Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1916-04-13

To this appeal he could at first re.
turn nothing more intelligent than a
dazed repetition of the term.
So that was how Why hadn't he
thought of it before? Ever since he
had turned on the lights he had been
subjectively busy trying to invest her
presence there with some plausible
excuse. But somnambulism had never
once entered his mind. And in his
stupidity, at pains though he had been
to render his words inoffensive in
themselves. he had been guilty of con-
structive inciyility.
In his turn Lanyard colored warmly.
II beg your pardon" he muttered.
The girl paid no attention; she was
thinking only of herself and the
anomalous position into which her in.
trinity had tricked her. When she
did speak her words ran swiftly:
You see | was so frightened! |
found myself suddenly standing up in
darkness, just as if had jumped out
of bed in my sleep at some alarm;
and then ! heard somebody enter the
room and shut the door stealthily. Oh.
please understand mel"
But do, Miss Bannon-quite."
II am SO ashamed"
please don't consider 1t that way"
But now that you know-you don't
think
INV dear Miss Bannon!"
But 1t must be so hard to credit!
Why, it's more than a year since 1t
last happened OF course, as a child,
it was almost habit; they had to
watch me all the time. Once But
that doesn't matter. am so sorry!"
You really mustn't worry" Ian
yard insisted. IT'S all quite natural
such things do happen-are happen
ing all the time"
But don't want YOU"
81 am nobody, Miss Bannon Be-
Sides | sha'n't mention the matter to
soul And if ever | am fortunate
enough to meet you again, shall have
forgotten II completely-believe me-"
There was convincing sincerity in
his tone The girl looked down. as
though abashed.
You are very good" she MUIR
INJURED. moving toward the door.
81 am very fortunate"
Her glance of surprise was question
enough.
ITO be able to treasure this much
of your confidence" he responded with
tentative smile.
She was near the door; he opened 1t
for her. but cautioned her with
gesture and whispered word; Wait
I'll make sure nobody's about"
He stepped noiselessly into the hall
and paused an instant, looking keenly
right and left, listening.
The girl advanced to the threshold
and there halted, hesitant, eying him
anXiously.
He nodded reinsurance: "All right
coasts clear!"
But she delayed one moment more.
ITS you who are mistaken" she
whispered. flushing again beneath his
regard, from which admiration could
not be absent. 1T is ! who am for
tunate--to have met a-gentleman."
Her diffident smile. together with
the candor of her eyes, embarrassed
him in such degree that for the mo.
ment he was unable to frame reply
Good night" she whispered-"and
thank you, thank you'll"
Hec room was at the far end of the
corri6Hr. She gained its threshold in
one swift dash, noiseless save for the
silken whisper of her garments,
turned, flashed him a final look that
left him with the thought that novel
lists did not always exaggerate, that
eyes could shine like stars.
Her door closed softly
Lanyard shook his head. as If to dis.
sipate q swarm of Fostering thoughts,
and went back into his own bedcham-
ber
He was quite content with the eX.
PLANTATION the girl had given, but as
the victim of a methodical and peril
nacious habit of mind, spent five busy
minutes examining his room and all
that it contained. with a perseverance
that would have done credit to a
Frenchman searching for a mislaid
sou.
If pressed, he would have been put
to it to name what he sought or
thought to find. What he did find was
that nothing had been tempered with,
and nothing more-not even so much
as a dainty, lace-trimmed wisp of sheer
linen bearing the lady's monogram
and exhaling a faint but individual
perfume.
| Which, when he came to consider it,
seemed hardly playing the game by
the book.
AS for Roddy, Lanyard wasted sew
eral minutes. now and again, listening
attentively at the communicating
door; but II the detective had stopped
snoring, his respiration was clear
enough in that quiet hour, sound OF
harsh monotony.
True, that proved nothing; but Lam
yard. after the fiasco of his first at
tempt to catch his enemy awake, was
M more dismissed to he hVpercritical: