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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (June 11, 1912)
FLAM 'by LOUIS J0SEPHYANC ILLUSTRATIONSBY ELLSWORHYOPNC COPYRIGHTING By LOUIOSEPH VANCE. 8YN0PSI8. The Htory opens nt Monto Cnrlo will) Col Terence O'ltourkc. u military free lance and eomotlllni; of a Rambler, In Ills hotel. Leaning on tho bnleony ho Keen a beautiful Klrl wlio suddenly enters the elevator nnd primes from night. At the gaming table O'ltotirlo notices two men watching Mm One In tho Hon Bertie Olynn,..ivlillo bin companion Is Vlncotint Den Trebes, a (luctlHt. Tho viscount tells him tho French government lion directed hltn to O'ltourlto an a man who would Undoitnlcc n secret mlHHlon. At his apart ment, O'ltourke, who had agreed to un- i dertako the mission, flnda u mysterious letter. The viscount arrives, hands a sealed package to O'Hourke, who Is not to open It until on the ocean, A pair of dainty slippers nro seen protruding from under n, doorway curtain. Tho Irishman finds tho owner of tho myslorlous feet to be bis wife, Beatrix, from whom he had run away a jear previous. They nnj reconciled, and opening tho lotter he finds that a Rangoon law firm offers him 100,000 pounds far a Jewel known ns tho I'ool of Flame nnd left to hltn by a dy ing friend, but now In keeping of ono named Chambret In Algeria. CHAPTER IV. (Contlrtaed.) "That the man will never consent to weapons worthy the name Ho values lilu precious hldo too highly, and he's not going to put himself In tho way of being Injured when ho has UiG Pool of Flatno to steal. Do easy 6n that score, darling and havo faith In mo n little, I'll not let him harm tno by so much as n scratch." "Ah, but how can I Jell? . . . Dcnrest, my dearest, why not glvo It up not the duel alone, but all this lifo of roaming and ndventuro that keops us apart? Am I not worth a little, sacrifice? Is my lovo not recom pense enough for tho loss of your nb soluto Independence? Listen, dear, I have thought of something; I will mako you indopondent, I will sottlo upon you all that I possess. I" "Faith, and I know yo don't for an Instant think I'd dream of -nccoptlng thatt" "But glvo. It up. What Is tho world's esteem when you havo mo to lovo and honor you? , . . Coino to mo," Ter ence I need you I need you desper ately, I need r tho protection of your arm aa well ns your nnmo. I need my husband!" "I will," ho said gontly; "sweetheart, 1 promise yo I will In ninety days. Glvo mo that respite, glvo mo that tlmo In which to mako or break my fortunes. Glvo mo n chnnco to take tho I'ool of Plamo to Rangoon nay, meet mo thero In ninety dayB. I will como to you ns ono who has tho light to claim his wUoj but If I havo lost, still will I como to you, n broken man but your faithful lovor como to you to bo healed nnd comforted. . . . Dear heart of mo, glvo mo this last chancol" With an oldrltch shriek and n mighty rushing wind tho storm broke over tho mainland nnd a roaring rain enmo down. Impulsively tho irishman turned otT tho lights, and, lifting bis wlfo In his arms boio hor to nil armchair by tho window. Tho storm waned in fury, passed, died In dull distant muttoilugs. Still eho rested In IiIh otnbrnco, hor flushed fnco, wet with tears, pillowed to his chook. hor mouth seeking his. . Vnguo murmur-lugs sounded In tho .stillness, sighs. . , . 