Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-03-16

NNppyrlSut' oy LOUIS Joseph vance,
n had a dozen fellows skulking with
in call.
Springing up the stairs. he paused
prudently at the topmost step, one
quick glance showing him the huge
rent gaping black in the middle of the
skylight, the second the missile of de-
struction lying amid a litter of broken
glass-a brick wrapped in newspaper
by the look of it.
S%wooping forward, he retrieved this
and darted back from the exposed
space beneath the shattered skylight
barely in the nick of time, for he had
no more than cleared the threshold
than a second something fell through
the gap and buried itself in the hard
wood parquetry. This last vas a bull
let fired from the roof of one of the
adjoining buildings, confirming his
prior reasoning that the first missile
must have fallen from a height rather
than have been thrown up from the
street to wreak such destruction with
those tough, thick panes of clouded
glass.
Swearing softly to himself, he de-
scended to the kitchen.
"As I thought" he said coolly, ex.
hibiting his find. They're on the roof
Of the next house-though they've sta
toned a sentry in the street, of
course"
But that second thump-" the girl
demanded.
"a bullet" he answered, placing the
bundle on the table and cutting the
string that bound it.
But what ? G1D do now?" she
stammereS surrounded
the bsei2,bstracteID. han on.
way ming at
p pic Complete Abstrie n NoT
woulbstracts promptlm the first
instah a an exit in event
of cred\ -4n-thought SOL"
Wnat1h'
"Troyon's is gone" he said, without
looking up. "This is tonight's Presse.
Totally destroyed by fire which start
ed at six thirty this morning and in
less than half an hour had reduced the
ancient structure to a heap of smoking
ashes'!" He ran his eye quickly down
the column, selecting salient phrases:
Believed to have been of incendiary
origin, though the premises were unin-
sured'-thats an intelligent guess!
Marrow escape Of guests in their
whatyemaycallems. Three lives be-
lieved to have been lost-one body re-
covered, charred almost beyond recog-
nition-Roddy's, of course-poor
devil! Two guests missing, M. Ian
yard, the well-known connoisseur Of
art, who occupied the room adjoining
that of the unfortunate detective, and
Mile. Bannon, daughter Of the Ameri-
can millionaire, who himself escaped
only by a miracle with his secretary,
M. Greggs, the latter being overcome
by fumes-what a shame! Police and
firemen searching the ruins'-h-m,
h-m-'extraordinary interest manifest
ed by the prefecture indicates a suspi-
cion that the building may have been
fired to conceal some crime Of a po-
litical nature"
Crushing the newspaper between his
hands Lanyard tossed it into a orner
What was written on the paper?"
the girl demanded obliquely.
He made his eyes blank. Written
on the paper"
81 saw something in red ink at the
head of the column. You tried to hide
it from me, but I saw What was it?"
"Oh-that!" He laughed contemptu-
ously. "Just Popinot's impudence-an
invitation to come out and be a good
target"
He shrugged himself into his Dor.
rowed ~raincoat, buttoned it to his chin,
and turned down the brim of his soft
felt hat; but when he looked up at the
girl again he found she hadn't moved;
rather, she remained as one spellbound
by thought, staring less at thar
through him, her expression inscruta
BILE.
WELL" he ventured-"if you're quite
ready, Miss Shannon"
"Mr. Lanyard" she demanded al
most sharply, what was the full word
ing of that messenger"
"If you must know"
~ must!"
He lifted a d~epreciative shoulder
"If you like, I'll read it to you-or
rather translate it from the thieves
argot Popinot complimented me b.
using"
Not necessary" she said tersely
"IIl take your word for it. But yo-
must tell me the truth"
"As you will. Popinot delicatel
suggested that If l leave you here, t
be reunited to your alleged parent
il I'll trust to his word of honor, tina
is, and walk out of the house alone
he'll give me twenty-four hours Il
which to leave Paris
"Then only / stand between yor
and"
my dear young woman!" he pre-
tested hastily. please don't run ava
with any absurd notion like that. D
you imagine I'd consent to treat wit
such canaille under any circun
~stancesT
"All the same" she contended stut
bornly, I'm the stumbling-blocl
You're risking your life for me-"
well" be laughed, have 1t you
own wayI But It's my life, isn't 1t
/ really don't see how you're going I
prevent my risking It for anything tina
may seem to mt worth the rIskly