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Show 40 -..i.t..M.i..-..i.l....,..t.......,. The Pool of Flame 1 w 1 i By LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE niilrlM ky Cll.w.rlk T.aal Cuutrlsbl IMS li LouU Jouuh v.r. CHAPTER II. After that blttci' disappointment his Interest In his personal appearance dwindled to the negligible. In a black temper with himself (whom alone ho blamed for the deception to which he had fallen too facile a victim) be searched blindly for a fresh tie, found It Eomchow, and knotted It round his collar in the most haphazard fashion Imaginable. Then he shrugged a dress coat upon his shoulders and marched forth to dine. In' this humor he propelled himself with determination Into the public restaurant res-taurant of the establishment, and, oblivious ob-livious to the allure of many pairs of bright eyes that brightened all too readily to challenge his, Insisted upon a table all to himself, and dined In soil' tary grandeur, comporting hlrosclt openly as a morose and misunderstood person, and to his waiter with a manner man-ner so near rude that the latter began be-gan almost to, respect him. After some time he was disgusted to discover that he felt better. An Impulse Im-pulse toward analysis led him to probe tho psychology of the change, with the result that he laid the blame for It at the door or the neck of a half-bottle of excellent burgundy. So he ordered another, and, resolutely dismissing from his mind the woman who had no Tight whatever to bo able to sing a certain, song the way she had, set his wits to work on the riddle of Tomorrow, To-morrow, To a man whose trade was fighting, the world just then was a roost distressful dis-tressful place, too peaceful entirely. Over his coffee the adventurer nodded nod-ded In despair and frowned In dls gust; then rousing, ho summoned the waiter and paid his reckoning with a Becret grin at himself, a fifty-franc note and a gesture which splendidly obliterated altogether every trace ol suspicion that he Intended to take back any part of the chongo due him. Trimming and lighting a cigar, he reviewed the restaurant "with a listless list-less eye which discovered no one ol his acquaintance; therefore, with neither haste nor waste of time, he rose and betook himself to the Casino that Is, to tho one place where one may feel certain of encountering, soon. er or later, everybody who Is anybody within the bounds of the principality. This night, more particularly than on any preceding It, now that' ho had made up his mlpd to seek betterment of bis fortunes elsewhere, he played heedlessly, little concernod with the fate of what money ho had about him. He had set aside a reserve fund sufll-clent sufll-clent to settle his hotel bill and carry him a considerable dlstanco Into the unknown which ho was .resolved to beard, and was resigned to lose the remainder. It was a tenet of his creed of fatalism that chance seldom favored him when ho had money In hia pockets; the tide of his affairs must be at Its lowest ebb ero It turned. turn-ed. Ills policy then was obvious childishly plain: he must fling to the winds all that which he had. Now never was there a man whe played to loso who didn't win hit point. Colonel O'ltourke's case can be cited as no exception to this rule Elbow El-bow to elbow on ono sldo with an artless art-less old lady from Terre Haute, who risked her mlnlmums with the ferocious fero-cious Jealousy of a miser making an unsecured loan, on the other with an intent little Austrian gambler absorbed absorb-ed In the workings of his "system," the adventurer scattered gold upon the numbered and Illuminated grid-Iron grid-Iron as unconcernedly as though h had been matching shillings, nnd sa tho coins gathered In by the greedy rake as often as the little Ivory ball ceased to chatter on the whoel. For the better part of an hour this continued. And the little group 01 sycophants which had gathered behind be-hind his chair to watch his play in-sensibly in-sensibly dissipated. A whisper ran through the rankB of the habitues that the luck of the mad Irishman had turned; turn-ed; and forthwith he ceased to bo an object of interest. Only the little Austrian, having risked tho number of stakes prescribed by his system for one evening's play, put away his notebook note-book and pencil and, rorrraderlac We place to another, lingered bthlnd Ollourtte'i chair, unable to resist the fascination of watching a man who could at once- lose money and retain his composure. At length, Inexpressibly bored and too impatient to defer the Inevitable by niggardly wagers, O'Rourke ran. sacked his pockets and placed the proceedsseveral pro-ceedsseveral hundred francs I am as Ignorant of the amount as he was Indifferent to it upon the red. There fell a lull, the ciouplor hold-Ing hold-Ing the wheel to permit an unbaked cub of Chicago millions to cover the cloth with stakes too numerous for his