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0 ! ii f ffSTO * ;i I j 111? L C^i j: i j ?? Flame j; ( jjk 11 j - i iv I - By j LCUIS JOSEPH VANCE f I =======:^==== t Illuitr*?I.-*-)* by *I*!swc-?h Yocrj? i i r .':i: ?r.- 7-; Oopjri.;Lt 1*/*, L>> ... i- .* -- ' -..t < SYNOPSIS. CHAPTER I.?The story opens at Monte Carlo with Col. Terence O'Rourke In his hotel. O'Rourke. a military free lance and something of a gambler, is dressing for appearance in the restaurant below when the sound of a girlish voica 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 CHAPTER II.?O'Rourke's mind la filled with thoughts of the girl, and when he goes to the gaming table he allows nis remarkable winnings to accumulate indifferently. He notices two men watching him. One is the Hon. Bertie Glynn, while his companion Is Viscount Des Trebes. a noted duelist. When O'Rourka leaves the table the viscount tells hlin he represents the French government and | that he has been directed to O'Rourke as a man w'10 would undertake a secret mission. v. CHAPTER til. r- if**'"" -. a A As he stepped out of the lift Colonel CRourke remarked & light In his room, visible through the transom orer the door. "The ?emtne de cbambre," he1 thought. "Sure and the poor thing's ! still busy trying to clear up. , , 1 t To the contrary, he found the doer fast. " 'Tie careless she was to leave i uuati; ttivvt UM*4 ? w.~ ? addresses?"C. of lime. O'Rourke, Hotel CirJJon, London," The London postmark was indecipherable. . . . * He found himself trembling violently. By one hand alone could this have reached blra, 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 on the door; he Bmotbered 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 ~ SB! The Frenchman Rose, Offering Him the Envelope. Qve minutes," when Dee Trebes himself appeared. "Anticipating that message, monsieur," he said, moving into, view from one side of the door, "I took the liberty of aooompanying this boy. I am late, I fear." OTtourke forced a nod and smile of welcome. "Not to my knowledge," said he. The Frenchman consulted hit watch. the light on," he observed, fitting h!s ' key in the lo?k, ... thoyghtTes^'in that one way, the ' woman had fulfilled the letter of her ' word in the other. It was with comprehensive relief (since he anticipated a caller) that he found the room once again presentable. But one thing surprised him; and more surprising still was the fact that his ordinarily Indifferent eye should have detected It at the first glance. He had Indeed hardly entered before he became aware of a square of white paper tucked In the corner of the bureau mirror. /llrrlo nnw'" Vio ppontnd It "That's curious. . . . Could one of me many admirers have bribed the femme de chambre id bring a note to me?" He chuckled, holding to the light a much soiled envelope, grimy with the r.:;-.:-ks of many fingers, plastered with stamps and black with postage marks and substltate addresses, having evidently been forwarded over half the world before it reached the addressee: who was, U a bold hand, "Colonel Terence O'Rourke." He whistled low over this, examining it intently, infinitely less concerned with Its contents than with the manner by which it had reached him. The first postmark seemed to be that of Rangoon, the original address, the Cercle Mllltalre, bis club in Paris. Thence, apparently, It had sought him In G&lw&y, Ireland, Dublin, Paris again, awJ flwallv half a HnTPfl nthpr 'Ten n-.lnutes late, monsieur; It Is tec past midnight" "Then," said O'Rourke, "the top o the morning to ye. Enter, monsieur." He stood aside, closing the door be Qim his guest. " 'Tis no matter; 11 t thought ye punctual, 'tis so ye are to all Intents and purposes. . . , A chair, monsieur." He established Des Trebes by a window. "And a cigarette? ... A drop to drink? ... As ye will. . . . And since tis to talk secret business that we're here?would ye like the door locked?" "That is hardly essential!" Des Tre bes reviewed his surroundings with ewift, searching glance. "We are at [east secure from interruption; one could ask little more." "True for ye." laughed O'Rourke. He moved toward the alcove. "Now first 3t all I'm to submit proofs of me identity, I believe," he added, intending to out of his trunk a dispatch-box containing his passports and other papers of a private nature. But Des