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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 20, 1912)
I "" by LOUIS JOSEPH MClMVm &MlU ellswoiyomg JS ) m M C0FYRT.CHT19OC) Bt lOUlOSEPH VAKCE-C, Jj v 4 0 15 SYNOP8I8, Tho ntory opens nt Montn Curio with Col, Terence O'Hourke, n military tree lanco und numethlwr or n. Rambler, In hla hotel. I.oanliiK on tho hiilrony he'nee a beautiful lrl who suddenly eritern tho (levator nml pne-ten from nlht. At the earning tnbln O'lloiirko nntlcen two men watchlnff him Ono In llm Hon Hprtle niynn, while IiIh compnnloii In Vlacotint Dos Trobe, a iluellit. Tim vlnroimt tell lilm tho KriMH h Kovernment Iiiih illrerlefl him to O'Hourke fiH u imin who would Undertake n Hftrot mlBHlon At his apart ment, O'ltourko, who hud UKii-ed to un dertake the mlxnlon, finds n inynterlouts letter. Tho viscount arrives, handa a nealcd package to O'HourUn, who l not to open it until on tho ocmn A p.ilr of ilnlnty slIpperM nro neon protruding from under n. doorway curtnln. Tho Irishman rinds the owner of tho myjilerluUH feet to Ira his wife, IJentrlx, from whom ho had run away a. year previous They are reconcllod, and opening tht letter hn llndn that a HuiiBoon law Hi in offerH him JOO.COO pounds for a Jewel known an the Tool of llamn and loft to htm by a d Ing friend, but now in keeping of ono named Chumbrot In AlKerlu. O'Hourke worotB the nobleman In u duel The wlfo bids O'Hourke farowcll and ho promises to kooii icturn with tho reward. He dls rovers both Glynn and tho vlHrount on board tho ship Ah ho Hilda Ctuimbrct there la an attack by bandits and hla friend dim tolling O'lUiilrko ttmt lie nns .ft the Pool or Flamo wmi tno governor onnral, who at olgnt or a signet nnK ivon the colonel will deliver over the wol. Arriving at AlKiirla tho Irlahinan iniln the governor general awai, Dea L'rebcn mnken u mysteilourf appointment inn teilH u liounte nun im nun KHinru )OHRelon of tho Jewed by stnallng It In l fluid O'llntirke nmfdora tint viscount. eeiirea possession of tho Pout of l'lanit ma start by nhlp for Haugnou. He jinda ho captain to bo a mmiKgliT who trlea to Heal tho Jowol It la finally aecured by tho captain and O'ltourliu escapes to (and. With the old of ono Danny and Ida Hwcetheiirt, O'ltourko recovers the i'ool of Flame On board ship onoe more, bound for Hungoon, a mysterious lady lippourn. O'lluurko comes upon a lascar J)Oiit to attack tho ladv, who la a Mrs. Prynne, and klekn the man Into thu hold Mrs. Prynne clulina who In en route for Indiana on a mlanlon for tho king. O'ltourko la altncked by tho lauoar, CHAPTER XXIV. (Continued.) She camo directly to tho utlvonturer, without ho much uh u glancp for tho group of Inscars or tho grim evidences of tragody upon tho dock. O'ltourko ohut Ills teeth with exasperation. Whntcvor ho ilocldod to tollovo of tho Goruuc. whothor IiIh judgmout said of tho man, "Guilty," or "Not Guilty," ho darod risk nothing with tho woman proBcnt. Ho could not toll what hell of murder and mutiny ho might not let 'coso upon tho llnnoo, did ho make ono Ul-advltjod or lmuty move. Alono, 3io could havo faced tho situation with oquanlmity; with tho woman by lilu fildo, ho folt au though handcuffed. "You aro hurt, Colonel O'ltourko?" "A inoro Hcratch, madam an Inch of skin shaved off mo arm Ho good onough to return to tho saloon, waken Danny and hoikI him to me." Sho Ignored tho ourtnesR of his tone, ovon aa alio iguorod his wish. "What has happened?" sho domanded, rang ing hovuttlf by his sldo. "Who Is that -thoro on tho deck?" Hor volco ris ing iv uoto, foreboded hysteria, "QulokHtabbod. I didn't want yo to bco. A lascar ran amok, cut down tho captain, was klllod himself kind ness," tho Irroprosslblo humorist Ibroko out," of our llttlo brown brother, tho Borang" r Hla eyoii novor loft tho latter; not an Instant did bo tnko his attention from tho cluHtor of darl: llgurcs; he was inoro than ovory ready to defend hlmsolf should tlioy mnko any overt niovo, docmlng hU attention distract ed. "What will you do?" "How can I say? Do yo, for tho lovo of God, gat bolow and leave mo to deal with thoso llondn lu mo own, fashion." "Which," sho roturnod ouuahly, "Is precisely what I shall not do" "If that's tho caso," ho said brus quely, "havo tho kindness .o hand mo tho revolver by tho captain's side, nml yo might soo If tho poor follow still llvos." He heard a quick rustlo of skirts and tho woman's hand cloned ovor hli, pressing Into his palm the weapon he had desired. As promptly, without