Show SERIAL the pool of flame eft OR LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE 11 br hr il ti aw by louie louis joaeph joseph vance SYNOPSIS the atory story opens at monte carlo with col terence Oll curke a mill military free freo lance and tb ng n 0 or it gambler turi in n hie his hotel leaning on the balcony he seen a beautiful all girl who suddenly ud denly entera enters th the elevator Ol evator and passes from sight at th tho table Ollo urke notices bouc two men watching him one is the lion dertle bertle C otann ayn n while hi hie 11 companion is viscount Vla count pea crebs a fleat duel lat the viscount vla count tell tel to h him m the french rg ich government haa has directed him to Ollo OHo urke aa an a man who would undertake a ecret secret mission at his hl apart aimont who had agreed to un the kimlon finds A mysterious royter loue ettar the viscount vie count a arrive handa hands a caled yelled package to who to not to a open an it until on the ocean A pair of al awra are seen protruding from under a doorway curtain the irishman fehman Ir fende the owner of the feet to ibe his hi wina Be beatrix from whom he had run away ft a year or previous evious they are reconciled and open ng the t letter he bindi hat that a hangsoon taw law firm often offers hian egem pounds for a jewel known a as the pool of of flame and left to him by a dy inc friend but now in keeping or of or on named chamaret Ch ambret in algeria Ale erla OHo urke wont thi thes nobleman in A duel duet the wife bid farewell and he promises pr omle to noon soon return with the reward IN H discovers over both olynn glynn and the viscount on board the hip ship aa an he finds Ch ambret there Is rn attack by b edits and his hl friend dien telling Ollo urke that he haa left the pol pool of flame with the governor Ro vernor beneral ce mho at bight night of a knet signet ring riven yen the colonel will deliver over the jewel Arel vinc at algeria ads the governor general away le des atrebee re ban makes a mysterious appointment lad and tella tells Ollo urke that he hae nit gained session of iho be jewel by stealing ate allne it in a duel Ono urk mailers the miscount vie count avoures possession of the pool of flame and br hip ship a sar ranston Ran soon XI XIII I 1 I 1 continued he mopped bla his brow simply as be b fitted one of big apparent ataylor in life tits with the hack back of a hand and stood erect exulting in the cent scent the indescribable impalpable insistent odor of the last that Is in forgotten of coca who had ever known it it the tha hot bot rind drove it gustily tn in bla big face and IT ae sniffed and drew great lung fuls and waa was glad IMs tia he eald said imply simply and A 41 1 later while on the abort line the brazen arc area were beginning to pop out ellenoir ellen tir therea theres the customs boat am im thinking HI elep below no lamps bad yet been lighted betow below atit knew the way to ble roam lie entered and abut the door the afterglow of the sunset entering through the porthole rendered the little coop fight enough for bis bin purpose dropping to his big knees the irishman pulled bla his kit box from beneath the bunk tho lid came up freely treaty as an he tie touched it IL for a full minute he be did oot cot breathe then la in ominous al 1 I tience tiance be he bent bout and examined the lock itt became immediately evident that his memory had not tricked him the trunk was locked as be he had left it thai that lulng morning rul ng but the clasp bad had yielded to a cold chisel it waa was hardly worth the trouble rummaged through the Aon of the box assuring himself hat that the chamois bag was gone co SO far aa he could determine then nothing else bad been taken hi abut down the lid and sat dorn down to 0 o think it out eyes hard face grimly expressionless leas only aa an intermittent aud aid opening of tits hi ands betraying his gathering rage nd excitement at length he be arose determination in bia his port mae phrase alone escaped him and not a gun to me WO aamot name I 1 ile be went on an deck already the trop to 0 o bight sight had bad closed down upon the harbor but it waa was easy enough to locate loeata the captain and grat ol officer licer still till at the gangway from over aide arose the splutter of a launch a raucous sound yet one ene that barely rip pled led the surface of es cea clous ness he stepped quickly to the cup talus bide side and touched him gently on the arm be said quickly 1 be aking the favor of U word with yo in private hole caught the gleam of the irish mana eye in the lamplight and stopped back a pace 0 I 1 get moat he eald said curtly barnt you see sea the customs officer coming comine board aboard IT 1 eee aft you later ye will not lot yell hear me now ftp tAin hole backed further away he lie barked hoarsely raising hie his voice awot ill 1 show you we loos master aboard bif hip get net to your tf f knelp me gandl he ex plodded violently 00 00 oo ever beard the liko like of it t Ollo urko stepped nearer hta his fists closing drop that tone ye he cried dye ant want me to your little game garber the ahot shot went home borne the captain gasped and in a the darkness Ollo OHo urke fancied hu he loat lost a ahado shade or two of hia big ruddy color botcher Wot cher mean he be demanded low