Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 286, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 December 1911 — The Pool of Flame [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Pool of Flame

By LOUIS JOSEPE VANCE

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. **<****, SYNOPSIS. • wlib^.- 4&.‘SBU! tojhta a * n gamWerk'te out on the balcony he sees a beautiful to the corridor' gowned forjn enter the elevator and pass from CHAPTER ll.—O’Rourke’s mind is filled with thoughts of the girt, and when he goes to the gaming table he allows Ma remarkable winnings to. accumulate indifferently. He notices two men watching him. One is the Hon. Bertie Glynn, while his companion is Viscount Def Trebes, a noted duelist. When O’Rourke leaves the table the viscount tells him he represents the French government and that he has been directed to O'Rourke as a man who would undertake a secret mission. ’ CHAPTER ITT.—At his room O’Rourke, who had agreed to undertake the mission, awaits the viscount. O'Rourke finds a mysterious letter in his apartment. The visdount arrives, hands a sealed package to O’Rourke, who is not to open It until ou the ocean. He says the French government will pay O’Rourke 25,000 francs for his services. A pair of dainty slippers are seen protruding from under a doorway curtain and the viscouht charges O'Rourke with having a spy secreted there.

“Tell me,” he demanded, “have ye talked with anyone about this letter?" “Only to Clara Plinlimmon!"' “Good Lord!" groaned the Irishman. “Only to her! Could “ye not have printed broadsides, the better to make the matter public?” “"Twas indiscreet—and that’s putting' it mildly, me dear. D’ye know the woman’s a walking newspaper? How much did ye tell her? Did ye show her the letter?" “No.” She answered his last question first. “And I told her very little —only about this reward for a ruby I didn’t know you owned. Wp were wondering where to find you.” “And she told no* one—or-who do yjpUjthink?”: .4 iThe woman looked a little frightened.- “She told —she must have told that man—Monsieur des Trebes.” "That blackguard!" “He was with us on the yacht, one pt Clara’s guests.” . / „ 1 “She has a pretty taste for company—my word! How d’ye know she told him ? He’asked you about it?" “The letter? Yes. He wanted to know the name of the solicitors and their address. I wouldn’t tell him. I --disliked him.” ■ ■- ■ • ->. ■ '.J “Had ye told Lady Plinlimmon?” “No .. ." "Praises be for that!” “Why?” pw'j ’ “Because .. !* O’Rourke paaused, vague suspicions taking shape in his mind. ha. ask about Chambret?" he demanded. “How could he h#ve learned that the jewel was with him?" He jumped up and began to pace the floor. His wife rose, grave with consternation. “What,” she faltered —“what makes you think, suspect—T2 “Because the fellow tied .to me about. you this very night. Ye were with,, Lady Plinlimmon tn the. Casino, were ye not? Faith, and didn’t I see ye? < I was in chase of ye when the man stopped me with his rigmarole about representing the French government and having a secret commission for me. Ye heard him just now. . . . And when I asked him was he of your party, he denied knowing Lady Plinlimmon. . . He made a later apr pointment with me here, to talk things over. -Fm thinking be only wanted time to think up a scheme for getting me out ot the way. Also, he wanted to find out where Chambret was. D’ye not see through his little game? To get me away from Monte Carlo by the first morning train, that we might not meet; to get me on the first Atlantic liner, that I might not interfere with his plot against Chambret. For what other reason would he give me sealed orders? Sealed orders!” O’Rourke laughed curtly, tak-

ft f mmMlwi - ‘ . w<Tu? A bankrupt, discreai twite favna tern • stvialfmt thfvn grasping at any chance to recoup bls j fortunes’” Ho took a swift stride toward the door, halted, turned. “And young Glynn?” he demanded. "Was this s’rogue of & Vicomte?” They were much together. glass thktX two of uruae, nave ugurea out uus unng oatween them. . . .' Well and good! I want ho more than a hint of warning. .. .” He was interrupted by a knocking. With a start and a muttered excl amatlon he remembered Van Einem, and stepped to the door and out Into a corridor, shutting the woman in. She remained where he had left her, her pretty brows knitted with thought, for a time abstractedly conscious of a murmur of voices in the hallway. These presently ceased as the speakers moved away. She turned to one of the windows, leaning against its frame and staring at the ominous flicker and flare of sheet-lightning osity. A cool breeze sprapg up, bellying the curtains. The woman expanded to it, reviving in its fresh breath from the enervating Influence of the evening's still heat Her Intuitive faculties began to work more vivaciously; she began to divine that which had been mysterious to her ere now.

The lightning grew more Intense and incessant, the thunder beating the long roll of the charge. A heavy gust of air chill as death made her shiver. She shrank away from the windows, a little awed, wishing for O’Rourke’s return, wondering what Then suddenly she knew; . . . She could have screamed with horror- ~ Almost simultaneously the door slammed; her husband had returned. With a little cry she flung herself upon him, clinging to him, panting, sobbing. “Tell me," she demanded, “what you intend to do? Do you mean to fight hip—Des Tribes?” ♦Tn the morning,” he answered lightly, holding her tight and comforting her. “’Tts unavoidable; I provoked his challenge. He was obliged to fight. But don’t let that worry ye—” . 5 • ? .“Oh, my dear, my dear!" She sobbed convulsively upon his breast. “ "Twill be nothing—hardly that; an annoyance—no mere. Believe me, dear.” . . "... "What can you mean—?’’ - "That the man will never consent to weapons worthy the name. He values his precious hide too highly, and he’s not going to put himself in the way of being injured when he has the Pool of Flame to steal. Be easy on that score, darling—and have faith In me>« little. I’ll not let him harm me* by so much as a scratch.” “Ah, but how can I tell? . . . Ddatgst, m? dearest, why. not give it up—not the duel alone, but all this life of roaming and adventure that keeps us apart? Am I not worth a little sacrifice? Is my love not recompense enough for the loss of your absolute independence? Listen, dear, I have thought of something; I will make you Independent, I will settle upon you all that I possess. I—” "Faith, and I know ye don’t for an instant think I’d dream of accepting that!” .' “But give it up. What is the world’s esteem when you have me to love and honor you? . . Come to me, Terence. I need you—l need you desperately. I need the protection of your arm as well as your name. I need my husband!” /• •/*f will," he said gently; “sweetheart, I promise ye I will—in ninety days. Give me that respite, give me that time in which to make or break my fortunes. Give me a chance to take the Pool of Flame to Rangoon—nay, meet me there in ninety days. I wttl come to you as one who has the right to claim his wife; but If I have lost, still will I come to you, a broken man but your faithful lover—come to you to be healed and comforted. . . . Dear heart of me, give me this last chance!” With an eldritch shriek and a mighty rashing wind the storm broke over the mainland and a roaring rain came down. Impulsively the Irishman turned off the lights, and, lifting his wife in his arms bore her to an armchair by the window. The storm waned In fury, passed, died in dull'distant mutterings. Still she rested In his embrace, her flushed face, wet with tears, pillowed to his cheek, her mouth seeking his. Vague murmurings sounded in the stillness, sighs. . . ' ; ’ (To be continued

She Flung Herself Upon Him, Sob bing