further words, sho turned to Quick, Tho adveuturor deliberated briefly, whllo sho bout ovor tho captain, mak ing u hurried examination. "Ho Is badly wounded," O'ltourko heard hor say, as bo arrived at hta decision, "but not dead." "Pralso God for that! ... I must ask ye, madum, to back me up. It is necessary to clear tho decks. Aro yo ready?" Ho saw, out of tho tall of his eye, that sho had sprung to her feet. "Now, yo curs," ho thundered, -with a menacing pistol In either hand, "gut forward, tho lot of yo. Mo e, ye lilnkiiinriln'" They went expeditiously, crowding between the deelt-houso and the rail, huddling to'golhcr as If for mutual pro tection. The nqraug was the laBt to niovo, and went reluctantly, or ecemed to. Yet that was no tlmo to judge him for a minor fault. O'ltourko herded the pack beforo him, watched them scramble down tho ladder to th,o fore deck, then backed to tho spot where tho woman stood above tho captain. His nrm was paining him Bomewhat, with the Irritating, slinging ncho that such wounds produco, and ho thrust one revolver Into his pocket, clasping n hand above tho hurt. In a flnBh realization of Ills Iobb came to him; ho clutched the rail with a cry. Tho I'ool of Finnic, his sacred trust, wnB gone! His eyes searched the deck wildly, but found no trace of the round leather bag with Its preci ous burden. Despair gripped IiIh heart In a clutch of Ice, and for a space the ship reeled about him. . . He found himself gazing blankly in to tho woman's solicitous eyes. "What Is It? What Is It?" ho heard her volco 'repeating breathlessly. Ho knew that his own lips moved "for some aeconds without sound as ho Btrovo to answer her. Tho words, when they came, should havo been quite unintelligible to her; he realized this almost ns soon as ho had uttered them: "Tho I'ool of Hamo I" Then ho stumbled forward, crying aloud for tho serang. Half-way to tho ladder he halted; that individual's head and shoulders were lifting abovo tho level of tho deck. O'ltourko cov ered him and called him aft aR ho again retreated to the scone of tho tragedy. Had ho been In n condition to think coherently, ho might hnvo acted inoro prudently. Hut maddened, ho wns able to grasp but ono fact; that tho Pool of Flame was gono and must bo recovered nt whatever hazard. Tho lascar camo with what might hnve seemed suspicious alacrity, con sidering the fact that ho was coerced, that O'ltourko hold hint nt tho pistol's point. Gaunt nnd sombro In tho moonlight, moving noiselessly In his bare feet, head up and arms swinging HfflHHBRMr " f 1 1 t (Mfk W.l x(0MR Flung the Pool of Flame With All His Might limp, ho advanced without a pause un til about six foot from tho Irishman; at which distance O'Rourke, collect ing his wits, found volco onough to bid tho follow, "Stop!" Tho serang halted, impassive, un moved. "Tho sahib has called," ho said In an even volco. "I am come. What Is tho sahib's will with me?" Ills words, together with his half Indolent, hnlf-dclltuit, wholly contemp tuous bearing, supplied tho ono thing needful lo rostoro to tho adventurer his self-coutrol. O'ltourko drew him self up, master of self onco more, and looked tho lascar in tho oyo. "You stand," bo Bald slowly, choos ing his words, "on tho edge -of tho grave. Do you coiuprehoud that, dog?" "Aye, sahib!" "I havo called yo, then, to demnnd back that which Is mine, tho leather bag which yo stole when yo slow your brother, protending falsely It was ho who had slain tho captain. I counsol ye, speak truth and rondor back to mo that which yo have stolon." Tho sernng stiffened, his eyes glist ening In tho moonlight "Sahib!" ho cried as if In supplication "No words, dog"' cried O'ltourko sternly. "Do as I bid ye, or abide tile result of dlsobedioncc!" "Tho sahib," said tho serang slow ly, "Is full of eyes and wisdom. Ho Bees what no man would bellevo he could soo. 1 am content." He bowed his head with curious submlsslvenoss, stretching forth his palms as If In token oi surrender. O'ltourko caught at his breath. He had scarcoly hoped for this; he had merely called tho serang aft aB tho leader of the lascars, hoping to fright en him Into revealing whichever of his comrades had stolen tho gfeat ruby If ho know. "Yo havo, then, tho leather bag?" ho demanded, exultation In his voice. "Aye, sahib; or, If not that, I havo that which was theroln." "Tho stono?" "Aye, sahib." "Then give It mo." "I am tho sahib's slavo." Tho se rang flashed a strange Hmilo at the rovolver In O'llourko's hand. His