Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-04-27
CHAPTER xxx-contlnusd.

TUT tne present, however, Lanyard
wasn't taking any. He met that chal
ienge with a look of blank noneompre
hension, folded his arms, loungeC
against the desk. and watched Nine
Omber acknowledge. none too cordial
ly, the ~sergent's query.
I am Nine. Omber-yes. What car
] do for your"
The sergent gaped.
"Pardoni" he stammered, ther
laughed as one who tardily appreci
ates a joke. 1T is well we are here in
time, madame" he added-"though il
would seem you have not had great
rouDle with this miscreant. Where is
the woman"
He moved a pace toward Lanyard
handouts jingled in his grasp.
A moment, if you pleased" madame
t~nterposed. Woman? What woman? Q
Pausing, the sergent explained in a
tone of surprise:
His accomplice, naturally! Such
were u instructions--to proceed at
once to madame's home, enter quietly
by way of the servants entrance
which would be open-and arrest a
burglar with his female accomplice."
Again the stout sergent moved to-
ward Lanyard; again Nine. Omber
stopped him.
One moment, if you pleased"
Her eyes, dense with mystification
and suspicion, questioned Lanyard's,
who, with a significant nod toward the
Jewel case still in her hands, gave her
a look of dumb e~ntreaty.
After brief hesitation, "It is a mis-
take" madame declared; there is no
woman in this house that l know of
who has no right to be here. But
you say you received a message? |
sent monet"
The fat sergent shrugged. "That is
not for me to dispute, madame. I have
only my information to go by"
He glared sullenly at Lanyard, who
returned a placid smile which, despite
what little hope was to be derived
from madame's irresolute manner
masked a vast amount of trepidation.
HE felt tolerably sure Nine. Omher
had not summoned the police on prior
knowledge of his presence in the Ii
brary. This meant, then, a new form
of attack on the part Of the Pack. He
must certainly have been followed
or else the girl had been caught at
f~nTnnfjncr IN stool auyory axI 4Iz s-Ra.
nation extracted from her by force
maieure. Moreover, he could hear two
more pairs of feet tramping through
the salons.
Pending the introduction of these
last, Nine. omber said nothing more.
And, unceremoniously enough, the
newcomers s%houldered their way into
the H~hrary--two men in citizens cloth
1ng-one pompous body of otherwise
undistinguished appearance, promptly
identified by the sergents de vile as
the commissaire of that quarter, the
other, q puffy m~ediocrity, known to
Lanyard at least (f no n else seemed
to recognize HIM as Popinot.
& At this confirmation of his darkest
fears the adventurer abandoned hope
of any aid from Nine. Omber and be-
gan to take transformations stock of his
chances Of escaping by his own eff
forts.
But he was altogether unarmed,
thanks to his precipitate action in
drawing the teeth of madame's re-
volver, and the odds were heavy-four
against one, all four no doubt under
arms, and two at least-the sergents
de ville-men Of sound military train
ing.
NINE. 0mber?" inquired the com.
missaire, saluting that lady with i'm
mense dignity. "One trusts that this
Intrusion may be pardoned, the circum-
stances remembered. In an affair Of
this nature, involving this repository
of so historic treasures"
THAT is quite we'll understood, mon.
isieur lie commissaire," madame replied
distantly. "And this monsieur is, no
doubt, your aid?"
"Pardon!" Monsieur lie commissaire
hastened to make his companion
known. IN. Popinot, agent de la
surete, who lays these informations."
With a profound obeisance to Nine.
Omber, Popinot strobe dramatically
over to face Lanyard and explore his
lineaments with his small, keen, shifty
eyes Of a pig-a scrutiny which the adj
venturer suffered with superficial i'm
perturbability.
1T is he!" Popinot announced with
"a gesture. "Messieurs, l call upon you
to arrest this man, M. Michael Ian
yard, self-styled the Lone Wolf"
He stepped back a pace, expanding
his chest In a vain effort to eclipse his
abdomen, and glanced round triumph
lantIy at his respectful auditors.
Accused" he added with intense
relish, of the murder of Inspector
Roddy of Scotland Yard at Troyon's,
and Of setting fire to that establish
ment-'
For this, Popinot," Lanyard inter
lrupted in an undertone, Il shall some
time cut off your earsl" He turned to
Nine. omber: Accept, If you please,
madame, my sincere regrets-but this
accusation happens to be one of which
] am altogether innocent"
Instantly, from his passive pose,
Lanyard Strengthened up, and the
heavy brass and mahogany humidor
whereon his right hand had been rest.
ing seemed fairly to leap from its
place on the desk as, with a sweep Of
Ibis arm, he sent 1t spinning point
blank at the younger sergent.
Before that one, wholly unprepared,
could more than gasp, it caught him d
blow like a kick Just below the breast