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member me words to the leiter Tour guns made a crowd out of thia happy 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 o? your reach." And as they wavered, plainly ol two minds, O'Rourke clinched the ar gument of his attitude. "I beg to call your attention," he remarked, "to th? fact that ye have left me own brace of revolvers here at me feet, when ye BO joyously turned me bag inside out. I'm not touching them, mind ye, bul mind ye further: I'll brook no non sense. If ye make a move as if to at tack me, I'll . . . There! That's 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 witt society chatter, me friend," with a twinkle at thr> discomfited vicomte *Tm in danger ot forgetting me man ners. Pardon me, I pray, but-but 1 trust your nose is convalescing?" In high feather with himself, CTRourke 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 himself their captive. Toward the end the reserve which the vicomte im posed upon the Honorable Bertie was worn down: the Englishman turned with raw nerves upon his tormcntoi "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, ll I told you you'd never see the Pool of Flame again?" "I'd say," returned O'Rourke, "thai 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, I'll 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 ing 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 result 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 lt would be on your hands." "It dees not seem to strike mon sieur that there aro other ways of finding out who offers the reward," the vicomte suggested icily. "I can sae 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 Wait 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 it; 'twas incon ceivable: yet-he had known stranger things to happen. Still, without a due, to have stumbled upon the se cret, to have made off with it from fender the very nose of the Governor General-! No; it was not reason able to ask him to believe all that. Nevertheless, when he arrived at Algiers, bis anxiety had grown so overpowering that he called a cab and desired to be conveyed post-haste to the Palace de la Government CHAPTER X. v - 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 bonding 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 away. But the name of O'Rourke was gggjrgg and favorably known in the 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 broad, low. cool room in the old Moorish palace, the affable secretary- a young, lively and engaging French man-solicitously sounding him as to his errand. It was obviously the office of a man if great affairs, presenting an eminent ly business-like look for all its Ori ental setting. To one side, set in the lolid masonry of the wall, was a mas sive safe with doors ajar, exposing a :avity well stocked with documents, [t occurred to the adventurer that luch a safe might easily have been the plf.ce of security selected by the Sovernor-General for anything he held In trust He built upon it a theory whilst he listened-nor lost a point-i ind replied to the secretary. The latter regretted excessively that his excellency was absent: his ?xcellency would undoubtedly be deso lated when he returned and found he iad missed Colonel O'Rourke. "He'll be back soon, monsieur?" "Alas, no!" with a shrug. "He ia Bn 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 the name of Monsieur Dhambr.?t?" To tho contrary: the secretary knew lt very well. He could place his hand apon it at any moment-monsieur would appreciate that he durst not lurrender it without the Governor's luthority. O'Rourke drew a long sigh of relief ind was abruptly conscious of fatigue ind a desire to get away and rest. I "I'm obliged to ye," he said slowly, rising. Ill have to walt until the Governor returns, I presume. . . . By the way, are ye be any chance ac juainted with Monsieur le Vicomte les Trebes?" But certainly; the vicomte was a rreat friend of his excellency's. He tiad dined with his excellency some thing over a week since, just prior to the latter's departure. I "And I take it ye have seen nothing pf the gentleman since?" i "On the contrary, monsieur: the vl ;omte called here but two days ago." ] lt appeared that he had desired some A Frown of Bewilderment Clouded the Secretary's 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 the 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 'tis safe. 'Twould save me a deal of waiting, perhaps-" With alacrity and a smile that de precated his visitor's anxiety over so trifling a matter, the secretary rose, went to the safe and confidently enough thrust a hand into one of the pigeon-holes. The hand came forth empty. A frown of bewilderment clouded the secretary's face. "It must be here," he announced with convic tion. "It was In plain sight and la belled with the name of Monsieur Chambret . . ." He turned. "If Monsieur le Colonel will but return In half arc hour, I undertake then to 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 it must have been misplaced. An ex tended search was even then in progress. It would surely com? ?a agni Dt?l?fc evengy. "Thank ye; I shan't he back," re turned O'Rourke grimly;- and went away, downcast! 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 it! And all the time, belike, 'twas in the vlcomte's own pocket! . . ." But he had no vocabulary<ade? quate to the task of expressing his self-contempt. Disconsolate, conceiving that he had proven himself a blind, egregious fool, he plodded with heavy steps and a hanging 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. "Monsieur le Colonel Terence O'Rourke. Be hand," he conned the address. "Faith, and what's this?" "If Monsieur le Colonel O'Rourke 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 M n sieur le Vicomte may be consummat ed. "R. S. V. P.-The bearer waits." A trap? A subterfuge? A trick to throw him off the scent whilst the two 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 [ormal acceptance of the strange invi tation, and handed it 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. 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 ions were stimulated and his certainty that he was being played with resolv ed Into a pretty definite conviction, as 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 lt wise to come armed." " 'Tis a habit I find it 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 jo." 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." 'Tm content, monsieur." "I regret that circumstances pre vent me from receiving you under my own roof-tree. The Villa d'Orl?ans Is 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 smile that O'Rourke failed to fathom. "Mon 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." In the course of time, as the vicomte had predicted, the Honorable Bertie joined them; and on sight O'Rourke diagnosed the "indisposition" as plain Intoxication. The Englishman was 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 look, then slumped limply into a chair and called for champagne, which he drank greedily and with a sullen air, avoiding the vlcomte's eye. Before dessert was served he passed into a black humor, and sat mutely glower ing 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 bes definitely cast aside pretence. A cigarette between his lips, he lounged in his chair, eyelids drooping over eyes that never left his guest's whi)e either spoke. A cynical smile pre faced his first words. "So," he said, "the farce is 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." ' (Continued On Next Page) Hack We have in stock a full assortment of different stvles of Hackney Buggies such as side springs, handy tops, side spring Moyer de sign, side spring Wood Bar construction, These buggies have beei failed to give satisfactior we have no hesitation in the market today. Try word we say and even rr mind tnat the big store fl hides just as cheaply as W. M. Ouztsville New Drop in and le Crossett We have all oj est and nobbie cut shoes. N< in the popular Do] The Ed F?rtil * We now have on r foi mixing. We rej extend to our custon Kainit, ? Mixed goods of e facturers. 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Also spring ew spring hats for i shades and latest I rn& M gefield Mercantile C izers for tand a full line of fertilizers ar cresent the best manufacturen ters the best service and goods k.cid Phospha teed Meal, Sod very formula made by the mo , Swift, American Agricult hemical works and other well ods on the market. 500 Suits, 200 Overcoats and 500 pair of Trousers to be closed out 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 goodn. We will save you money. F. G. MERTINS, Augusta, Ga. )tic style oval pattern, ection^ and have never the very reasonable price jgy is without a peer on e convinced that every 5u?gy- Always bear in ?gies and all other ve zts Co. [irksey, S. C. WW tfords pair of stylish Oxfords irs in the new X styles in high nen and boys )locks. ims m ompany 1912 id fertilizer material 3 and will be glad to > on the market. te, Cotton ia st regutab?e 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. Cold Spring, S. C.