University of South Carolina Libraries
TVM 6310UI3 JOSEPH VAN ELUSTRAT!ONS -BY ELLwR':t YOUNG :: COPYRICUT 1909 y 10UI sEPH SYNOPSIS. CHAPTER I.-The story opens at onte Carlo with Col. Terence O'Rourke I4 his hotel. O'Rourke, a military free lance and something of a gambl-r. is dressing for appearance in the r,'staurant below when the sound of a girlish voice singing attracts his attention. Leaning out on the balcony he sees a beautiful girl who suddenly disappears. He rushes to the corridor to see a neatly gowned form enter the elevator and pass from eight. CHAPTER II.-O'Rourke's mind is filled with thoughts of the girl, and when he goes to the gaming table he allows his emarkable winnings to accumulate in ifferently. He notices two men watch g him. One is the Hon. Bertie Glynn, le his companion is Viscount Des ebes, a noted duelist. When O'Rourke eaves the table the viscount tells him he epresents the French government and that he has been directed to O'Rourke as a man who would undertake a secret anission. CHAPTER III.-At his room O'Rourke, who had agreed to undertake the mission, awaits the viscount. O'Rourke finds a nysterious letter in his apartment. The viscount arrives. hands a sealed package to O'Rourke, who is not to open it until on the ocean. He says the French gov ernment will pay O'Rourke 25,000 francs for his services. A pair of dainty slip pers are seen protruding from under a doorway curtain and the viscount charges O'Rourke with having a spy secreted there. ..CHAPTER IV.-When the Trishman goes to his room he finds there the own er of the mysterious feet. It is his wife, eatrix, from whom he had run away a year previous. They are reconciled, and -opening the letter he had received, he Ands that a law firm in Rangoon, India, ;fers him 100,000 pounds for an Indiar jewel known as the Pool of Flame and left to him by a dying friend. O'Rourke tells his wife that it is in the keeping of a friend named Chambret in Algeria. CHAPTER V.-O'Rourke is forced tc 'fight a duel with the viscount. The brag -gart nobleman is worsted in the comba1 and acts the poltroon. CHAPTER VI.-The loyal wife bid! O'Rourke farewell and he promises to soon return with the reward offered for te Pool of Flame. He discovers both Glynn and the 'viscount on board thi ship which takes him to Algeria. CHAPTER VII.-Chambret has left Al. geria and O'Rourke has to gain a mill tary detachment g4ing across the deser to reach his friend. As he finds the lattei there is an attack by bandits an< Chambret is shot. CHAPTER VIII.-Chambret dies telling O'Rourke that he has left the Pool o: Flame with the governor. general of .Al. ~.eria. He gives the colonel a signet ring e t the sight of which he says the officla *.will deliver over the jewel. CF APTER IX.-O'R~ourke is attacked byr Glynn and the viscount who ransaci bis luggage, but he worsts them in th4 conflict. CHAPTER X.-When he arrives at Al -geria the Trishman finds the governo general away. H-e receives a note fron T3es Trebes making a mysterious appoint anent. CHAPTER XI.-The viscount tef 'O'Rourke that he has gained possessioi ~~-f the jewel by stealUng it from the safe 'of the governor general. He doe~s not "however. know who has offered the re W ward for it. He sugges4s a duel witi 'taoiers. the victor to get that informatiol and .the .jewel. CHAPTER XII.' Early in the dull hot dawn a elat ter of winches and a bustle 0: shadowy figures on the deck of s small trading vessel, which had spen the night between the moles of th< bor of Algiers, announced that the chor was being weighed. *While this was taking place a smal barbor boat, manned by two nativt watermen and carrying a single pas senger, put out from the steamshii -quay, the oarsmen rowing with a wil that hinted at a premium having beei placed upon their speed. The coaste: 'was barely under way, moving slow ly in the water, when the boat rat alongside. A line was thrown fron the ship and caught by one of the -'*atermen, the boat hauled close in and its passenger taken on deck. An hour later, a pipe between hi: teeth, O'Rourike stood by the helms Wan, staring back over the heavin Vexpanse, swiftly widening,.that lay be tween the coaster and the Algeriar rlittoral. The