at titude puzzled O'Rourke; ho would hardly havo believed this of tho man; rather ho could havo conceived df him ns denying tho theft to tho last and lighting llko au unchained (lend to re tain his booty. His present poso was out of character, or the Irishman mis judged him. Out of character or no, it was com fortable. Tho serang, with head bent, was fumbling In tho fold3 of his sash; O'ltourko thought htm over long about It, yet was Inclined to glvo him time In vlow of hla abject surrender. At length, still smiling oddly, the man lifted his eyes and stretched forth a hand tight closed. "Tho sa- hlb," ho said gently, "shall see that his servant spoko truth. Lot this weigh with tho enhlb for mercy. Do hold!" Tho brown lingers unclosed and In tho hollow of his palm trombled that which soemod a ball of crystallzed rose fire, the stono tbnt man has named tho I'ool of Flamo. O'ltourko uttered a low cry of satisfaction, step ping forward to snatch up tho jewel. Simultaneously ho was awaro of a quick gasp from tho direction of tho womnn, followed, ere ho could account for thoni, by two pistol shots. Tho adventurer groaned, pitching forward blindly, one sldo of his head, from the ear to tho temple, n-qulver with an agony as If a whlto-hot iron hnd seared htm there. Ho stretched forth an arm almlossly and gripped an iron Btnnchlon, stopping his fall, and hung there for what scemod au eon, sea nnd skies swimming blood-red be foro his oyos, In his ears a thunder ous rushing as of mighty waters. By a supreme effort of will ho kept himself half-erect, clinging to the rail, I and opened his eyes. So briefly had pain blinded him that It was patent barely a Bceond had elapsed since the firing oi tho shots. To his left a stricken lascar was still In tho act of falling; before hlra Mrs. Prynno stood motionless, her faco a mask of horror, revolver still poised; to tho right the serang, drawing a krls, was smiling sardonically, his eyes llxed upon tho woman who had set at naught his plans. O'ltourko tried to call a warning to her, for It was plain that she was ap palled by what she had done, heedless of all but the man she had killed; but It was as If tho bullet that creased his tomple had temporarily paralyzed him; his tonguo clavo to tho roof of his mouth and ho could nelthor move nor speak. Powerless (ho believed), he watched tho serang gather himself together, llko some gnunt cat, and spring; In two Btrldes ho would havo been upon tho woman and tho night had been crowned with Its most pitiful crime. Yet In midair, O'ltourko saw the man falter and fall back, dropping tho krls and clutching frantically at nothing. Stupidly tho adventurer saw tho smoko trickling from tho muzzlo of his own rovolver and knew that, some how, ho had managed to pull the trig ger. His heart leapt In his breast, so keen was his gratitude. Trembling In every limb, ho essayed a second tlmo to fire and put a final period to tho serang's career. Dut his shot went wido and tho cylinder Jammed so that the hammer would not rise a second tlmo. With an oath he let go tho rail and attempted to bridge tho distance between himself and tho lascar, who was now at a considers bio distance reeling away toward tho rail. Dut his overtaxed strength, sapped by loss of blood, failed him; and mal ico Infused now vigor Into the serang, now power to accomplish his final llendfsh act. Grinning with nngulsh, tho man leapt away from O'ltourko, staggered and, Jerking back his arm, flung tho Pool of Flamo from him with all his might. O'ltourko paused, petrified with de spair Tho great stone, glinting in tho moonlight llko the very heart of lire, described a long and flaming aro and . . . the sea lenpt up with a hiss to welcome It and It was gone. A bitter cry broko from tho Irish man's lips; ho made for tho man, whom ho would gladly have killed with his baro hands. But again ho failed. Tho lascar, perhaps guessing hla Intention, was at the last too quick for him. By a supreme effort tho gaunt se rang seized tho rail, lifted himself up on It, and dropped over tho side, fol lowing that to win which ho had giv en his Hfo. CHAPTER XXV. Mrs. Prynne, rousod out of her semi stupor by O'Rourko's cry, with seme return of her habitual clearness of thought, stopped to the companlonwny and called foi her maid. O'ltourko passed u hand over his eyes, and brought It away black with blood, but was no more than half awaro or this Dazed and lieartbrok on, ho stared blankly round tho sham bles that was the deck, then, recover