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Show In an Immobile countenance. "I jhall Whenever You Use Your Back 'wait the seconds of Monsieur des Trf 0 In my rooms." 'rhe Frenchman essayed to speak choked with passion, and turning abruptly, somewhat unsteadily descending the staircase. O'Rourke laughed briefly, offering Twas wonderthe German hls band. fully opportune, your appearance, captain dear." said be. Thank e from the bottom of me heart. . . . And now will ye forgive me excusing mo-seuntil I bear from ye about the afIve a friend fair of the morning? room me . . , Parhere. In waiting don the rudeness." Does Sharp Pain Hit Yoaf It's a sign of nick kidneys, especially If the kidney action Is disordered, too, passages scanty or too freqnent lf or ill or the slight troubles ran into dropsy, gravel, tone or Brights disease. Use Doan's Kidney Pills. This good remedy cures bid kidneys. CHAPTER IV. ' It would be difficult to designate precisely Just what ORourke thought to discover, when after a punctilious return of Captain von Elneme salute, he reopened hls door and, closing It quickly as ho entered, turned the key In the comte. SYNOPSIS. "Besides, I quarrel . . . mon- lanes and somHtilnrf of Des Trebes, lounging back, knees hotel. leaning on the balcony lie sees a beautiful girl who suddenly enters the crossed, thin white fingers InterlacAt the elevator and passes (rotn night. men ing, black eyes narrowing, regarded earning table O'ltiiiiiku notices twoBerlle the Irishman thoughtfully for a mowatching him. One Is the tloii Is Glynn, while his companion viscount Abruptly he sat up and reIes Trebes. a duelist. The has directtells ment. moved from an Inner pocket a long him the French government him to CVRourke as a man wlio would thin white envelope, thrice sealed with undertake a secret mission. CHAPTER III. Aa he stepped nut of the lift Colonel O'Rourke remarked a light In hla room, visible through the tranaom .over the door. de chainbre." he femme "The Sure and the poor thing's thought. Mill busy trying to clear up. . To the contrary, he found the door 'Tla careless she was to leave fast. hla i he light on." he observed, fitting lock. in the key If thought lea's in lhat one way. the woman had fulfilled the letter of her word in the other. It was with comprehensive relief (since he anticipated a caller) that he found the room once again presentable. Hut one thing surprised him; and more surprising still waa the fact that hir ordinarily indifferent eye should have detected it at the first glance. He had Indeed hardly entered before he In eante aware of a square of white bupaper tucked in the corner of the reau mirror. "The dlwle. now!" he greeted It. "That's curious. . . . Could one of me many admirers have bribed the femme de ebambre to bring a note to He chuckled, holding to the me?" light a much soiled envelope, grimywith the marks of many fingers, plastered with stamps and black with postage murks and substitute having evidently been forwarded over half the world before It reached the addressee: who was. Colonel Terence In a bold hand. O'Rourke." He whistled low over this, examinconcerning It intently. Infinitely less with the than contents Its ed with manner by which It had reached him. The first postmark seemed to be that of Rangoon, the original address, the Cercle Mllltslre. his club In Paris. Thence, apparently. It had sought him In Galway, Ireland, Dublin. Paris again, and finally after half a dozen other addresses "C. of Mme. O'Rourke, HoThe Igrndon tel Carlton, Ixmdon." . . . liofttmark was Indecipherable. He found himself trembling violently. By one hand alone could this have reached him, since the post had not brought it to Monte Carlo. . . He recalled that woman's voice which bad so stirred him, the woman of the Casino whose bearing had seemed to him so familiar. . . . Some one tapped on the door; he smothered a curse of annoyance, and went to answer, thrusting the letter Into his pocket. Monsieur le A page announced Comte des Trebes. "Show the gentleman up," snapped O'Rourke. He was about to add. "in five minutes," when lies Trebes hint appeared. (hat message, niun "Anticipating npi:r," Ite Raid, moving Into view one side of the door, "I took the 'linTiy of accompanying this boy. I ini la'c. I fear." O'Hiiurke turn'd a nod and smile of Not to my knowledge," said The Frenchman consulted bis watch. Ten minutes late, monsieur; it Is ten last midnight. "Then," said O'Rourke, "the top o the morning to ye. Euler, monsieur." Ili stood aside, closing the dooi be 'Tls no matter; it li'ui his guest. I thought ye punctual, tis so ye sre . 't all intents and purposes. He established chair, monsieur." Des Tri bes by a window. "Aud a cigA arette? drop to drink? As ye will. . . . And since ''is to talk secret business tbat we're i, ere would e like the door locked? "That is hardly essential!" Dcb Tre-Ic.'reviewed bis surroundings with swift, searching glance. "We are at least secure from interruption; one ,coul-.- t ask little more." True for ye, laughed O'Rourke. He moved toward the alcove. Now first of all I'm to submit proors of me iden Uly, I believe," be added. Intending to dig out of hla trunk a dispatch-bocontaining hla passports and other pa pers of a private nature. But Des Trebes had changed his mind. "That Is unnecessary, mon aleur. Your very willingness Is suffl 'lent proof. I have your word and irn content." 'That's the way of doing business that I like," assented O'Rourke heartily. wanning a little to the man aa be turned back a chair facing the vl- - ... s red wax and Innocent of any super script ion whatever. "Are you prepared, monsieur," he demanded incisively, to play bllnd-man'- a buff?" t "Am I what? asked O'Rourke, star tied. Then be smiled. Pardon; perhaps 1 fall to follow ye." I mean," explained the vlcomte patiently, that I have to offer you a commission to act under sealed or ders" he tapped the envelope the orders contained herein." And wheu would I be free to open that?" As soon as you are at sea away from France, Monsieur." O'Rourke considered the envelope doubtfully. "From you, monsieur from the Government of France, which you represent." be said at length, yes; will accept such a commission. France, he averred simply, knows me; It wouldn't be asking me to do anything a gentleman shouldn't" "You may feel assured of that," agreed Dea Trebes gravely. Indeed, I venture to assert you will find this let us say adventure much to your liking. . . . Then you accept? "One moment a dozen questions, by your leave. . . . When must I start?" Tomorrow morning by the Cote d'Azur Rapide, at ten mlnutea to eight" "And where will I be going?" First to Paris; thence to Havre; thence, by the first available steamer, to New York; finally. It may bo to Venezuela, monsieur." "Expenses? consul-g- 1 1 ... "Odd." commented the vlcomte; was thinking of him. wondering what had Lecome of the man." "Die last I heard of hint, he was In Algeria, tnoiisiciir with some French force In the desert. On the point Thank you uf leaving the vlcomte snaiqied Ills teeth on a second "Good night," snd swore beneath bis breath. ORourke, surprised, stared. The Frenchman was standing stiffly at attention, as If alarmed. Ills pallor was. If possible. Increased, livid hls closeon ly shaven beard showing hla heavy Jowls and prominent chin. "only this aflcrnoun I ..." blue-blac- d and iba pals waa urrlbls Murphlna waa sir only rrllrf until 1 mad Doan's KMnay Pills Afisr Utkin thl iwniadr tha Monaa dlMotrrd and piocd wlilioui polo. 1 am. sow (ma bum Hls mood was exalted, hls imaglna. tlon excited: the swift succession of events which had made memorable the Innight, culminating with hla open vitation to a challenge from the most indesperate duelist In Europe, had not as such volatile r vivacity spired even the excitement of the Casino had been potent to create In him. Of all tr.ad conjectures Imaginable the maddest waa too weird for him to credit In his humor of that hour. Eliminating all else that had happened, In the course of that short evening, hls heart had been stirred, hls emotions played upon by a recrudesence or a passion which he had striven with all hls strength to put behind him for a time; he had first heard the voice Of the one woman to whom hls love and faith and honor were Irretrievably pledgee, he had then seen her (or another who remarkably resembled her) for the scantiest of Instants; and finally he had mysteriously received a letter which could, he believed, have been conveyed to him by no other hand but hers. And now he waa persuaded beyond a doubt that the person of the alcove, the eavesdropper for whose fair repute he had chosen to risk hls llfd, was In the world but that same one woman. But more than all else, perhaps, he expected and feared to find the room deserted; for the balcony outside the windows afforded a means of escape too facile to be neglected by one who wished nftt to be discovered. . . His first definite impression was of consternation and despair; for the lights had been shut off In hls absence. Then quickly he discerned, with eyes dazed by the change from the lighted hallway to the lightless chamber, the shadowy shape of a woman, motionless between him and the windows, waiting. . . . An electric switch was at hls elbow. With a single motion he could nave drenched the place with light. For an instant tempted, some strange scruple of delicacy, abetted It may be by hla native love of romantic mystery, stayed hls hand. Madame," said he. "or mademoiselle, whichever ye may be the windows are open, meselfs not detaining If ye choose, ye may go; but ye. ye'd favor me by going quickly. . . . 