world behind was graa .and wan, but the skies ahead wer< golden. "A fair omen!" breathed th< ~adventurer hopefully. The bulk of the great ruby in' hi! pocket brought his thought back in 'wide swing to the girl who would b< 'waiting for him at Rangoon. "Faith d mutbe getting below and mak gidab at writing a letter to her ..That was nothing." nodded with meaning towards Vthe'bold profile of Algiers. . .. An ill wind It was that blew Colone VO'Rourke into Athens. . . . It h'ar blown Itself out and been forgottet rt1ds many a day, praises bet but that once it had whisked him thaither, im 2pediately it subsided and stubborn3 It refused to lift again and waft hirr kforth upon his wanderings, In thE course of time came to be a matter 01 ,grievous concera to the Irishman. All of which Ls equivalent to saying Sthat the dropping breeze of hi! ~finances died altogether upon hi! arrival in the capital of Greece. He disembarked from a coasting steamei fn the harbor of the Piraeus encum bered with a hundred francs or so, at Invincible optimism, a trunk and s Itdt-box, and a king's ransom on his person in the shape of the Pool ol Flame; which latter was hardly t< 'be esteemed a negotiable asset. There after followed days of inaction,'whlE bis hopes diminished. Nearly two months had elapsed since he had promised two people T. e'f and one infinitely more deai "Jo, 0 Cp,i VANCZL_-. days. In little more tr'an a mon she'd be waiting for him there. Ar.d where would he be? Still w he far by many a long and wea mile from the first gateway to t East-Suez; and s+ill he lacked ma an aloof and distant dollar the fun to finance him thither. If only he could contrive to get Alexandria-! Danny was there Danny Mahone, he of the red, r head and the ready fists; Danny, -w held the O'Rourke as only second the Pope in dignity and importanc who had been O'Rourke's valet in happier time and of late in his hu bler way an adventurer like his m: ter. He was there, in Alexandr half partner in a tobacco importi house, by virtue of money borrow from O'Rourke long since, at a tii when money was to be had of t man for the asking. . . . A Danny would help. . . You must see O'Rourke revolving his mind this unhappy predicament his, on the last of the many afternoo that he spent in Greece. Draw doi the corners of his wide, mobile mou1 stir up the devils in his eyes un they flicker and flash their resentmei place a pucker between the brows his habitually serene and unwrinkl forehead; and there you have hi who sat beside the little table in t purple of the Zappelon, with a he bared to the cool of the eveni: I breeze, alternately puffing at a n i diocre cigar and sipping black coff from the demi-tasse at his elbow. Now just as the sun was sinkirg 1 hind the mountains and Hymettus w clothing its long slopes in vague vio light of mystery and enchantment (: this view alone O'Rourke took hims to the Zappelon daiI ) the Irishma somber meditations )were interrupt "Phew! 'Otter'n the seven br< 'inges of 'ell!" remarked a cheer voice, not two feet from his ear. O'Rourke turned with an imp ceptible start-he was not easily tIed. "True for ye," he assented, t mng stock of him who, with his wea er-wise remark for an introducti calmly possessed himself of the cant chair at the other side ofi table and grinned a rubicund g -1 He showed himself a man in stati 'no whit inferior to the Irishman, -to height; and perhaps he was stone the heavier of the two. ilacked, otherw.ise, O'Rourke's al< habit, was of a slower, more stc and beefy build. The eyes that I O'Rourke's were gray and bright ~hard, and set in a countenance fit ing red-a color partly natural partly the result of his stroll throi Athens' heated streets. His dress was rough, and there 3 this and that about him to1 O'Rourke more plaigly than wo: that his profession was someth 'nautical; he was most probably a e tain from a certain air of determi tion' and command that lurked neath his free-and-easy manner. Therefore, having summed -stranger up in a glance, "And wi did ye get in, captain?" inqui: IO'Rourke. The man jumped with surprise Ishot a frightened-at least a ,qt tioning-glance at O'Rourke. Th seeing that he was smiling in a frie ly fashion, calmed and continued cool his face and heat his blood fanning himself vigorously witil straw hat. "'Ow the dooce do you know I'r -captain?" he demanded, with a slig ly aggrieved manner. "It shouldn't take a man an hour guess that, captain-any more t] it would to pick ye out for an E lishmaan." The captain stared, gray eyes y ening. "An' perhaps you'll tell me niyme next ?" he suggested rat jtruculently. "Divvle a bit. 