ering his tone 1 I mean menn replied Ollo urko in a quick whisper aper that the egyptian CUB cus tome toms officer la Is at the aide return what yeve stolen from me this day or ill tell the whole harbor what yo yovo avo len ben L b en up tot and if it ye want me ina to be more explicit perhaps the word ord hashish will refresh your mem oryll ill 11 talk to you later yell give me back me property this minute or OHo urke waa was at the rail in a stride shall I 1 toll tall him he demanded A swift step bounded sounded beside him lie turned an instant too late who had hall reckoned without dennison Denn laon aa As ne lie to protect himself tho the first of fleer flat caught the irishman just under the ear and one hundred and seventy flye pounds of man and malice were behind it it OHo urke ahot shot into tho scuppers aa as though kicked by a mule truck struck his hie head against a piece of iron work and lay still half stunned atu nned shutting his bin teeth savagely upon a moan hole iola and the first mate stood over him and the captains voice guarded but clear enough came to his ear ue he there me man and not so antich aa an a whimper r till I 1 give you leave tako taka eed wot I 1 says mr dennison Denn lson ere Is coln to clean la is re volver lay silent save for bis his quick breathing the first officer grinning malevolently eat sat down near at hand keeping a basilisk basill sk eye upon the prostrate pro strato inan while he fondled an able bodied hammerl webley hole roofed mo ed off towards tow ards ine lae gang way whence his voice arose an in tant later greeting his hl the latter put a hurried question which 0 gourko did not eaten catch but me the captains reply was quick enough only a matt nour rious dort of a deck I 1 and wanted shore leave and refused to go when ordered 13 aint arted none mr dennison ere just gyre im a tap to leep 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 pol ish fehd owal arrel ef c the 1 and the gleaming line was steadily directed towards head bead upon reconsideration concluded to lie still till to walt and watch hie hir opportunity for the presents prea ent at leaha be wa wax in to Aue question atlon wll wit lit mess to use the weapon ORo urko was to be kept quiet at all hazards and ho be kaew know it full well for once he conceded discretion tha better part of valor and was patient CHAPTER XIV in the face of the fact that ane imad port xUon 0 a of into egypt t bas ia s been declared illegal by legislation the drug la Is always to be ob of alexan bained in the lower dive drift cairo ald port S said aidi aid H I one only bov to aek ask k knows where here to 9 go 0 abd and certain for it manufactured aued in it archipelago islands of the grecian u under the exported Is mysteriously authorities complaisant very noses of and eluding the rigor of egyptian of customs As well bel I 1 gs tho the vigilance egyptian spies finds its way to the avid colsum fell among other into ere era speaking baldly ie is smuggled fur ur the land customs thedmore ther more are as severe aa AS might bo be d with expected by anyone acquainted the country and its inhabitants as woe was ORo urko he ido folt felt then no eort sort of surprise at tho brevity of the official visitation the inspector accompanied by an excessively urbane and suave captain but briefly glanced into the hold asked a few questions which would have been pertinent bad had they not been entirely perfunctory and took his leave from the gangway the C captain turned back directly to bis his first cor and the letters charge hearing ORo urko footsteps bin 1 approaching ga gathered therel himself together and sum boned all his faculties to bis his aid troublesome demanded hole pausing 1 I the mate not a syllable eald said th mons sensible 1 I 1 hae bale me doubts but hes too canny alte gither peaceful as a baby eh well savagely ell learn wot for get up ou irish lay passive under the storm of holes profanity ho lie had bad all but closed bis his eyes and was watching ta the e pair from beneath bis big lashes falling to elicit any response aint e moved demanded the cap tain not a muscle ere ill show im gritted his big teeth and suppressed a groan as the toe of holts heavy boot crashed into bis his ribs rh mona nae shamming dennl eon son declared hes fair far 1 fai nieu fainted bell hell countered the captain catain give Is arm a twist dennl denul son the mate calmly disobeyed the 4 A 1 00 0 7 4 T is first officers cees flat just under the ear Arr arm twist desired by the captain requires the use of the twi twisters stera two handa and stoutly as he be defended his big opinion the first officer was by no means ready to dat up his big revolver he ile advanced and bent over the irishman Irin hman irishman who lay motionless his big up pe per r lip rolled back to show his clenched teeth heugh elc exclaimed calmed the first officer of ticer peering into his bin face tam his big tone expressive of the liveliest i concern without further hesitation he dropped the revolver into big pocket and received ree elved a IL tremendous short abort ana arm blow in the face with IL cry he fell back clutching at a broken nose loss and sprawled led at length while leaping to his big feet deliberately put a heel beat into the pit of Dennl sons stomach ach thereby