Trebes had changed hi? mind. "That is unnecessary, monsieur. Your very willingness Is sufficient proof. I have your word and am content" "That's the way of doing business that I like," assented O'Rourke heart11 v warmine a little to the man as hs turned back a chair facing the vicomte. "Besides, I quarrel with no man's right to be reasonable. . . . And now I'm at your service, monsieur." Des Trebes, lounging back, knees crossed, thin hlte fingers Interlacing, black eyes narrowing, regarded the Irishman thoughtfully for a moment. Abruptly be sat up and removed from an inner pocket a long thin white envelope, thrice sealed with red wax and Innocent of any superscription whatever. "Are you prepared, monsieur," he demanded incisively, "to play blindman's buff?" "Am I what?" asked O'Hourke, startled. Then he smiled. "Pardon; perhaps I fail to follow ye." "I mean." explained the vicomte patiently, "that I have to offer you a commission to act under sealed orders"?he tapped the envelope?"the orders contained herein." "And when would 1 be free to open that?" rAs soon as you are at sea?away from France. Monsieur." O'Rourke considered the envelope doubtfully. "From you. monsieur?from the Government of France, which you represent," he said at length, "yes; I will accept such a commission. France," he averred simply, "knows tt Tvnn'iln't .iskinc mp to do anything a gentleman shouldn't." "You may feel assured of that." agreed Dea Trebes gravely. "Indeed, I venture to assert you will find this? let us say?adven'ure much to your liking. . . . Then you accept?" "One moment?a dozen questions, by your leave. . . . Y.'hon n: .^t I start V "Tomorrow morning by the Oote d'Azur Rapide, at ten minutes to eight." "And where will I be going?" "First to Paris; thence to Havre; thence, by the first available steamer, to New York; finally, it may be to Venezuela, monsieur." "Expenses?" "I will myself furnish you with funds sufficient to finance you as far as New York. There our consul-general will provide you with what more you may require. It is essential that your connection with this affair shall be kept secret; should you draw on the government in this country, it would expose you to grave suspicions, per.bays to danger." "I understand that," assented the Irishman. "But to obviate all danger of mistake, would it not be well to have one of your trusted agents meet me on the steamer and provide me with whatever ye figure I might require? Tis barely possible your consul-general might not recognize me in New York. Why should he? I never heard his name, even." Des Trebes meditated this briefly. "It shall be as you desire, monsieur. It shall be arranged as you Buggest." "Finally, then, what is to be my recompense?" "That must depend. I am authorized to assure you that in no case will you receive less than twenty-five thousand francs; in event of a successful termination of your mission, the reward will bo doubled." " 'Tis enough," said O'Rourke with a 6igh; "I accept." The Frenchman rose, offering him the envelope. "You must pledge your self, monsieur, not to break these seals until you are at sea?" "Absolutely?of course." O'Rourke took the packet, weighed it curiously in his hand and scrutinized the seals. He remarked that they were yet soft and fresh; the wax had been hot within the half hour. "I will do myself the honor of meeting you at the train to see you off. monsieur," said Des Trebes. "At that time, also, will I provide you with the funds you require." "Thank ye." Their hands met. "Good night. Monsieur O'Rourke." "Good night. . . ." Half way to the door, Des Trebes paused. "Oh, by the way," he exclaimed carelessly, "I believe you are a friend of my old school-fellow, Chambret?mon cher Adolph?" " Tia so," assented the Irishman warmly. "The best of men?Chambret!" "Odd," commented the vicomte; "only this afternoon I was thinking of him, wondering what had beooma of the man." The last I heard of him, be was in Algeria, monsieur?with some Trench tocoe in the desert" 1 'Thank you . . On the poin of leaving the vicomte snapped hii teeth on a second "Good night," an< swore beneath his breath. O'Rourke, surprised, stared. Tin Frenchman was standing stiffly at at > tention, as if alarmed. His pallor was if possible, increased, livid?his close L ly shaven beard showing blue-black or his heavy jowls and prominent chin His eyes blazed, shifting from the al cove to O'Rourke. 