1 give ye, he continued, seeing that she neither moved nor replied, this one chance. In thirty seconds I turn on the lights." The woman did not stir; but he thought he could detect in the stillness her quickened breathing. "What yeve taken," he amended, "I'd thank ye to leave aa ye go If ye came to steal. Tla little 1 have to lose. . . . There was no answer, lie touched the switch with an Impatient hand, stepped forward a single pace, caught himself up and stopped short, now pale and trembling who bad a moment gone been flushed with calm. "Beatrix!" be cried thickly. Dumbly hls wife lifted her arms and offered herself to him, unutterably lovely, unspeakably radiant. . . . It were worse than a waste of time to attempt a portrait of her as she seemed to him. Seen through her husband's eyes, her beauty was Incomparable, Immaculate, too rare and fine, too delicate a thing to be bodied forth In words, dependent upon the perfection of no single feature. Not in her hair, fair as sunlight on the sea. not In her eyes of autumnal brown, not In the wonderful fineness of her skin or In the daintiness of her features, not In the graciousness of her body, did ha find the beauty of her tbat surpassed expression, but In the love she bore hlin, in the sweetness of her Inviolate soul, In the steadfastness of her Impregnable heart. . . . Hut it's doubtful If ever he had an alyzed hls passion for her so minutely. Mostly, I think, at that moment ol her abrupt disclosure to him, he longed unutterably for her lips and the proffered wreath round hla neck of her slim, round, white arms. Yet he would not. Trembling though he was, with every Instinct and every fiber of his being Btralnlug toward her, with the hunger for her a keen pain In hla heart, he held himself back; or hla conception of honor held him back. That which he had voluntarily forfeited and put away from him for his honor's sake, he would nut take back though it were offered freely to him. So," he said, after a bit, shakily; then pulled himself together, and controlling bis voice "So twas your self, after all, .Beatrix! Me heart told me no other woman could have sung that son as ye The woman dropped her arms "Your heart. Terence?" she asked n litlie b t lerly. "What else? Do ye timiiii it ITO UK I'UNTIM'I.D , kuiuar tiuabta." Get Doss's at ssy Drag Store, 50c His eyes blazed, shifting from the alcove to O'Rourke. "Monsieur?" he demanded harshly, what does this Insult mean?" "Mean?" Iterated ORourke. Insult? Faith, ye have me there." Speechless with rage, Des Trebes gestured violently toward the alcove; and O'Rourke became aware that the curas tains were shaking wavering though a draught stirred them. But there was no draught And beneath their edge he saw two feet two small, bewitching feet In the daintiest and most absurd of evening slippers, with an Inch or so of silken stockings showing above each. Des Trebes' eyes, filled with an expression unspeakably offensive, met the Irishman's blank, wondering gase. It is. no doubt, the Frenchman stammered, "sanctioned by your code to have tne spied upon by the partner of your liaisons. "But, monsieur " I compliment the lady upon the smallness of her feet, as well as upon ankles so charming that I cannot bring myself to leave without a glimpse of their mistress' features. Des Trebes moved toward the alcove. Thunderstruck, O'Rourke rapped out a stupefied oath, then In a stride forestalled the man. With him it was as if suddenly a circuit had closed in his intelligence, establishing a definite connection between the three now- four most mystifying incidents of the evening. Dess ijaste, monsieur," he counseled in a voice of ice. Ills hand fell with almost paralyzing force upon the other's wrist aa be sought to grasp the curtain, and swung him roughly back. "Yourself will never know whos there whoever the lady may be. , . . - Ah, hut no. monsieur!" there remain any trace of bis malignant and unquenchable hatred. I am unfortunately," he sneered, incapable of participating In such brawls as you prefer, Colonel