'Tis no clairvoyar am," laughe1l O'Rourke. "But I tell ye me own. 'Tis O'Rourke, 'tis delighted I am to meet a wi man in this heathen country. Sir, y, hand!" He put his own across'the table gripped the captain's heartily. "Mine's 'Ole," the latter infort him. "Ole ?" -queried O'Rourke. " what?'" "Not Ole nothing." said the c tain with some pardonable asper: I"I didn't s'y 'Ole, I s'yd 'Ole." "Of course," O'Rourke assen gravely. "I'm stupid, Captain He and a bit deaf in me off ear." T. however, was a polite le. I"That explyns it," agreed the m< fr~ed man. "It's 'Ole, plyn Will'm '( master of the Pelican, fryghter, j in from Malta." A light of interest kindled O'Rourke's eyes. He reviewed the a with more respect, as due to one v might prove useful. "And bound Ihe insinuated craftily. "Alexandria. . . . 1 just drop in for a d'y or two to pick up a of cargo from a chap down at Pirae It's devlish 'ot and I thought as I'd tyke a run up and see the C I''aving a bit of time free, y'know. away look in Tis eyes. "For Alexan i Idria, ehi? Faith, I'd like to be sailing with ye." Again the captain eyed O'Rourk( askance. "Wot for?" he demanded directly. "The Pelican's a slow old tramp. You can pick up a swifter pas sage on 'arf-a-dozen boats a day." "'Tis meself that knows that, sure,' assented the Irishman. "'Tis but a trifing difficulty about ready money asK de -A edf ho - to e i ia; He Gripped the Captain's Hanc ag Heartily. ed ne that detains me," he pursued boldly. hei with a confidential jerk of his head. ad "There's a bit of stuff-no matter what-that I don't want to pass in through the Custom House at Alex of andria. I'm not saying -a word, cap> ns tain, but if I could smuggle it intc yn Egypt, the profit would be great -h enough to pay me passage-money a H dozen times over. I'm saying this to n ye in strict confidence, for, being an of Englishman, ye won't let on." ed "Never fear," Hole asserted stout ly. "Umm. . . . Er-I don't mind he telling you, Mr. O'Rourke, I some ad times do a little in that line myself. ag Being a casual tramp and sometimes e.. lyd by for weeks at a stretch for want ee of consignment-" "Not another word, captain. I un e- derstand perfectly. Will ye be havirig as a bit of a drink. now ?" Captain Hole would. "It won't 'urt eto talk this over," he remarked. "Per aps we might myke some sort of a ,' dicker." a "Faith, 'tis meself that's agreeablef ge laughed the Irishman lightly. And when, at midnight that night, he parted from a moist and senti meNtal sanotr wo capan ity fur er-taquorefeicl.dill the bnescrvib let Catinve esiaond msticha th- tadiprovenrm," the earraedmernt haps been mihtdmyk, siged sefale addeier." b lsin fhns nd. "Fith 'as O'Rese thas agrealpy lagenh. Iiha lgty "'Tis wena midnyightl tha ight, the paredom aheit ssurdse,tit tae tinguor-nindg the ideo i e ndstr abeingtiveughtlyinto and maihele a dphsvof teormuste araeeto Henthat'housed eveythcling ofwhndsin Andhe wasld-foure was cit happy the man. natnon "'Is Dannyt ho'll be ghasn mie theuwlco,"hnnouncedO'Rourelf st-r and i thouhtull iandto bdsee Heoes f the atteredaton, itboin urthondioed vrthg he latedri wa oamaythe etue lids ahe lcat easricing o part from" hope tolien hoe has forth pous,"anounce "WhyRourke latr thn. [owmidngh dubiously. meedb eeblFe pounlighp"But, fath, be thret sumre ad togfind toanny." pti He frose accoesmdi, hit becing furtherin cnidie lthtai throughe nd. as to on'.a..ny the Gdenture tdcahoe alb t Alsemembrad not par byHe fhime tl tae moeay waot h tae hmisememrded, ut?"h stoodndo tho inigdakess, wietpered bystrn ie feeblte lamplgh.me, faith,l fogetn ;ht ut.m Thelng ih eie,' sueI ave to chd anceyi"hesi ngnd hru ars and reteen his pander bloin an hinauinfbled arbhougn ien. his eed arip"ivihish arwkwardl nmy iftherd'-. thuhfly Psety thhoseId