The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20


tention with monkey-Erench and oil
can. that you were quite mistaken
when you ridiculed the idea OF the In
rernationaI Underworld, Unlimited
OF course, If you hadn't laughed. 1
shouldn't feel quite as much respect
for you as l do; in fact, the chances
are you'd be in handcuffs-or a cell in
the Sante-this very minute. But. alb
surd as il sounded-and was-the IN
derwcrld' project was pet hobby OF
Bannon's-who'd been the brains OF
gang of criminals in New York for
many years. He was a bit touched on
the subject A monomaniac, if you
ask me. And his enthusiasm won De
MOrbihan and Popinot overland me!
He took a wonderful fancy to me,
Bannon did; 1 really was appointed
first lieutenant in Greggs' stead
Nothing he wouldn't tell me- I even
got him to tell me about you-why he
was so uncommon TindictiTe. Do you
wish to know?'
If you please"
cit seems Bannon was the chap who
kidnapped and abandoned you at Troy
on's. Your mother had been@his wife,
and married again in England You
were the child of her second marriage
Bannon managed to ruin your father
drove him into bankruptcy and TO sui
cide-and the shock of that, coupled
with your disappearance, killed your
mother. But even that wasn't enough
for Bannon; and when he found you'd
grown up to be the Lone Wolf, he
signed your death warrant then and
there. Only you declined to be exc
cuted- Your family name"
Forgive me-" Lanyard interposed
hastily; but 1 don't care to know my
family name If 1 have no parents liv-
ing, I've no kin who would welcome
my return And if I had prefer TO
prove myself before 1 hunt them up
Some day, perhaps, may apply to you
for more information. But for the
present, I'm content-and grateful"
ct think" said Wertheimer. restor-
ing the oil can to its place in the tool
kit. you're very wise In fact, my per
sonaI feeling for you is one Of grow
ing esteem, If you'll permit me to say
so. You've most OF the makings OF a
man Will you shake hands-with q
copper's nark?"
He gave Lanyard's hand a firm and
friendly grasp and turned toethe girl
"Good-by, Miss Shannon I'm truly
grateful for the assistance you gave US
Without you we'd have been sadly
handicapped And now it's gOod-by
and good luck. 1 hope you may be
happy. I'm sure you can't go far with
out coming across a highroad or vii
lage; but-fOr reasons not unconnected
with my professional pursuits pre-
fer to remain in ignorance Of the way
you CO.
Releasing her hand. he stepped back.
saIuted the lovers with a smile and
gay gesture, and clambered briskly to
the pilots seat of the biplane-
When firmly established, he turned
the switch of the starting mechanism
The heavy. distinctive hum Of the
great motor filed that isolated hollow
in the Downs with a sound like the
purring OF a dynamo
With final wave OF his hand, Vert
heimer grasped the starting lever.
Its brood deepening. the PARROT
stirred. shot forward abruptly. In two
seconds it was fifty yards distant, its
/ silhouette already blurred, its wheels
! lifting from the rim of the hollow
Then lightly 1t rose and scared,
parted the mists, vanished.
/ For some time Lanyard and Lucy
Shannon remained motionless, cling
| ing together. hand in hand, their faces
tupturned, as if expecting its reappear-
ance, listening to the drone that pres
emily dwindled to a mere thread OF
sound and died out altogether in the
obscurity above them
Then, turning, they faced each
other, smiling uncertainty, a smile that
said: $50 all that is finished! Or, per
haps. we have dreamed it."
| Suddenly, with a low cry, the girl
gave herself to Lanyard's arms; and
as this happened the mists parted and
bright sunlight flooded the hollow in
the Downs
After a little, taking her lips away
the girl rested her head on his shout
der and sighed a little sigh. soft
sigh of content
'Tf we hurry" she said then, cts
possible that we may win to London
yet, before it's too late"
Too late"
ITO get a special Iicense-or what
ever it is one must get before one may
| marry in haste in England Don't you
know"
He shook his head. laughed. and
caught her more closely to him
No" he confessed; "I don't know
I haven't had much experience But
we can ask a policeman Who's
! THE End