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Show nlflcsntly he clinked the handcuffs until they rang on wrist and aukle. "Answer nit!" snarled the vicomte, picking up his revolver. "Divvle a word, observed O'Rourke, will ye get from me It ye shoot me dead, monsieur le vicomte. Put down your pistol end be sensible. Dcs Trebca' face darkened, suffused with the blood of bis rage. Yet the man asserted that admirable control of self which he waa able to employ when It suited his purposes. Evidently, too, he recognized the cold common-sensof the wauderer'e remark. At all events he put aside the weapon. Where's the letter?" he demanded again, more pacifically. Again O'Rourke yawned with malice prepense, yawned deliberately and and dispassionately. exhaustively at Not a word." he volunteered length, until ye loose me hands and feet. Which, be added, ye need not hesitate to do, for I'll not strike back uulese ye crowd me." The vicomte scowled darkly for moment, plainly dubious. Then pro sumably upon the consideration that he could truet O'Rourke's word and that most assuredly he would learn nothing from him until his request was compiled with, he growled an or der to Glynn to unlock and remove the handcuffs. The Englishman obeye 8YN0PSI8. Thi story opens at Mont Curio with Terenc O'Kourk. a military fret lance and aonytlilni of a (ambler, in hi hotel. Leaning on the balcony lie see a beautiful girl who auddenly enter the the (levator and pawe front eight. At men gaming table O'KourkI notice two Bertie One the him. Hon, watching I Vtavount Slynn, while hi companion He Trebe. a duelist The viscount tell him th French government ha directed him to O'Kourke a a man who would undertake a secret mission. At hi apartment. O'Rourke, who had agreed to undertake the mission, find a mysterious a letter. The viscount arrives, hand rated package to O'Rourke, who I not A to open It until on the ocean. pair of dainty Upper are seen protruding from dnrler a doorway curtuln. Th Irishman And the owner of the mysterious feet to be hi wife, Reatrlx, from whom he had run away a year previous. They are nirnnrUed. and opening the letter he And that a Rangoon law Arm offers a him the for a jewel known 100,000 pound Pool of Flam and left to him by a dyon of In now but keeping friend, ing named Chambret In Algeria. O Rourk worst the nobleman In a dud. The wife old OKourke farewell and he promise :o soon return with the reward. He discover both (ilynn and the viscount on board the ship. Col. CHAPTER VI le (Continued.) By dawn they were ready to start; ind so, in the level raye of a eun that teemed a dazzling sphere of Intolerable light, poising Itself In the eastern lm of the world me If undecided whether or no to take up Ite flight icross the firmament, the little cara-ra- n rocked out Into the fastness of jie desert, the Irishman in the van fitting a blooded meharl as one to the arildernesi horn. On the seventh night they bivouacked hard on the heels of the flying colimn, having for seven days pursued .t this way and thgt, zigzagging Into :he heart of the parched land. Now, when they were come within lix hours of their goal, reluctantly, ong after nightfall, ORourke gave consent to halt, conceding the for weariness weighed upon itaelr shoulders a great burden, and die camels had become unusually aul-e- n and evil tempered; If rest were denied them presently they would become obstinate and refuse to follow the road. O'Rourke closed his eyes and lost consciousness with a sensation of fall-nheadlong Into a great pit of Yet It eternal. bottomless, seemed no more than a moment ere se was silting up and rubbing sight Into his eyes, shaken out of slumber y his guide. lie Btumbled to his feet and lurched still but half lowBrd the camels, iwake. When his senses cleared possessed him. His guide had been overzealous. He turned upon the man and seized him roughly by the g n, irm. "What the divvle! he grumbled ana and a chatter between yawn grily, bf teeth for the air was hitter cold. "The moon's not yet up! "Hush, Sldl!" Something In the The guide's tone stilled his wrath. Touaregg are all about us. They have been passing us throughout the night " Ye knew this and did not wake me? "There was no need; we could not hare moved ere this without detection. and we lu Now. they are all ihe night, may pass for them until nr.on-iii.