Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 January 1912 — The Pool of Flame [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Pool of Flame

By LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE

TBMtratfoaa by Dlawwtk ton*

. right (WO, by Ixmia Joseph Vance SYNOPSIS. <*THR, I—The story opens at liotnt Carlo with Col. Terence O’Rourke In hU hotel. O’Rourke, a military free lance and something of a gambler, la dressing for appearance In the restaurant Mew when -the sound of a girlish voice singing attracts his attention. Leaning eat on the balcony he sees a beautiful girl who suddenly disappears. He rusnes to the corridor to see a neatly gowned form enter the elevator and pass from CHAPTER H—O’Rourke’s mind id filed with thoughts of the girl, and when he goes to the gaming table he allows his remarkable winnings to accumulate irrdJfferently. He notices two men watching him. One is the Hon. Bertie Glynn, while his companion Is Viscount Des Trebes, a hoted 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 til.—At hta room O'Rourke, who "had agreed to undertake ihenfissioii, J awaits the viscount. O'Rourke finds - a mysterious 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 government will pay O’Rourke 25,000 francs for his services. A pair of dainty slippers ate' seen protruding from under a doorway cuftain and the viseount charges O’Rourke with haviiig a spy secreted there. •& CHAPTER IV.—When the Irishman goes to his room he finds there the owner of the mysterious feet. It is his wife, Beatrix, from whom he had run away a year previous. They are reconciled, arid opening the letter he had received, he finds that a law firm In Rangoon, India, offers him 109.000 pounds for an Indtarr 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 to fight a duel with the viscount. The braggart nobleman Is worsted in the combat and act# the poltroon. * j CHAPTER VT.—The loyal wife bids ' O’Rourke farewell and he promises to soon return with the reward offered for the Pool of Flame. He discovers both Glynn and the viscount on board tha ship which takes him to Algeria. CHAPTER VTl.—Chambret has left Algeria and O'Rourke has to gain a military detachment going across the desert to reach his friend. As he finds the laHer there is an attack by bandits and . Chambret is shot. CHAPTER Vlll.—Chambret dies telling O’Rourke that he has left the Pool of Flame - With the governor general of Algeria. He gives the colonel a signet ring at the sight of which he says the official will deliver over the jewel. CHAPTER is attacked by Glynn and the vikeount who ransack j his luegage, but he woftris them in the conflict. \ ,

CHAPTER X. 1 :» A . ' - • • It was high noon when O'Rourke drove up before the Palace of the Governor-General. Weary, dusty and travel-stained as he was, he hesitated no instant about sending in his name and requesting an interview with the representative of France’s sovereign power. Disappointment awaited him at the very outset; disappointment in the shape of word that' his excellency was away. But the name of O’Rourke was one well and favorably known In the Province, and secured him an Invlta* tion to ascend'to the Governor’s office and state his business —if he cared to do so—to the gubernatorial secretary. Upon consideration he accepted, and a little later was seated in a broad, iew, cool room in the old Moorish palace, the affable secretary — a young, lively and engaging Frenchman —solicitously sounding him as to bis errand. ft was obviously the office of a man of great affairs, presenting an eminent-, ly business-like look for all its Oriental setting. To one side, set in the •olid masonry of the wall, was a massive safe with doors ajar, exposing a cavity well stocked with documents, ft occurred to the adventurer that such a safe might easily have been the place of security selected by the Governor-General for anything he held In trust. He built upon it a theory whilst he listened—nor lost a point—snd replied to the secretary. The latter . regretted excessively Ibat his excellency was absent: his sxcellency would undoubtedly be desolated when he returned and found he bad missed Colonel O’Rourke. "He'll be back soon, monsieur?” “Alas, no!” with a shrug. “He"®’ bn route for Paris —possibly arrived by this moment —on matters of state.’’ "And he left?” "Several days since, monsieur.” "Ton know nothing of this package, indorsed with the name of Monsieur Dharobret?” To the contrary: the secretary knew It very well. He could place his band . upon it at any moment —monsieur would appreciate that tie durst not surrender it without the Governor’s authority. f ' O’Rourke drew a long sigh of relief |nd was abruptly cdnsciousjpf fatigue and a desire to get away and rest. "I’m obliged to ye " he said slowly, rising. "I'll have to wait until the Bovernor returns, I presume. -. . , By the wa|7 are ye be any chance acOualnted with Monsieur le Vicomte 5 let Treble r . • - ■ --V But Certainly; the vicomte was a treat friend of his excellency's. . He bad dined with his excellency cornering ever a week since, Just prior to