half-developed iutelllgence to keep count of; and tne adventurer shifted in hla seat, reviewing the assemblage. For some moments, through the mys-terlous mys-terlous working of that sixth sense cnilch men are pieasea vaguely to denominate de-nominate Intuition, he had been subconsciously sub-consciously aware of being the object of some person's fixed regard, that 1 somebody was not only watching, but I weighing him. He sought the Bourco of this sensation and, for a little time, sought It unsuccessfully. Annoyed, ho persisted. Ho heard the croupier's mechanlcnl "Ileln ne va plus," follow-ed follow-ed b' the whlrrjng of the wheel, but cared so little that he would not turn to watch the outcome. Only an exclamation ex-clamation of the Austrian's appraised him of the fact that red had won. He glanced listlessly round to see tho money doubled, and let It rest, turning turn-ing back to his survey of the throng. A moment later his attention becamo fixed upon two men who stood In the doorwny, looking toward him, Again the wheel buzzed, the ball clattered nnd was still. The word rouge among others oth-ers In the announcement told him that again he had won: this time, howeer, he did not turn, but, frowning In speculation, stared back nt tho. two. Stared? Indeed nnd he did just that. If It was Impertinent, sure and were they not staring at blm? And who should gainsay an O'Rourke tho right to stare at anybody, be he king or eominoncr7 Furthermore, who might these mc'n bo, and what their Interest In himself? The one wns tall and slender, saturnine; sat-urnine; nn elegant, owing ob much to the art of his tailor nnd upholsterer as to his own indisputable, native, dls ttnctlon; a Frenchman at least of a typo unquestionably Gallic. His face was very palCj bis fine, pointed mustache mus-tache very precise, Jaw square, forehead fore-head high, eyes deep and dnrk beneath be-neath brows heavy, level and black, manner marked by a repose almost threatening In Its impassibility. His companion was shorter of stature, stat-ure, a younger man by at least ten years, rather stout and very nervous, with a fresh red face marred by ball- 1 marks of dissipation; British, every 1 Inch of him. I "That, I'm thinking," mused O'nourke, "will be the Honorable Bertie Glynn. Faith, he looks the 1 part, at least; 'tis Just that kind In- bred, underbred, without brains or real stamina that would run through a half-million sterling Inside a year." I But the other? I "Monsieur," the little Austrian stammered stam-mered excitedly In bis ear, "for you the red had doubled a fourth time." I "Thank ye," replied O'Rourke without with-out moving. "'Twill turn up seven, I this run." The system-gambler subsided, petrified. petri-fied. J But the other? O'Rourke continued , to probe his memory. Something In the man's personality was curiously reminiscent. . . . Of a sudden he I remembered. The Frenchman had been pointed out to him, years ago, In ..Paris, as a principal In a Boulevard scandal which had terminated In a duel a real duel, In which he had been victorious. Ho was accustomed to anticipate such nn outcome of his affair of honor, however; that was why he had been named to O'ltourke; Des Trebes (that was the name; the Vlscomte des Trebes! was a duelist of International disrepute. "Monsieur," the agitated olco fluttered flut-tered In his ear, "you have won yot again for the sixth time!" I "Let It stand for the seventh, mon ! ami." I Why should Des Trebes bo watch- ! Ing him so openly, so pointedly? As ho watched he beenmc nware that these two, the Frenchman and the Englishman, were not alone; detached though their attitude was, they were evidently of a party of Indies nnd gentlemen gen-tlemen whose gay, chattering group formed their background. "Monsieur, the seventh turn!" "Yes, yes." "Rein ne va jjJur," croaked the croupier. j One of tho ladles turned to speak to the Honornble Mr. Glynn. Smiling, , ho nodded, and offered her an arm. I She lingered, addressing Des Trebes. , Tho latter bowed, lifted his shoulders and laughed lightly, plainly excusing . himself. A general movement took I place in the party; It began to disln- 1 tegrate, men and women pairing off, 1 all moving nt leisure toward tho lobby. I Des Trebes alone remained. O'Bourke 1 could see that the personnel of the gathering was largely British. He recognized I,ady IMInllmmon, whOBe 1 yacht (he had heard casually) had arrived ar-rived In tho harbor that morlnlng. Kvl- 1 lently this wns her party. Another woman's figure caught his attention; I her back wns turned, but she had an air, a graceful set of the shoulders, an I Individual pride and spirit In the poise of her head, that O'Rourko could have sworn he knew. He was conscious that he flushed suddenly, that his I heart was pounding. He made as If to I rise and follow, but was prevented, almost al-most forced bftc.l, by a hand which the Austrlro In his feverleh Interest had .unconsclovt-.y placed on the Irishman's Irish-man's shoulder. Monsieur, monsieur!" he gasped, fcls eyes, protruding, fixed upon the wheel. Beads of sweat glistened on his forehead. He trembled as though his own fortunes hung on the change. Impressed, O'Rourke could not for-Dear for-Dear to linger, to cast a reluctant glance at the table. The size of his pile of fold and notes on the red was a somewhat startling sight to him. His breath stopped In his throat. The Ivory sphere was rattling over the eompartment to Its predestined place. What If he wore to win? O'Rourke began to calculate cal-culate mentally how much he had at stake, how much he mliht win if his careless prediction that red would turn up the seventh time should come true lost his bearings in a maze of Intricate Intri-cate computation aud 'wo on the point of abandoning the broblem when -lack was cai.cu. "Great God'" panted the Austrian, withdrawing his hand. O'Rourkt! rose. "Tho fortunes of war, me friend," said ho with a laugh so unforced that It sounded unnatural. unnatu-ral. He strode away hastily, eearrh-Ing eearrh-Ing the throng In tho lobby for her with whom his mind was occupied to the exclusion of all else. Tho system-gambler followed him with a stare of Incredulous amazement. amaze-ment. "What a man!" snid bo lo himself, If half nloud. A second later he added: "What admirable acting!" act-ing!" But he was mistaken. There was nothing assumed In O'ltourke's nlr of apnthy, He was actually quite Indifferent Indif-ferent and nlrendy preoccupied with his new Intercut the pursuit of tho woman whoso unexpected appearance iti Monte Carlo Beemed likely to up!t all hlB calculation). The sails of tho barque of his fortunes had all his Ufa long been trimmed to the windt of Chance; he was accustomed to see ' Ing them fall (hit and Happing, empty 1 Just when a venture seemed most! propitious. The loss of the money was nothing: the Initial amount hndl been little enough In all conscience though the major part of all that he ' possessed; hut to him the woman wai everything the world and all. And now she wns gone, had dlsap I peared with her companions! In thai' Instant In wiilrh he had turned from her to the table, she hud mode her es cape. ' Ho cursed roundly the wenknesi that had lost her to htm, and passing rapidly through the lobby, left the Casino, puuslng before the entrance . lo look light and left. I There was no sign of what lit ought; the party had vanished. And who should hay whither? "Damnation!" he grumbled. I "Monsieur," a aoIcc Intruded at hlf' side. I "He turned with a start, annoyed. ! "Well?" he demanded curtly, recognlz 1 Ing De Trebes. ' The Frcnctian bowed. "1 have the honor to address Monsieur le Colonel O'Rourke?" Reflecting that the man might af ford him the Information he sought O'Rourke unbent. "I am he, Monsieur des Trebes," Surprised, the latter lifted his eyebrows, eye-brows, showing even white teeth In a deprecatory smile. "You know me, monsieur?" "By sight and reputation only, monsieur." mon-sieur." "I am honored." ! "No more than meself. If It eomen to j thnL" The vlcomte laughed "Then I may presume to ask the favor of a word with you?-' "Are ye not having It, monslour?" "True . . . But In private?" "One moment. Ye can do me a favor, If ye will. Afterwards" "I am charmed." "Tis not much I'll he asking ye merely a question or two. Now that gentleman ye weie tnlking with awhile back: Isn't he the Honorable Bertlo Glynn?" "The same, monsieur." "And the lady who spoko to him?" "Mudame Snoth-Herrlott, I believe; I know her only slightly." "Then ye are not of their party?" "Party?" Des Trebes appeared perplexed. per-plexed. "What party?" "Why, Lady Pllnllmmon's, of course." "I have not the honor of thnt Indy's acquaintance, monsieur." "Oh, yo havo not? But Mr. Glynn?" "Is hero with me, monsieur a fly- , ing trip. We ran down from Paris but yesterday. Our meeting with Madame Smyth-Herrlott was quite accidental." "Oh, tho dlvvle!" aM O'Rourke beneath be-neath his breath, Plainly ho might expect nothing more helpful from this man; he hod Jumped prematurely at a baseless conclusion, It seemed. And by now It was much too late to think 9f further pursuit. "That Is all I wished to know, monsieur," he admitted admit-ted lamely. "There was a lndy In the group whom I thought I recognized. I wished to find her, and fancied ye might perhaps direct me. Yo didn't by nny chance happen to hear Mrs. Smyth-Heniot say where she was going go-ing with Mr. Glynn?" "Unhappily, no, monsieur." "Very well then. What can I have the happiness to serve yo in?" The Frenchman hesitated briefly. "This Is a trifle public," he suggested. suggest-ed. "Will you not be kind enough to walk with me a little distance, while we converse?" "Gladly, monsieur." Des Trebes produced a cigarette case, ana togetner, 8nfol;inc,tnotwoturnea their backs upon tho casino nnd wnn-dorcd wnn-dorcd off along tho poths of 'the