Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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I The Pc-sl i of Flame i i'?w?i i By j! ; LCUIS JOSEPH VANCE i j I! : L> ? I!It:*trr lions by r. V.worf> Yon.'.4. ! .! .! ; ! >-1 i. . CoiO .t If..1, CHAPTER XXVI. It was night when O'Rourke awoke; oe found himself staring wide-eyed at the ceiling of the stateroom. uj\ a which rippled wavering lines o: lig.it reflected through the porthole by ..e waters without. His mind for e time was a blank; he was merely conscious that he was rested and wry thirsty, and that the ship was motionless. Then in a blinding flash memory returned to him. lie rose, curiously light-headed and strangely weak, pushed open the door and stepped into the saloon. It Ti-nc Hirt Tt-r? it i>nMrlv hv rt n'.-v ?v " ..e.4ivv*, V kerosene lamp dependent from a her,a above the center-table. and wore a hollow, dingy air of desolation for all that Danny slept there, his vivid head pillowed on arms crossed before Lim on the table. The ship was utterly .-1lent, and the O'Rourke's sensitive tinct told him that it was tenanted only by himatlf and the servant. He clapped a hand on Danny's ehoulder and shook him into wakefulness. The boy leapt to his feet wnii a cry and, seizing O'Rourke's hand. : egan to sob upon it?a touching but disconcerting performance, to the last degree exasperating to a man thirsting and famished. O'Rourke, as gently as he could, disengaged his hand and thrust Lauuy away, at the same time indicating in no uncertain tones that lie preferred meat and drink to emotional crisis. Provided with a duty. Danny's sentimental nature was diverted; he bust-, led away and returned with an excellent cold meal?sandwiches, a saiad, cheese, and other edibles upon a tr. y graced likewise oy a bottle 01 cnampagne. And you are to believe that the master fell to and wolfed it ail, to the last crumb and the last dr'>p. A new man, refreshed, he demanded a pipe, and. with his head cocked 0:1 one side and something of his old humor twinkling in his eye, what time It was not clouded with bewilderment and concern at the answers he received, cross-examined his valet. "How long," was his first question, , "will I have slept now, Danny ye ! divvle?" "Wan complete round av the clock, 1 yer honor." "Where are we'," ' "At anchor, sor, off the Fort in Bom- | bay harbor." "Uram-hm. I'm by way of remembering something of that. What of the captain?" "Raymoved, yer honor, to a hortepittle ashore, sor, to con-valesce. At laste. I'm thinking thot's the v.ord j 1 the doctor used, sor." O'Rourke pulled at his cigar, regarded regretfully the empty glass he- , fore him. and with some visible reluct- j ance put the question that, more than j aught else, he had wished to put ever ince he had eaten. ; "And Mrs. Prynne?" "Aw. yer honor'." "What's the matter, Danny?" "Sure, sor, and axin' yer pardon for jpakic' so. and manin' no manner of disrnyspict whatsoever?" "What the divvle. Danny!" Danny drew himself up with an air, bristling indignation. "Sure, and 'tis meself never seen the loike av thirn wltLCiln for rank ingratichude, sor. And afther all thot meself had said to thot black-eyed Fricch vixen?" "Danny!" "No, sor, not wan word av ut will I widdror, not if yer honor discharges me wid me usual month's notice, oor, this minute. Faix, didn't 1 see? No more and the anchor was down, sor, and yersilf did to the worrld in yer berth, sor, thin thin: two does be after hailln' a boat and intendin' to go ashore, widout so much as a fare-yewell, and me meanin' the most honorable intintions in the world toward the maid?" * Have your intentions ever been aught else toward any woman ye ever won a smile from, spalpeen?" "Aw, now, yer honor?" "Get on with your story. What about Mrs. Prynne?" demanded O'Rourke, eyeing his servant curiously and trying to fathom his but half-disguised and wholly awkward air of selfesteem. Plainly the boy thought highly of himself because of something he had accomplished, some exploit of prowess or stroke of diplomacy as yet undisclosed. I"Ylssor. ... I