Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-02-10

Win uccllius, ancient enemenIS.
Assuring himself that the courtyard
was deserted. Lanyard addressed him
self to a door on the right, to his
knock it swung promptly ajar with a
click of its latch. At the same time
the ~adventurer produced from beneath
his cloak a small black velvet vizor
and adjusted it to mask the upper
portion of his face. Then, entering a
narrow and odorous corridor. whose
obscurity was only emphasized by a
lonely, guttering candle, he turned the
knob of the first door and walked into
a small, i~ll-furnished room.
A spare-bodied young man, who had
been sitting at a desk, reading by the
light of an oil lamp with a heavy green
shade, rose and bowed courteously.
Good morning, monsieur" he said
with the cordiality Of n who greets
an acquaintance of old standing. BE
seated" he added, indicating an arm
chair beside the desk. 1T is some
time since have had the honor of a
call from monsieur"
THAT is SO" Lanyard admitted. sit
ting down.
The young man followed suit. The
lamplight, striking across his face be-
meath the greenish penumbra Of the
shade, discovered a countenance Of
Hebraic cast. =
Monsieur has something to show
me, eh?"
But naturally"
Lanyard's reply just escaped a flavor
of curtness-as who should say, What
did you expect?" He was puzzled by
something strange and new in the at
titude of this young man, a trace Of re-
serve and constraint.
They had been meeting in this
ner for several years, conducting
their secret and lawless business ac-
cording to a formula invented by
Bourke and religiously observed by
Lanyard. A note or telegram of inno-
cent superficial intent, addressed to a
certain member of a leading firm of
jewellers in Amsterdam, was the in
variable signal for meetings such as
this, which we're always held in the
same place, at an indeterminate hour
after midnight, between this intelli-
gent, cultivated and well-mannered
young Jew and the thief in his mask.
Why, then, this sudden awkward
ness and embarrassment on the part
of the agent?
Lanyard's eyes narrowed with sus-
picion.
In silence he produced a jewel case
of morocco leather and rave it to the
Jew, then settled back in his chair. his
attitude n of lounging, but his mind
as uneasy with distrust as his fingers
which, under cover Of his cloak, rested
close to the pocket containing his au-
tomato.
Accepting the box with a little bow.
the Jew pressed the catch and uncov-
cred it's contents. But the richness of
the treasure thus disclosed did not
seem to surprise him; and, indeed, he
had more than once been introduced
with no more formality to plumber of
greater value. Fitting a jewelers. mag
nifying-glass to his eye, he picked up
one after another of the pieces and ex-
amined them under the lamplight.
Presently he replaced the last and
shut down the cover Of the box.
He turned a thoughtful eountenance
to Lanyard, made as if to speak, but
hesitated.
"Well?" the tadventurer demanded
impatiently.
"This, l take it," said the Jew abb
sently, tapping the box, "is the jewelry
of Nine. Omber."
81 took it," Lanyard retorted good
humoredly-'not to put too fine a
point upon It'll"
The Jew shrugged, and with the tips
of his fingers gently pushed the box
toward his customer.
"This makes me very unhappy" he
admitted; but l have no choice in the
matter, monsieur. AS the agent of my
principals, / am instructed to refuse
you an offer for these valuables."
"Why?"
Again the shrug, accompanied by a
~deprecatory grimace: That is diff
fcult to say. No explanation was
made me. My instructions were mere
ly to keep this appointment as usual,
but to advise you that it would be i'm
possible for my principals to continue
their relations with you as long as
your affairs remained in their present
status"
'"Their present status?" Lanyard re-
peated. What does that mean?"
81 cannot say, monsieur. | can only
repeat that which was said to me-"
After a moment Lanyard rose, took
the box and replaced it in his pocket.
VERY WE'LL" he said quietly. N'Your
principals, of course, understand that
this action on their part definitely
ends our relations rather than merely
interrupts them at their whim?"
Il am desolated, monsieur. but-one
must assume that they have consid.
cred everything. You understand, it.
is a matter in which | am wholly with
out discretion, l trust?"
ooh, quite!" Lanyard assented are
lessly. He held out his hand. Good
by, my friend"
The Jew shook hands warmly.
Good night, monsieur-and the
best of luck!"
There was a significance in his last
words that Lanyard did not trouble to
analyze. Beyond doubt the man knew
more than he dared admit And the adj
ventHrer told himself he could shrewd-
IT, .,,rraiaa naout ~ HAT xuhtnh thu