Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-03-22
silhouette with attention fixed on the

silhouette with attention fixed on the
little house. =
But Lanyard didn't doubt that this
one had dozen fellows skulking with
in call.
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 be 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 fred 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.
CAS- I 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; they were on
the qui vive and fired the instant
showed myself beneath the skylight."
"But I heard no report" she re-
torted.
"A Maxim silencer on the gun, I
fancy" he explained, unwrapping the
brick and smoothing out the newspa-
per- "Glad you thought to put on your
hat and coat before you came down"
he added with an approving glance;
''it wouldn't be safe to go up to the
studio again-of course"
His nonchalance was far less real
than it seemed, but helped to steady
one who was holding herself together
with struggle.
But what are we to do now?" she
stammered. III they've surrounded
the house."
Don't worry-there's more titan one
way out" he responded, frowning at
the newspaper; II 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 we're unin-
sured'-that's an intelligent guess!
Marrow escape of guests in their
whatyemaycallems. Three lives be-
lieved to have been lost-one body re-
covered, charred almost beyond recog-
nition'-Roddys, of course poor
devil! Two guests missing, NJ. Ian
yard, the wellknown connoisseur Of
art, who occupied the room adjoining
that of,the unfortunate detective, and
Mile. Bannon, daughter of the Ameri-
can millionaire, who himself escaped
only by miracle with his secretary,
M. Greggs, the latter being overcome
by fumes'-what shame! Police and
fremen searching the ruins-h-m
extraordinary interest manifest
ed by the prefecture Indicates suspi-