubious. Then, in a flush of reck
lessness, he seized a sheet of paper
from a near-by desk, scrawled a
formal acceptance of the strange invi
i tatton, and handed lt to the Biskri boy.
"All to gain, naught to lose," he sum
med up the state of mind which had
dictated his response: and at six
thirty, with brow and eye serene, he
left the hotel in a carriage bound for
the suburb of St Eugene-and heaven
knew where besides!
CHAPTER Xl. * J!
The Villa d'Orl?ans proved to be a
aandsome house of white stone, situ
ated In extensive and well-groomed
grounds, on a height outside the town,
overlooking the Mediterranean. So
complete and elegant seemed the es
tablishment, indeed, viewed from with
out or within, that O'Rourke's suspic-'
lons were stimulated and his certainty
that he was being played with resolv
ed into a pretty definite conviction,
os he waited in the broad hallway.
It was inconceivable that a man like
Des Trebes, so reduced as to be un
der the necessity of stealing-even of
stealing so considerable a sum as a
hundred thousand pounds-could main
tain so imposing an establishment
His uneasy/ conjectures were Inter
rupted when the vicomte appeared to
welcome his guest Suave, dressed
properly for the occasion, showing !
traces neither of fatigue nor of his
antipathy for O'Rourke, blandly ignor
ing the, peculiarities of the situation
which his own Inexplicable Invitation
had created, he presented himself In
the guise of a gracious host_.
"Monsieur," he declared, bowing to
O'Rourke (but with a' care not to
offer his hand), "overpowers me with
his condescension and punctuality. I
can only regret"-with a significant
glance at the bulge of the adventur
er's coat-"that he thought it wise to
come armed."
" 'Tis a habit I find lt hard to break
meself of." O'Rourke offered the in
adequate explanation In a dry and
coolish tone.
"It was unnecessary, I assure mon
sieur."
"Faith, I'm convinced 'twill prove
BO."
Tactfully the vicomte digressed
from the unpleasant topic. "I have
asked you here, monsieur," he said
with an air of deprecation, "to confer
with me on business after we have
dined. I trust the arrangement suits
your convenience."
"I'm content, monsieur."
"I regret that circumstances pre
vent me from receiving you under
my own roof-tree. The Villa d'Orl?ans
ls the property of a dear friend,
merely loaned me during my stay in
Algiers."
"Ye're fortunate in your choice of
friends."
Over his next remark Des Trebes
faltered a trifle, with a curious 6milo
that O'Rourke failed to fathom. "Monr
sieur Glynn," he said, "is-ah-a trifle
.indisposed-the sun. Nevertheless, I
believe he will join us during dinner,
.if you will be so kind as to excuse
him-?"
"I could do very well without him."
The vicomte caught the eye of a
.servant, and, "Dinner is announced,"
ha said. "Do me the honor to ac
company me to the table."
1 In the course of time, as the vicomte
had predicted, the Honorable Bertie
Joined them; and on sight O'Rourke
i diagnosed the "indisposition" as plain
.Intoxication. The Englishman waa
deep in his cups, far too deep to ape
.the urbanity of his host. He favored
, O'Rourke with a curt nod and a surly
tlook, then slumped limply Into a chair
rand called for champagne, which he
,drank greedily and with a sullen air,
avoiding the vicomte's eye. Before
^dessert was served he passed into a
;black humor, and sat mutely glower
.lng at his glass (what time he was
.not unsteadily filling lt) without re
gard for either of his companions.
; When the cloth was cleared and
the servants had withdrawn, Des Tre
bbes definitely cast aside pretence. A
?cigarette between his lips, he lounged
in his chair, eyelids drooping over
.eyes that never left his guest's whije
either spoke. A cynical smile pre
faced his first words.
. "So," he said, "the farce ls over.
Some regard for the conventions was
? necessary before the servants of my
.friend, the owner of this villa. Now,
,we can be natural, Monsieur le Colo
nel."
3 (Continued on Next Page)
We have in stock
a full assortment of
different styles of
IHackney
Buggies
such as side springs,
handy tops, side
spring Moyer de
sign, side spring
Wood Bar construction,
These buggies have bee
failed to give satisfactioi
we have no hesitation ir
the market today. Try
word we say and even n
mind that the big store <
hieles just as cheaply as
W. M.
Ouztsville
New
Drop in and le
Crossett
We have all o:
est and nobbie
cut shoes. N<
in the popular
Do]
The Ed
F?rtil
We now have on Y
foi mixing. We re]
extend to our custon
Kainit, 1
Mixed goods of e
facturers. Armour
Royster, Georgia C]
motto is the best go?
Garden Seed.
Every gardener in Edgefield
county knows what Bnist's seed |
are. We have them fresh from this j
celebrated farm, and can furnish
you with anything you want. Buist'a.
seed never fail to germinate under j
proper conditions.
Penn Sc Holstein.
, also in end spring full Ele]
n thoroughly tested in this ?
i. Taking into consideration I
i saying that the Hackney bug
ene of them and you will b
lore is true of the Hackney t
it Ouztsville sells Hackney buj
any place in the country.
& J. T. Ou
p. o. I
Spring O;
it us fit you with a ;
or Selz-Schwab
fthe popular leathi
st lasts. Also spring
ew spring hats for i
shades and latest ?
rn&M
gefield Mercantile C
izers for
land a full line of fertilizers ar
present the best manufacturer*
?ers the best service and goods
k.cid Phosphai
Seed Meal, Sod
very formula made by the mo
, Swift, American Agricult
hemical. works and other well 1
ods on the market.
500 Saits, 200 Overcoats and
50u pair of Trousers to be closed
dat at bargain prices. See F. G.
MERTINS, Augusta, Ga.
200 Boys' Suits, 100 Overcoats,
and 500 pairs of pants, to be sold to
make room for my spring good*.
We will save you money. F. G.
MERTINS, Augusta, Ga.
)tic style oval pattern,
ection^ and have never
the very reasonable price
jory is without a peer on
e convinced that every
)uggy. Always bear in
?gies and all other ve
zts Co.
frrksey, S. C.
tfords
pair of stylish
Oxfords
irs in the new
s' styles in high
nen and boys
)locks.
ims
ompany
1912
td fertilizer material
i and will be glad to
; on the market.
be, Cotton
.a
/
i
st reg atable manu
ural Chemical Co.,
known goods. Our
We always carry a full supply of
Glenn Springs and Harris Lithia
water.
Penn & Holstein.
For Sale: One lot of good cedar
posts will be "delivered in Edgefield
for ten cents each.
H. Ernest Quarles.
Gold Spring, S. C.