1 "Monsieur?" he demanded harshly "what does this insult mean?" "Mean?" Iterated O'Rourke. "Insult' Faith, ye have me there." Speechless with rage, Des Trebes ges ' tured violently toward the alcove; anc O'Rourke became aware that the cur i tains were shaking?wavering ai though a draught stirred them. Bu there was no draught And beneatl 1 their edge he saw two feet?two small bewitching feet in the daintiest and ' most absurd of evening slippers, wltt an inch or so of silken stockings show lng above each. Des Trebes' eyes, filled with an ex pression unspeakably offensive, mel the Irishman's blank, wondering gaze "It is, no doubt," the Frenchman stam mered, "sanctioned by your code tc have me spied upon by the partner ol your liaisons." "But, monsieur?" "I compliment the lady upon th? smallness of her feet, as well as upoc ankles so charmlnr that I cannot brim myself to leave without a glimpse ol their mistress' features." Dee Trebes moved toward the al cove. Thunderstruck, O'Rourke rap ped out a stupefied oath, then in a stride forestalled the man. With him It waa as if suddenly a circuit had closed in his intelligence, establlshini a definite connection between the thres ?now four? ?ost mystifying Incidents of the evening. "Less hast* monsieur,1u he couii seled in a voice of ice. His hand fell wi,h almost paralyzing force upon the other's wrist aa he sought to grasp the curtain, and swung him roughly back. "Yourself will never know who'i 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 from the back. The briefest of struggles ensued. The Frenchman, taken at a complete disadvantage, was for all his resistance hustled to the doer and thrown through it before he fairly comprehended what was happening. Free at length, if on a'.l 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?" demanded the Irishman as the vicomte, blindel with passion, seemed about to renew the attack. "Or are ye wishfyl o be going downstairs in the same "r.s-h'on?" ( 1 " vbes drew back, 6narlinf, i "You dog!" he cried Then abrupt ly, by an admirable effort, he calmed himself Surprisingly, drawing himsell up with considerable dignity and throt , tling his temper as he quietly adjust-J jU/mi/Iavi a# KU rOnthf n tr On 1V ' CU I li C UiOUt UC1 VI uio vtvvu?w0. ?... 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 >ou . . . 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 i Carlo before morning. Should you remain. or should you come within my neighborhood another time?at what, ever irie?I will kill you as I would a rabid cur?or cause you to be shot." "There's always the coward's alternatve," 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, parsed, and discharged a single pas seuger. As swiftly the cage disap peared. I Out of the corner or nts eye ' O'Rourke recognized the newcomer a? an old acquaintance, and his heart swelled with gratitude while a smile , of rare pleasure shaped Itself upon his lips. He had now the Frenchman l absolutely at his mercy. "Captain von Einem," he said i quickly, "by your leave, a moment ol your time." i The man paused stiffly, with the square-set and erect poise of an offlcei of the German army. "At your service Colonel O'Rourke," -he said In lmpet . cable French. But the Irishman had returned undl ,* vided attention to Des Trebes. "Mon sfeur," he announced, "your nose an ' noys me." And with that he shot out J a hand and seized the offensive mem I ber between a strong and capable ! thumb and forefinger. "It has annoy i ed me," he explained in parenthesis "ever since I first clapped me two eyes upon ye, scum of the earth that y? , are." And he tweaked the nose of Mon sieur le Viscomt? des Trebes, tweak ed it with a will and great pleasure tweaked it for glory and the Saints; carefully, methodically, even painstak tnelv he kneaded and nulled and twist ed It from Bide to side, ere releaa ing It Then stepping back and wiping hit ( fingers upon a handkerchief, he cock ed his head to one side and admired the result of his handiwork. "Tit an amazingly happy effect" he ob served critically?"the crimson blotci t i U muKe* against the chalky complexa i icri ye affect, Monsieur des Trebes. 