Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-03-30

ton of a dog fight; and he was really
exhibiting sublime virtuosity-one
readily distinguished individual bowls,
growls, yelps against an undertone
made up of the blended voices of ex.
cited noncombatants.
AS suddenly as though someone,
wearying of the entertainment, had
lifted the needle from that record, il
was discontinued. The minister OF
war stirred uneasily in his sleep, nut,
tered a naughty word, opened one eye,
scowled, opened the other.
He blinked f%uriously, half-blinded
but still able to make out the discom.
posing silhouette of a man seated just
beyond the radius of glare-a quiet
presence that moved not, but eyed him
s~teadfastly; an apparition the more
arresting because Of it's very immo,
bility.
Rapidly the face of the minister OF
war lost several shades of purple. He
moistened his lips n~ervously with a
thick, dry tongue, and convulsively he
clutched the bedclothing high and
tight about his neck, as though labor.
ing under the erroneous impression
that the sanctity of his person was
threatened.
What do you want, monsieur" he
suffered in a still, small voice which
he would have been the last to ac,
knowledge his own.
Il desire to discuss a matter of bust.
ness with monsieur" replied the in.
truder after a small pause. eff you
will be good enough to calm yourself
-"
Il am perfectly calm"
But here the minister of war verified
with n swift glance an earlier i'm
preston, to the effect that the tres.
passer was holding something that
shone with a metallic luster, and his
soul began to curl up round the edges.
There are eighteen hundred francs
in my pocketbook-about," he man,
aged to articulate. my watch is on
the stand here. You will find the fam.
lily plate in the dining room safe, be,
hind the buffet-the key is on my ring
and the jewels of madame, my wife,
in a small strong box beneath the head
Of her bed. The continuation
Pardon; monsieur labors under a
misapprehension," the housebreaker
i~nterposed dryly. Il have no wish
to harm you. Nor have l any wish
other than to lay before you, as
senting government, a certain matter
of state business"
There was silence while the minis.
ter of war permitted this exhortation
to sink in. Then, apparently treasured.
he sat up in bed and eyed his untimely
visitor with a glare little short of true.
ulent.
"Eh? What's that?" he demanded
Business? What sort of business? II
you wish to lay under my considera
ton any matter of business, how is IL
you break into my home at dead OIL
night and rouse me in this brutal fash
ion-er-" here his voice faltered-
with a lethal weapon pointed at my
head?"
Monsieur will admit he speaks I'm
der an error" returned the burglar
Il have yet to point this pistol at him
I should be very sorry to feel obliged
to do so. l display it, in fact, simply
that monsieur may not forget himself
and attempt to summon servants il
his resentment of this-I admit-un
usual method Of introducing oneself tt
his attention. When we understand
each other there will be no need fol
such precautions, and then l shall pu
my pistol away, so that the sight of i
may no longer annoy monsieur"
1T is true, l do not understand you,
grumbled the minister of war. why
If your errand be peaceable-break in
to my house?"
Because it was urgently necessar.
to see monsieur instantly. Monsieu.
will reflect upon the reception on,
would receive did n ring the from
door bell and demand an audience a
three o'clock in the morning."
well" M. Ducroy conceded dub
ously. Then, on reflection, he iterate,
the m~onosyllable testify: well! VIVA
is it you want, then?"
Il can best explain by asking NOR
sieur to examine-what | have to shoy
him"
With this Lanyard dropped the pis
toll into his coat pocket, from anothe
produced a gold cigarette case, an,
from the store of this last selected
single cigarette with meticulous care
Regarding the minister of war in
mystifying manner, he began to rol
the cigarette briskly between hi
palms. A small shower Of Tobacco
sifted on the floor; the rice pape
cracked and came away; and with
bland smile and gesture Of a profes
sional conjuror, Lanyard exhibited
small cylinder of stiff paper betwee
his thumb and index finger.
Goggling resentfully, M. Ducro
spluttered:
"Eh-what impudence is this?"
His smile unchanged, Lanyard ben
forward and silently dropped the cylir
der into the Frenchman's hand. At til
same time he offered him a poke
magnifying glass.
What is this?' Ducroy persiste
stupidity. "What-what-" +,
III monsieur will be good enoug
to unroll the papers and examine ther
with the aid Of this glass"
With a wondering grunt M. Ducro
complied, smoothing out several sma'
sheets Of photographers printing-ou