Edgefield advertiser. (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, February 14, 1912, Page SIX, Image 7
jereel with stamps and black with
.postage ma'-ks and substitute ad
dresses, having evidently been for
warded over half the world before it
reached the addressee: who was,
'?in a bold hand, "Colonel Terence
;0'Rourke."
He whistled low over this, examin
ing it intently, infinitely less concern
ed with its contents than with the
manner by which it had reached him.
The first postmark seemed to be that
of "Rangoon, .he original address, the
Cercle Militaire, his club in Paris.
Thence, apparently, it had sought him
in Galway, Ireland, Dublin, Paris again,
and finally-after half a dozen other
addresses-"C. of Mme. O'Rourke, Ho
tel Carlten, London." The London
postmark was indecipherable. . . .
He found himself trembling violent
ly. By one hand alone could this
have reached him, since the post had
not brought it to Monte Carlo. . . .
He recalled that woman's voice which
had so stirred him, the woman of the
Casino whose bearing had seemed to
him so familiar. . . .
Some one tapped cn the door; he
smothered a curse of annoyance, and
Went to answer, thrusting the letter
into his pocket.
A page announced Monsieur le
Comte des Trebes.
"Show the gentleman up," snapped
O'Rourke. He was about to add, "in
The Frenchman Rose, Offering Him
the Envelope.
five minutes," when Des Trebes him
self" appeared.
"Anticipating that message, mon
sieur," he said, moving Into view
from one side of the door, "I took the
liberty of accompanying this boy. I
am late? I fear."
O'Rourke forced a nod and smile of
welcome. "Not to my knowledge," said
he.
The Frenchman consulted his watch.
"Ten minutes late, monsieur; lt is ten
past midnight."
"Then," said O'Rourke, "the top o'
the morning to ye. Enter, monsieur."
He stood aside, closing the door be
hlm his guest. "'Tis no matter; if
I thought ye punctual, 'tis so ye are
to all intents and purposes. . . .
A chair, monsieur." He established
Des Trebes by a window. "And a cig
arette? ... A drop to drink?
... As ye will. . . . And since
'tis talk secret business that we're
here-would ye like the door locked?"
'That is hardly essential!" Des Tre
bes reviewed his surroundings with
swift, searching glance. "We are at
least secure from interruption; one
couift ask little more."
!^"jfrue for ye," laughed O'Rourke. He
moved toward the alcove. "Now first
of afl I'm to submit proofs of me iden
tity, I believe," he added, intending to
dig out of his trunk a dispatch-box
containing his passports and other pa
pers of a private nature.
But Des Trebes had changed his
mind. "That is unnecessary, mon
sieur. Your very willingness is suffi
cient proof. I have your word and
em content"
'That's the way of doing business
pha? I like," assented O'Rourke heart
ilyT warming a little to the man as he
turned back a chair facing the vi
conrfe. "Besides, I quarrel with no
xnan's right to be reasonable. . . .
And now I'm at your service, mon
Bieur."
Des Trebes, lounging back, knees
crossed, thin white fingers interlac
ing, black eyes narrowing, regarded
the Irishman thoughtfully for a mo
ment . Abruptly he sat up and re
moved from an inner pocket a long
thin white envelope, thrice sealed with
red wax and innocent of any super
scription whatever.
"Are you prepared, monsieur," he
demanded Incisively, "to play blind
man's buff?"
"Am I what?" asked O'Rourke, star
tled. Then he smiled. "Pardon; per
haps I fail to follow ye."
"I mean," explained the vicomte pa
tiently, "that I have to offer you a
commission to act under sealed or
ders*-he tapped the envelope-"the,
ordere contained herein."
-And when would I be free ta ft?u
that?" .
"As scon as you are at sea-aw
from France, Monsieur."
0'R'';urke considered the envelo
doubtfully. "From you, monsieur-frc
the Government of France, which y
represent," he said at length, "ye
I will accept such a commissic
France," he averred simply, "kno1
me; it wouldn't b? asking me to
anything a gentleman shouldn't."
"You may feel assured of tha
agreed Des Trebes gravely. "Indeed
venture to assert you will find this
let us say-adventure much to yo
liking. . . . Then you accept?"
"One moment-a dozen questioi
by your leave. . . . When must
start?"
"Tomorrow" morning by the Cc
d'Azur Rapide, at ten minutes
eight."
"And where will I be going?"
"First to Paris; thence to Havr
thence, by the first available steam*
to New York; finally, it may be
Venezuela, monsieur."
"Expenses?"
