Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-04-13
CHAPTER XXVI.
War.


Lanyard, weary with futile cruis-
ing, and being in the neighborhood of
the Madeleine, sought the cab-rank
there and modify took his place at
its end, silencing the motor and re-
lapsing into morose reflection so pro-
found that nothing about him claimed
place in his consciousness.
Thus it was that a brace of furtive
thugs were able to SLOUGH down the
rank, scrutiniZing it covertly, but in
detail, pause opposite Lanyard's car
under pretext of lighting cigarettes,
identify him to their satisfaction, and
take themselves hastily off-all with
out his knowledge.
And not until they had quite disap-
peared did the driver of the cab ahead
dare warn him.
Lounging back carelessly, the latter
looked the adventurer over inquis-
itively.
st Is, then" he inquired civilly,
when Lanyard at length glanced
around, annoyed by subconsciousness
the bad books of that good General
Popinot, my friend?"
"Eh-what's that you say?" Ian
yard exclaimed, showing a counte-
nance of blank misapprehension.
The man nodded wisely.
He who is at odds with Popinot,"
he observed, docs we'll not to sleep
in public. You did not see those two
who passed just now and took your
number-rats of Montmartre, if l
know my Paris! You were dreaming,
my friend, and it is my impression
that only the presence Of those two
flies over the way prevented your i'm
mediate assassination. If | were you,
| should go away very quickly, and
never stop till l had put stout walls
between myself and Popinot."
A chill of apprehension sent SILVER
stealing down Lanyard's spine.
You're sure?"
"But of certainty, my old onei"
"A thousand thanks"
Jumping down, the adventurer
seat, and was off like hunted hare.
And when, more than an hour later,
he brought his painting car to a pause
III quiet and empty back street or
the Auteuil quarter, after a course that
had involved the better part of Paris,
it was with the conviction that he had
beyond question shaken off pursuit
had there, in fact, been any attempt
made to follow him
He took advantage of that secluded
spot to substitute false numbers for
those he was licensed to display;
then, at more sedate pace, followed
the line of the Notifications northward
as far as La Muette, where branch
ing off, he sought and made a circuit
of two sides of the private park en-
closing the home Of Nine Omber.
But the mansion showed no lights
and there was nothing in the aspect
Of the lodge and carriage entrance to
lead him to believe that the chate
laine had as yet returned to Paris.
Now the night was still young, but
Lanyard had his cab to dispose of and
not a few other essential details to
arrange before he could take definite
steps toward the reincarnation of the
Lone Wolf
Picking a most circumspect route
across the river-Yia the Pont Mira
beau-to the all-night Geographic bu-
reau in the Rue de Grenelle, he dis
patched a cryptic message to the min
lister of war, then with the same pains
to avoid notice made back toward the
Rue des Acacias. But it wasn't pos
sible to recross the Seine coyertly-
in effect, at least-without returning
the way he had come-a long detour
that irked his impatient spirit to con-
template.
Unwisely he elected to cross by
way Of the Pont des Invalides-how
unwisely was borne in upon him al
most as soon as he turned from the
brilliant Ouai de la Conference into