Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1916-03-11
CHAPTER TX.
War Declared.


With a nod acknowledging the cour-
tesy, Lanyard consented to precede
him and entered a room of intimate
proportions. furnished chiefly with a
green-covered card table and FIVE easy
chairs. of which three were occupied
two by men in evening dress, the
third by one in a well-tailored lounge
suit of dark gray
All three men wore vizors of black
velvet.
Lanyard looked from one to the
other and chuckled quietly.
De Morbihan cleared his throat an
grily and with an aggrieved air
launched into introductions.
"Messieurs, have the honor to pre-
sent to your our confrere. M. Lanyard.
best known as the Lone Wolf M.
Lanyard-the council of our associa-
ton, known to you as the Pack"
The three rose and bowed ceremoni-
ousiy. Lanyard returned a cool, good
natured nod. Then he laughed again
and more openly:
"a pack of knaves!"
Monsieur doubtless feels at ease?''
one retorted acidly.
I'm your company. Popinot? But
hardly!" Lanyard returned in light
contempt
The fellow thus indicated, a burly
rogue of a Frenchman in rusty and
baggy evening clothes. started and
flushed holly beneath his mask; but
the man next him dropped a restrain
ing hand upon his arm. and Popinot
turned, shrugged. and sank back into
his chair.
Upon my world" Lanyard declared
gracelessly-"it's as good as a play!
Are you sure, M. lie Comte, there's no
mistake-that these gay masqueraders
haven't lost their way to the stage
of the Grand Guignol?"
-Damni" muttered the count Take
care, my friend! You go too far!"
You really think so? But you
amaze me! You, in reason, can't ex-
pect me to take you seriously, gentle
men!"
IF you don't it will prove serious
business for you, my friendI" growled
the one he had named Popinot.
You mean that? But you are mag
nificent. all of you! We lack only
the solitary illumination of a candle
end-a grinning skul1-a cup of blood
upon the table-to make the farce COM
plete! But as it is, messieurs, you
must be rarely uncomfortable, and
feeling as foolish as you look into
the bargain! Moreover, I'm not a
child. Popinot, why not disburden
your amiable features? And you. Mr.
Wertheimer. I'm sure, will feel more
at ease with an open countenance-
as the-saying runs" he said. nodding
to the man beside Popinot. "As for
| this gentleman" he concluded. eying
the third. Il haven't the pleasure of
his acquaintance"
With a short laugh Wertheimer I'M
masked. exposing a face of decidedly
| English type, fair and well modelled.
betraying only the faintest traces of
| Semitic cast to account for his sur
| name And with this example Popinot
snatched off his own black vizor and
glared at Lanyard-in his shabby dress
| the incarnate essence of bourgeois
| outraged But the third. he of the
gray lounge suit, remained motion
less: his eyes clashed with the adven-
| turer's-
He seemed a man little if at all Lam
| Yards senior. and built upon much the
same lines A close-clipped black mus
| tache ornamented his upper lip. His
| chin was square and strong with char.
acter The cut of his clothing was
| conspicuously neither English nor CON
| tinental
| 81 don't know yeu. SIR" Lanyard
continued slowly. puzzled to account
| for a feeling of familiarity with this
| person. whom he could have sworn
he had never met before But you
won't let your friends Guido you In
| ciyility. l trust?"
4 "If you mean you want me to un
| mask. won't" the other returned
brusqueiy in fair French. II with g
decided transatlantic information
4 American. eh ?"
Native born. IL It interests you"
Have l met you before7''
You have not"
MY dear count" Lanyard said turn