- I he guide turned away to rouse the mehara, prodding them up, mutinous, snarling and ugly. In another five minutes they were again moving forward. By, the time the silver rim of the moon peered over the edge of the east they were pelting on at full speed, as yet, apparently, undetected by the Touaregg. An hour passed, and the chill in the air became more intense; dawn was at hand. A sense of security, of dangers left behind, came to the Irishman; he began to breathe more freely, though still the polished butt of a repealing rifle swinging from the saddle remained a comfort to his palm. He grew more confident, mentally at esse, seeing the desert take shape in the moonlight and show Itzelf desolate oil every hand. Even as he gained assurance from this thought, the guide turned in his saddle and cried a warning: "The From that moment on both wielded merciless whips. For out of (be uioon!lt wastes behind them had shrilled a voice, cruel and wild, an nouncing discovery and the inception of the chase. The fugitives had need of no sharper spur. A rifle shot rang sharp on the echoes of that cry, but the bullet must have fallen far short. A moment later, indeed, they opened a brisk, scattering Are naturally Ineffectual, though the toilets dropping right and left In the and proved that the chase had got within range. Even with that warning, the end was nearer than he bad dreamed or as hoped. It came In a twinkling and holt out of a clear unrt'e'trd Tou-nreg- ky: a flaan of fire ahead, a spitful snap and pttt! the song of a bullet speeding past his head. The guide pulled up with a Jerk. ORourke, reining In desperately,' swung hla camel wide to avert the threatened collision. Simultaneously the sharp "Qul vivo? of a French sentry rang out, loud and sweet to hear. Thank God!" said the adventurer In hla heart. And aloud, Friends! he cried, driving past the sentry In a cloud of dust. Dy a blessed miracle the man wae quick of wit, and swift to grasp the situation of which, however, he must have had some warning from the rattle of firing. He screamed something in O'Rourke's ear as the latter passed, and turning threw himself flat and began to pump the trigger of his carbine, emptying the magazine at the line of Touaregg. The alarm was hardly needed; ORourke and the guide swept on over the slip of a depression In the desert and halted in the mldat of a camp already quickened and alive with shadowy figures running methodically to their posts, carbine and accoutrement gleaming In the moonlight: men of the camel crops, hardened to and familiar with their work. They buckled down to It In a business-like way that thrilled the heart of ORourke. In a trice they were doubling out past lines of tethered mehara, past the white hillocks of the officers shelter-tent- s and, like the sentry, throwing themselves down upon the ground to take shelter of whatever Inequalities the face of the desert offered; and their firing ringed the bivouac with a fringe of flame. O'Rourke slipped from his camel and turned to watch the skirmish. Massed, the Touaregg. t streiigO greater than the adventurer had believed something like two hundred mounted men, In all charged down and upon the camp as If to over-ru- n stampede It. Yet at the critical moment, when It seemed that of a surety there was no stopping them, they divided and swung round the camp In two wide circles, scattering Into open order and firing as they scattered. Here and there a horse fell, a rider threw out his hands and toppled from his sad die, a camel seemed to buckle at full tilt like a faulty piece of machinery; and so gaps appeared In the flying wings. For the men of the flying column were picked shots. They had need to be. who had such tasks as this to cope w itli. Nor for that matter were the Tou aregg the only sufferers. Here and there in the camp a man plunged In and on the firing line beyond the tents now and again a sharpshooter shuddered and lay still upon his arms. Even at O'Rourke's side an officer was shot as he ran to the front, and would have falleir had not the Irishman caught him with ready arms and let him easily to the earth. As he did so the stricken man rolled an agonized eye upward. "OTlourke!" he said between groan and a sigh. And O'Kourke, kneeling at hla side and peering Into his face, gave a bit ter cry. For he had found Chambret. for-wa- id mid-strid- CHAPTER VIII. Preparations for breakfast were to ward; an aroma of coffee and bacon bung in the still, crisp air. The troopers were bustling about as If nothing had happened, laughing and Joking, clenning