"I will myself furnish you with fun
sufficient to finance you as far
New York. There our consul-gener
will provide you with what more y<
may require. It is essential that yo
connection with this affair shall
kept secret; should you draw on tl
government in this qpuntry, it wou
expose you to grave suspicions, pc
haps to danger."
"I understand that," assented tl
Irishman. "But to obviate all dang
of mistake, would it not be well
have one of your trusted agents me
me on the steamer and provide n
with whatever ye :igure I might r
quire? 'Tis barely possible your co
sul-general might not recognize me !
New York. Why should he? I nev?
heard his name, even."
Des Trebes meditated this brief!
"It sball be as you desire, monsieur,
shall be arranged as you suggest."
"Finally, then, what is to be nc
recompense?"
"That must depend. I am authorize
to assure you that in no case wi
you receive less than twenty-five tho
sand francs; in event of a successfi
termination of your mission, the r
ward will be doubled."
*' 'Tis enough," said O'Rourke with
sigh; "I accept."
The Frenchman rose, offering hi]
the envelope. "You must pledge you
self, monsieur, not to break these seal
until you are at sea?"
"Absolutely-of course." O'Rouri
took the packet, weighed it curiousl
In his hand and scrutinized the seali
He remarked that they were yet sol
and fresh ; the wax had been hot wltl
in the half hour.
"I will do myself the honor of mee
lng you at the train to see you off, moi
sieur," said Des Trebes. "At that tim?
also, will I provide you with tho fund
you require."
"Thank ye."
Their hands met.
"Good night, Monsieur O'Rourke."
"Good night. . .
Half way to the door, Des Trebe
paused. "Oh, by the way," he ei
claimed carelessly, "I believe you ar
a friend of my old school-fellow, Cham
bret-mon cher Adolph?"
" Tis so," assented the Irishmai
warmly. "The best of men-Cham
bret!"
"Odd," commented the vicomte
"only this afternoon I was thlnkinj
of him, wondering what had becom?
of the man."
"The last I heard of him, he was ii
Algeria, monsieur-with some Frencl
force in the desert."
"Thank you . . ." On the poim
of leaving the vicomte snapped his
teeth on a second "Good night," anc
swore beneath his breath.
O'Rourke, surprised, stared. Th<
Frenchman was standing stiffly at, at
tention, as if alarmed. His pallor was
if possible, increased, livid-his close
ly shaven beard showing blue-black on
his heavy Jowls and prominent chin
His eyes blazed, shifting from the al
cove to O'Rourke.
"Monsieur?" he demanded harshly,
"what does this iasult mean?"
"Mean?" iterated O'Rourke. "Insult 1
Faith, ye have me there."
Speechless with rage, Des Trebes gea
tured violently toward the alcove; and
O'Rourke became aware that the cur
tains were shaking-wavering ae
though a draught stirred them. But
there was no draught. And beneath
their edge he saw two feet-two small,
bewitching feet in the daintiest and
most absurd of evening slippers, with
an inch or so of silken stockings show
ing above each.
Des Trebes' eyes, filled with an ex
pression unspeakably offensive, met
the Irishman's blank, wondering gaze.
"It is, no doubt," the Frenchman stam
mered, "sanctioned by your code to
have me spied upon by the partner of
your liaisons."
"But, monsieur-"
"I compliment the lady upon the
smallness of her feet, as well as upon
ankles so charming that I cannot bring
myself to leave without a glimpse of
their mistress' features."
Des Trebes moved, toward the al
co 3. Thunderstruck, O'Rourke rap
ped out a stupefied oath, then in a
stride forestalled the man. With him
it was as if suddenly a circuit had
closed in his intelligence, establishing
a definite connection between the three
-now four-most mystifying incidents
of the evening.
"Less haste, monsieur," he coun
seled in a voice of ice. His hand fell
wiLh almost paralyzing foi ce upon the
other's wrist as he sought to grasp
the curtain, and swung him roughly
back. "Yourself will never know who's
there-whoever the lady may be. .? . .
Ah, but no, monsieur!"
Maddened beyond prudence, Des
Trebes had struck at his face.
O'Rourke warded off the blow and in
what seemed the same movement
whirled the man round by his captive
wrist and caught the other arm fror
the back. The briefest of struggles '
sued. The Frenchman, taken at a '
plete disadvantage, was for all h - re
sistance hustled to the door and
thrown through it before he fairly com
prehended what was happening.
i. Free at length, if on all fours, he
scrambled to his feet to find O'Rourke
had shut the door behind him, calmly
awaiting the next move.
"Haven't ye had enough?" demand
ed the Irishman as the vicomte, blind
ed with passion, seemed about to re
new the attack. "Cr are ye wishful
to be going downstairs in the same
fashion ?"
Des Trebes drew back, snarling
"You dog!" he cried Then abrupt
ly, by an admirable effort, he calmed
himself surprisingly, drawing himself
up with considerable dignity and throt
tling his temper as he quietly adjust
ed the disorder of his clothing. Only
In his eyes, black as sloes and small,
did there remain any trace of his ma
lignant and unquenchable hatred.
"I am unfortunately," he sneered,
"incapable of participating in such
brawls as you prefer, Colonel O'Rourke.
But I am not content. I warn
you . . . My rank prevents me from
punishing you personally; I am obliged
to fight gentlemen only."
O'Rourke laughed openly.
"But I advise you to leave Monte
Carlo before morning. Should you re
main, or should you come within my
neighborhood another time-at what
ever time-I will kill you as I would a
rabid cur-or cause you to be shot."
"There's always the coward's al
ternative," returned the Irishman.
"But ye mustn't forget ye've only the
one leg to stand upon in society-your
notoriety as a duelist. And I shall
take steps to see that ye fight me be
fore sunset. Else shall all Europe
know ye for a coward."
Behind the vicomte the lift shot up,
paused, and discharged a single pas
senger. As swiftly the cage disap
peared.
Out of the corner of his eye,
O'Rourke recognized the newcomer as
an old acquaintance, and his heart
swelled with gratitude while a smile
of rare pleasure shaped itself upon
his Hps. He had now the Frenchman*
absolutely at his mercy.
"Captain von Einem," he said
quickly, "by your leave, a moment of
your time."
The man paused stiffly, with th?
square-set and erect poise of an officer
of the German army. "At your service,
Colonel O'Rourke," he said in impec
cable French.
But the Irishman had returned undi
vided attention to Des Trebes. "Mon
sieur," he announced, "your nose an
noys me." And with that he shot o?t
a hand and seized the offenolve mem
ber between a strong and capable
thumb and forefinger. "It has annoy
ed me," he explained in parenthes^,
"ever since I first clapped me two eyes
upon ye, scum of the earth that ye
are."
And he tweaked the nose of Mon
sieur le Viscomte des Trebes, tweak
ed it with a will and great pleasure,
tweaked it for glory and the Sainty;
carefully, methodically, even painstak
ingly, he kneaded and pulled and twist
ed it from side to side, ere releas
ing it.
Then stepping back and wiping his
fingers upon a handkerchief, he cock
ed his head to one side and admired
the result of his handiwork. " 'Tis
an amazingly happy effect," he ob
served critically-"the crimson blotch
it makes against the chalky complex
ion ye affect, Monsieur des Trebes.
. . . And now I fancy ye'll fight.
Your friends may call upon mine here
-Captain von Einem, with your per
mission."
"Most happy, Colonel O'Rourke," as
sented the German, blue eyes sparkling
in an Immobile countenance. "I shall
await the seconds of Monsieur des Tro
bes in my rooms."
The Frenchman essayed to speak,
choked with passion, and turning ab
ruptly, somewhat unsteadily descend
ing the staircase.
O'Rourke laughed briefly, offering
the German his hand. " 'Twas wonder
fully opportune, your appearance, cap
tain dear," said he. "Thank ye from
the bottom of me heart. . . . And
now will ye forgive me excusing me
self until I hear from ye about the af
fair of the morning? I've a friend
walting in me room here. . . . Par
don the rudeness."
CHAPTER IV.
It would be difficult to designate pre
cisely just what O'Rourke thought to
discover, when' after a punctilious re
turn of Captain von Elnem's salute, he
reopened his door and, closing it quick
ly as he entered, turned the key in the
lock.
His mood was exalted, his imagina
tion excited; the swift succession of
events which had made memorable the
"Monsieur,. Your Nose Annoys Me!"
night, culminating with his open in
vitation to a challenge from the most
desperate duelist in Europe, had in
spired a volatile vivacity such as not
even the excitement of the Casino had
been potent to create in him. Of all
mad conjectures imaginable the mad
dest was too weird for him to credit in
bis humor of that hour. Eliminating
all else that had happened, in the
course of that short evening, his heart
had been stirred, his emotions played
upon by a recrud'.-sence of a passion
which he had striven with all bis
strength to put behind him for a time;
(Continued on Next Page)
Drs. J. S. & F. P, BYRD,
Dental Surgeons
Edgefield and Trenton
Edgefield Office over Postoffice
Office Thone 3 Residence 17-R
Full of available Pl
Lots of Organi
They sme
Positih
I
Combahee Fi
NORMAN H. BUTCH, President
?YST
HITS THE
The explanatic
madew?h the,
eveiyingredi
test of our o
theresnoTiii01
Fertilizers.
Sold ?By Relia
F.S.ROYST
Sale:
NorfolkVa. Tar,
Baltimore Md. Monlf
Macon Ga.
Treasurer's Notice.
The County Treasurer's office will be
open for the purpose of receiving taxes
from the 15th day of Oct., 1911, to the
15th day of March, 1912, inclusive.
A penalty of one per cent will be
added to all unpaid taxes after the 1st
day of January to the 31st of January
1912, of two per cent, from the 1st day
of February to the last day of Febru
ary 1912 and penalty of five per cent
from the first day of March to the 15th
day of March, 1921.
The tax levies for the year 1911 are
as follows:
For State purposes
" Ordinary County
" Cons. School tax
Special County tax
" Bacon S. D. Special
" Edge?eld S. D.
" Long Cane S. D.
" Liberty Hill S. D.
" Johnston S. D.
" Collier S. D.
" Flat Rock S. D.
" Prescott S. D.
" Plum Branch S. D. No 1
" White Town S. D.
" Trenton S. D.
" Ward S. D.
" Moss S D.
Parksville S. D.
" Washington S. D.
" R. R. Bonds Wise T's' p
" R. R. Bonds Pickens
" R. R. Bonds Johnston
" R. R. Bonds Pine Grove
" R. R. Bonds Rlocker
" " Bonds Town Edgefield h
" Schoo! Bonds " 1- "
" Town of Edgefield
" Corporation Purposes 7 "
All male citizens between the ages
of 21 years and 60 years except those
exempt by law are liable to a poll tax
of one dollar each. A capitation tax
of 50 cents each is to be paid on all
dogs.
The law prescribes that all male citi
zens between the ages of 18 and 55
years must pay a $2 commutation tax
or work six days on the public roads.
As this is optional with the individual,
no commutation tax is included in the
property tax. So ask for road tax re
ceipt when you desire to pay road tax.
53 mills
4} "
3 "
li "
2 "
o ?<
3 "
3 "
4 "
3 "
3 "
3 *'
3 "
3 "
2 "
2 "
3 14
3 "
2 "
li "
3 "
3 "
14 "
14 "
[ant Food
ic Matter to form Hun
ill bad, but they're <
rely no filler used
'ish and Blood used la
erfilizer Comps
R. \
ER FER
SPOT EVE*
. ?s.n.
wis simple;ihfy
greatest care i
enthas to pass t
wn laboratories
"miss"about Roy.
ble J)ealers Everywhere
ER GUANO C
3 Offices
b oro N. C. C olumbia S. C
[omeiy^lla. Spartanburg
Colambu5 6a.
Positively no taxes received after 15tb
of March.
JAS. T. MIWS,
Co. Treas, E. C.
??IIIIIlMIIII?IIIUinill^-H-MIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIHIIlh
I New Photograph ?
I Gaiety
5 lam now prepared to take pho- 5
E tcgraphs of all kinds, and respect- ?
s fully solicit the patronage of the 5
f people. Special attention given to *
.? groups and outdoor work My j?
? prices are very reasonable. 4?
H Gallery open Tuesday, V?ednes- =
= day, Thursday and Saturday from =
= ll till 5 o'clock. S
I D. O'HARA,
I NORRIS BUILDING =
^Illlllll?lllllllllilllll^-H-Mlllllllllilillllillllllif;
Round Trip Excursion Rates
Via Augusta, Ga.,-Via Southern
Railway-Premier Carrier of the
South.
Account Aviation Exhibitions, Au
gusta, Ga., January 10, 26, Februa
ry 14, 23, March 13 and 29, 1912,
by the Aviation Schools, the South
ern Railway announces low round
trip tickets to Augusta on the above
dates, good returning the third day
from, and including date of sale.
For further information, call on
ticket asrents, or,
John L. Meek, AGPA.,
Atlanta, Ga.
Frank L Jenkins, TPAM
Augusta, Ga.
AH. CORLEY, Surgeon
. Dentist. Appointments
at Trenton on Wednesdays.,
Crown and Bridge werk a
specialty.
rombahee
ertilizers
are
Real
ertilizers
aus
Good
rgely in our goods
CHARLESTON
I ny SOUTH CAROLINA
WILLIAM MOLLOY, General Manager
T1LIZER
?y TIME
rare
md
he