ing slightly, snw Cecllo Join hor rals tress, and realized that, whatever his personal grief, pain nnd despair, he muse piny tho part of tho O'Rourke. So ho turned and staggered down Into tho saloon. Danny was In his berth, Bleeping the cblldllkj nnd logllko sleep that was over his. Dravoa, bolow, his ears draf oned by tho mighty chant of his en gines, hnd been no more conscious of tho drama on deck than hnd Danny. O'ltourko caught tho boy with hands that gripped his shouldera cruelly, and shook him awake, then methodically booted him up tho stops to tho deck. Onco there, Dannj emtio to his prop er sensos and fell with a will to tho tasks O'ltourko set for him. With Ce cllo be lifted the unconscious captain and boro hint down to his borth, then left him to the ministrations of mis tress nnd maid and returned to tluow overboard tho last corpse, that of tho lascar whom tho serang hnd set to sluy tho adventurer from behind. O'ltourko himself proceeded to tho bridge, whoro ho found the helmsman still at tho wheel, soberly keeping tho vessel on'her course. Tho clrcum Blanco nt tho tlmo surprised him; hut It afterwards was doveloped by dint of cross-examination of tho remainder of tho crow that tho soraug had spe cially exempted Quick and Dravoa from the general massacre, they being hold necessnry to tho navigation of the ship. He had Ukewlso put strict lnjuctlons on tho helmsman not to do sort the wheel, whatever the tide of battle, whether for or ngalnst b!J brethren. Tho stabbing of Qulri seemed to have been accidental, or necessary under circumstances unfore seen. As a matter of fact, tho rcmalndor of tho lasenrs were thoroughly cowed nnd proved unbollovably docllo for tho balanco of tho trip. Thus It was that tho voyage of tho Itaneo from Aden to Bombay was pushed through without further fatal ity. To the Irishman, however, must go more than half tho credit; for forty-eight hours lie never left tho bridge nor once closed his eyes In slumber. It was not indeed until tho llancc, on tho stroke of the hour, tho evening of the fifteenth day of Juno, walked smartly into Bombay harbor, tho in ternational code signal "NJ" flutter ing from her peak, rounded Colabra and dropped anchor off tho point; not until Danny and Drnvos, freo at length from their toll in tho broiling engine- room, camo on deck to relievo him, that O'Hourke collapsed stumbled down tho brldgo ladder and lurched drunkenly down the saloon compan lonwny. His head humming with sleep, his brain bemused with fatigue and pain, his eyes heavy, he brushed by Mrs. Prynne without seeing her or even hearing her low cry of pity and solicitude; und so entering tho first stateroom that he came to, throw him self, already asleep, Into the berth. As he did so a loaded revolver dropped from his numb fingers. . . CHAPTER XXVI. It was night when O'Hourko awoke; he found himself staring wide-eyed at tho celling of the stateroom, upon which rippled wavering lines of light reflected through tho portholo by tho waters without. His mind for the time wasa blank; he was meroly con scious that ho was rested and very thirsty, and that the ship was mo tionless. Then In a blinding flash memory returned to him. He rose, curiously light-headed and strangely weak, pushed open the door and stepped in to tho saloon. It was lighted, If poorly, by a smoky kerosene lamp dependent from a beam abovo the center-table, and wore a hol low, dingy air of desolation for all that Danny slept there, his vivid head pillowed on arms crossed before him on tho table. The ship was utterly si lent, and the O'llourko's sensitive in stinct told him that it was tenanted only by himself and the servant. He clapped a hand on Danny's shoulder and shook him into wakeful ness. The boy leapt to his feet with a cry and, seizing O'llourko's hand, be gan to sob upon It a touching but disconcerting performance, to tho last degree exasperating to a man thirst ing and famished. O'Rourke, as gently as he could, dis engaged his hand and thrust Danny away, at tho samo tlmo indicating lu no uncertain tones that ho preferred meat and drink to emotional crisis. Provided with a duty, Danny's senti mental nature was diverted; ho bust led away and returned with an excel lent told meal sandwiches, a salad, cheese, and other edibles upon a tray graced likewise by a bottle of cham pagne. And you aro to bellevo that tho master fell to and wolfed It all, to tho last crumb and tho last drop. A new man, refreshed, ho demanded a pipe, and, with