5. . CHAPTER V. At flvo In tho morning a hoavy mo 'tor car of tho most advanced typo ifltolo in sinister silence out of tho courtyard of tho Hotel d'Orlent, nt tho eame oodnto paco and with tho snmo EUiicptitlous air skulked through tho town, and finally swung eastwards upon tho Routo do la Cornlcho, sud denly discarding nil protenso of docil ity nnd swooping onward with n windy -roar. Its powerful motor purring llko some gigantic tlgor-cnt. It carrlod four; at tho wheel n gog gled and ennuled operator In shnpo- loss and hideous garments; In the tonncnu its owner, a mlddlo-ngcd Freuch manufacturer with pouched eyes, a liver, lank Jaws cloanscruped, and an expression of hlgh-mlndod de votion to duty; Captain von Klnem In uniform; and Colonel O'ltourkc At tho end of nn hour's run, dis turbed by ouo or two nbsurdly grave conferences betwocn tho seconds, in appropriate monotones, tho mechani cian put on tho brakes and slowod down tho car, then deftly swung It luto n narrow lane, n loafy tunnel through which it crawled for a min ute or two oro dobouching Into a broad nnd sunlit meadow, walled in by woodland, conspicuously secluded. To one sldo and at a littlo dlstauco a second motor-car stood at rest; Its operator had removed tho hood and was tinkering with tho motor In a most matter-of-fact manner. In tho body of (he inachino MonBlcur lo VI coruto Uos Trebes, ostentatiously una ware of tho advent of tho second party, sqt twisting raplor-polnta to his moustaches aud concentrating his gaze on Infinity, O'Rourko observed vm iiw :JsaEi2sBln with malicious delight tho noso of tho duelist, much inflamed. Advancing from his antagonist's po sition threo prcternaturnlly serious gentlemen of Franco In black frock coats and straight-brimmed silk hats waded anklo deep In dripping grass to moot O'Hourko's representatives. Tho two parties met, saluted ono an other with ImmetiBo reserve, and re tired to a suitable dlstnnco to con fer; something which thoy did word ily, with enthusiasm and many pin turesquo gestures. At first strangely amicable, tho proceedings soon struck a snag. A serious dlffcrenco of opin ion nroso. O'ltourkc divined that tho conferonco had gono Into executive session upon the question of weapons Ho treated himself to n secret grin, having anticipated this trouble. Tho choice of weapons being his, as the challenged, he had modestly se lected revolvers nnd had brought with him n brnco of Webleys, burly pieces of pocket ordnanco with short barrels and cylinders chambered to hold half a dozen .45 cartridges. They wcro not pretty, for they had seen service In their ownor's hands for a number of years, but they wcro undeniably built for business. And at sight of thorn tho friends of tho vlcomto recoiled in horror. Eventually a compromise was ar rived at. Monsieur Jullllnrd stepped back, saluted, and with Von Klnem re turned to his principal, his faco a mask of disappointment. As for htm solf, ho told O'Hourke, ho was deso lated, but tho seconds of Monsieur des Trebes had positively refused to con sent to turning a meeting of honor Into a massacre Thoy proposed to subBtltuto regulation French dueling pistols as sanctioned by tho Code. Such as that which Monsieur lo Col onel OTtourko might observe In Mon blour Julllln,rd's band. O'Hourke blinked nnd sniffed nt It. "Suro," ho contonded, " 'tis a magnify ing glass I need to mako It visible to mo undressed oye. What tho dlvvlo does It carry a dried pea? What d'they think wo'ro hero for, If not to slay ono another with duo ceremony? Ask thorn Clint. Am I to salvo tho vlcomto'8 wounded honor by smiting him with a spltball? I grant ye, 'tis magnificent, but 'tis not n pistol." Grumbling, ho allowed himself to be persuaded. As ho had foreseen nnd piophcslcd, so had It como to pass. Yet ho had to grumble, partly becauso ho was tho O'Rourko, partly for ef fect. Nono tho loss, ho consontcd, nnd in tho highest spirits loft tho enr and plowed through tho lush wot grass to tho spot solcctcd for tho oncountor, In tho Bhndow of tho trees near tho custom border of tho meadow. Here, tho seconds having tossed for sides, ho took n stand at ono end of a sixty foot stretch and, still Indecorously amused, iccolvcd a loaded pistol from Von Elnom. Des Trebes confronted him, whlto with rago, regrottlng already (O'Rourko inado no doubt) that he had not nccoptcd tho Wobleys. Tho Irish man's open contempt maddonod tho man, Tho seconds retired to n perfectly snfe dlstnnco, Von Elnom holding tho watch, ono of Des Trebes' seconds