Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-04-05

4 rance from the boulevard, OUT or the
corner of his eye aware that Ekstrom.
taken by surprise, had half started
| from his chair, then sunk back.
1 Two PAGES from the door the girl
checked herself, murmured in French.
"Oh, my handkerchief" and turned
briskly back.
without pause, as though he hadn't
i heard, Lanyard threw the door wide
and swung out, turning directly to the
spy. At the same time he dropped q
hand into the pocket of his raincoat,
where nestled his automatic.
Fortunately Ekstrom had chosen q
table in a corner well removed from
any in use. Lanyard could speak with
out fear Of being overheard.
But for moment he refrained. Nor
4 did Ekstrom speak or stir-sitting
sidewise at his table, negligently, with
knees crossed, the German likewise
kept hand buried in the pocket Of
4 his heavy, dark ulster. Thus neither
\ could doubt the others i'll will or pre-
1 paredness
And through thirty seconds Of
silence they remained at pause, each
striving with all his strength to read
the others purpose In his eyes. But
| there was this distinction to be drawn
between their attitudes, that whereas
Lanyard's gaze challenged. the Ger
mans was sullenly defiant. And pres
emily Lanyard felt his heart stir with
relief-the spy's glance had WINGED.
/ 'Ekstrom," the adventurer said
quietly, IF you fire, I'll get you before
/ I fall. That's no boast-a simple state
ment Of fact"
The German hesitated, moistened the
/ corners Of his lips with nervous
tongue, but contented himself with .
nod OF acknowledgment.
"Take your hand OF that gun!" Lam
ward ordered. "Remember-I've only
to cry your name aloud to have you
torn to pieces by these people. Your
,lifes not worth moments purchase
In Paris as you should know"
The German hesitated; but in his
heart conceded that Lanyard didn't ex-
aggerate. The murder Of the inventor
Huysman had exasperated all France;
and though tonight the weather had
kent q third Of Paris within doors,
there was still tide of pedestrians
fluent on the sidewalk, beyond the
ffimsy barrier of frs. that would thick
en- to ravening mob upon the least
4 excuse.
He had mistaken his man; he had
4 thought that Lanyard, even II aware OF
. his pursuit, would seek to shake it OF
in flight rather than turn and fight
and fight here. Of all places!
"Do you hear met" Lanyard con-
tinued in the same level and unyield-
ing tone. Bring both hands in sight
1 upon the tablet"
There was no hesitation. Ekstrom
obeyed, II with the sullen grace Of a
wild beast that would and could slay
its trainer with one sweep Of its paw
| II only 1t dared.
For the first time since leaving the
girl Lanyard relaxed his vigilant watch
4 over the man long enough for one swift
glance through the window at his
side. But she was already gone from
the cafe!
He breathed more freely now.
"Come!" he said peremptorily. "Get
up. We've got to talk, ! presume
thrash this matter out-and wen come
/ to no decision here"
Where do we 60, then?" the Ger
man demanded suspiciously.
I'VE can walk"
Irresolutely the spy increased his
knees, but didn't rise.
"Walk?" he repeated. Walk
where? 2"
"Up the boulevard, II you like
where the lights are brightest"
"Ah!"-with malignant flash OF
teeth-"but don't trust YOU"
Lanyard laughed. you wear only
one shoe Of that pair, my dear cap
tain! We're a distrustful flock, we
birds OF prey! Come along! Why sit
there sulking. like spoiled child?
| You've made an ass of yourself follow
ing me to Paris; sadly though you
bungled that Job in London, ] gave
you credit for more wit than to poke
| your head into the lions mouth here.
But admitting that-why not be
graceful about II? Here am ]. amiably
treating you like an equal-you might
| at least be grateful enough for that to
accept my invitation"
With grunt the spy got upon his
feet. while Lanyard stood back against
| the window and. grinning, made him
free OF the narrow path between the
treetubs and the tables.
"After you, my dear Adolph"
The German paused, half turned to-
ward him, choking with rage, his suf-
| fused face darkly relieving the white
scars he had won at Heidelberg. At
this, with a graceless nod of unmis-
taxable significance. Lanyard advanced
| the muzzle of his pocketed weapon.
And with an ugly growl the German
moved on and out through the break
In the artificial hedge-Lanyard at his
elbow, respectfully an inch or two be-
| hind.
| ITO your right" he requested pleas
antly-"if it's all the same to YOU
I've business on the boulevards."
Ekstrom said nothing for the mo-
ment, but sullenly yielded to the sug-
| gestion.
..By the way" the adventurer pres
| ontIv nursued. "yOu might be good