te al bu mittejradrem ovbe ed hi 2had. Isreontained, bu chamodi bag t !: abt the pizae fo a ull egg, from ::az uthichnldtesou-odb dIchl hae had canc it,"ou hesaiec tit .soly.n "thisney as if itwee miear at he wnutow,edre the ond hihtn ing and thrute to hetdoor, huerh sirttunindt his skin fubd mabout surn thatde heis eft aritgei bow sthlle gthered catoughsly.oseetly hra aboug t the mout of thek'sagg.fo ap Somthidng tmled sout cno by te whichre hasugt aot his neckh har >te ly;ing this voinerly, as inoufea iis edn i tstme woudpoe hore gspokea at1 theloodow,h sade thely bld. ih uad tipoed tor the daof wher. Be tured he e fsinted oblo. Thn, the uebegurning, tor tis btat's makin color tad the sou of anI'e ofeard ktey 1hClol hen uiusl lseed thoe draw strnd, afte ambith oI' te buaway ap Smething 'Twuledn't insaeto har bity pit tad lay ther loner al f roe te thigRsould cahtchis beat shrpo oe board his vrict n e happeomnous ite i-why,ub not that roivn't of b:oo And with that he thrust the Pool of Flame back into the leather bag and the bag into the depths of the kit. box; which he presently locked and noiselessly moved beneath his bed. After all of which he lay down and with another sigh slept tranquilly. CHAPTER Xi!!. Some time in the golden afternoor of the following day, the Pelicar weighed anchor and slouched with a loafish air out of the harbor of the Pirneus. "P.yn Bill 'Ole," the captain said be preferred to be called. And "Plain 1ill Hole!" mused the Irishman, lean. ing over the forward rail and sucking at a short black pipe. "Faith, not only plain, but even a trifle homely,' he amended judgmatically. "As for meself," he concluded later "I'm no siren in this rig." And he lifted his eyebrows, protruding his lower lip, as he glanced down over his attire. It was a strange rig for the O'Rourke to be in: an engineer's blue jumper, much the worse for wear, and a pair of trousers whose seat, O'Rourke' maintained, was only held together by its coating of dirt and grease. O'Rourke eyed this get-up with dis dain. "Fortunately," he comforted himself, "'twon't be forever I'll be wearing it." In the present instance, the dis guise was held an advisable thing, since O'Rourke was officially register ed on the ship's books as assistant en gineer. The Pelican carried no li cense for passengers, and in view of his avowed purpose it was deemed unwise for the Irishman to risk de tection by appearing "too tony" (an expression culled from the captain's vocabulary). Otherwise, it was understood that his duties were to consist of the pur suit of his own sweet will, that he was to occupy a stateroom aft, and that he was to mess at the captain's table. On an evening, some nine or ten lays after he had left Athens, )'Rourke at the forward rail saw the m. 1:w 1rofile of Egypt edge up out -n- ct^nor a,. form, made out palms and the wird mills, the light-house and Pompey's pillar; and knew that he was close upon his journey's end. Her winches rattled cheerfully as the Pelican dropped anchor, but O'Rourke did not move. There would be no going ashore, he knew, until Hole was ready, and that would be when the customs officials had paid him a call and the usual courtesies had been exchanged. The Irishman had no need to be in haste to change from his present garb to one that better suited him. So he lolled upon the rail and regarded with a kindling eye the harbor views. He rnopppd his brow, simply (as be fitted one bf his apparent station in life) with the back of a hand, and stood erect, exulting in the scent, the Indescribable, impalpable, insistent odor of the East that is forgotten of none who had ever known it. The hot wind drove it gustily in his face, and he sniffed and drew great lungfuls and was glad. "'Tis good!" he said simply. And, a bit later, while on the short-line the brazen arcs were beginning to pop out silently: "There's the customs boat. I'm thinking I'll slip below." No lamps had yet been lighted be low, but O'Rourke knew the way to his room. He entered and shut the door. The afterglow of the sunset, entering through the porthole, ren dered the little coop light enough for his purpose. Dropping to his knees, the Irishman pulled his kit-box from beneath the