a handkerchief. Tho chauffeurs throw away their clgnrottos and sat up, for the first tlmo rousod out of tholr pro fessional nlr of blaso lndlfforcnco. "Ono," cried tho German clenrly. Des Trebes raised his arm nnd lev eled his pistol at O'Rourko's hoad." A faint flush colored his faro, but his oye was cold and hard behind tho sight nnd tho hand that held tho weapon was as steady as If supported by an Invisible rest. "Two." said Von Elnom, ORourko measured tho dlstanco with his cyo and raised his arm from the elbow only, holding tho pistol with n looso grip. "Threo," said Von Elncm. Tho handkerchief fell The Irishman fired without moving. Des Tiebos" weapon was discharged altnoBt simultaneously, but with n ru ined aim; Its bullet went uowhero in pnitlcular, Tho Frenchman dropped tho weapon nnd, wincing, examined so licitously n Knucklo from which O'Rourko's Bhot hod struck a tiny par tlclo of skin, Ilia seconds rushed to him with crlos, preceded by tho sur geon with bnndagos. O'Rourko graco fully surrendered his artillery to Jull lard, laughed at tho vlcomto again, nnd strolled back to tho motorcar. Julllard and Von Elnom prcsontly joined him, tho former Insistently anx ious to havo O'Rourko descend and clasp tho hand of frntenml friendship with tho vlcomto. But tho Irishman refused. "Faith, no!" ho laughed. "Nlver! I'm too timorous a man to daro It. Suro and hasn't ho hugged both his seconds and tho in;oou, too, already? -usr - -azrmmmmL For mo own pnrt I'vo no mind to bo kissed. Lot'B hurry awny beforo ho celebrates further by imprinting a chasto saluto upon the check of our chauffeur. . . . Dcsldes, I'vo a train to catch." CHAPTER VI. Events marched to schedule ; what O'Rourko planned enmo serenely to pass. Ho experienced a day as re plete with emotions as tho night thnt preceded It and more marked by ac tivity. Nothing hindering, ho left tho battle-scarred Vlcomto des Trebes upon tho field of honor at half-past bIx; at Bovon forty-flvo he settled him self In a coach of tho Coto d'Azur Rnplde, en routo for Marseilles a happy man, for ho was alone. . . . At a quarter to one In the afternoon of tho snmo day ho boarded tho littlo steamer Tabarkn. of tho Mediter ranean ferry service; and half an hour later stood by tho after-rail of Its promenade deck, watching tho dis tances widen between him and all that ho held beloved. "In ninety days, dear boy," she had said. . . . "Ah, Terence, Terence, If you should fnll mo . . . 1" "I shall not fall. . . . Rangoon in ninety days. Dear heart, I will be thero. . . ." As If to feed the hunger of his heart ho strained his vision to see tho last of tho land that held her. At length It dlsnppeated, and then for tho first time he consciously moved drow a band across his eyes, sighed and turned away. Picking his way through tho cos mopolitan throng of pnssongers, ho went bolow, found IiIb atntoroom, and subsided Into tho berth for n sorely needed nap; Instend of Indulging In which, however, ho lay staring wide eyed at his problem. He had much to accomplish, much to guard ngalnst. Des Trebes bulked largo In tho back ground of perils ho must anticipate; O'Rourko was by no means disposed to flatter himself that ho had scotched tho Bchomes of the vlcomto. Ho mado his second public nppear nnco on tho Tabarka at tho hour of sunset; and in tho act of making It, turned n corner and ran plump Into tho nrms of a young person In tweeds nnd a steamer cap a stoutlsh youDg 8o This Was What Had Englishman with a vivid comploxlon nnd a bulldog pipe, nervousness tem pering his native homo-browed Inso lenco, tho blank vacuity of his eyes hopelessly betraying tho caliber of his lutollect. A sudden gust of nngcr swopt O'Rourko off his flgurntlvo feet. Ho stopped short, blocking tho gangway and tho young man's progress. So this wnB what had been sot to spy upon him I "Good evening to yo," ho said cold ly, -fixing tho Honorablo Mr Glynn jk. f with nn Interrogatlvo