1 . . . And now I fancy ye'll fight. V' ur friends may call upon mine here 9 ' ?Captain von Einera, with your per. n.'ssion." ( "Most happy, Colonel O'Rourke," as st :ited the German, blue eyes sparkling x ir. an immobile countenance. "I shall . | await the seconds of Monsieur des Tre. bt s in my rooms." The Frenchman essayed to speak, ; 1 choked with passion, and turning ab; rr.ptly, somewhat unsteadily descend* 1 ing the staircase. ! O'Rourke laughed briefly, offering . ! the German his hand. " 'Twas wonder1 I fully opportune, your appearance, cap. j tain dear," said he. "Thank ye from S ; ice uouum ui me ueu-ri. . . . aqq t now will ye forgive me excusing mei self until I hear from ye about the af, fair of the morning? I've a friend 1 waiting in me room here. . . . Pari don the rudeness." (TO BE CONTINUED.) Wood! Wood! Wood! See i 2-7-tf J C Kelley. 5 or 6 doses "666" will cure any > case of Chills and Fever. Price, 25c. * 5-4-lyr v/va/v/va/va/v/\a/va/\a'\a/\a^\a/\a/ | Accidents Will Happen And when they do?they hurt. HUNT'S LIGHTNING OIL Is the one Instantaneous relief and cure for all wounds, bruises, sores, i cuts, sprains and abrasions of the l skin. It forms an artificial skin [ covering, excludes the air instantly. stops pain at once. There ! are many oils, but none like HUNT'S. The action Is different, and the effect as well. I HUNT'S 1 Sdhtnind All > ?, ?) vriL. - I Always have It in the house. , Take it with you when you travel I ?you never can tell when HUNT'S LIGHTNING OIL may be most needed. 25cts and 50cts bot1 ties. A. B. RICHARDS MEDICINE CO. Sherman, Texas. I .1 /i\ ."Vn ' a.'v a' SOLD BY ' { Dr. W. V. Brocking'ton, Kingstree, S. C. Blakeley-racCullqug'h Co, Lanes. S. C. ?' a-??swa ' | Professional Cards. | H. G. A SKINS Attorney-at-L aw LaKe City - - S. C. Office up stairs in K of P Building. ! i DR. R. C. McCABE Dental Surgeon, )ffice in Hirsch buiHing, over Kinjrstree Drug 'Company's. PHILIP H. ARR0WSM1TH ATTORNEV-AT-LAW LAKE CITY, - - S. C. M. A. WOODS, DENTIST. Ofticm ov*r Sln^laUry Bld^< ^'PHONE NO. 62.# ! LAKE CITY, - S.C W. Leland Taylor, DENTIST. Office over Dr W V Brockingtou' s store, KINGSTREE, - S.C. ; 5-2i-tf. M. ID. Nearn ith ' DENTIST. . LAKK CITY, - - - S. C DR. R. J, MCCABE, Dentist. ; I KINGSTREE, . S. C . I Office Next to Court House Square. Benj. MclNNES, M. R. C. V. S. I B. Kater MclNNES, M. D..V.M. D. VETERINARIANS. ! One of us will be at Kingstree the first Monday in each month, at Hel' ler's Stables. 9-28-tf Kingstret CAMF NO- 27. REUt'LAII KEVTIKtil rlMaamt\i'^r<' ! | Visitinjf choppers co; 1 diallr invited to coin. >^J>iSC<ctt|VS^y up and sit on a stnn; I "WW or hams al>oiiton tl i limbs. >i Philip H. Stoll, I 27 12m. Con. Com l~|F Kofp." j \3y--~~fr ' Kingstree Lodge :i tffii' . ,No-.9l nntgnrs or yynya* " >55^ * Regular Conventions Every , 2nd and 4th Wednesday nlg^U Visiting brethren always welcome, [ Castle Hall 3rd story Gourd in Building. 1 R. N. Speigner, u C. i R. C. McCabe, K of R & S. :kley, i @ iskets Man ? @ I ?:?:?:@:@ ?:@:@:@:? k@:@ L. J. STA< ? ? The Coffins and Ci ? w offers his se @ | Day and ^ in the ? jS FIRST OFFICE OVER STACKLE1 ? ? Your* to Se: _ i L. J. STAC @ The Fall Terr KINGSTREE GRADED AN Began September All dermrtment in Good Workii Parents who intend entering tl will please do so during tiii first we Patrons and friends ol the Sch< to visit the school at an j .i.r.e. Any further infonratic applying to (J. W. Swittenberg, Superintendent. Kingstree, 8 aL ^ R Fresh Car of Horse v Will Arrive this1 R in and get Your < O YOURS TO PL R The Williamsburg: Live IQ Kin^stree, Sooth Ca l&oeooooooooo?xx j Go To S j WHEN YOU NEED ANYTHIN! A record of more than twer : (f "L- J Ufi'4-U n Vvnr\nV? r\f r? Ilinu liiiii. vv iLii a uunwii ui ii ^ on hand, he is always ready f< Also Feed and Live L J. L. Stuckey, NXXXXXXXXXXXXXJX I srvices ? night y ? \ f'S DRY 600DS GO.'S. ? @ 1 rve, J :kley. * :?:@:?:@:?:?:?:?:? j n of the d high school 18,1911 . <'}. |B s are now H ng Order. m| t \ ^ ^ . ? ieir children ia the school ( ;ek of the fall terrh. mmmmmmk?mm?mmm?m?mmmmm?mmmmrn . --i J jui are curuiauy mviteu ? n )n may be had by | E. C. Epps, . 11 Clerk Board of Trustees- \ X- V S. C. ;) ? . tuckey I 3 IN HORSEFLESH ity vears stands beice fiorses and mules , or a sale or a swap, ry Stables. . Lake City, S. C. . bestI Any Way * Ur You Look ^ At Them! ;s and Mules a Week. Come Q Choice. ft a m r\ XA3C y Stock Bompany a Tollna. Q . XXXXXXXXXXK - -