his head cocked on one sldo and something of his old hu mor twinkling In his eye, what tlmo It was not clouded with bewilderment and concern at the answers he re ceived, cross-examined his valet. "How long," was his first question, "will I have slept now, Danny yo divvlo?" "Wan complete round av the clock, ycr honor." "Where are we?" "At anchor, sor, off tho Fort In Bom bay harbor." "Umm-hra. I'm by way of remem bering something of that. What of tho captalu?" "Raymoved, yer honor, to a horse plttlo ashore, sor, to con-valesce. At lasto, I'm thinking thot's the word the doctor used, sor." O'Rourke pulled at his cigar, re gnrded regretfully the empty glass be foro him, and with some visible reluct anco put tho question that, more than f aught else, he had wished to put ever since ho hnd eaten. "And Mrs. Prynne?" "Aw, yer honor!" "What's the matter, Danny?" "Sure, sor, and axln' yer pnrdon for spakin' so, and manln' no manner of dlsrnysplct whatsoever " "What the dlvvle, Danny!" Danny drew himself up with an air, bristling Indignation "Suro, nnd 'tis moself never Been the lolko av thltn wimmin tor ranu ingrntlcliude, sor. And tifthcr all thot mcself hnd said to thot black-eyed Frinch vixen " "Danny!" "No, sor, not wan word av ut will I wlddror, not If er honor discharges me wid me usual month's no' Ice, sor this minute. Fulx, didn't 1 boo? No more and the anchor was down, sor, nnd yersllf did to tho worrld In yer berth, sor, thia thlm two does bo after hailln' a boat and lntendln' to go ashore, wldout so much as a fare-ye-well, and mo meanln' tho most hon orable Intlntlons In tho world toward the maid" "Havo your Intentions ovor been might elso toward any womnn ye ever won a smile from, epalpeon?" "Aw, now, yer honor " (TO BU CONTINUED.) Just Dying to Do It. Servant No, tho vicar Is not In Jusl now. Is there any message? Old Woman (cheorfully) Well, tell blm that Martha Hlgglna would like to be burled at two o'clock tomorrow afternoon.' London Opinion. jKv sJLpi That's the kinrj lob by's There isn't an other sliced dried beef like it. Good? It's the inside cut of the finest beef sliced to wafer thin ness. r Sliced Dried Beef stands supreme. The tasty dishes ono can make with it are almost numberless. Let's see ! There's creamed dried beef, and but just try it. Then you'll know I Always Insist on Libby's Don't accopt"ajustasgood." From relish to roast, from condiment to conserve, the quality of Libby's Ready-to-Sorvo Foods is always ouperior. And they don't cost ona whit more than the ordinary kinds. Pat up in sterilised glatt or tin containers At Every Grocers Libby, McNeill & Libby Chicago HER LITTLE HAND IN HIS Mr. Pecke's Explanation as to Reason Somewhat Dispelled the Odor of Romance. Henno and Pecke were two henpeck ed married men. The other day they met, and, after a few casual remarks concerning tho weather, the subject of women and unfortunate husbanda was perhaps naturally discussed. To Henno, however, suddenly camo thoughts of years ago, when ho was a happy bachelor, and (unconsciously of what Fato had In store for him) was "walking out" a girl who was. later on, destined to bring him sor row and misery. 1 Pocko, seeing a "far-away" look lu his companion's eyes, Inquired the meaning. Henno retorted dramat ically, "I was Just then thinking, old fellow, of thoso happy days long ago when I used to hold that girl's hand In mlno tor hours when " ' But tho equally unfortunate Pecko suddenly cut his companion Bhort by exclaiming: "Why, that's nothing Cheer up! Do you know, only yes terday 1 hold my wife's hand for three solid hours." What?" aald the startled Henno. "Yes, It's a fact," resumed Pecke, sorrowfully; "and I declare If I'd lot loose sho'd havo killed mo." London Tit-Blta. Not So Bad. "I don't seo how you can find life worth living in such a small town." "Oh. It's not so bad. Wo probably havo just as many scandals bore as thoro are In your neighborhood." Homely Philosophy. "'After all, it Isn't always those with the loudest voicos that havo tho best things to say,' said tho little brown hen." "" A Triumph Of Cookery Post Toasties Many delicious dishes have been made from Indian Com by the skill and ingenuity of the ex pert cook. But none of these crea tions excels Post Toast ies in tempting the palate. "Toasties" are a lux ury that make a delight ful hot - weather economy. The first package tells its own story. 'The Memory Lingers" Sold by Ctocen. Poctum Cerrft! Conptjiy, Limited. Otitl Ck. Mich., U. S. A. fKB Lit SIimH