The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1916-03-14

Springing up the stairs, he paused
prudently at the topmost step, one
quick glance showing him the huge
rent gaping black in the middle of the
skylight, the second the missile Of de-
struction lying amid litter of broken
glass-a brick wrapped in newspaper
by the look of it.
Swooping forward, he retrieved this
and darted back from the exposed
space beneath the shattered skylight
barely in the nick of time, for he had
no more than cleared the threshold
than a second something fell through
the gap and buried itself in the hard
wood parquetry. This last was bull
let fired from the roof of one of the
adjoining buildings, confirming his
prior reasoning that the first missile
must have fallen from height rather
than have been thrown up from the
street to wreak such destruction with
those tough, thick panes of clouded
glass.
Swearing softly to himself, he de-
scended to the kitchen.
LAS | thought" he said coolly, ex-
hibiting his find. They're on the roof
of the next house-though they've sta
toned a sentry in the street, of
course"
But that second thump-" the girl
demanded.
"a bullet" he answered, placing the
bundle on the table and cutting the
string that bound it.
But what are we to do now?" she
stammered. IF they've surrounded
the house"
Don't worry-there's more than one
way out" he responded, frowning at
the newspaper; ~ wouldn't have
picked this place out otherwise. Nor
would Scion have rented it in the first
instance had it lacked an exit in event
of creditors. Although SOL"
What
''Troyon's is gone" he said, without
looking up. This is tonight's Presse.
Totally destroyed by fire which start
ed at six thirty this morning and in
less than half an hour had reduced the
| ancient structure to heap of smoking
ashes'!" He ran his eye quickly down
the column, selecting salient phrases:
Believed to have been of incendiary
origin, though the premises were unin-
sured-that's an intelligent guess!
| Narrow escape of guests in their
whatyemaycallems. Three lives be
lieved to have been lost-one body re.
covered, charred almost beyond recog
nitiOn'-Roddy's, of course-pooI
devil! Two guests missing, M. Ian.
yard the wellknown connoisseur OF
art, who occupied the room adjoining
that of the unfortunate detective, and
Mile. Damon, daughter Of the Ameri
can millionaire who himself escaped
only by miracle with his secretary,
M. Greggs, the latter being overcome
by fumes'-what a shameI Police and
fremen searching the ruins'-h-m
extraordinary interest manifest
ed by the prefecture indicates a suspi-
cion that the building may have been
| fired to conceal some crime of a po-
litical nature"
Crushing the newspaper between his
| hands Lanyard tossed it into a corner.
What was written on the paper?'
the girl demanded obliquely.
| He made his eyes blank. Written
| on the paper"
Il saw something in red ink at the
| head of the column. You tried to hide
it from me, but saw. What was it?'''
"Oh-that!" He laughed contemptu-
ously. "Just Popinot's impudence-an
invitation to come out and be a good
target
He shrugged himself into his Dor
| rowed raincoat buttoned it to his chin,
| and turned down the brim of his soft
felt hat; but when he looked up at the
girl again he found she hadn't moved ::
rather, she remained as one spe1lbound
by thought, staring less at than
through him, her expression inscruta.
BILE.
Well" he ventured-"if you're quite
ready, Miss Shannon"
Mr.. Lanyard" she demanded al
most sharply, what was the full word
| ing of that message?'
IF you must know"
81 must!'
He lifted a depreciative shoulder
IF you like, I'll read it to you-or
rather translate it from the thieves
argot Popinot complimented me by
| using"
Not necessary" she said tersely
''Tll take your word for it. But you
| must tell me the truth"
LAS you will Popinot delicately
suggested that if | leave you here, to
be reunited to your alleged parent
if I'll trust to his word of honor, that
is, and walk out of the house alone,
! he'll give me twenty-four hours in
which to leave Paris"
Then only | stand between you
and
My dear young woman." he pro-
! tested hastily. please don't run away
with any absurd notion like that. Do
you imagine I'd consent to treat with
such canaille under any circum-
stances?
"All the same she contended stub
bornly, I'm the stumbling block.
You're risking your life for me-
Well" he laughed, have it your
own way. But it's my life, isn't it?
l really don't see how you're going to