cyo that served to Ucopen his embarrassment and con sternation. "I trust I didn't hurt yc, Mr, Glynn," "Oh, no not nt nil," stammored tho Englishman. "Not In tho least. No." Ho looked right and left of O'Rourko for a way round him, found himself with no choice but to retreat, and lost his presence of mind com pletely. "I I say," ho continued des perately, "I say, have you a match?" "Possibly," conceded O'Rourke. "But I'vo yet to meet hltn. Of this yo may feel sure, however: If 1 havo, 'tis neither yourself nor Des Trebes. Now run nlong and figure It out for yourself what I'm mennlng. Good night." ' Ho brushed past the man, leaving him nstaro In sudden pallor, and went his way, moro than a littlo disgusted with himself for his lack of discre tion. As matters turned out, however, ho had littlo to reproach himself with; for his outbreak served to keep young Glynn at a respectful dlstanco throughout tho remainder of tho voy age. Thoy met but once moro, and on that occasion, tho Englishman be haved himself ndmlrably according to tho tenets of his caste met O'Rourko's challenging gaze without a flicker of ro ognltlon, looked him up and down calmly with tho deadly ennuled air peculiar to tho underdone British youth of family nnd social position, and wandered calmly away. O'Rourko watched him out of sight, a smile of appreciation curving his lips and tempering tho perturbed and dangerous light In bis eyes. "There's stuff In the lnd, after all," he con ceded without a giudge, "It ho can carry a situation off llko that. I'm doubting not at all that something might bo whipped out of him, If he weren't what he's made himself a slave to whisky." For all of which appreciation, how over, ho soon wearied of Mr. Glynn. During tho first day ashoro It was not so bad; thero was something amusing In being so openly dogged by a well-set-up young Englishman who had quite ceased to dlsgulso his Interest. But after that his shadowy survolllanco proved somewhat distracting to a man busy with Important affairs. And to ward evening of tho second day O'Rourke lost patlonco. All day long in the sun, without respite he had knocked about from pil lar to post of Algiers, seeking news of Chambret; and not until tho eleventh hour had ho secured the Information he needed. Then, hunjlng back to his hotel, ho mado arrangements to have his luggage cared for during an absence of Indeterminate duration, hastily crammed a few Indlspensables Into a kit box, and having dispatched that to tho railway terminal, sought the restaurant for an early meal. In the net of consuming his soup he beenmo aware that the Honorablo Bortlc, In n dinner coat and a state of fidgets, had wandered down the outer corridor, passed at tho restaurant door and espied his quarry. The fact that O'Rourke was dining with one eyo on tho clock and In a dust-proof, dust coloted suit of drill, was enough to dlstuib seriously the poise of tho Eng lishman. Exasperation stirred In O'Rourko. Ho eyed the young man rather morose ly throughout the balance of his meal, "liMiJjfSi, Been Set to Spy Upon Him. a purpose forming In his mind and attaining tho stature of n definite plan of action without opposition from tho dlctatos of prudence And nt length swallowing his coffco nnd feeing bis servitor, ho rose, crossed tho room with a firm tread, and came to a full stop at tho Hotioiuble Mr. Glynn's ta bic Momentarily ho held his tongue, staring down nt the young man while drumming on tho tnnrblo with tbo lin gers of ono hand Thon Gljnn, glue ing up In a state of somewhat panic- s3tS&& stricken inquiry which strovo vainly to seem Insouciant, met tho level staro of the adventurer and noticed tbo tenso lines of his lips. "I I say," ho floundered, "what's tho matter with you, anyway? Can't you leave mo a loner' "I'vo been thinking," snld O'Rourko crisply, disregarding tho other's re mark entirely, "that It might bo at In terest to yo to save yo a bit of bother