Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 January 1912 — The Pool of Flame [ARTICLE]

The Pool of Flame

By LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE

Hfaatratioas by Ellsworth T«u|

Copyright 1800, by Louja Joseph Vance SYNOPSIS. CHAPTER I.—The story opens at Monte Carlo with Col. Terence O’Rourke In hla hotel. O’Rourke, a military free lance and something of a gambler, la dressing for appearance In the restaurant below when the sound of a girlish vole# singing attracts his attention. Leaning out on the balcony he sees a beautiful girl who suddenly disappears. He rushes to tho corridor to see a neatly gowned form enter the elevator and pass from CHAPTER n.—O’Rourke’s mind Is filled with thoughts of the girl, and when he ffoes 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 TrelSes, a noted duelist When O’Rourke leaves the table the viscount tells him ho represents the French government and that he has been directed to O’Rourke as a man who would undertake a secret mission. CHAPTER Hl.'—At his room O’Rourke, who had agreed to undertake-the mission, awalks the viscount. O’Rourke finds s mysterious letter In his apartment. The viscount arrives, hands a sealed packageto 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 ah Indian Jewel known as the Pool of Flame and left to him by a dying friend. O’Rourke tells hts 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 acts the poltroon. ■'

CHAPTER Vl.—The loyal wife bids O'Rourke farewell and he promisee to soon return with the reward offered for the Pool of Flame. He discovers both Glynn and the viscount on board ths ship which takes him to Algeria. CHAPTER Vll.—Chamhret has left Algeria and O’Rourke has to gain a military detachment going across the desert te reach his friend. As he finds the latter there Is an attack by bandits and Chambret Is shot. f CHAPTER Vlll.—Chambrst dies telling O’Rourke that he has left ths Pool of Flame with the governor general of AlLgarSa.: He gives the colonel a signet ring at the sight of which he says the official will deliver over {he jewel. CHAPTER IX.—O’Rourke Is attacked by Glynn and the viscount who ransack his luggage, but he worsts them In ths conflict. CHAPTER X.—When he arrives at Algeria the finds the governor Smeral away. He receives a note from es Trebes making a mysterious appointment. CHAPTER Xl.—The viscount tells 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. CHAPTER xn.-In the duel O’Rourke masters his adversary and secures possession of the Pool of Flame. CHAPTER XIII. - The efforts of O’Rourke are now directed toward speedily getting to Rangoon- with the Jewel and be starts by ship. " CHAPTER XTV.—He finds the captain of the vessel to be a smuggler who tries to steal the Jewel from nlm. 'tSSEWffIWRT.— The Jewel Is finally secured by the.ship’s captain and O’Rourke escapes to land.

CHAPTER XVI. At midnight the muezzin in a neighboring minaret turned his face to the windswept sky and summoned the faithful to prayer and meditation. O’Rourke pulled thoughtfully at his pipe until the musical, melancholy wall had been whipped away by the breath of the khamsin, and there was silenoe save for the dull, heavy roaring overhead. Then he resumed the conversation where It had been Interrupted. “And ye say ye love the young woman, Danny?” “I do that, yer honor.” » “And ye woiild marry her?" “Wid yer honor’s oonslnb—l’m ready, ■or.’* **l bless the banns. Te may have her on one condition. 1 * “Aw-w ?” “I’ve need of ye, as Fee pointed out —” “Sure, yer honor knows ye can count. on me to the last breath In me, ear.** “Then ye’ll come with me to Burmah?" “Do yon think, sor, I could slaps of nights, after hearln’ from your own Ups what ye’ve been through and suspectin’ what more ye must go through with before ye’ve won? Will I be cornin’, Is at? Faith, HI go whether ye want me or not” ' “And afterwards ye can oome back to Miss Psyche here, or whatever her name may be.” “Ylas, yer honor, and thank ye kindly.” . . . Abruptly Danny atarted up. “They'D he oomln’ now, sor,” he said in an excited whisper. Tm thinkin’ I hear thlm blundherlng down the alley.” ~ He turned toward the rear of the house, and as O’Rourke rose to follow him. the signal sounded on the metal door. Danny quickened his stops, and as he disappeared his master slipped quietly into fee shadows beneath the overhanging gallery. From fete point of seclusion he oould’hear distinctly the jar of the bolt# as Danny opened

whisper. **Whlst! b at yenffiveo, , now?" ’ Hole’s voice answered him huskily: “Who the hell else wouM It be? Let os In, you damn’ harp.” The door creaked upon its hinges; and was cautiously dosed. The bolts rattled again. Tbotsteps shuffled slowly, as of men heavily burdened, over the floor of earth. Then, while O'Rourke gathered himself together, exultation In his heart, and the foretaste of revenge sweet In his mouth, two cloaked figures scuffled Into the courtyard, breathing hard beneath their burdens of smuggled drug. Hole promptly dumped his share of the load down upon the bench a ( nd swung upon Danny. “Where's Niecovie?” he' demanded, evidently In as ugly a mood as he could muster. “Where is ’e? Stop etandln’ there and starin' with yer balmy trap open, yer—” “That will he about enough," suggested O’Rourke pleasantly. In a conversational tone, stepping from his place of concealment “Don’t call names, Hole —ye’re too .near your God —if ye have one, which I misdoubt" In the clear, bright starlight the pistols In his hands were plainly evident; and one stared the captain in the eye; one covered the head of the Pelican’s first officer. . “Ye will not move!" said O’Rourke, sharply, "save and except to put your hands above your heads. So —don’t delay, Mr. Dennison; I’ve never known me temper to be shorter.” Hole began to splutter excitedly. “Save your breath, ye whelp!" O'Rourke counseled him curtly. “Ye'U have need of It before I’m done with ye." He added: “Search and disarm them, Daqny." The servant set about his task with alacrity; It Is safe to say that he left not so much as a match in the pocket of either. While he was about It, Hole, with his eyes steadily fixed upon the unwavering muzzles of O'Rourke’s revolvers, managed to master his emotion enough to ask coherently: "What are you going to do with usr

“Ye’ll see In good time,” returned O’Rourke grimly. "Have ye found It, Danny?" Danny backed away from "Hole, whom he had searched after Dennison. “Ylsb, Bor,” he returned. “At least, I think so. Is this ut?” - “I can’t look at this moment, Danny. Is it a leather bag with something hard Inside, the size of a hen's egg, or a hit larger?” “The very same, yer honor.” “Very well," O'Rourke suppressed the tremble of relief in his voice. “Put It in your pocket, Danny—the very bottom of your pocket Did ye find a gun on either of them?" “One on each, sor.” "Loaded T” “Ylsb, sor." “Then cover them. Penny.” For himielf O’Rourke put down his plstolß and calmly stripped off his coat, rolling up his sleeves. “Hole,” he said, tersely, “don’t move. If ye do, Danny will puncture ye. Your turn comes last. Dennison, ye may step out.’’ "What for?” demanded the Scot, advancing. “To receive payment, with Interest (or that blow ye gave me this evening, me man. Put up your hands. I’m going, in your own words, Mr. Dennison, to hammer the fear of God Into as cowardly and despicable a pair of scoundrels as Fve eVer encountered. And,” reflectively, '“l’ve' met a good many. But most of the other* were Men.” ~ (To be continued