was tellin' ye it Beemed to me the height of maneness she was displavin', nia'nln' this same Mrs. Prynne, whin 'twas mesilf knew, none betther, how much ye've laid out on her account and hersilf not waitin' to settle up wid ye?" "What hiialnpss was that of voure?" " 'Twas none, sor. But yersllf had keeled over and was did to ivrythlng,, and what am I for If not to look out; for ye at such times? .... Sor I'm aither sthoppin' thim two just as ihev would be lavin' their staterooms, and sz'I, 'Missus Prynne,' sz'I, 'me masther's compliments and he'd like a worn! wid vees before ye'r? gone entirely ' And 'What's this?" sz'she wid a fine show c: surprise?the uayceytful huzzy!?though I'm watehin' her and thiukin" she was frightened about somethiu', from the white turn av the face av her. Sz'she: "Tis in tho divvle's own hurry l air. the minute.' or worrds to the same iffici. Sz'she: 'Ar.d phwat will he be wantin* av me?' 'A mcniiut's conversation wid ve,' sz'I. And sz she: 'I've no time. Let n.e i> iss.' 'I ll be doing." sz'I, 'nawthin' like ihot." for be now I'm thinkin' there's somethin" deeper behint her fluster and Hurry ihin a mere desire to bilk ye?n'rhaps 'twas tlii- tiling intoo-ishum I've beard ye mintion. And the next niinlt I'm sure av ut, for she goes white as snow in the face and the eyes of her begins to burn like told grar.e lire and she screams to C'eciie for help and is afther whipping Dut a gun to blow me out av her way wid; hut 'tis raesilf 'hot's bo way av bein' too quick for her and takin' the pistol away; and be the mercy av the Saints .Misther Dravos hears the shindy and hops down just in time to snatch another gun out 01 the hand av that same Cecile, and he grabs the gurl and turns her into a stateroom and shuts the dure on her and?" "And."' interrupted O'Kcurke in a black rage, rising aiid turning back his sleeves?"And now I'm going 10 give ye the father and mother of all thrashings, ye insolent puppy! How dare ye lay hands on a lady " "Ow, murther!" chattered the boy, leaping away. "Be aisy, yer honor, , and hear me out, for 'tis thin ye'll not be blainin' me. but If ye do I'll take the bat in' widout a worrd. sor." "Very well." assented O'Rourke ominously. "But be quick about it, for I'm mistrustful o: ye altogether. Get on, ye wneip: Danny placed the table between them with considerable expedition. ' Aw, listhen now," he pleaded. "While Misther Dravos was 'tendln' to Cecile, this Missis Prynne was scrappiu' like a wildcat, scratching and bitin', and 'tis all I can do to kape her by wrappin' me arms tight about her and holdin' her so. and I'm makin' a grab at her waist whin be accident like what do I catch hold av but something uni iernathe as big as a hin's egg?a stone she's carryin' round her neck, the same as yer honor did wid the Pool as Flame; and be the feel av ui ut's the same entirely; and thin I'm sure 'tis the same and thot some sculduggery's be way av bavin' been put upon ye." "What the divvle!" "Wan momint more. . . . Now in flghtin* wid me the collar av her waist has come unfastened and meself can see the string av ribbon that's holding the thing there. So I sez to mesilf, sz'I, ' 'Tls strange enough to bear investieatin'.' sz'I. 'an' I'll be ye he'd taken measuremints av the i stone and made a uax mould av ut, so thot whin he failed to kill yersilf and had got his strength back, he wint : to Paris and had an imitashun av ut made there?somehow be fusing chare stones together and all thot, I belave. i 'Twas ixpinsive an' him tight up for ; money, so he takes Missus Prynne in, to partnership and she puts up the cash. Thin?they've been watchln' yersilf all the time, sor?they sets : Cap'n Hole onto ye to get the stone 1 away, and he does It like ye know, j Afther ye escaped from the Pelican, ! he goes ashore and mates the lady takin' a cbanst at this if the masther do be afther flayln' me alive. So I calls Misther Dravos and gets him to hould her fast while I takes out me knife and cuts thot ribbon and pulls the thing out widout any immodesty whatever; and there on