ation to know thnt I'm going up to Biskra by tonight's train. It leaves In ten minutes, so I'll havo to forego tho pleasure of your society on tho trip." Glynn got a grip on himself and pulled together tho elements of his manhood. Ho managed to infuse blank Insolence Into his stare, nnd said "Ow?" with that singularly maddening Inflection jot which tho Englishman alono Is master; ns who should say: "Why tho dooco d'you annoy mo with your bally plans?" "Don't bellcvo I know you, do 1?" ho drawled. "I don't believe yo do, mo lad." "Can't say I wish to very badly, efther." "I bellevo that." O'Rourko chuckled grimly. Tho meaning in his tono sent tho blood Into tho young man's faco, a fiery flood of resentment. "Oh, I'm not afraid of you, y'know," ho said, bristling. "Of course you're not going to Biskra, or you wouldn't tell me so. But If you do, I shall make It my business to find out and follow by tho next train bringing Des Trebes with me." "Oh, will ye so? Yo mean to warn mo he's in Algcrln, too7" "His boat's duo now; I'm expecting him at any momont, if you wish to know." O'Rourko's smiling contompt wns angering the young man nnd ren dering him reckless. "You'll be glad to know you've mado a dem' ass of yourself If you really aro going to Biskra." "Praise from Sir Hubert" "Oh, don't you think I mind giving you a twelve-hour start; you won't gain anything by It. Y'see I kuow where you're 'going, and I know It's not there. If you'll take a fool's ad vice, you'll turn back now. You'll como back empty-handed anyway. I don't mind telling you that we moan to have that ruby, Des Trebes nnd I, and we know where It is. You're only taking needless tioublo by Interfer ing." Truth was speaking from tho bottom of the absinthe tumbler. O'Rourke's brows went up and ho whistled nolso lessly, for ho realized that at least Gljnn believed what ho was admit ting. "So that's tho way of It, eh? I admire your candor, me boy; but be careful and not 'go too far with It 'Twill likely prove disastrous to ye, I'm fearing. . . . But tlt-for-tat; ye'vo made mo a handsome present according to your lights, of what ye most aptly terra a fool's advice, and 'tis mesclf who'll not be outdono at that game. For yourself, then, take warning from tho experience of one who's seen a bit more of this sldo of tho earth than most men haye, and don't let Des Trebes know ye'vo tnlked so freely. He's a bad-tempered sort and . . . But I'm obliged to yo nnd I bid yo a good evening." CHAPTER VII. South of Biskra thero Is always trouble to bo had for tho seeking; south of Brlska there Is never pence. A guerilla warfare Is waged peren nially between the lords of tho desert, tho Touaregg on the one hand, and tho advance ngents of civilization, as personified by tho reckless French Condemned Corps and the Foreign Le gion on tho other. Year after enr military expeditions set out from tho oasis of Biskra" to penetrate the wil derness, either by caravan routo to Tlmbuctoo or along the proposed routo of the Trans-Saharan Railway to 'Lako Tchad; and tholr lines of march aro traced In led upon the land. Townrd this debatoble land O'Rourko set his fnc with a will, gladly; for ho loved It. Ho had fought over It of old; In his memory Its snnds were sanctified with the blood of comrades, men by whoso sldo he had been proud to fight, men of his own stamp whoso friendship ho had been proud to own. Mentally serene, If physically tho re verso of comfortable, O'Rourko dozed through tho Intermlnablo twelve hours of tho journey to El Guerrnh; arriving nt which place nfter eight tho following morning, bo transferred him self and his hand-bags (for now ho was traveling light) to the connecting train on tho Biskra branch. Tho lat ter, scheduled to rench tho oasis nt four-thirty In the nfternoon, lonfed cas ually up tho line, nnivlng at tho term inus after dark. Tho Irishman, thoroughly fagged but complacent in the knowledge that he had left