Mountain advocate., 1916-05-26

and"
my dear young woman!" he pro.
tested hastily. please don't run away
with any absurd notion like that. Do
you imagine I'd consent to treat with
such canaills under any circum-
stancesf"
IAN the same" she contended stub
bornly. Pm the stumbling block.
You're risking your life for me-"
I'm not" he insisted almost angrily.
"You are" she returned with quiet
conviction.
"Well." he laughed. have It your
own way! But it's my life. isn't 1t?
I really don't see how you're going to
prevent my risking It for anything that
may seem to me worth the risk!"
But she wouldn't laugh; only her
countenance suddenly bereft Of its mu.
tinous expression, softened winningly
and her eyes grew very kind to him
AS long as It's understood under.
stand-very WELL" she said quietly,
I'll do as you wish, Mr.. Lanyard"
Good" he cried cheerfully. 81 wish.
BY your leave. to take you out to din
ner. This way. pleased"
Leading her through the scullery, he
unbarred and swung open a low.
arched door In one of the walls, uncov-
ering the black mouth of a narrow
and tunnel-like passageway that ran
of at right angles from the side Of the
house.
With q word of caution. flash lamp in
his left hand. pistol in right. Lanyard
stepped out into the darkness.
In two minutes he was back with
look Of relief.
"All clear" he reported; 81 felt
pretty sure Popinot was ignorant OF
this emergency exit--else we'd have
entertained unlimited guests long
since. Now, half q minute"
The electric meter occupied a place
ON the wall Of the scullery not far from
the door. Prying open It's cover, he
unscrewed and removed the fuse-plug.
plungins the entire house in complete
darkness.
"Thatll keep 'em guessing while."
he explained with a chuckle. They'll
hesitate a long time before rushing a
dark house infested by a desperate
armed man-if ] know anything about
that mongrel crew! Besides. when
they do get their courage up, the lack
Of light will stave of discovery of this
way Of escape. And now, one word
more"
A flash of the lamp located her hand.
Calmly he possessed himself Of 1t.
I've brought you into trouble
enough as II Is through my stupidity"
he said; but for that, this place
should have been q refuge to US until
We were quite ready to leave Paris.
So now we mustn't forget. before We
90 out to run God only knows what
gauntlet. to fix rendezvous in event
Of separation. Popinot. for instance,
may have drawn a Gordon around the
block: wo can't tell until we're In the
street; II he has, you must leave me to
keep them interested and-ah-divert-
ed until you're safe beyond their reach.
Oh. don't w0rry-Im perfectly we'll
able to take care Of myself. But after
ward we must know where to find each
other. Hotels. cafes and restaurants
are out Of the Question--in the first
place. we've barely money enough for
our dinner; besides. all such places
are certain to be watched closely. Our
embassies and consulates aren't open
at all hours. and will likewise be
watched. There remain-unless you
can suggest something-only the
churches; and | can think Of none
better suited to our purposes than the
Sscre-Coeur."
Her fingers frightened gently upon
his.
Il understand" she said quietly; III
we're obliged to separate I'm to 90 di-
rect to the Sacre-Coeur up on the hill
top and await you there"
Right! But let's hope therell be
NO such necessity"
children. these two stole down the tun-
nel-like passagewsy. through small.
forlorn court. more like a we'll.
oramped between two tall old tene-
ments. and 30 came out into the
gloomy. sinuous and silent Rue d'As.
Sao.
Here they encountered few way
farers; and to those few, preoccupied
with anxiety 10 win to shelter from
the inelement night. they seemed. no
doubt. some student of the Quarter
with his eetheart-Lanyard, in his
shabby raincoat, striding rapidly. head
and shoulders bowed against the iriv.
Ing mist, the girl In her trim Burberry
cltpging trustfully to his arm.
Avoiding the hearer stops OF the
underground Metropolitan as danger
Gus. Lanyard steered q roundabout
course through byways to the Rue de
Sevres station OF the Nord-Sud. from
which. In due course. they climbed to
the surface again at the Place de la
Concorde. walked several blocks.
picked up . taxicab. and In less than
half an hour from the time Of their de
psrtprp from the impssse Stanislas
we're comfortably snsconced in a cabi.
net parttculier Of q little restaurant OF