thot ribbon is a chamois-case, all sewed up, and I'm rlppin' it opon an' finding?this!" "God in Heaven!" cried O'Rourke, stupefied and agape; for Danny, having worked up to his climax, had dramatically whipped from his pocket and cast upon the table between them the Pool of Flame. He looked up, blind to the glee and triumph in Danny's face. "How did ye come be this?" he demanded, speaking slowly and steadily, as one who, having drunk more than enough, listen- to his own enunciation to detect in it tne slur that liquor brings. "I mear.?I mean?how could ye have taken this from the woman when it lay all the time at the bottom of the sea?six hundred miles and more behind us?" "Ask Misther Dravos if ye do not ! belave me. sor. How would I be havtn' it at all. wldout I got it like I've told ye? . . . Tis the real Pool of Hame ye're handlin'; that's sure. T'other one?the stone the serang flur.g into the say, sor, was a counterfeit." "How do ye know that?" 'Aisly enough, yer honor; be puttin* : the maid Cecile on the witness stand. Twas this way: I tuk the stone from Missus Prynne and Misther Dravos and ntesilf locked her in her cabin. Thin afther talkin' things over we let Cecile out and be dint av threats and persuashicns, got her to tell what she knew." "Go on." "She sez thot Frinchman ye kilt back there in Algiers, sor, is at the bo'tom av it all, only he's not did because ye didn't make a clane Job av ut, but lift him wid the laste susphleion av the breath av life in the body av him." "I was afraid cf that," nodded O'Rourke. "The next time we meet, I Des Trebes and I, there'll be no mistake about it." i "She sez thot befure he fought wid at nor notei ana daylivers the ston? to her, getting his pay and the imita6hun into the bargain, he insistin' on thot because he knows ye ll be cornin' back for the Pool av Flame, and he's afraid av ye?afraid ye'll kill him if he cant, turn over a ruby to ye like the ws.n he stole. So 'twas the faked st? ::e we tuk from him thot same night and the same we brought aboard the Kanoe and the same the serang J sthole from ye." "1 U gin to see. But how about the s< r. What did Cecile have to say in explanation of him?" "Si.e < uldn't account for him at all, sc. save thot raebbe the natives in Re: ^oon had somehow got wind av the tact that the stone was comin' 1 uk and a gang av thitn set out to s t;.i. ur. She sez Missus Prynne niver cud account for the way they discovered she bau ut, but they seemed : to know pretty certain sure, sor, for j ye'll leoaii they niver bothered ye at ] all at first, and 'twas only be charist, like, thot the serang got the imitashun from ye." "But what about Des Trebes? Did the maid say?" "No more than he'd been lift in Paris, sor." "And what 'ev ye don^ with the two j of them, Mrs. Prynne and the inaid? ] Arc thev still locked un safelv?" tnis morn we nit in itanee, son i . . . Thin yestiddy was Wednesday." | "And today Thursday, be logical progress of reasoning, eh?" "Aw, yiss, sor." "And what's the time?" j Danny consulted ORourke's watch on the bureau. "A quarter av twilve." "Then bestir yourself, ye lazy goodfor-nothing. and pack up me things." "Aw!" cried Danny, expostulant. "Our train leaves at two. Ye have an hour and a half." "Aw, but yer honor, is ut no rlst at 1 all we'll iver be havin'?" "Ye can rest on the train," said O'Rourke. "I've just ten days left in which to reach Rangoon, where I've an appointment to keep with a lady, Danny, to wit, Madame O'Rourke. D'ye mind ber, and do ye blame me, Danny?" Danny became suddenly extraordinarily busy. "Why did ye not say as much to begin with, yer honor?" he complained. "As if I wouldn't work me hands to the stumps av thim. . . " 'Tis now Thursday noon," continued O'Rourke thoughtfully. "The two o'clock train's scheduled to laDd us in Calcutta at ten Saturday night. ' At eight Sunday morning a steamer , leaves Diamond Harbor for Rangoon, scheduled for a fair-weather passage j ci tnree aays. t nat ii leave ua a mtie leeway, barring accidents. But we've no time to waste." "But how'll we be catching