Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 January 1912 — The Pool of Flame [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Pool of Flame

By LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE

Dlsstratioas by EUswarth Yousg

Copyright l¥p9, by Louis Joseph Vance SYNOPSIS. ■a ■ CHAPTER I.—The story opena at Monte Carlo with Col. Terence O’Rourko in hie hotel. O’Rourke, a military tree lance and something of a gambler, is dressing for appearance in the restaurant below when the sound of a girlish voice 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 foru< enter the elevator and pass from

CHAPTER ll.—O'Rourke’s mind Is tilled with thoughts of the girl, and when he goes to the gaming table he allows his 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’Rourko 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 lll.—At° Mia room O’Rourke, who had agreed to undertake the mission, awaits tfee 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 are seen protruding from under a doorway curtain and the viscount charges O’Rourke with having 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, and opening the letter he had received, he finds that a law firm In Rangoon, India, offers him 100,000 pounds for an Indian jewel known as the Pool of Flame and left to him by a dying friend. O’Rourke tella his wife that it is tn the keeping of a friend named Chambret in Algeria. CHAPTER V.—O’Rourke is forced to fight a duel -with the viscount. The brag* gart nobleman is worsted In the combat and acts the poltroon. CHAPTER Vl.—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 Olynn and the vtecount'on board the •hip which takes him to Algeria. CHAPTER Vll.—Chambret has left Algeria and O’Rourke has to gain a military detachment going across the desert to reach his friend. As he finds th* latter there is an attack by bandits and Chambret Is shot CHAPTER VTH.—Chambret .d'es telling • O’Rourke that he has left the Pool of Flame with the governor general of Algeria. He gives tne colonel a F'gnet ring at the sight of which he says the official will deliver over the Jewel. CHAPTER IX.—O’Rourke Is attacked by Glynn and the viscount who ransack Ids luggage, but he worsts them in the conflict. CHAPTER X.—When he arrives at Algeria the Irishman finds the governor general away. He receives a note from Dea Trebes making a mysterious appointment. CHAPTER Xl.—The viscount tella O’Rourke that he has gained possession of the jewel by stealing It from the safe of the governor general. He does not, however, know who has offered the reward for it. He suggests a duel with rapiers, the victor to get that information and the Jewel. X CHAPTER XII.-In the duel O’Rourke masters his adversary and secures possession of the Pool of Flame.

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Some time in the golden afternoon of the following day, the Pelican -weighed anchor and slouched with a loafiah air out of the harbor of th« Piraeus. J

' “Plyn Bill ’Ole," the captain said be preferred to be called. And “Plain Bill Hote!" mused the Irishman, lean-

ing over the forward rail and sucking at a short black pipe. “Faith, not only plain, but even a trifle homely,** he amended judgmatically. “As for meself,” he concluded later, *T*m no sfren in this rig.” And he lifted his eyebrows, protruding hla lower lip, as he glanced down over hla attire.

It was a strange rig for the O’Rourke to be in: an engineer’s blue jumper, worse for wear, and a pair of trousers whose O’Rourke maintained, was only held together by Ito coating <ff dirt and grease. <_ O’Rourke eyed this get-up with disdain. “Fortunately," he comforted himself, ’’’twon’t be forever I’ll be wearing It.” In the present instance, the dis guise was held an advisable tiling, ■lnce O'Rourke was officially, registered on the ship’s books as assistant engineer. The Pelican carried no license for passengers, and in view of his avowed purpose It was deemed unwise for the Irishman to risk detection by appearing “too tony”(an expression culled from the captain's vocabulary). Otherwise, it was understood that his duties were to consist of the pursuit of his own sweet will, that he was to occupy a stateroom aft, and that he was to mess at the captain's table. On an evening, some nine or ten days after he had left Athens, O'Rourke st the forward rail saw the long, low profile of Egypt edge up out es the watetorsaw It take color Md farm, made ant palms and the windstills, the light-house and Pompey’s pillar; and knew that he was close upon his journey’s end. Her winrhea refttad cheerfully as ths Pelican dropped anchor, but O'Rourke did not’ move. There would be no going ashore, be knew, until Hole was ready, and that would be when the oMtaSM cArisis. hfl4

hafi been exchanged. The Irlshmafi had no need to be in haste to change from hte present garb to one that better suited him. So he lolled upon the rail and regarded with a kindling eye the harbor views. He mopped his brow, simply (as befitted one of his apparent station in life) with the back of a hand, and stood erect, exulting in the scent, the Indescribable, impalpable, insistent odor of the East that is forgotten of none who had ever known it. The hot wind drove it gustily in his face, and he sniffed and drew great lungfuls and was glad. “ ’Tis good! ”he said simply. And, a bit later, while on the short-line the brazen arcs were beginning to pop out silently: “There’s the customs boat. I’m thinking Hl slip below.” No lamps had yet been lighted below, but O’Rourke knew the way to his room. He entered and shut the door. The afterglow of the sunset, entering through the porthole, rendered the little coop light enough for his purpose. Dropping to bls knees, the Irishman pulled his kit-box from beneath the bunk. The Ud came up freely as he touched it. For a full minute he did not breathe. . Then, in ominous silence, he bent and examined the lock.