rifles, feeding the me hara, striking tents, drawing water from the paint-ringe- d well round which the enmp had been made. Out of sight beyond the edge of the sunken oasis a detachment was digging shallow trenches for the dead. In the open Chambret lay dying, a stark grim figure in the growing light. O'Rourke eat by his side, near the head of the Improvised litter, elbow In knee, chin In hand, eyes flzed on the face of his friend. Just before sunrise the man on thc litter stirred, moaned, opened his eyes and turned his head to see O'Rourke lie smiled wanly. Mon ami," he said in tones faint yet thick. The Irishman rose. "Don't talk." said he. "I'll be calling the surgeon. But Chambret stayed him with a gesture. "Has he not told you, dear friend? he asked. hesitated. O'Rourke Told me what?" "That my wound wae fatal mortal? . . . Surely he must have told you. . . ConIt Is so. Presently I die tent. . . . Let him be this Burgeon: I am beyond hie aid. Attend to me. In my laet momenta, O'Rourke, my friend." The adventurer vacillated, tors 87 an agony of compassion. I must do something for ye," he said miserably. . . I must do romethlng. . . . What can I do? "Comfort me. The dying man closed hie eyes and lay still for a little. "You are not gone, O'Rourke?" he asked presently. Im here, be your side, mon ami." Tell me of madams . . your wife. She le well?" She Is very well, Chambret." You have seen her recently?" Within ten days." You have . . . returned to ... her? No and yes. 'Twas not for lack of love for her that I gave her ... up" that the cold upon his wrists was that of stei-1- . With handcuffs also on his ankles, he lay helpless, unable even to protest because of a cloth wadded tightly into hie mouth and a firm hand that prevented ejection. Other hands were rifling hie pockets, swiftly but after a bungling fashion. The train, having paused briefly at Setlf (he afterwards located the station by conjecture), began to move again, waa presently In full thundering flight. Abruptly the examination of his person which was so thorough that It Included the opening of his shirt to assure the thieves that he carried nothing In the shape of a money-bel- t waa concluded and the adventurer was roughly Jerked Into a sitting position. At the saute lime his gag was jniitted. He gasped, blinked, coughed, and rolled a resentful eye around the compartment Be the powers! be said huskily; and no more. At first glance It became apparent that he had miscalculated the audacity and resource of the vicomte and Mr. Glynn. They bad literally caught him napping. The Honorable Bertie, O'Rourke discovered kneeling In the act of turning the adventurer! traveling gear Inside out; at least he seemed to be trying to do so. Monsieur le Vicomte des T relies on the contrary waa seated at ease, facing O'Rourke, a revolver on the cushion beside him, his Interest concentrated not upon his captive, upon his collaborator. O'Rourke remarked an expression on the Frenchmans face, a curious compound of eagerness, triumph and apprehension. Without noting the Irishman's circulation, he addressed Glynn: Find "Yea," said Chambret Impatiently. I understand. I comprehend utterly Lqusjrlhewir . But you owe her happiness' 'tiilogtf you sacrifice your own everything to give It her. She loves you . . . as she might have loved even me had you not come Into her life. True. . . You are about to pocket your scruples that she may have her due portion of happiness?" I've promised, Chambret. I am glad. . . . But you what has brought you hither?" I I wished to see ye," But the dying are oftentimes and strangely endowed with curious insight Into matters beyond their ken. Without perceptible hesitation Chambret made this apparent. You have come for the ruby, he said with conviction. "How did ye know?" "It Is true, then? I fancied so; I knew that some day you would come to claim it. . . . Bend nearer to me. . . . The Pool of Flame Is It? in the keeping of my good friend, the No worse luck! grumbled tha Governor-Genera- l of Algeri ell Englishman, rising and kicking the 'ranged. Whom i out gone, take my There isn't savagely. where signet ring, tell him your name, and' much as a scrap oi paym demand the package a small morocco-leathe- r about him. The vicomte favored O'Rourke with box, wrapped In plain brown paper and superscribed with my name a vicious glance, muttering something and yours. lie knows nothing of Its about a thousand devils. The Irishvalue, save that It Is great, and will man, quick to grasp the situation and deliver it to you and only you without question. . . . That Is all. The hand that clasped O'Rourke's was like Ice. 