tcr- "I Have the Honor to Address Monsieur Mon-sieur Le Colonel O'Rourke." raced gardens. Ever descending, they came at length lo the secluded, llttlo lighted nnd less frequented portions ot the grounds which border the waterfront, water-front, and presently sat side by side upon a bench, looking out oer the harbor. Then and then only did Dos Trebes approach his subject something some-thing which he had until now studiously studious-ly avoided, distracting the not over-patient over-patient Irishman by a falling fire ot banalities. "I dare say. Colonel O'Rourke," he suggested nbandonlng his mother tonguo for excellent English "I date say jou are wondering" I "I nm that." "I feared so. But It was essential 1 that we should speak In privacy." "Yes?" 1 "But before I proceed, may 1 put you 1 a question or two bordering, perhaps, upon Impertinence, yet not so conceived?" con-ceived?" I "What a long-winded beggar!" O'Rourko commented mentally. "As for that," said he aloud, "'tis Impossible Impos-sible for me to calculate the Irapertl uence until 'ts put to me. Eh?" "Believe me, sir, I am anxious only to avoid Indiscretion. It 1b the question ques-tion of your Identity alone. I desire only to bo assured thnt you are the Colonel O'Rourke I take you to be." I "My faith! Ami who else would I be, now?" i "There's the bare possibility that two of the same name might exist." "'Tin so bare that 'lis fairly Inde- cent," chuckled tho Irishman. "But Ore away." , "I am not mistaken In assuming that I address the Colonel Terence i O'Rourko who was at one time a party to le petit l.emorcle's mad Empire du Sahara project and who later married mar-ried I.emarcler's widow, Madame la Prlncesso de Grandlleu?" O'Rourko took a long breath and looked his questioner up nnd down "Ye havo n very pretty taste In trie matters of Impertinences," be saltl gravely. "However, let that pass, l'rr tho same man." "A thousand pardons. Caution tr matters such as this " A shrug com plcted tho thought most eloquently "You can give mo proofs of your Idcn tlty, then?" "Proofs!" O'Rourko got to hla feet "Bollovo me, monsieur, yo have all tht proof I'm willing to give e, nnd that's my last word. If yo find it insufficient why, then" "Pardon!" Des Trebes Interrupted rising. "I am myself moro than con tont. But the Government of France ' "Tho Government of Frnnce !' O'Rourko whistled. "Is more exacting than I. It knowf a certain Colonel O'Rourke and hl:r alono does It need." I "Tho dlvvle It docs! And what will ! It be wanting with mo?" ) "I can say at present no more thai tbat I represout Government In an affair demanding secrecy and dispatch I have a certain diplomatic mission tc discharge, nnd shall have need, mon sleur, of a man strong, bold, venture some, willing to undertake a long and I perhaps perilous Journey." Had Dei ! Trebes been Inspired he could have 1 formulated no spcoch hotter calculated to intrigue the Irishman; the mereBl echo of Its Import would have flred his hearer's fancy. Ho added: "And 1 am authorized to retain for tbat purpose, pur-pose, should I bo fortunate enough tc 1 And blm unengaged, a certain Colonel I Terence O'Rourke." I "Say no more, monsieur. 'Tit enough. 'Secrecy dispatch a long and perilous Journey!' Faith I'm just rour man!" "You have no other business of the moment?" "None whatever." "Then I am Indeed fortunate. And now, I presume, you will no longer object to satisfying me as to your Identity." Iden-tity." "Not In the least. Although, to be c&ndld, monsieur, I'm not In the habit hab-it of carrying me Bertllllon record about me. But If ye'U have the good-nes good-nes to accompany mo to the Orient, over there, I'll put your mind at ease before yo can say knife." Des Trebes nodded. "I should be delighted, but unfortunately" he snapped the case of his watch"! have an appointment with a confrere. May wo fix a time in half an hour, eay when It will be convenient for you to have me call at the Orient?" "In half an hour? I'll await ye then, monsieur." "Pardon, then, my haste. I am late. I must be off." The man's hand touched O'ltourke's In the most brief of clasps, singularly firm and cold, .The Irishman pondered rno sensation ror somo moments a fir H Des Trebes' hurrying figure had Tan- B ' ished In shadows. H I "I don't like It," ho averred; "Ux B a bad s!gn a hand that's naturally" H cold. I never yet tonched one llkn it M that belonged to n man ye could trout. I misdoubt he's sound nt the Corfu B Des Trehei. . . . But then, whotVl the odds? Can I not take care ot xaeH B self? And slncu 'Us the Government of Franco I'm treating with, and htmji self only the medium that put kTIoJ gethcr a different comploxlon on tho! I H He spent tho etiBulng half-hour ltrtJ terlng In tho moro populous porUocn of tho grounds, smoking as he BtroIJV cd, his oyes keen to scrutlnlzo each: woman who came his way. But he tf covered none resembling hec whom U had seen In the Casino. |