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

q,.I ! M M'
All Three Men Wore visors Of Black
Velvet.
habit Of the man. Lanyard recognized
a nature no more pliable than his own.
Idle to give time to pickering with
this one.
1T doesn't matter" ne said shortly,
and, drawing back chair, sat down.
IF it did, l should insist-or else de.
cline the honor of receiving the ad.
dresses of this cosmopolitan commit
tee. Truly, you flatter me. Here we
have Mr. Wertheimer, representirE
the swell mobsmen across the chan
mel; NJ. lie Comte standing for the
gratin of Paris-and vice versa; Popi
not, spokesman for our friends, the
Apaches, and the well.known Mr..
Goodeuough Smith, ambassador Of the
gunner OF New apparently. a
most suspicious occasion! But pre-.
sumo I'm to understand you wait upon
me mainly as representing the fine
flower OF the European underworld? o.
You're to understand that /, for
one, don't like your impudence," the
stout Popinot snapped.
Sorry. But have already indicat.
ed my inability to take you seriously"
why not?" the American demand.
ed ominously. You'd be sore enough
if we took you as a joke, wouldn't
your"
You misapprehend, Mr.. - ah =
Smith; 1t is my first aim and wish that
you do not take me in any manner,
shape or form. 1t is you, remember,
who requested this interview, and
er-dressed your parts SO strikingly!"
What are we to understand by
that" De Morbihan interposed.
This, messieurs If you must
know" Lanyard dropped for the mo-
ment his tone of raillery and bent for.
ward, emphasizing his points by tap
ping the table with a forehnger
Through some oversight of mine, or
cls@erness Of yours-I can't say which,
,gjerhaps both-you have succeeded in
penetrating my secret. What then?
You become enyious Of my success.
In short. stand In your light IN
always getting away with something
you might have lifted II you'd oaly
had wit enough to think Of It 6rst.
AS your American confrere, Mr. Mys-
FERROUS Smith, would say, | 'cramp
your style.'"
"You learned that on Broadway"
the other commented shrewdly.
Possibly. To continue: So you get
together and bite your nails until you
concoct plan to brighten me into
sharing profits with you. I've no doubt
you're prepared to allow me to retain
one-half the proceeds of my operations
should elect to ally myself to your"
That's the suggestion we we're en-
powered to make" De Morbihan ad-
mitted.
In other words, you need me. You
say to yourselves: Wen pretend to
be the head of criminal syndicate,
such as the silly novelists are forever
writing about, and we'll threaten to
put him out Of business unless he
comes to our terms But you over
look one important fact that you are
not mentally equipped to get away
with this amusing representation!
What! Do you expect me to accept
you as leading spirits of gigantic
criminal system-you, Popinot, who
live by standing between the police
and your murderous rats Of Belle
Vile, or you, Wertheimer, sneak thief
and blackmailer of timid women, or
you, De Morbihan, because you exc
out your income by showing handful
Of secondstory men where to seek
plumber in the houses Of your friends?'
He made a gesture of impotence
and lounged back to await the answer
to this indictment His gaze, ranging
the four, encountered but one face
that was not darkly flushed with re-
sentiment. and this was the Ameri.
cans.
Aren't you forgetting me?" this
last suggested gently.
un,, tba ooptrarv I rnFuoa 70 roo
ognize you in this conference as long
as you lack courage to show your
face"
"As you will, my friend the Ameri-
can chuckled. Make your profit out
Of that any way you like
Lanyard sat up again. well, I've
stated your case 1t amounts to
simple, clumsy blackmail. I'm to split
my earnings with you or you1l de-
nounce me to the police That's about
1t, isn't it?"
Not of necessity" De Morbihan
purred softly, twisting his mustache
For my part" Popinot declared
holly, 81 engage that monsieur of the
high hand here will either work with
us or conduct no more operations in
Paris"
"or in New York" the American
amended.
England is yet to be heard FROM
Lanyard suggested moeklngly.
To this Wertheimer replied, almost
with diffidence: IF you ask me, don't
think you'd find it so jolly pleasant