The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-04-15

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, 1t
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 furiously, half-blinded
but still able to make out the discom-
posing silhouette of man seated just
beyond the radius of glare-a quiet
presence that moved not, but eyed him
steadfastly; 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 nerYous1y with
thick, dry tongue, and convuIsively he
clutched the bedclothing high and
tight about his neck, as though labor
ing under the erroneous impression
that the sanctfty of his person was
threatened
What do you want, monsieur" he
suffered in still, small voice which
he would have been the last to &C
knowledge his own.
81 desire to discuss matter of bust
ness with monsieur" replied the in
truder after a small pause eff you
will be good enough to calm yourself
81 am perfectly calm"
But here the minister of war verified
with one swift glance an earlier i'm
preston, to the effect that the tres
passer was holding something that
shone with a metallic Iuster, 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 small strong box beneath the head
of her bed. The combination
Pardon; monsieur labors under a
misrepresentation" the housebreaker
interposed dryly 'T have no wish
to harm you. Nor have 1 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 glare little short of true
ulent
Eth? What's that?" he demanded.
business? What sort of business? If
you wish to lay under my considera-
ton any matter of business, how is it
you break into my home at dead of
| night and rouse me in this brutal fash
| iOn-er-"- here his voice faltered-
with lethal weapon pointed at my
head?"
Monsieur will admit he speaks un-
| 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. 1 display it. in fact, simply
that monsieur may not forget himself
and attempt to summon servants in
| his resentment of this-I admit-un-
usual method of introducing oneself to
his attention. When we understand
each other there will he no need for
such precautions, an2 then 1 shall put
my pistol away, so that the sight OF it
may no longer annoy monsieur"
cit is true, do not understand you"
grumbled the minister of war why
if your errand be peaceable-break in
to my house?"
Because it was urgently necessary
to see monsieur instantly. Monsieur
will reflect upon the reception one
would receive did one ring the front
door bell and demand an audience at
three o'clock in the morning."
well" NJ. Ducroy conceded dubi-
ously. Then. on reflection. he iterated
the monosyllable testify: We'll! What
is it you want. then?"
Il can best explain by asking mon
sieur to examine-what have to show
| him"
| With this Lanyard dropped the pis-
toll into his coat pocket, from another
produced q gold cigarette case, and
from the store of this last selected q
| single cigarette with meticulous care.
Regarding the minister of war in a
mystifying manner, he began to roll
| the cigarette briskly between his
palms. A small shower Of tobacco
sifted on the floor; the rice paper
cracked and came away; and with a
| bland smile and gesture OF a profes-
sional conjuror, Lanyard exhibited a
small cylinder of stiff paper between
his thumb and index finger
Goggling resentfully, NJ Ducroy
spluttered:
"Eh-what impudence is this?"
forward and silently dropped the cyIin-
der into the Frenchman's hand. At the
same time he offered him q pocket
magnifying glass.
What is this?" Ducroy persisted
stupidity "What-what-''
IF monsieur will be good enough
to unroI the papers and examine them
with the aid OF this glass"
With wondering grunt Ii. Ducroy
complied. smoothing out several small
| sheets OF photographers printins-oul