ORourke. But 1 am not content. I warn you My rank prevents me from punishing you personally; I am obliged to fight gentlemen only." O'Rourke laughed openly. But I advise you to leave Monte Carlo before morning. Should you remain, or should you come within my neighborhood another time at whatever time I will kill you as I would a rabid cur or cause you to be shot" There's always the coward's alternative." returned the Irishman. But ye mustnt forget yeve only the one leg to stand upon In society your notoriety as a duelist. And I shall take stepa to see that ye fight me before sunset. Else shall all Europe know yo for a coward." Behind the vlcomte the lift shot up, paused, and discharged a single passenger. As swiftly the cage disappeared. Out of the corner of his eye, O'Rourke recognized the newcomer as an old acquaintance, and his heart swelled with gratitude while a smile of rare pleasure shaped itself upon his lips. He had now the Frenchman absolutely at bis mercy. vbu Elnein." he said Captain quickly, by your leave, a moment of your time. The man paused stiffly, with the square-se- t and erect poise of an officer of the German army. At your service, Colonel O'Rourke," he said In impeccable French. But the Irishman had returned undivided attention to Des Trebes. Monsieur," he announced, "your nose annoys me." And with that he shot out a hand and seized the offensive member between a strong and capable thumb and forefinger. It has annoyed me." he explained In parenthesis, "ever since I first clapped me two eyes upon ye. scum of the eurth that ye are. ss And he tweaked the noxe of Monsieur le Viscomte des Trebes, tweaked It with a will and great pleasure, tweaked it for glory and the Saints; carefully, methodically, even painstakingly, be kneaded and pulled and twisted it from aide to side, ere releasing It. Then stepping back and wiping his fingers upon a handkerchief, be cocked hls head to one aide and admired the result of hls handiwork. "Tis un amazingly happy effect,'' he observed critically "the crimson blotch It makes against the chalky complexion ye affect, Monsieur des Trebes. . . . And now I fancy ye'll Your friends may call upon mine here Captain von Elnetn. with your per did ... Maddened beyond prudence. Des Trebes bad struck at hla face. O'Rourke warded off the blow and In what seemed the same movement whirled the man round by hls captive wrist and caught the other arm from the back. The briefest of struggles ensued. The Frenchman, taken at a complete disadvantage, was for all hls resistance husllcd to the oor and throw n through It before he fairly comprehended what was happening. Free at length, if on all fours, he scrambled to bis feet to find O'Rourke had shut the door behind him, calmly awaiting the next move. Haven't ye had enough?" demanded the irishman as the vlcomte, blinded with passion, seemed about to renew- the uttack. "Or are ye wishful to be going downstairs in the same fashion ?" drew back, snarling. Des Tn-bcThen abrupt"You dog!" lie cried ly, by au admirable effort, be calmed biiiiseir surprisingly, drawing himself up with considerable dignity and throttling his temper as he quietly adjust- niisslor." "Most happy. Colonel O'Rourke." as ed the disorder of his clothing. Only In hls eyes, black as sloes and small. sented tL.' German, blue eyes sparkling s did" Box Doan's gST Pettits Eve Salve FOR EVE DISEASES WOMAN WORKS OUT PROBLEM Mrs. 8arah Erickson Declares the Hen Lays an Egg at the Sams Hour Shs Waa Born, What time o' day Dora a lien layT That question has puzzled poultry fanciers for unnumbered decades, but now. It seems, it has been satisfactor-ril- y solved by a woman. Bhe Is Mrs. Sarah Erickson of Falconer, N. Y. Having kept chickens for 37 years, she believes she qualifies as aa expert In this line of effort. "I have worked out the problem," she declares. "By using marked trap nests and alarm clocks at leg-band- tacked to the nests 1 have determined that a hen lays an egg at the same hour, minute and second that she was For born, or, rather, hatched. if the hen happened to be able to peck Its way through Ita shell at 7:43 a. m., she will lay an egg at precisely 7:43 a. m. And aha will do this without variation every time she is In. dined to lay. I have kept close, systematic watch on my hens for five years, and I have nerer knows the rule to falL" no-uod-y 1 "I will myself furnish you with funds sufficient lo finance you as far as New York. There our consul-genera- l will provide you with what more you may require. It is essential that your connection with this affair shall be kept secret; should you draw on the government In this country, It would cxKse you to grave suspicions, perhaps to danger. 