The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1916-05-12


Her hands moved toward him in
Autter of entreaty: Il, too. must leave
/ unseen-I must! Take me with you
and promise you no one shall ever
know"
He lacked time to weigh the disad-
vantages inherent in her proposition;
though she offered him heavy handi.
cap. he had no choice but to accept
1t without protest.
Come. then" he told her-"and not
sound
She signifed assent with another
nod. and promptly he turned to an ad-
jacent door. opened II gently, whipped
out his fiash-iamp, and passed through.
Without sign of hesitancy she fol-
lowed, and like two shadows they
logged that dancing spotlight through
linen closet and service room. down
shallow well threaded by spiral of
iron steps and, by way OF long cor
ridor that linked the kitchen offices,
on to stout door OF oak secured only
by huge, old-style bolts of iron.
In two minutes from the moment OF
their encounter. they stood outside
Troyon's, that door at their back, fac
ing a cramped, malodorous alleyway-
a dark and noisome souvenir of that
wild medieval Paris whose effacement
is an enduring monument to the fame
Of the good Baron Haussmann.
Now, again, it was raining. q thick
drizzle that settled slowly, wanting
little of fog's opacity; and the faint
glimmer of the street lamps Of that
ill-lighted quarter lent Lanyard and
the girl little aid as they picked their
way cautiously. and always in COM
plete silence over the Shiny eobbles
Of the foul backway. For the adven-
turer had pocketed his lamp. fearing
lest It bring down upon them some
proving creature of Popinot's, though
he felt passably sure that the alley
had been left unguarded-less, per-
haps, through ignorance Of 1t than
through confidence that he would
never dream OF its existence did he
survive TO seek an escape.
For all its might and its omniscience.
Lanyard doubted IL the Pack had as
YET identified Michael Lanyard with
that ill-starred Marcel who once had
been as intimate with this secret way
as any skullking Tom of its feline
hordes.
But with this one confidence was
never akin to foolhardiness; and II,
before leaving Troyon's back door, he
had paused to take the girls hand
and had drawn 1t through his arm--it
was his left arm that he thus dedi-
Gated to gallantry-his right hand
remained unhampered and was never
far from the grip of his automatic
Nor was he altogether trustful of HIS
companion, Momentarily he grew more
jealousy heedful OF her. Of every nu-
ance in her bearing. The least trace
of added pressure on his arm. the most
subtle suggestion that she wasn't alto
gether Indifferent to him or regarded
him In any way other than as the
chance-found comrade OF an hour of
trouble would have proved enough to
fix his suspicious. For such, he told
himself, would be the first thought OF
one bent on beguiling, to lead him on
by some intimation--the more tenuous
and elusive the more provoking-that
she found him in person not altogether
Objectionable.
But he failed to find anything OF this
in her manner.
So what was he to think? That she
was alert enough to appreciate how
ruinous to her design would be any
such advances?
In such perplexity he brought her
to the mouth of the alley and there
pulled up for reconnaissance before
venturing forth into the narrow. dark
and utterly deserted side street that
presented itself.
At this the girl gently disengages
her hand and drew away pace II
two, and when Lanyard had satisfied
himself that there we're no Apaches
in the offing he turned to see her
standing there, just within the en-
trance to the alley, in pose of blank
indecision.
Conscious OF his regard, she turned
to his inspection face touched with a
fugitive. uncertain smile.
."Where are we now" she asked in
a guarded tone.
He named the street and she shook
her head.
"That doesn't mean much to me-"
she confessed; I'm SO strange in
Paris, know only few Of the prin-
cipa1 streets Where is the Boulevard
st. Germain7
Lanyard indicated the direction:
1.-TWO blocks that way"
THANK you" She advanced a step or
two, but paused again. DO you know,
possibly. just where could find taxi
cab?"
I'm afraid you'll find none in this
quarter at this hour" he replied. "A
flacre, perhaps-with luck. doubt II
there is one disengaged nearer than
Montmartre, where business is apt to
be more brisk"
"Oh!" she cried in dismay. II hadn't
thought of that. thought Paris never
went to sleep!"
"0nly about three hours earlier than
most of the worlds capitals But per
haps l can advise YOU"
'Tf you only would be so kind Only
don't like to seem nuisance"
He smiled deceptiyely; Don't worry
about that, Where do you wish to
| go2'
ITO the Care du Nord."
That made him open his eyes. THE
Care du Nordl" he echoed. "But--I