It became immediately evident that his memory had not tricked him; the trunk was locked, as he had left it that morning. But the clasp had yielded to a cold chisel. It was hardly worth the trouble, still O’Rourke rummaged through the contents of the box, assuring himself that the chamois bag was gone. So far as he could determine then, nothing else had been taken.

He shut down the lid and sat down to think it out, eyes hard, face grlmly expressionless, only an intermittent nervous clenching and opening of his hands betraying bis gathering rage and excitement. At length he arose, determination in his port. One phrase alone escaped him: “And not a gun to me name!” He went on deck. Already the tropic night had closed down upon the harbor, but it /was easy enough to la* cate the captain and first officer, still waiting at the gangway. From overside arose the splutter of a launch —a raucous sound, yet one that barely rippled the surface of O’Rourke’s consciousness. He stepped quickly to the captain’s side and touched him gently on the arm. > "Captain,” he said quickly, “I’ll be asking the favor of a word with ye in private.” Hole caught the gleam of the Irishman’s eye in the lamplight and — stepped back a pace. "Get forrard,” he said curtly, “Carn’t you see the customs officer coming* aboard? I'll see you later.” “Ye will not. Ye’ll hear me now,

captain—” ——— - Hole backed further away. “Wot!” he barked hoarsely, raising his voice. "Wot! I’ll show you ’oo’s master aboard this ship. Get forrard to your quarters! S’help-me-gawd!” he exploded violently. “’Oo ever beard the like of it?” t

O’Rourke stepped nearer, his fists closing. “Drop that tone, ye scud!” he cried. “D’ye want me to spoil your little game?” The khot went home. The captain gasped, and in the darkness O’Rourke fancied he lost a shade or two of his ruddy color.

“Wotcher mean?” he demanded, lowering his tone. “I mean,” replied O’Rourke In a quick whisper, “that the Egyptian customs officer Is at the side. - Return what ye*vb stolen from me this day, or I'll tell the whole harbor what ye’ve been up to! And, If ye want me to be more explicit, perhaps the word 'hashish’ will refresh your memory!” ’ * ■ • ' ’TH talk to you later —" "Ye’!! give me back me property this minute or—” O’Rourke was at the rail in a stride. ‘Shall I tell him?” he demanded. - A swift step sounded beside him. He turned an Instant too late» who had reckoned without Dennison. As he moved to protect himself the first officer’s fist caught the Irishman Just under the ear. And one hundred and "seventy-five pounds of man and malice were behind It O’Rourke shot Into thp scuppers as though kicked by a mule, struck his head against a piece —BMiegMHMBaEgIB—MBggML. __i_|

of iron work and lay still, ball stunned, shutting his teeth savagely upon a moan. Hole and the first jpato stood over him, and the captain’s voice, guarded but clear enough, came to his ear: “You'll lie there, me man, and not so much as a whimper till I give you leave. Take *eed wot I says. Mr. Dennison, 'ere is goln’ to dean ’la revolver.” O’Rourke lay silent, save for his quick breathing. The first officer, grinning malevolently, sat down near at hand, keeping a basilisk eye upor the prostrate man while he fondled an able-bodied, hammerless Webley. Hole moved off towards the gangway, whence his voice arose, an instant later, greeting his visitor. The latter, put a hurried question, which (/Rourke did not catch, but the captain's reply was quick enough: “Only a mutinous dorg of a deck'and. Wanted shore leave and refused to go forrard when ordered. *E ain’t 'urted none. Mr- Dennison 'ere just ■ gyve ’im a tap to keep him quiet.”

The Irishman swore beneath his breath and watched the first officer.The light from the lantern at . the gangway glanced dully upon the polished barrel of the revolver, and the gleaming line was steadily directed towards O’Rourke’s head. Upon reconsideration he concluded to lie still, to wait and watch his opportunity; for the present, at least, he Svas indisposed to question Dennison's willingness to use the weapon. O’Rourke was to be kept quiet at all hazards, and he knew it full well; for once he conceded discretion the better part of valor, and was patient. (To be continued

The First Officer's Fist Caught O'Rourke Just Under the Ear.