1 understand that," assented the Irishman. "But to obviate all danger of mistake, would It not be well to have one of your trusted agents meet me on the steamer and provide me with whatever ye figure I might require? Tls barely possible your eneral might not recognize me In New York. Why should he? 1 never heard his name, even." Des Trebes meditated this briefly. "It shall be as you desire, monsieur. It shall he arranged as yon suggest. "Finally, then, what is to be my recompense?" "That must depend. I am authorized to assure you that in no case will you receive less than twenty-fiv- e thousand francs; in event of a successful termination of your mission, the reward will he doubled." 'Tis enough. said ORourke with a sigh; accept." The Frenchman rose, offering him the envelope. "You must pledge yourself. monsieur, not to break these seals until you are at sea? "Absolutely of course." O'Rourke took the packet, weighed It curiously in his hand and scrutinized the seals. He remarked that they were yet soft and fresh; the wax had been hot with-it- i the half hour. "I will do myself the honor of meeting you at the train to see you off, monsieur." said Des Trebes. "At that time, also, will provide you with the funds you require." Thank ye. Their hands met. "Good night. .Monsieur O'Rourke." "Good night. Half way to the door, Des Trebes paused. "Oh, by the way," he exclaimed carelessly. "I believe you art a friend of my old school fellow, t'ham-bre- t mon cher Adolph?" " Tls so." assented the Irishman The best of men Cham-brcl!warmly. A TYPICAL CASE L. a Wsrnsr.ma M. GarSrld Avu. PoMtalla. Idaho, an: Kuinrj ouiuplalat ofla eundm-sia to bad tar wanks 1 paaaad kldaer lUines lock. with no man's right to be reasonable. Thu story opens at Monte Carlo with And now I'm at your service, Col. Terence iiitourke, a military tree sieur." a Ksmbler. In his r. Do not neglect any little kidney r. The Educational know what kindergarten la for: It le to educate children for tho primary grades. Wa know what the primary grades are for: they are to educate children for the grammar grades. We know what the grammar grades are for; they are to educate children tor high echool. We know what the high echool la tor: It la to educate children for college. But what does college fit yon tor? Life. Step-Ladde- YVe Art Statistics. We Imported last year 917,643,000 worth of works of art, 20 yean old ind over, free of duty, besides $67335 worth of art works produoed abroad We exported 9989,331 by Americans. worth of paintings and statuary. Minor Bookkeeping Item. A small Item was overlooked In the bookkeeping department of the United States navy. It was the charge for guns installed on the battleships Flop (da and Utah. The item waa for the trifling sum of 9L600.000. What a lovely old world this Is for a girl tha first time she falls In lova and what a sadness It Is when aha falls ont again! Some men work overtime to earn a dishonest living. The man who shoots at random never hits the target RIGHT HOME' Doctor Recommends Poetum from Pep onal Teet No one la better able to realize the Injurious action of caffeine the drag In coffee on the heart, than the doctor. .Tea la Just aa harmful aa coffee because It, too, contains the drag caf- feine. When the doctor himself has been relieved by simply leaving off coffee and using Poatum, be can refer with full conviction to hla own caae. A Mo. physician prescribes Poatum for many of hla patients because ha was benefited by ft He aaya: "I wish to add my testimony In re gard to that excellent preparation Post urn. 1 have had functional or nervous heart trouble for over 15 years, and a part of the time waa un- able to attend. to my business. "Istia moderate user of coffee and did not think drinking It hurt me. But on stopping It and using Poatum instead, my heart haa got all right, and I ascribe It to the change from coffee to Postum. I am prescribing It now In cases of sickness, especially when coffee does not agree, or affects the heart, nerves or stomach. "When made right It has a much better flavor than coffee, and Is a vital snstainer of Iho system. I shall continue to recommend It to our people, and I have my own caae to refer to." Name given, by Postum Co., Patti Creek, Mich. Read, the III tie book, "The Road to Wellvllle, lu pkgs. , ' I I "Theres a reason." Ever rml (ho ihava Irttrrt A Me appears fram Mats Thrr ara am hI". trap, aag falltime. pf haaias lair real. tin. |