"And f take ft ye have seen nothing if the gentleman since?” "On the contrary, monsieur: the vljomte called here but two days ago." it appeared that /he had desired some

trifling information, with which the secretary had obliged him. '“Ye didn’t happen to leave him alone in this room?” The secretary, plainly much perplexed by this odd catechism, admitted that sach had been the case: the pursuit of the desired data had necessitated his absence from the Governor's room for a matter of some ten minutesr* “But y© say ye can put your hand on this package?” —— "But certainly, monsieur.” “Would ye mind making sure ’tis safe. ’Twould save me a deal of waiting, perhaps—” With alacrity and a smile that deprecated his visitor’s anxiety over so trifling a matter, the secretary rose, went to the safe and confidently enough thrust a hand into one of the pigeon-holes. The hand came forth empty. A frown of bewilderment clouded the secretary’s sane. “It must be here,” he announced with conviction. “It was in plain sight and labelled with the name of Monsieur Chambret . . .” He turned. “If Monsieur le Colonel will but return in half an hour, I undertake then to show him the packet itself. I shall by then have found it—but assuredly!” “Ye are very courteous, monsieur. I will return.” This he did —in two hours. The packet had not been found; the secretary, in a flutter of nerves, confessed that through some culpable negligence it must have been misplaced. An extended search was Wen then in progress. It would surely come to light before evening. “Thank ye; I shan’t be back,” returned O'Rourke grimly: and went away, downcast Jar the first time since the inception of the adventure. “Faith! and to think I would not believe the truth when they slapped me face with it! .And all the time, belike, 'twas in the vicomte’s own pocket! . . But he had no vocabulary ade. quate to the task of expressing his self-contempt. Disconsolate, conceiving, that he had proven himself a blind, egregious fool, he plodded with heavy steps and a hanging head back to his hotel; where the crowning stroke of the day was presented to him In the shape of a note, by the hand of a black Blskrl porter. “Monsieur le Colonel Terence O’Rourke. Be hand," he conned the address. “Faith, and wbat’a this?” “If Monsieur !e Colonel O’Rourke will do Monsieur des Trebes the honor of dining with him, at seven or seven-thirty this evening, at the Villa d’Orleans, St. Eugene, an arrangement satisfactory to both himself and Monsieur le Vlcomte may be consummated. “R. S. V. P. —The bearer waits.” A trap? A subterfuge? A trick to throw him off the scent whilst the two blackguards escaped with their booty? The adventurer frowned darkly over it, dubious Then, in a flush of recklessness, he seized a sheet of paper from a near-by desk, scrawled a formal acceptance of the strange invitation, and handed it totheßiskri boy. “All to gain, naught to lose,” he summed up the state of mind which had dictated his response; * and at sixthirty, with brow and eye serene, he left the hotel in a carriage bound for the suburb of St, Eugene—and heaven knew where besides!

CHAPTER XI. _ • OT.

The Villa d’Orleans proved to be a handsome house of white* stone, situated in extensive and well-groomed a height vmtsidft the tnwn. Overlooking the Mediterranean. So complete and elegant seemed the establishment, indeed, viewed from without or within, that O’Rourke’s suspicions were stimulated and his certainty that he wa£ being played with resolved into a pretty definite conviction, as he waited in the broad hallway It was inconceivable/that a man like DeS Trebes, so reduced as to be under the necessity of stealing—even of stealing so considerable a sum as a hundred thousand pounds—could maintain so imposing an His uneasy conjectures were Inter-rupted'-when the vicomte appeared to welcome his guest. Suave, dressed properly for the occasion, showing traces neither -of fatigue nor of his antipathy for O’Rourke, blandly, ignoring the peculiarities of the situation which his own inexplicable irritationhad created, he presented himself the guise of a gracious host

“Monsieur,” fie declared, bowing to O’Rourlie (but with a care not to Offer his hand), “overpowers me with his condescension and punctuality. I can only regret”—with a significant glance at the. bulge of the adventurer’s coat—“thqt he thought it wise to come armed.” v “ ’Tis a habit t find it hard to break meself of.” O’Rourke offered the inadequate explanation in a dry and coolisb tone. “It was unnecessary, I assure monsieur." ” “Faith'. I’m convinced ’twill prove so.” Tactfully the vicomte digressed from the unpleasant topic. “I have asked you here, monsieur," he said with an air of deprecation, “to confer with me on business after we have dined. I trust the arrangement suits your convenience.” " “I’m content, monsieur.” “I regret that circumstances prevent me from receiving you under my own roof-tree. The Villa, d’Orleans is the property of a dear friend, merely loaned me during my stay in Algiers.” _ :: “Ye’re fortunate in you! choice of friends,” Over his next remark Des Trebes faltered a trifle, with, a curious smile that O’Rourke failed to fathom. “Monsieur Glynn,” he said, “Is —ah —a trifle indisposed—the sun. Nevertheless, I believe he will join us during dinner, if you Will .be so kind as to excuse him—?” “I could db Very well without him.” The vicomte caught the eye of a servant, and, “Dinner i announced,” he saidi “Do me the :or to accompany me to the tafc.e.” In the course of time, as the vicomte had predicted, the Honorable Bertie joined them; and on sight O’Rourke diagnosed the “indisposition” as plain Intoxication. The Englishman was deep in his cups, far too deep to ape the urbanity of his host. He favored O’Rourke with a curt nod and a surly look, then slumped limply into a chair and called for champagne, which he drank greedily and with a sullen Mr, avoiding the vicomte’s eye. Before dessert was served he passed into a black.humor, and sat mutely glowering at his glass (what time he was not unsteadily filling It) without regard for either of his companions. When the cloth was cleared and the servants bad withdrawn, Des Trebes definitely cast aside pretence. A cigarette between his lips, he lounged in his chair, eyelids drooping over eyes that never left his guest’s while either spoke. A cynical smile prefaced his first words. “So,” he said, “the farce is over. Some regard for the conventions was necessary before the servants of my friend, the owner of this villa. Now, we can be natural. Monsieur le Colonel” “Be all means; I cannot - say I found the play diverting, despite the. skill of your friend’s chef. I gather ye wish to get to business? Well —I’m waiting." O'Rourke pulled at a cigar, honoring the man with a cat-like attention. He had no longer to watch the honorable; the latter had wilfully relieved him of the necessity. “You have been then,” pursued the vicomte, without further circumlocution, “to tfie palace of Monsieur 1« Gou vernCur-Generale ?” “I have—unfortunately, a few days too late, it seems.” “You are satisfied —?” —^ “I'm satisfied that the Pool of FLune has been stolen.” “Then you will probably believe me when I declare myself the malefactor. It was an easy matter: I purposely brought up the name of Chambret in conversation with the Governor and by him was informed of the existence of the packet-—which.

