The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1916-06-02
CHATTER XIX.
|EnRouts

biy rewarded his effrontery, Lanyard
mind was. far from easy during tina
hour which he devoted to lodging
ducking. and doubling across Paris an,
back again before attempting to rejoil
Lucy Shannon He hoped to confus'
and confound any jackais OF the Pacl
that might have picked up his trail al
adventitiously as Ekstrom had.
His delight. indeed. in discountenanc
ing his dupe and enemy was quit,
chilled by an apprehension that Il
were madness. simply because the SPY
had proved Unexpectedly tractable, t.
consider the Ekstrom affair closed. Ii
the very fact Of that docillty inferred
something strange and ominous, con
temptation OF which distilled potent
premonition Of evil hardly mitigated
by Lanyard's relief on finding the CIR
awaiting him, as per program. safe and
sound under the wing OF madame Ia
concierge, in the little court of private
stables wherein he rented space fol-
his car. of the Rue des Acacias.
Monsieur lie concierge. it appeared,
was from home. and madame, thick.
witted, warm-hearted, simple body that
she was. discovered a phase OF beam.
ing incuriosity most grateful to the ad.
venturer, enabling him as it did to dis.
pense with more embarrassing men.
dacity in support OF his original lie as
to their relations and to whisk the girl
away as soon as he liked.
This last was justRs speedily as per
sonal examination had reassured him
with respect to his automobile-super-
ficially an ordinary motor-cab Of the
better grade, but with an exceptionally
powerful engine hidden beneath its
hood. A car of such character pass.
ing readily as the town car OF any fam.
lily In modest circumstances, or else as
what Paris calls voiture de remise
"a hackney car without taximeter-
was a tremendous convenience, en-.
abling its proprietor to scurry at will
about cab-ridden Paris without excit-
ing comment: but 1t couldn't be left
standing in public places at odd hours.
or for long, without attracting the in
terest of the police, and so was useless
to Lanyard at present. But he
entertained a shrewd suspicion that
his plans might all miscarry and
the command OF a fast-traveling
car ere long become a necessity
to his salvation, so he cheer
fully devoted fair half-hour to
putting the motor N urine trim for
the road. ~
With this accomplished-and the
fact established through discreet, OBJ
lique interrogation OF madame la con.
cierge that conditions In that quarter
were normal; that no inquiries had
been made after the Whereabouts of
Pierre Lamier and no strange or other.
wise questionable characters had been
seen lettering in the neighborhood of
late-he was ready for his first true
step toward rehabilitation.
Thus it was past one in the morning
when, with the girl on his arm, he Is.
sued forth into the dark and drowsy
Rue des Acacias moving swiftly.
crossed the Avenue de Ia Grande Ar
NEE. and thereafter avoiding main
travelled highways, struck southwark
through tangled side streets to the
aristoeratic quarter OF Passy.
Here, skirting the boulevards Of the
Notifications, they approached the pri-
yate park Of La Muette.
The home of that wealthy and ami.
able eccentric, Nine. Helene Omber,
was souvenir OF those days when
Passy had been suburban. A survival
OF the revolution, vast, dour pile that
had known few changes since the days
OF its construction, It occupied large,
unkempt park, irregularly triangular
In shape, bounded by two streets and
an avenue, and rendered private by
high walls crowned with broken glass.
Carriage-gates opened on the avenue,
guarded by a porter's lodge, while of
the three posterns that pierced the
walls on the side streets one only was
IN general use by the servants of the
establishment; the other two we're
presumed to be permanently sealed.
Lanyard. however, knew better.
When they had turned on from the
lvenue he slackened pace and moved
It caution, examining the prospect |
On the one hand he had the wall Of |
he private park, topped by naked, /
longhing limbs of neglected trees. On
he other, across the way, block Of |
all old buildings, withdrawn behind |
ealous garden walls. showing -at that |
lour at least-stupid, sleepy faces and |
ightless eyes to passers-by.
Within the perspective Of the street |
tut three shapes stirred Lanyard and |
he girl in the shadow Of the wall, and
! disconsolate. misprlzed cat that
promptly on their appearance vanished |
ike terror-stricken ghost.
Overhead the sky was breaking, |
moving ebon patches and infrequent
tars through wind-harried wrack OF /
loud. The night mad grown sensibIy /
Older and noisy With the rushing
weep Of new-sprung Wind
Several Yards from tie postern-gate
,anyard paused definitely and spoke
or the FIRST time in many minutes. for
he knowledge Of their efrands gray
ty had oppressed the spirits Of both
md enjoined an unnatural silence ever
ince their departure from the Rue des
Aeacias.
This Is where we stop" ne said,
With b jerk Of bis head toward the
vail; but it's not too late--"
@For what?" the girl asked quickly.
i promised you no danger: bat now
hat I've thought Il over / can't be GER