Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 279, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 November 1911 — The Pool of Flame [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Pool of Flame

By LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE

U i MMMfaMhrEamrftTwM I ■■ i| Oopyriehi 1808, by Louis Joseph Vance SYNOPSIS. .CHAPTER I —The atory opens at Monte Carlo with Col. Terence (TRourke 4- Kbit hotel. O'Rourke, a military free KZ,ATSSBSeA Mow when the sound of a girlish voice ■taxing attraets MI attention. Leaning ffi x.%ssrL&as. •H's-rsas te the corridor to *ee a neatly gowned form enter the elevator and pass from CHAPTER ll.—O’Rourke's mind is SHed with thoughts of the girl, and when he goes to the gaming table he allows hie remarkable winnings to accumulate indifferently. He notices two men watch* . Jh ~e his companion to Viscount Des Trebes. a noted duelist. When O'Rourke leaves the table the viscount tells him he iKnr , ft.*K.„ F s?sa„nr»,., , s a man who would undertake a secret mission. ■ ; CHAPTER 111. ■ As lie stepped out .of the lift Colonel room, risible through the transom over the door. , femme de chambre,” he thought. "Sure and the poor thing’s still busy trying to clefer up. , , ,” To the contrary, he found the door fast “ Tls careless she was to leave the light on.” he observed, fitting his key in the lock., * K thoughtless 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 Its bfdfoarlly 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. •The dlvvle, now!" he greeted it “That's curious. . . . Could one of me many admirers have bribed the femme de chambre to bring a note to me?” He chuckled, holding to the light a much soiled envelope, grimy with the marks of man r fingers, plastered with stamps and black with postage marks and substitute addresses, having evidently been forwarded over half the world before It ‘reached the addressee: who was, -r l« a bold hand. "Colonel Terence O'Rourke.” I 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 club |n Paris. Thence, apparently, it had sought him in Galway, Ireland. Dublin, Paris again, and finally—after half a dozen other addresses—“C. ofMme. O'Rourke, Hotel Carlton, London." The London postmark was indecipherable . . . He foun'd himself trembling violently.By one hat alone ebuld 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 on the) door;' he smothered a curse of annoyance, and went to answer, thrusting the letter Into his pocket. A page announced Monsieur le 7~ Comte des Trebes. - -- • “Show the gentleman up,” snapped O'Rourke. He was about to add. Tn

five ■ainutM,” when Dea Trebes himthat mesaage, mon aieur," h« Mid. moving Into view from one aide of the door, “f took the liberty of accompanying thia boy I ‘“’itourk* forced * nod and smile of “TenVhwtM tote, ssmslw; K to ton

fr.U 1 - A • ** r ’iur* <l I i "Than.** *4d o'Rowtw, “the top o’ the morning to ye. Stater, monsieur * He stood aside, closing the door bohim his guest. ”*Tlb no toatW: ft I thought ye punctual, *tls so ye are to ail intents and purposes. . A chair, monsieur” r Hb established Dec Trebes by a window. “And » dfarette?. . . A drop to drink? I. . A* ye win. ... And since tin to talk secret business that we’re here—would ye llko the door locked?” "That Is hardly essential!** Dos Tro* bes reviewed his surroundings with . wimi least secure from interruption; one could ask little acre.” "True for ye.” laughed O’Rourke. He moved toward the alcove. "Now first of all Pm to submit proofs of me identity, I believe,” he added. Intending to dig out of his trunk a dispatch-box containing Ms passports and other papers of a private nature. But Des. 'TreWa.-had changed his mind. “That is unnecessary, mansieur. Your very willingness is sufllclent proof. I have your word and am content" “That’s the way of doing business that I like,” assented O’Rourke heartily, warming a little to the man as he turned back a chair facing the vicomte. "Besides, I quarrel With no man’s"right to W reasonable. . . And now l*m at your service, monsieur.” Des Trebes, lounging back, knees crossed, thin white fingers interlacing, black eyes narrowing, regarded the Irishman thoughtfully for a moment. Abruptly he sat up and removed from an inner pocket a long thin white envelope, thrice wealed with red wax and innocent of any superscription whatever. ‘.’Are you prepared, monsieur,*' he man's buff?*’ "Am I what?" asked O’Rourke, 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." “Apd wbep would .1 be free to open that?”