both vlcomto and honor nblo a day behind him, kept himself from bed by main will-power for half tho night, whllo he mnde tho lounds of cafes, and dance halls, In search of a trustworthy and competent guide no easy thing to find. The French force by then was three days out from the oasis, and no doubt slnco it wns technically a "flying col limn," calculated to move briskly from point to point in imitation of Tounr egg tactics, hourly putting a greater dlstanco between Itself and Its start Ing point. Moreover, tho pursuit con lemplatod by the adventurer was ono attended by no Inconsiderable porlls By dint of Indomitable persistence, unflagging goodnnturo and such In' llucnco as ho could bring peisonally to bear upon the authorities, O'Rourko got what bo desired a competent guide and two racing camels, or mo hera, with n pack animal that would borve their purpose (TO BE CONTINUED.) TALLER STILL. 3lllHl8i Winnie My sister has a beau six feet tall. WHHo My slstor haB beaux with out end. CUTICURA OINTMENT HEALED BAD SORE ON LIMB "Some time ago I was coming up Bomo steps 'when tho board crushed under mo llko an egg shell, and my right limb wont through to tho knee, and scraped the flesh off tho bono just lnsldo and below tho kneo. I neglected it for a day or two, then it began to hurt mo pretty badly. I put balsam fir on to draw out tho poison, but when I had used it a wook, it hurt so badly that I changed to oint ment. Thnt mado It smart and burn bo badly that I couldn't uso it any moro, and that was tho fourth week after I was hurt. "Thon I began to uso Cuticura Oint ment for tho Eoro. It Btoppcd hurting immediately and began healing right away. It was a bad-looking soro bo foro Cuticura Ointment healed it, and I suffered so I couldn't sleep from two days after I fell until I began using Cuticura Ointment "Cuticura Soap Is tho best soap I over saw. I havo used all kinds of soap for -washing my face, and nlwayg It would leavo my faco smarting. I had to keep a lotion to stop tho smart, no matter how expensivo a soap I used. I find at last In Cuticura Soap a soap that will clean my faco and leavo no smarting, and I do not havo to uso any lotion or anything olso to case It. I believe Cuticura Soap Is tho best soap mado." (Signod) Mrs. M. E. Falrchlld, 805 Lafayette St., Wlch lta, Kan.. May 8, 1011. Although Cuticura Soap and Ointment aro sold by druggists and dealers everywhere, a Bamplo of each, with 32-pago book, will bo mailed free on application to "Cuticura," Dept L, Boston. Babies at Half Price. Littlo Besslo and her mamma were doing the sights of tho town. Soon thoy camo to a show whoro n ticket announced "Children half price." "Oh, do lot us go In, mammy," said tho little ono, "and buy a baby, now they're bo cheap!" Garfield Tea helps humanity tho world over. Taken for liver and kidney troubles, bllllousnoss and constipation. What Is really best for us lies al ways within our reach, though often overlooked. Longfellow. The meanest trick a bachelor can play on a leap year girl Is to promise to be a brothor to her. WIFE'S HEALTH RESTORED Husband Declared Lydia E Pinkham's Vegetable Compound Would Re store Her Health, And It Did. Ashland, Ky. "Four years ago I seemed to havo everything tho matter witn me. I had fe malennd kidney trou ble and was so bad off I could hardly rest day or night. I doc tored with all the best doctors in town and took many.kinda of medicine but noth ing did any good un til I tried your won derful remedy, Lydia E. Pinkham's Verv. table Compound. My husband said it would restore my health and it haa." Mrs. May Wyatt, Ashland, Ky. Thero aro probably hundreds of thou sands of women in tho United States who have been benefitted by this famouB old remedy, which was produced from roots and herbs over thirty years ago by a woman to relievo woman's suffering. RcndWlin.tATiothcrYvomariBn.ys: Camden, N. J. 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