thot steamer at Di'mind Hart jr. sor? How far's that from Calcutta, now, an' will there be thrains at that tour av the night?" "That's to be dealt with as it turns up, Danny. There's only forty miles between the two places, and if there's no train, we'll charter a motor-car or a boat down the Hughli. . . The latter expedient O'Rourke finally adopted, although he could have afforded a comfortable night in a ho- j tel at Calcutta, had he deemed it wise. ; But in the fifty-six hours of unmitigated sweltering that he and Danny endured in their flight across India he had leisure to think matters over very carefully, with the result that, all j things considered, he felt justified in assuming the world to be in league against him and in shaping his course accordingly. Therefore it were unwise to permit himself to be seen and j recognized in Calcutta, or even to linger on the soil of India an instant longer than absolutely necessary. Within an hour, then, of his arrival at Howraa, he had, by dint of persistence and rupees, succeeded in hiring a launch to take him from the terminus by water to the steamer at Dlfr 1 mond harbor? (TO BE CONTINUED.) I Dr. Miles' Antl-Paln Pills relieve pain. "Divvle a bit, yer honor. 'Twas ira- 1 possible to kai>e them so, Dravos said, J wid Missus Prynne threatening to yell ! bloody murther out av the poort and 1 kick up such a row thot the authori- ' ties wud be down on us?if we didn't I let her go. Besides, we'd got what we 1 wanted out av her, and pwhat was thf i use av holdin' her anny longer?" "So ye let them go?" "Yissor." "1 could kill ye for it," said O'Rourke, "and Dravos, tocy for there's a deal of matters I'd like to *>e inquiring into with the lady this . nlessed minute. But, Danny boy, mere's nothing in the world I can't forgive ye now, for what ye've done for me. and 'twill be a strange thing if T dfin't corvo va VnmlcnmoK' I come into a fortune. . . . Now don't be standin' there like a ninny, but be off with ye and pack me things before I lift me hand to ye. 'Tis in haste we are?with Des Trebes alive and Mrs. Pryr.ne on the loose; and there'll be no such thing as rest for either of us until we reach Rangoon." CHAPTER XXVII. "Danny ..." said O'Rourke without looking up from the occupation which had engrossed his attention1 for the last three hours; and for the firet time in that period he spoke audibly, making an end to the mumbled confabulation he had been holding with himself, a Murray's Guide, a I Rradshaw, an Indian railway guide, several steamship folders and a large colored map of the Indian empire. "What day's this day, Danny?" Danny thought laboriously. " 'Twas indigestion]' B causes heartburn, sour ? stomach, nervousness, K j B nausea, impure blood, and fif ; H more trouble than many { IIUSI sign ut iiiuigcduun, iiy rc | Tiiediord's J BlaGk-Draugtitl the o!d, reliable, vegetable S liver powder, to quickly gj cleanse your system from ? these undesirable poisons, n Mrs. Riley Laramore, of 0 Goodwater, Mo., says: "I n suffered for years from dyspep- d sia and heartburn. Thedford's JP Black-Draught, in small doses, cured my heartourn in a few M , days, ana now 1 can eat without ' distress." Try it. S Insist on Thedford's J despatch. :: As home dealers, guaranteeing quality and prices, % We Solicit Your Patronage NEAR THE RAILROAD ST \TION 1 1-4-tf ncss often results. The advice of all physicians "keep your bowels clean," and it's good advice. Dr. Miies' Laxative Tablets are sold by all druggists, at 25 cents a box containing 25 doses. If not 1 found satisfactory, your money is i returned. MILES MEDICAL CO., Elkhart, Ind. 7 BEWARE OF MALARIA. I Malaria?Chills and Fevers?common complaints among people living in the , Southeastern States, can be effectively relieved in the shortest possible time by It. L. T.?Richardson's Laxative Tonic. This prescription has been used thirtyfive years by Dr. Richardson, of Anderson, S. C., in bis daily practice as a family physician, and has behind it thousands of testimonials from many prominent South I Carolinians and citizens of other neighbor- I ing states. R. L. T. is a wonderful cor- ' rector of liver troubles and the greatest tonic on the market today. You can absolutely rely on it in any case of chills and fever or malarial poison, constipation or biliousness. it any memoer 01 your iumny ureu a \ tonic that strengthens and builds, go to your druggist today and get a fifty-cent or n dollar bottle of R. L. T., and watch the quick, steady improvement. If your druggist can't supply you write R. L. T. Co., Anderson, S. C. 11 Ft. L.T. : | The Best Liver Medicine j IBr MOST PERFECT TONIC ii i jj 50c ?