effectually eliminating him blin as a factor in th 1 further controversy simultaneously he be advanced upon captain hole but in the latter he encountered no mean antagonist the manit bas has been beta said was as an tall WI as and heavier than the adventurer and 17 virtue of his position po altIon a competent and expert export encee rous rough hand and ready fighter in a breath he had bad lowered his head and bello bellowing ing like a bull lain at chod bin him self toward OHo urko the li lahmon mot met tho the onslaught with a stinging uppercut which nev nay orth orthel eless 1 ballod to discourage die courage tho captain who grappled and began to belabor OR OHo urke with short stabbing abbing et blows blous on the elde aide of abo head bead at the nine caine time endeavoring to trip him the fury of hie his onset all but carried the irishman off hie his feet at the latue satue time it defeated holes own purpose ae Ollo OBo urko watched bla bin chance seized the mans throat with both handa hands and tightening hie his grip fairly lifted him off his feet and shook him as a terrier shakes shaken a rat then with a grunt of satisfaction be he threw throw the captain from him and turned to face greater odds the noise of tho conflict bad brought the crew down upon the contestants surrounded he was rushed to tho the rall mil with that to his back be he drew on hlo bin reserve of strength and poising him self began to give hie his assailants personal bonal and individual attention they pushed him cloeo close snarling and curs ing hindering one another in their eagerness and suffering variously for their Ollo ono urko urke fought with trained precision his blows lightning quick were direct from the shoulder and very finely placed and so straight did he be strike that almost from the first his knuckles were torn and nd beeding from their impact upon flesh and bone fight as fiercely as he might however the pack was too heavy for or bias him and aben ben presently be he discerned not in one but in half halt a dozen hands bands gleams of light the rays of a nearby near by lantern running down knife blades be conceded the moment imminent when he must sevar bis his con connection necton with the pelican moreover ho he bad had a shrewd suspicion that hole holo was up and only waiting for an opening to use bis his revolver leaping to the rail he poised an instant then dived far out from tho the Yes vessels sels side down into the stygian blackness of the harbor water a goo good d clean dive cutting the water with hardly a splash he be went down like an arrow gm gradually dually swerving from the straight line of ble his flight into a long arc so long indeed that he was ell nigh breathless when he be cams to the surface a dozen yards or more from the pelican spitting out the foul harbor water and with a swift glance over bis big shoulder that showed ham the pelicans dark freeboard like a wall and a cluster of dark shapes hanging over the rail at the top vaguely revealed by lantern light he be struck out tor for the nearest vessel employing the double overhand stroke noisy but speedy that he heard beard no cry when he cam came to the surface that hole role had art do detected him by the co and that be bad had held bis his hand from firing at first puzzled OTto arke bat but he be reasoned that hole probably feared to rale raise en an alarm and thereby attract much undesirable attention lon to himself and his alp in tha the course of the first few strokes however be he managed to peep again over ever bis his shoulder sn and from the activity on the pelicans decks concluded that he was to be pursued by boat which in fact proved to be the case fortunately the rode rod at anchor in waters studded thick with other vessels affording plenty of hiding places on an a night as black as that the adventurer mad made direct for tae first vessel swam completely around it t and by the ahn atmer the tn pelicans PeU cane boat bolt was afloat and its rowers bending te to the oars cars be how was as supporting himself b by r a bd upon the unknown rL 1109 floating ting on ork his back with only bis life tac ac out of water under these conditions it was small wonder that the boat missed him so 0 o completely comp lutey lately at length rested the irishman re leased his hold bold and struck out fox for land at an tev pace eventually he be rained gained the end of a J quay upon walsh k he drew himself foi for a last rest and to let bis big drip dripping blog gar ments drain a tit ere in tho the streets reeta et I 1 net until then strangely tr angely enough did it come coma to him with its full force how be he bad been trick tricked a 4 a and a d played upon from the very beginning and be h 6 wore swore bitterly when be he contemplated his of a PP 11 alega outcast in a city wisest alv 0 U oily strange strang 0 to him without t lenda save indeed danny wherever be fie might be wt w tt l out a place to lay lat hit head bead lacking even a chango chanso of clothing he his kit box was aboard the pelican and likely to remain there for all hs ht could do to the contrary cont mry in his prove it state to apply to the authorities or to ax at tempt to lodge a complaint a captain hole hot would more than not result lu in incarceration on ch a charge of vagrancy more real than |