of course. I had already surmised. Afterward . ■ . the secretary was absent, the safe opej), the name on the packet stared me in the face. What could I do?" ■ "Precisely. I’m convinced that, being what ye are, ye did only what ye could.” The vicomte bowed, amusement dickering in his glance. "Touched,” he admitted. . . . "Well . . . I have the Jewel,* you the information.” “And ye have to propose—?” “A plan after your own heart: I do your courage the credit to believe it, monsieur. With another man, whom I had studied less exhaustively, I should propose a combination of forces, a division of profits.” O’Rourke made an impatient gesture. “But with Y*n. Cfftonel I esteem your address and determination .too highly and —pardon me it-1 speak plainly—l despise and hate you too utterly to become willingly your partn«r M

*Qo on—l begin to Mke ye better. Y© grow interesting." “That does not interest me. , . The situation, then, is simplified. Essentially it, involves two propositions: first, we cannot combine; second, divided we both faiL While both of na live, mon colonel, the Pool of Flame will never earn its value,” " "Tis meself takes exception to that Let me ouce get me hands on the stone, monsieur, and I’ll back mecself against a dozen vicomtea—-and honorables.” “While I live,” the Frenchman stated, unruffled; “you. will not touch the Fdolof Flame« while you live, I cannotdispose of it to the beßt advantage. It would seem that one or the other of us must die.” "I am armed,” remarked O’Rourke slowly, "If ye mean ye’ve brought me here to murder me—” "Monsieur speaks—pardon—crudely. I asked you, you came of yeur own will- —to fight for the Pool of Flame.” O’Rourke started; a glint of understanding danced in his eager byes. “I see you catch any meaning. What I have to propose Is this: you will take pen and paper and write the name of the person who offers the reward, with his address. This you will enclose In an envelope, seal, gnd place in your pocket. The Pool of Flame—you see I trust you—is herd.” O’Rourke got upon his feet with an exclamation; the vicomte was playing a bold hand. Before the Irishman had grasped his intention he had thrown upon the table a ruby as large, or larger, than an egg; an exquisite jewel, superbly cut and polished. Fascinated, O'Roiifkfe ' Tdifi'ehibefed himself arid sat down. “You see.”- The -vicomte's cold incisive tones cut the silence. Slowly he extended a hand and took up the great ruby, replacing it in his pocket. “There is,” he said evenly, “ a level stretch of grass beyond the veranda. The night, I admit, is dark, but the light from these long windowk should be sufficient for us. If you slay me, take the ruby and go in peace:, this

sot”—with a contemptuous glance at the unconscious honorable —“will never hinder you. If you die, I take the note from your pocket. The issue Is fair. Will you fight, Irishman?” v O’Rourke’s fist crashed upon the table as he rose. “Fight!” he cried. “Faith, I did not think ye had this In ye. Pistols, shall It be?” “Thank you,” said the vicomte, with a courtly how, “but I am an Indifferent shot. Had you chosen rapiers at Monte Carlo one of us would never have left the field alive.” , He went to a side table, returning with a sheet of paper, an envelope, pen and ink. And when O’Rourke had slipped the paper into his pocket he saw the vicomte waiting for him by one of the windows, two naked rapiers, slender and gleaming and long, beneath his arm. As the Irishman came up, with a bow, the Frenchman presented the hilts of both weapons for his choice. , Together and in silence they left the dining-room, strode across the veranda and down, a short step, to the lawn. The vicomte stood aside quickly, bringing his feet together and saluting in the fall glare of light O’Rourke whipped hilt to chin with consuminate grace, his heart sinking: Work such as this he loved. The night was pitchy black, the windows barred It with radiance. In the dark spaces between, a man might easily blunder and run upon his death. . . . Somewhere in the shadowy .shrubbery a night-bird was slngtmg as though Its heart would break. There was a sweet smell ip the air. His blade touched the vicomte’s with a shivering crash, musical as glass. (To be continued

A Frown of Bewilderment Clouded the Secretary’s Face.

O’Rourke Whipped Hilt to Chin With Consummate Grace.