$!.90 per Bottle. All Drag Stores. S nl.'JE 1. IMWIIIII IIBW? ? | WATTS A WATTS THE KINGSTREE JEWELERS We keep on hand everything to be found in an up-to-date jewelry house Repairing and engraving drmp with neatness and Constipation, if Neglected, Causes Serious Illness Constipation, if neglected, leads to almost innumerable complications affecting the genera! health. M'.'v cases of 1 ?(1 Iever' ^ appendicitis and $9 other severe dis1 ^TVr^V; , cases arc trace'v . * ;.--k able to prolonged c 'J) clogging oi the \ bowels. Rcgard> J the effects of ! V- constipation, C. ; A -sS^ 9 E. Aycrs, 6 Sabin I ^ St., Montpelicr, > 1 Vt.f says: \V * *Jf '/W''?/'. "I was afflicted \ i jjtf A >,[' i with constipation | iJKfi an| t?iiousne.-3 for ! years, and at times became so bad I , would become unconscious. I h.ive been ! found In t'.iat condition many tiu?vJ. I Physicians did not se.m to be able to | do mo any good I would become | weak and for days at a time could do no work. Not long: ago I got a box of Dr. Miles' I-axative Tablets, and after using them found I had never , tried anything that acted in such a mild pnd effective manner. I believe I have at last found the remedy that suits my case." Thousanrls of people are sufferers j from habitual const'pation and | while possibly realizing something of the danger of this condition, yet neglect too long to employ proper I curative measures until serious ill- i I The Fall Ter t HKOSTREE 6RADEB A a j Will Bej I September I I ? All departmen in Good Work j Parents who intend entering I will please do so during i fu t v f Patrons and friends ot the S; to visit the school at an / .me. Any further infor.i at applying 10 J. W. Swittenberg, Superintend it. Kingstree, I v-fnrt. jkinr r IaqRougi -< neween North jind Florida? (A passenger service un and comfort,equipped witf Dining, Sleeping and Tho For rates, schedule, ma * tion, write to | VVM. J. CK Why suffer thei Aches and Protect your family?your loved Have in your home a bottle of I* single preparation any family can It is a Pain Remedy as well as application. Can be taken safely for co diarrhoea, etc. Noah's Liniment is a fine pre; coughs, colds, asthma and tootha Noah's Li for rheumatism, stiff joints, neu sprains, sore muscles and aches ai kinds There is no better remedy. Be ready for the ?mcr cncy by Liniment in your m ' ... closet t A1 Dcai x am ivc and sold by all dealers in medicii 25c., 50c., and $1.00. If it isn't satisfactory, go to y ask for the return of your money, we want you to have it. Made in Richmond, Va., by Noah R aarSold and guaranteed by Kingstree Let Us Print You Som< wxw. m.ttTSHSL'. s dJaaanRHaaei 3 ion may be had by E. V. Epps, Clerk Board of Trustees. S. C. I ;(0/t$T|lNE| having Noah's SB medy 811 ie ; three sizes, ?sfzzzr 9 m mrnmust VJ MMMslMi EH our dealer and SSrHHr K| It is yours and ^7mC fc|| ? wn aw ff?g emedy Company. IhnirrrtinP i Drug Co. and M. L. Allen e Office Stationery > t \ i .... ........ i IFAReofTR/IVEL (be? South - j Cuba. iexcelled for luxury V I the latest Pullman roughfare Cars, ips or any informaIA\G, Passenger Agent, Wilmington, N. C. ;e every day D/i I UlllO I ones?against them. Noah's Liniment, the best h^ve. i a Liniment for external lie. cramps, indigestion, ^ paration for sore throat, J che. Use [ iniment A iralgia, strains, ad pains of all ^ m of the aiiiOH SCHOOL ;in 10, 1912 ts are now i inir Order. I ^ their children in ihe school reek of the fall term. hool are cordially invited "