“As soon as you are at spa—away from France, Monsieur.” O’Rourke considered the’ envelope doubtfully. “From you. monsieur—from the Government of France, which ybu represent," he said at length, “yes; wff? sMCgpt such k commission. France,” he averred simply, “knows” me; it wouldn’t be asking me to do anything a gentleman shouldn't” “You may teel assured of that,” agreed Des Trebes gravely. “Indeed, I venture to assert you will find this — ’et us say-adventure much to yous iking. . . . Then you accept?” “One moment —a *doxen questions, by your Leave. . . . When must 1 startr ' “Tomorrow morning by the Cote 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 bp 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 grpve suspicions, perhap» t<> danger,".

M 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 con-sul-general might not recognize me in New York. Why should he? I never heard his name, even.”

Des Trebes meditated thia briefly. “It shall'be as you desire, monsieur. It shall be arranged as you suggest.” “Finally, then, what Is to be my recompense?"

“That must depend. Lam authorised to assure you that in no case will you receive less than twenty-five thousand francs; tn event of a successful termination of your mission, the reward will be doubled.*’ “ *Tis enough," said O’Rourke with a sigh; “1 accept." The Frenchman rose, offering him the envelope. "You must pledge yourself, 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 yon with the funds you require." “Thank ye.” Their hands met • ’’ “Good night. Monsieur O'Rourke.** .Goodnight..!., : Half way to the door. Des Trebes paused. ”Oh, by the way,” he exclatmed eareleealy, “1 believe yon art a friend of my old school-fellow, Chambret—mon cher Adolph f “Tts so,** assented the Irishman warmly. “The best of mea—€hambretl" “Odd." commented the vicomte; “only this afternoon 1 was thinking of lim, wondering what bad become 'Ji a . -4- . vk-j#-- ~ BB P OPCOQid to gwoirp. bBBPMii Mb IwbMll

nslf tilnrmAd 1 ! Hi a nallnr wiut cov© to O’Rourke Faith, ye have me there. their edge he saw two feet—two small, bewitching feet In the daintiest and most absurd of evening slippers, with Des Trebes’ eyes, filled with an expression unspeakably offenslve.met the Irishman’s blank, wondering ease. “It is, no doubt,” the Frenchman stammered, "sanctioned by your code to have me spied upon by the partner of jour liaisons.” . T 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.” i Des Trebes moved toward the alcove. Thunderstruck, O'Rourke rapped 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 counseled in & voice of ice. His hand fell 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 1” / / Maddened beyond prudence, Des Trebes had struck at bls face. O'Rourke warded off the blow and in what seemed the same movement ; whirled. the ( maq 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 tor all his resistance hustled to the door and thrown through It before he fairly comprehended what was happening. Free at length, if on aif 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, blinded with passion, seemed about to renew the attack. “Or are ye wishful to be going downstairs in the same fashion?” Des Treber drew back, snarling. •*You dog!” he cHed Then abrupt ly, by an admirable effort, he qplmed himself surprisingly, drawing himself up with considerable dignity and throttling his temper as he quietly adjusted the disorder of his clothing. Only in his eyes, black as sloes and small, did there remain any trace of his malignant 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 remain, or should you come within my neighborhood another time —at whatever time—l will kill you as I would a rabid eur—or cause you to be shot.” “There’s always the coward's alternative” 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 tak«ssteps to see that ye fight me before sunset. Else shall all Europe know ye for a coward.” Behind the vicomte the lift shot up, paused, and discharged a single passenger. As swiftly the cage disappeared. 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 lips. 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 the square-set and erect poise of an officer of the German army. "At your service. Colonel O’Rourke,” he said In impeccable French. But the Irishman had returned undivided attention to Des Trebea “Monsieur,” he announced, “your nose' annoys me." And with that he shot out a hand and seised the offensive member between a strong and capable thumb and forefinger. “It has annoyed me,” he explained in parenthesis, “ever since I first elapped me two eyes upon ye. scum of the earth that ye are.” And ho tweaked the node of Monsieur le Viscomte des. Trebes, tweaked it with a will and great pleasure, tweaked it for glory and the Shlnte; carefully, methodically, even painstakingly. he kneaded and pulled and twisted it from side to side, ere releasing IL ’ . Then stepping back and wiping his fingers upon a handkerchief, hb cocked his head to one side and admired the* result of his handiwork. “Tie ioaybaffect.Monai«ur ’i«W : Trebos. 'A/ * ’ A drSbd' . u.. U" .a £ ~’ r y- . • ▼*» Mumn, with year per-

j> w" l !** a uauM xxvm | fair of the morning? Pre a friend] • j (To be continued I

The Frenchman Rose, Offering Him The Envelope.