Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-03-15

! you couldn't keep it up. You ran
away to escape further contamination
from that pack of jackals."
"Not-you feel sure-merely to keeI
you under observation"
II do feel sure of that. l have your
word for it,
The girl deliberately finished he1
tea and sat back regarding him stead.
lily beneath level brows Then she
said with an odd laugh: "You have
your own way of putting one on
honor!"
II don't need to-with you"
She analysed this with gathering
perplexity. "What do you mean by
that?"
II mean I don't need to put you on
your honor-because I'm sure Of you.
But even if l were not, still I'd refrain
from exacting any pledge, or attempt
ing to-" He paused and shrugged be-
fore continuing. IF thought you were
still to be distrusted, Miss Bannon, I'd
say: There's free door; go when
you like, back to the Pack, turn in
your report, and let them act as they
see fit Do you think care for them ?
Do you imagine for one instant that I
fear any one-or all-of that gang?"
''That rings suspiciously of ego
ism!"
Let it," he retorted. cts pride Of
caste, If you must know. I hold N.Y.
self grade better than such cattle;
I've intelligence, at least. I can take
care of myself"
If he might read her countenance, it
expressed more than anything else dis
tress and disappointment.
'Why do you boast like this-to
me?"
LESS through dissatisfaction than
through contempt for a pack Of muir
derous ongrels-impatience that I
have to consider such creatures as
Popinot, Wertheimer, De Morbihan,
and-all that crew."
"And Bannon," she corrected calm
ly-"you meant to say!"
"Well-" he stammered, discounte-
nanced.
1T doesn't matter" she assured him.
II quite understand, and strange as it
may sound, I've very little feeling in
the matter" And then she acknowl-
edged his stupefied stare with a weary
little smile. II know what know"
she affirmed with obscure significance.
"1'd give good deal to know how
much you know" he muttered in his
confusion.
But what do you know?" she caught
him up-"against Mr.. Ban2on-agaIpst
my father, that is-that makes you so
ready to suspect both him and me?"
Nothing" he confessed-'I know
nothing; but suspect everything and
everybody. And the more think of it,
the more closely examine that brutal
business of last night, the more I
seem to sense his will behind it all
as one might glimpse a face in dark
ness through lighted lattice. Oh,
laugh if you like! It sounds high
flown, know. But that's the effect I
get. What took you to my room, if
not his orders? How comes he to run
with De Morbihan, if he's not blood
kin to that breed? Why are you run
ming away from him, if not because
you've found out his part in that con-
spiracy?"
His pause and questioning look
evoked no answer; the girl sat move.
less and intent, meeting his gaze with
a countenance inscrutable. And some
thing in her impassive attitude
worked a little evaporation into his
temper.
"Why," he declared hotly-"if dare
trust to intuition-forgive me if I pain
you-"
She interrupted with impatience:
give already begged you not to con-
slider my feelings, Mr.. Lanyard! If you
dared trust to your intuition-then
what?"
"Why then I could believe that Mr..
your father-I could believe it
was his order that killed poor Roddy!"
There could be no doubling her hor-
rified and half-incredulous surprise.
"Roddy?" she iterated in whisper
almost inaudible, with face fast blanch-
Ing. "Roddy-"
inspector Roddy of Scotland Yard"
be told her mercilessly, was murdered
in his sleep last night at Troyon's. The
murderer broke into his room by way
Of mine-the two adjoin. He used my
razor, wore my dressing-gown to pro-
tect his clothing, did everything he
could think Of to cast suspicion on me,
and when I came in assaulted me,
to drug and leave me insen-
sible, to be found by the police. For
was beforehand with him.
left him in my place-drugged, in
sensible-when I stole away and met
you there in the corridor You didn't
now?"
"How can you ask" the girl
Bending forward, an elbow on the
able, she gripped her hands together
Until their knuckles shone white
through the skin-but not as white as
he white face from which her eyes
sought his with look of dumb horror,
LACED, pitiful, imploring.
you're not deceiving me? But no
Why should your" she faltered. But
low terrible, how unspeakably awful"
''I'm sorry" Lanyard mumbled. I'D
lave held my tongue if I hadn't
bought you knew"
ssVo,, thouoht knczu-on1 didn't 1ift