'That -- ... ed. Free, O'Rourke stretched himself, rubbed hie wrists, and observed a collection of hla pocket hardware lying upon the seat by him, thrown aside by Glynn In hie disgust at not finding what be sought. Ye'll mt be wanting to deprive me of these few trifles, me gay highwaymen, Im thinking? he Inquired placidly of the pair. "If ye've no objection I'll make eo free as to take back me own." Take what you want," returned Dee Trebee In an ugly tone. But I give you three mluutes to tell me where you have put that letter. Indeed? Your courtesy overpowers me. The Irishman took up his watch and calmly made a note of the hour-h- ard upon three In the morning; then, with easy nonchslsncs stowed It swaj with the rest of the miscellaneous collection the knives, coins and keys, his wallet, tickets and so forth. Your time, the voice of the Interrupted this occupation, L He fingered his revolver Where up. Is that letter? I am losing patience. Where rust nor moth cannot cor rupt nor thieves break In to steal, O'Rourke misquoted solemnly. Don't call names or I'll Steady. forget meself. I mean that the letter la In fragments, scattered to the four winds of heaven, destroyed. There ye have your answer. Ye fools, did ye think I would carry It about me? "By God! said Glynn tensely. No Ann't shoot him. Des Trebee! Hes telling the truth. Mass him tell wLt was In the letter. I'm afraid 'tie useless, O'Rourke mocked them. I have forgotten the contents. What use to me to remember? he demanded, inspired. WHY THE FIFTH LEFT MAN He Wore a Wig and the Other Four Men at the Table Were Bald and Talkative. In the aiuoklug room of a westbound ocean Jiner two (lay out from an English port live men sat at a "small game" of poker. When the chips had been cashed in the men retained llmir places, and presently one of the party said: "This Is funny; four bald heads out of a possible five,'' und then there was a discussion bb to the causes of baldness, In which ill took part except the unafllieied man, who was u good listener for a while. Ho then bade the min rs good night. When ho had gone the young-fs- t of the group, who was less laid than the others, said: "Do you know why Mr. Blank made the getaway? He wears a wig, and is probably as bald as any of us." And for the rest af the Journey Mr. Blank's head was the objoct of study at a distance Tor he never ugain appeared In tha smoking room. UNTOLD AGONY WITH ECZEM1 170 N. 16th SL, Portland, Ore. The eczema which started about twe years ago, broke out in my wrists, then spread to my fingers. I suffered untold agony with them until I began to use Cutlcura Remedies. It would appear In little pimples or blisters like, and when I scratched them, they would appear In little scales. Ths Itching would be so had that I could hardly sleep of nights. I would scratch my hands until they were most numb, then when the blood would course through them again the burning and smarting would be so bad that I could hardly stand it, and I got to be fc easily Irritated that my husband had to use all of hla patlenre to get nlonj with me. I believe I had tried Just about every remedy offered to the public for such diseases, without any relief whatsoever, until my mother recommended Cutlcura Remedies to me. I only used the Cutlcura Soap and Cutlcura Ointment once when my cure began, and In a month of use It was gone entirely." (Signed) Mrs. Thoe. Walsh, Oct. 11, 1911. Cutlcura Soap and Ointment, sold throughout the world. Sample of each . tree, with Skin Book. Address post-carCutlcura, Dept. L, Boston. Adv. 32-p- d LASTING ALMANAC. Chambret!" "Beatrix. . . The cold lingers relaxed. Gently ORourke disengaged his hand and put It to the pitiful, torn bosom of the man who had died with his wife's name upon bis Ups. The Agent Id farmer's almanac. The Itube land's sake, mister, I bought one In 1905 thet ain't wore out yet CHAPTER IX. A CLERGYMANS TESTIMONY. Shortly before midnight the trl weekly train from Constantino to A pulled up over an hour late at the town of It took tip a single passenger, discharged none, and presently thundered on westwards, rocking and Jarring over a road-becertainly no better than It shouItg& been. Such, at least, wws lie passenger's criticism as, groaning In anticipation of thiong night of discomfort ahead of