OCR Text |
Show V balcony. Heaven only knows kb what lengths tbe man would have gone had not the slam of a dooir brought him up standing, sbe bad left her room! 8o she thought to escape him am entily! lie swore between his teeth: with excitement. and tumbled baclc whence he had coma Regardless of the fact that be was still In bis sleeves he rushed madly for the door. , on On the way a shooting-jacke- t perhaps in revenge for neglect and maliciously wound Ithis around feet and all but tnrew self him headlong; only a frantic clutch at the footrall of tbe bed saved him. Kicking the thing savagely off ho flung himself upon tbe door and threw it open. His Jaw dropped. The lift shaft was directly opposites Before It, In more or less patient waiting, stood a very young and beautiful woman In a gown whose extreme cai-dwas surpassed only by the perfeo-tloof its design and appointment both blatant cf the Rue de la pels;.' a type as common to tbe cognoscenti . of Monte Carlo as the Swiss hotel was stood against His to play aped advantage. But O'Rourke did not know her the caress of a womans wonder of the Casino; for the matter the hotels' shone with reflected bril- thrilling as heard Eve. he from now that In hand darkness, de and extrava- liance. the palace of tbs Prince of that, his The divvle! said be beneath penin- the full strength of that soprano, gant ways had made the entire Prtn Monaco loomed high upon the he was sure he and with out spirited, elevations picked Louis its his sula, Joseph Vanes Copyright 1800, by clpallty of Monaco conscious of He was mistaken; but the young; knew the singer. He told himself that In the land. And you fall lines of soft fire. presence no two women in the woman, at first startled by hla uncer-- I be could CHAPTER I. there con his shook head, The ORourke in the least to understand the nature like that; not emonious appearance, on instantanTie beautiful, he world with voices Just of the man if you think for a moment deinning It all. could have eous second knew than her he A till and ol try dusk had fallen, thought decided to perthat it irked him to be admired, point- said; "faith, yeel Tls all of that But another so true a mit him to discover that twin with words the closing an oppressive, wearing day:, ed out, courted, pursued. He was. In- I'm thinking t!s too beautiful to be rendered imp, so rare a brogue tinged as at least, resided In her eyes. And one of tboae daya whose aole function women Ive some spirit, like one for when as so never good splendid had been with tbe faintest, when his disappointment aeema to reside In rendering ua irri- deed, prevented aware that he occupied the public eye. known in me time. Tls not good for that Imagin- him from a exotie inflection iter dawnthe quaintest them, tls tably conacloua of our recognizing sure; In short, he was Just an Irishman. Terence thats humid able. whose soft and was and of her stale smile erased flesh; ing swiftly then, its tpthlng wonder O'Rourke thats going had stopped with the sbe But Me and inert atmosphere, sodden with ful that 80, eloquently spoke living. asoendlng finieyebrows with all this easy he should seem a thought half sung. His pulses quicken- enough of her haugbty displeasure. tepid moisture, clings palpably to the cal about the set of his Me. that has more tban many another to verseO'Rourke the from forth leaned fori ing. Synchronously the lift . hesitated at body, causing men to feel as if they Now as he stood scowling at his live for and hope for and strive window and carried it on: in the at the hot here that crawled, landing and the gate clanged And Im lingering image, and wishing from the bottom with tom of a sea of rarefied water. the .young woman wound her wide; of his heart be had never been fool very lsp of luxury stuffing meself O. tls thin the ladles fair about her and showed him m skirt The hour may have been eight; it enough to let Danny leave him. and fifi food, befuddling meself with In despair back which at any other time would Tear their hair! may have been not quite that, but it calling fervent blessings down upon piper wines me that has fought a But Tls dlvvle a bit I care! have evoked his unstinted admiration. was almost dark. The windows were the head of the fiend wbo first design- day and a night and a half a day atop Cries the bould eoldler-boof a in the Then the gate shot to with a rattle and as yellow black glass night oblongs, for men he of that on nothing ed modern evening-dres- s listened and bang, and tbe lift dropped out of He a walls of O'Rourkes bedchamber in the found himself suddenly with a mind muddy water I risking me money as fell pause. Theu Hotel dOrlent, Monte Carlo. divested of any care whatever and at- if there was no