bunk. The lid came up freely as he touched it. For a full minute he did not breathe. Then, in ominous si lence, he bent and examined the lock. The First Officer's Fist Caught O'Rourke Just Under the Ear. It became immediately evident that his memory had not tricked him; the trunk was locked, as he had left it that morning. But the clasp had yielded to a cold chisel. It was hardly worth the trouble, still O'Rourke rummaged through the contents of the box, assuring himself that the chamois bag was gone. So far as he could determine then, noth ing else had been taken. He shut down the lid and sat down to think it out, eyes hard, face grimly expressionless, only an intermittent nervous clenching and opening of his hands betraying his gathering rage and excitement. At length he arose, determination in his port. One phrase alone escaped him: "And not a gun to me name!" Hie went on deck. Kready the trop i night had closed down upon the harLor, blau it was~ easy enough to lo cat captmai. amd first officer, still waTing af the gangway. From over side arose the splutter of a launch-a raucous sound, yet one that barely rip pled the surface of O'Rourke's con sciousness. He stepped quickly to the captain's side and touched him gently on the arm. "Captain," he said quickly, "I'll be asking the favor of a word with ye in private." Hole caught the gleam of the Irish man's eye in the lamplight and stepped back a pace. "Get forrard," he said curtly. "Carn't you see the customs officer coming' aboard? I'll see you later." "Ye will not. Ye'll hear me now, captain-" Hole backed further away. "Wot!" he barked hoarsely, raising his voice. "Wot! I'll show you 'oo's master aboard this ship. Get forrard to your quarters! S'help-me-gawd!" he ex ploded violently. "'Oo ever heard the like of it ?" O'Rourke stepped nearer, his fists closing. "Drop that tone, ye scud!" he cried. "D'ye want me to spoil your little game?" The shot went home. The captain gasped, and in the darkness O'Rourke fancied he lost a shade or two of his ruddy color. "Wotcher mean?" he demanded, low ering his tone. "I mean," replied O'Rourke in a quick whisper, ",that the Egyptian cus toms officer is at the side. Return what ye've stolen from me this day,, or I'll tell the whole harbor what ye've been up to! And, if ye want me to be more explicit, perhaps the word 'hashish' will refresh your mem ory!" "I'll talk to you later-" "Ye'll give me back me property this minute or-" O'Rourke was at the rail in a stride. "Shall I tell him?" he demanded. A swift step sounded beside him. He turned an instant too late, who had reckoned without Dennison. As he moved to protect himself the first of. ficer's fist caught the Irishman just under the ear. And one hundred and seventy-five pounds of man and malice were behind it. O'Rourke shot intc the scuppers as though kicked by a mule, struck his head against a piece of iron work and lay still, half stunned, shutting his teeth savagely upon a moan. Hole and the first mate stood over him, and the captain's voice, guarded but clear enough, came to his ear: "You'll lie there, me man, and not so much as a whimper till I give you leave. Take 'eed wot I says. Mr. Dennison 'ere is goin' to clean 'is re volver." O'Rourke lay silent, save for his quick breathing. The first officer, grinning malevolently, sat down near at hand, keeping a basilisk eye upon the prostrate man while he fondled an able-bodied, hammerless Webley. Hole moved off towards the gang way, whence his voice arose, an in stant later, greeting his visitor.. The latter put a hurried question, which O'Rourke did not catch, but the cap tain's reply was quick- enough: "Only a mutinous dorg of a deck 'and. Wanted shore leave and refused to go forrard when ordered. 