him. he disposed himself and his belongings about the cushions of the first-clascompartment which he occupied in solitary grandeur. O'Rourke had no Intention of leaving anythli.g undone that might tend to mitigate the terrors of the Journey. Five dies had elapsed since that morning In the oasis. In the Interval he had main dared the danger of the desert, returning to Biskra alone by a route iqwe direct than that which had brought him up with the flying column. discharging the guide with a gratuity larger than his ebbing means w'arrci,ted, he had proceeded to by the first dally train, and so itciw found himself on the direct ling of communication with Algiers The Rev. Edmund Ileslop of the Governor-General- After . using 5 ro-cip- vl flat-whe- exer- boxes of Dodds Kidney Pills the swelling disappeared and he felt himself again. lie says ho has been benufited and blessed by the use of Dodds Kidney Tills. Several months later ho wrote: I havo not changed my faith in your remedy since the above statement was authorized. Correspond with Rev. E. Hes-lo-p about this wonderful remedy. Didds Kidney Pills, COc. per box at your dealer or Dodds Medicine Co., Buffalo, N. Y. Write for Household Hints, also music of National Anthem (English and German words) and s for dainty dishes. All 3 sent free. Adv. I chlefest concern now lay with th future and the Pool of Flame; Lt..h bulked large upon the horizon were at once the architects and Le nuclei of a thousand different tana of action. So far, the affair had worked smoothly; he anticipated little trou ble. So thinking he drowsed, and In the course of time lulled by the hammerat the forward end ing of a of the coHch, fell asleep. He waken ed suddenly after a nap of some twi hours or so, to a confusion of Impressions: that the train had stopped; that some one had Invaded his com partment; that a cold blast was blow Ing across his wrists. Bewildered and not half master of his senses, he started up and fell back with a thud, assisted to resume a recumbent position by a heavy blow upon his chest, delivered by some persxt for the moment unknown. he was Simultaneously aware of a clicking sound, followed by the sensation of being unable to move his feet; and then, the clouds clearing from his understanding, he realised least tion. Hands and feet were cold and he had such a dragging sensation across the loins that it was difficult to move. s the Wig-to- Pa., suffered from Dropsy for a year. His limbs and feet were swollen and puffed. lie had heart flutter ing, was dizzy and exhausted at d an.1 like to sell you a Youthful Woman Pastor. L. Morgan, of thn Methodist church of Georgetown and Arrowsic, Me., Is the youngest woman pastor In New England. She is in her Caught Him Napping. early twenties and hat been engaged What made ye think I would have church work for nearly four years, It at all? Bure, and the letter wps having received a license in 1908 from properly Cbambrets. Why would I I. (shop John W Hamilton, of Worcesnot turn It over to him? ter. Oh, cut It! Glynn Interrupted ImWe know he'e dead. The Important to Mothers patiently. Examine carefully every bottle of news was heliographed In from the CASTORIA, a safe and sure remedy for column day before yesterday. Infants and children, and see that It Quite so. Yet, If ye know so muzh, Bears the if as I gather ye suspect that Chamof Signature bret turned over this precious Jewel In Use For Over 80' n to me, why do ye not demand It ae Castoria Fletchers for Cry well as the letter? Not that I have either. Enough to Kill It Becauee we Jolly well knew you Ob, papa!" exclaimed the young haven't got the ruby, blurted the girl, that pretty plant I had setting Englishmen. on the piano Is dead." Be quiet. snapped the vIcomtA Well. I dont wonder, waa all tha said. father (TO BB CONTINUED.) Itrv. Miss Ilia They Had Literally Inwardly exulting, acknowledged Des Trebes' attention with a winning smile, Good evening," he said, and nodded amiably. "ph, shut up! snapped the Honorable Bertie, unhandsomely. "Where's that letter? O'Rourke chuckled. "Ye're a hard loser, me bright young friend, he "I though Englishmen commented. always played the game ae It laid." Glynn grunted and flushed, shamefaced, but the Frenchman cut short the retort on hla lips by a curt repetition of Glynna own question: Where's that letter, monsieur? ORourke glanced at him languidly, yawned, and emlled an exasperating Then slg strictly personal smile. 1 Years.-Childre- |