end to It, throwing it with his heart in his mouth, but beard sight, leaving tbe man wltb mouth known tentive alone to a sound which came away in scandalous tips like any nothing. And It seemed impossible to agape and eyes as wide. 1 have the honor to make A beaming but elderly femme de to you the ORourke of Castle to him faintly, borne upon- the heavy drunken sailor! And all for the scant surmise whence, from which one of all ORourke In the county of Galway, wings of the sluggish evening air. satisfaction of behaving like a fool of the rooms with windows opening upon chambre on duty in tbe corridor, reIreland; otherwise and more widely It was nothing more nor less than a an Irishman. . . Tls sickening dls-g- that side of tbe hotel had come the marking O'Rourkes pause of stupefied I to known as Colonel Terence O'Rourke; woman singing softly to herself (bumvoice of the woman. She might as chagrin, hoped and believed he needsting; naught less. of Honor of ends though; of the Legion it, a chevalier well have been above as below him, ed her services. She bore down upon ming would probably be the more ac- thinking this night In the up an be officer pulling sometime Ill on either side: he could not guess. him accordingly. or come the morning France; curate term), and it was merely the Msleu Is desirous Foreign Legion In Algiers; a wander- tune that caught his fancy; a bit of stakes and striking out for a healthier, But he was determined. somewindow theres cosmopol- Ian old his where was Noth- came out of his trance. beneath He Now there er, spendthrift, once place, had himself he simpler song inter- a an a and can wood take man hes been been wont of floor a a with told afoot acid with her ite a gentleman-adventureing,vhe brevity. balcony to sing, upon a time when thing a long balcony, But, yes, he reconsidered with termed. rail of he had been a happier man. It seem- est in without losing his hoI will!" t That lady who but this m haste. Ill do He was dressing for dinner. The ed strange to hear it there, stranger extending from one corner of tbe was diswas it and intervals bulbs At electric glad other. took a dozen to tel tbe lift her name? of ment half the he This meant, firmly, still that the woman's voice, indistinct glare Her name, msleu? Mam'selle covered him all but ready for publle as it was, should have such a familiar of it, with a heart Immeasurably light- splashed with light from the windows appearance not, however, quite ready. ring in his memory. He frowned In ened by the strength of his good res- of chambers still occupied by guests In hi shirt sleeves he faced a cheval-glas- wonder and shook his head. The age olution. He began to hum the old belated or busy, like himself, with tbe Impossible! bo told himself aloud-utterltask of dressing for tbe evening. Tbe unable to forge any connecting plucklly (If with the haggard window to his left was alight; that link between the lady in the lift and eye of exasperation) endeavoring to on his right, dark.. With half his body her whose voice had bewitched him; outmaneuver a demon of Inanimate ii.tinto his on the balcony, his legs dangling withBut assuredly, msleu. Do I not drees tie, lncituig ff to refuse to asin the room, O'Rourke watched the know I who have waited upon her sume, for all his coaxing and his opening on his left with Jealous, hand and foot these three days and that effect of nonchalant perbreathless expectancy. Not a sound she has not given as much an fection so much sought after, so selcame therefrom. He hesitated. The woman ticked a finger that dom achieved. 'If that werent her room, Id hear nail white-teether strong against was the thing possessed Patently moving about, he reasoned. somebody VolVictorina Mamselle by a devil; ORourke made no manner Tis frightened she Is not suspect-i- taire," she asserted stubbornly. of doubt of that Though for minutes YIs me. . . . But how do I know ORourke fumbled In his pocket and at a time be fumbled, fldgeteo, fumed herself? . . . Faith I could me found a tls golden piece, surreie-derln- g It was without avail ears deceive me? to It woman tbe as of state In a was heedlessly His room Itself With that he took heart of hope and as though It had been as many r ' able disorder something due broke manfully Into the chorus, sing- times. Ill be leaving me room fn mainly to ORourkes characteristic efing directly to the lighted window, now. And do ye, for tbe lovo-ohapwhat he and forts to find Just might the first line with ardor singing me dear, try to aet Heaven, pen to desire at any given time withfervor, with confidence and with hope, least trifle to rights. Will tbe out troubling to think where It ought singing persuasively, pleadingly, anx- ye now, like tbe best little girl laproperly to be. iously, insistently. the world Something of this confusion, mir" befo-or- e us Tbe best little girl in tbe world, all is worrld rethe For rored in the glass, was likewise was forty-fivif a day, promised who time what In ORourkes flected eyes, he sang and then paused. He heard miracles with a bob of a courtesy. he paused for breath and profanity. no echo. And again he essayed, with But so disgruntled was ORourke that Faith, tls worse than a daws nest, that in his tone to melt a heart of be abut his door In her face. the place, he admitted, scandalized. ice: Tls meaelf that's tbe fool he How ever did I one lone man do befo-ore said ua He 1e be me! savagely enough, to think for will all all that, telling "For the worrld ye moment that ever again 111 set mo baffled two hands, out helpless flung And now be triumphed and was eyes on her pretty face God bless It., and let them falL After a meditative lifted out of himself with sheer de- wherever she may bel . . . For' pause he added: Damn that Alsalight; for from tbe adjoining room wby should I deserve to I, tbe penwith reference to his latest tian! came the next line: niless adventurer? had wht and least competent valet, (TO BE CONTINUED.) but recently been discharged with a e And landladies flea in his ear and a months unearnhimself, he ARE YOU ON OPPOSITE SIDE?Unable to contain ed wat e In his pocket For knowing chimed In, and In duet they saug it me wiys, sighed ORourke, there out to tbe rousing finale: was never anyone the like of Danny. Frank Crana Thinks the Standing? For as many as three livelong days Minority Report Necessary te ua. to neer rayfuee They this man had been reduced to the neKeep Mankind Honest. But chalk ua up wld Joy Wo taste her tap. wo tear her esp--O. cessity of dressing himself with his that's ths chsp Doubtless each of us knows own fair hands and that at least For mo, cries she In bis circle of acquaintance one thrice dally, who did nothing by Wh(roo! who Is intellectually contrary. Bncto halves. And, somehow, mysteriously, Isn't he the darilnt. the bould eoldier-bo" a one delights to take on every occn-slo- n his discarded garments had for the had he f most part remained where tbe opposite side, As the last note rang out and died, is in a If he thrown them, despite the earnest efreligious ke community waa the window next darkened; the forts of the femme de chambre to woman had switched off the lights. will take hla stand firmly for atheism; something resembling order from He heard a faint ruatle of silken ruf- If he Is among scoffers he will argn s e chaos. For servants this fles. Tls herself." he declared in Just as valiantly for the church. Hw-lall liked well the O'Rourke, improvia standing minority report He In herself and an agony of anticipation dent soul that bo was, freehanded none other! And Im thinking aba'll a crooked stick that will not lie In the woodpile. Like Goethe's devil to a fault. ORourke Caught hla Breath, Stunned. be coming to the window now he la the eplrit who constantly deYou are Invited so picture to your be dlscov was He right Abruptly nies. self ORourke as Invariably he was reflected from the voice glow her by woman's ered he muttered; tans that the unknown Is past, was him. He behind la one of his not Infrequent but ever of miracles Tbit clast of persona Is a steady: illumination twould never be herselt, I've bad had set bussing in his brain, an tbe transient phases of affluence: that Is, normal of her oval crop in the field of humanity- of defianttbe conscious pallid forfeited it. Twill broke off to snap his fingers not get along without them a very magnificent figure Indeed. me chance anda second would Wo arms of white sleek sheen a he of for face, That at Casino. ye! the ly time. come to me mass of a of dark Standing a bit over six feel, deep of not hair, They keep the kettle of things with your and shoulders, ' The singing ceased. Of a sodden flouted It "sitting there which otherwise would' settle an chest and lean of flank wltn his long, all else of the than mors like but glamour cold eyes, smile and your painted needless wltb swore heal looked had ORourke he what are they that keep he straight legs the brasen huzzy ye are Goddess o' of eyes that shone Into his softly, spoil These of social life pure as a runbeen meant to be, a man of arms and and, plucking away tbe offending tie, Chance; Indeed! thinking ye have like limpid pools of darkness touched The dlvaction. His head was shapely. Its cast It savagely from him. ning stream and prevent It from Is It but to bids your time for all men to by dim starlightleaned toward her. coming like a green, stagnant peoL said. he with ye! dark hair curling the least in the vle fly away