'E ain't 'urted none. Mr. Dennison 'ere just gyve 'im a tap to keep him quiet." The Irishman swore beneath his breath and watched the first officer. The light from 'the lantern at the gangway glanced dully upon the pol sned barrel. of the revolver, and the gleaming line was steadily directed towards O'Rourke's head. Upon re consideration he concluded to lie still, to wait and watch his opportunity; or the present, at least, he was in disposed to question Dennison's wil lingness to use the weapon. O'Rourke was to be kept quiet at all hazards, and he knew It full well; for once he conceded discretion the better part of valor, and was patient. (TO BE CONTINUED.) STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. COUNTY OF NEWBERRY. COURT OF COMMON eLEAS. The Newberry Savin.gs Bank, Plain tiffs, vs. Frank G. Spearman, Jr., and John R. Spearman, Defendants. By an order of the Court herein I will sell to the highest bidder before the court house at Newberry, S. 0., within the legal hours of sale on Mofi day, February 5, 1912, all the interest and estate of Frank G. Spearman, Jr.. in all that tract or pla~Tgtion of land situate, lying and being in the Coun ty of Newberry, State of South Caro lina, containing three hundred and forty-seven (347) acres, mnore or less, and 'bounded by lands of Mrs. Fannie Maffett, A. J. S. Langford, Thomas Henry Spearman, and Sallie R. Hud son, (formerly J. S. Spearman, J. . Spearmuan and G. C. Williams.) Also all the interest and estate in all that other tract or . plantation of land lying and being situate in the county of Newberry, State of South Carolina, containing two hundred and forty (240) acres, more or less, and bounded by lands of, or formerly of, Will Sanders, Charlotte, V. Spearman, and others, being sometimes known as Little River Place, of the late John R. Spea.rman, the said interest in said. lands, both tracts, being derived un der the terms of the last will and tes tament of the late John R. Spearman, deceased, the grandfather of the de fendant Frank G. Spearman, Jr. Terms of sale: One-halt the pur-1 chase money to be paid in cash, the talance on credit of twelve months. the credit portion to be secured by the bond of the purchaser and a mortgage of the premises sold with interest at the rate of 8 per cent. per annum, and in case said bond :nd mortgage is col lected by suit or put in the hands of an attorney for collection, 10 per cent. must be added to the amount due thereon, as attorney's fee. The pur chaser may pay all his bid in cash it he so desires. Purchaser to pay for' papers and recording of same. H. H. RIKARD, Master. Master's Office, Jan. 8, 1912. ROUND TRIP WINTER TOURIST FARES NOW IN EFFECT --via SOUTHERN RAILWAY-"PREMIER CARRIER OF THE SOUTH." Tickets on sale daily including April 30, 1912, with final limit returning May 31, 1912. For complete information as to schedule, sleeping car service, etc., call on nearest Southern Railway ticket agent, or F. L. Jenkins, T. P. A., Augusta, Ga. J. L. Meek, A. G. P. A., Atlanta, Ga. Wood's Seeds For 1912. Our New Descriptive Cat4 is fully up-to-date, and tells about the best Garden and farm Seeds. Every farmer and garden should have a copy of this cata log, which has long been recog nized as a standard authority, for the full and complete infor mation which it gives. We are headquarters for Grass and Clover Seeds, Seed. Potatoes, Seed Oats, Cow Peas, Soja Beans and all Farm Seeds. Wood's Descriptive Catalog mnaled free on request Write for it. T. W. WOOD G SONS, Seedsmen, - Richmond, Va. Attacks School Principal. A severe attack on school principal, Chas. B. Allen, of Sylvania. (Ga., Is thus told by him. -"For more than three years..' he writes, "I suffered indescri bable torture from rheumatism, liver and stomach trouble and diseased kid neys. All remedies failed till I used Eletric Bitters, but four bottIp~s of this wonderful remedy cured me com pletely." Such results are common. Thousands bless them for curing stom ach trouble, female complaints, kid ney disorders, billiousness, and for new health and vigor. Try them. Only 50c. at W. E. Pelham's. 0CoFFEE Good withiiQdeici ous with pure swe2h cream. Blends.perfeet-5 ywiheither losing * nypat of its flavor. *It'sguaranteedAto7 p lease. Triy it. TEACHERS' EXAINiA'TION. An extra teachers' examination will be .held at the court house, Friday, January 12, 1912, beginning at 9 a. w. and closing at 4 p. m. The examlina ton questions .will be based on the recently adopted text books. Those who are now teaching without a cer tificate are requested to stand this OK amination. J. S. Wheeler, County Superintendent of Education. Special-The Herald and Ne'ws,$IM