The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1916-04-28
cHAPrER TX.
Mar paclared.

WIN nQu acknowledging the cour-
tesy, Lanyard consented to precede
him and entered room of intimate
proportions, furnished chiefly with a
green covered card table and five easy
chairs. of which three were occupied
two by men in evening dress, the
third by one in well-tailored lounge
suit Of dark gray.
All three men wore vizors of black
velvet.
Lanyard looked from one to the
other and chuckled quietly.
De Morbihan cleared his throat an.
grily and with an aggrieved air
launched into introductions.
"Messieurs, have the honor to pre-.
sent to your our colfrere, M. Lanyard,
best known as the Lone Wolf. M.
Lanyard-the council of our associa-
ton, known to you as the Pack"
The three rose and bowed ceremoni-
Dusty. Lanyard returned a cool, good
natured nod. Then he laughed again
and more openly:
"A pack of knaves!"
Monsieur doubtless feels at ease?"
one retorted acidly.
q In your company, Popinot? But
'hardlyl" Lanyard returned in light
contempt.
The fellow thus indicated, burly
rogue OF | Frenchman in rusty AMI
baggy eyeping clothe and
flushed N beneath bis mask but
Ahe mn next Rfnsdkol ad d rain.
e hand upon h5sNarin. and PoDino;
turned shrugged, and SANK back into
his chair.
Upon my word!" Lanyard declared
gracelessly-"it's as good as a play!
Are you sure, M. lie Comte, there's 40
mistake-that these gay masqueraders
haven't lost their way to the stage
of the Grand Guignol?"
"Damn!" muttered the count. take
care, my friendl You go too far!"
you really think SO? But you
amaze mel You, In reason, can't ex.
pect me to take you seriously, gentle.
meni"
III you don't it will prove serious
business for you, my friend" growled
the one he had named Popinot.
you mean that? But you are mag
nifcent, all Of you! We lack only
the solitary illumination of a candle.
end--a grinning skull-a cup Of blood
upon the table-to make the farce com.
plete! But as It is, messieurs, you
must be rarely uncomfortable, and
feeling as foolish as you look into
the bargainl Moreover, I'm not q
child. Popinot why not disburden
your amiable features? And you, Mr..
Wertheimer, I'm sure, will feel more
at ease with an open countenance-
as the saying runs" he said, nodding
to the man beside Popinot AS for
this gentleman" he concluded, eying
the third, Il haven't the pleasure OF
his acquaintance"
With short laugh wertheimer un.
masked, exposing a face of decidedly
English type, fair and we'll modelled,
betraying only the faintest traces OF
Semitic cast to account for his sur.
name. And with this example Popinot
snatched OF his own black vizor and
glared at Lanyard-in his shabby dress
the incarnate essence of bourgeois
outraged. But the third, he of the
gray lounge suit, remained motion.
less; his eyes clashed with the adven.
turers.
He seemed man little If at all Ian.
Yards senior, and built upon much the
same lines, A close-clipped black mus.
tache ornamented his upper lip. His
chin was square and strong with char.
acter The cut OF his clothing was
conspicuously neither English nor con.
tinental.
i don't know you, sir" Lanyard
continued slowly. puzzled to account
for a feeling Of familiarity with this
person. whom he could have sworn
he had never met before. but you
won't let your friends Guido you in
civility, | trust?"
IF you mean you want me to un.
mask, won't" the other returned
brusquely in fair French. II with q
decided transatlantic information.
American, ehg"
Native born, IL II interests you"
Have I met you before?"
You have not"
MY dear count. Lanyard said, turn.
ing to De Morbihan, do me the favor
to Introduce this gentleman