be Inflamed, mad ye are? I'd com and render up their souls to ye! They supply ginger for political' he ' stammered. I" world; and. Incredibly stained, a trans- bent on driving me darling after this Whist once madam; lose, Heres ye back! " to have fortune me Danny were Terence-They are the party ewt'-ofeatures lean, campaigns. his give tls parent brown, with ye; not a sou of Whist! Tls myself1 done I'm night are the watchdogs ed' Ha faith! laughMe fortune stifle: . . . They power. But she was gone. A low,eager, and rendered very attractive mine will ever again cross your ta--I them religion scorn. Without Tls to and bitter word warm at answer-thwhose the ed la progress. his was all by quick boyish eyes understand the laugh cruel a tyranny at Into of least never had anytbe ahe harden as would of her skirts blue-gradepths humor twinkled meaelf that reformed character from the silken whisper window. would be crystaa falsehoods feminine flashtwaa without He Uiat those like superstition, scurried from the thing more often than not, though on! and ancient freed1 with n mis- - tacked onto the front . morning mmm (jrH were not seldom thoughted crimson, waited an Instant tbei allized In power feather In baraae mankind? high softly. ant They laughed forever. He to live to strode winds, the be And with away discretion of it! flung ful. a trace wistful perhaps, cheer Crane. and. Frank L thinking hones conceit; his the Into being with out upon the look of one who recalls dear mem- window to cool olL movement and found himself scrambling of the days of his him to fully forget It was like ories. old friends and sweethearts that were to follow, thj song j ge loved and lost . . . For be bad peratlon in the twinkling of an eye; In h.a,ied itself in words heart his him by entirely swayed begun to live early Ir life and bad auTtber much to look back upon, though for the time he found himself gazing oK linn Jlfc all taat its doubtful if he were more lore the vague, velvety dusk that moI'm Paddy Wliark From Bally hack, than thirty at the time he became In- mentarily was closing down upon the Not kins sso turned soldier O volved In the fortunec of the Pool falry-llk- e panorama of terraced garAt grand altark, ' dens and sullen, silken sea. His of Flame. Or storm or sack. liolder-- Ci to back that I will bad prove winged None than reFor the rest of him, barring tbs thoughts that fractory tie, the man was strikingly dear woman of whom in fragment Ills voice was by way of being a him mind; and bad put well groomed, while bis surroundings of melody and volume, of heart tenor of tolerable qualitywonderful. It spoke for comfortable circumstances. be was sighing and heavy untrained but nothing On the authority of the absent and re- with longing for the sight of her and was Just the way he trolled out the hand. ingretted Danny, who had long served the touch of her rollicking stanza that rendered It Even as he watched, stark night fell, fectious, be as the ORourke in the intimate capaciFor irresistible. t, confidant1 and black as a pocket beneath a porten- paused the voice of the woman that ties of Far out chancellor of the exchequer (this last, tous pall of cloud. . had reminded him of the song capped of course, whenever there happened upon the swelling bosom of the Med the verse neatly. to be any exchequer to require a chan- Iterwnean a cluster of dim lights beAn whin we get the route cellor), there was Lever anyone at all trayed a stealthy coasting steamer, Wld a shout. who could spend money or wear making westward. Nearer, in the harHow they pout! clothes like himself, meaning the mas- bor, a fleet of pleasure craft, riding Wld a ready right-abowas ter. And at this time O'Rourke was at anchor on the still dark tide, Ooee the bould aoldler-bowraith-lik- e ostensibly In funds and consequently revealed In. many faint, O'Rourke caught his breath, star(as the saying runs) cutting a wide shapes of gray, all studded with yet be It cant be stunned. tled. of endless festoons swath. Heaven and himself only knew low stars. Ashore, voice, her If first at the limits of his resources; but his colored lamps draped the gloom of the whispered.in For distance, bad stirred his manner a Monte Crlsto might have terraces; the facade of the Casino subdued a touch as vague and with meftory the darkness; out lurid a nvi ERIAL STORY The Pool of Flame the-door- jody-servan- ut yl high-hande- too-cloa- e d bell-cle- ... css-lng- too-soli-d or n pot-ters- ar bis-breat- h. ... . d, yl - u free-lanc- of? e, r, ... self-respe- iron-filigre- e Just-tba- Vot-talr- s, r1 - strut-agem- s, to-who- h. n ten-fran- o ffvw-minute- f mw-tl)!ng- r s . e ado-or- - eco-o- re yl e man-mad- ... stln4 to-conrs- - e to f - y hayeto |