The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1916-05-05

"Mr. Smith"
extinguished by the socket key rather
than by the wall switch while the heat
of the bulb indicated that the current
had been shut of only an instant be-
fore his entrance.
The light full up. be went back to
the thug, knelt, and. Hitting the body,
turned it upon its back.
Recognition Immediately rewarded
this maneuver: the masked face up
turned to the glare was that of the
American who had made a fourth in
the concert of the Pack-"Mr. Smith"
Quickly unlatching the mask, Lam
yard removed It; but the countenance
thus exposed told little more than he
knew; he could have sworn he had
never seen it before. None the less,
something in its satufnine cast per-
sistently troubled his memory with
the same provoking and battling effect
that had attended their first encoun-
ter.
Already the American was strug-
Cling toward consciousness. His lips
and eyelids twitched spasmodically,
he shuddered, and his fexed muscles
began to relax. In this process some
thing fell from between the fingers Of
his right hand-something small and
silver-bright that caught Lanyard's
eye.
Picking 1t up, he examined with In
terest a small hypodermic syringe,
loaded to the full capacity, plunger
drawn back-all ready for instant use.
1t was the needle Of this instrument
that had pricked the skin of Lanyard's
neck; beyond reasonable doubt it con-
tanned a soporiic, IL not exactly kill
ing dose of some narcotic drug-co-
caine, at venture.
So 1t appeared that ills agent of the
Pack had been commissioned to put
the Lone Wolf to slee3 for an hour or
two Or n>ze-perhfks not perma.
aentlyAffas - az OUT of the
way long enough fof heir purposes.
! Lanyard smiled grin}ly. lingering the
hypodermic and eying the PROSTATE
man.
I Turn about" he reflected, is said
to be fair play. Well, why not?"
With this he bent forward, dug the
needle into the wrist of the American,
| and shot the plunger home, all in a
single movement so swift and def
! that the drug was delivered before
the pain could startle the victim from
his coma.
As for that, he recovered quickly
enough; but only to have his clearing
senses met and dashed by the muzzle
of pistol stamping cold ring upon
his temple.
Lie perfectly quiet, my dear Mr.
Smith," Lanyard advised: don't SPEAK
above whisper! Give the dope 9
chance; it'll only want moment-oI
j I'm no Judge and you're a careless
highbinder I'd like to know, how
ever, II it's all the same to you"
But the drug was taking swift eff
feet: the look of panic which had
drawn the features OF the American
and fiickered from his eyes, with
dawning appreciation Of HIS plight
was cloudiRg, fading blending into
one of daze and stupor. The eyelidi
auttered and lay STILL the lips moved
as il with urgent desire to speak. but
were dumb; a long, convuIsive sigi
shook the Americans body. and h
rested with the immobility OF the dead
but for the slow and steady rise an'
fall of his bosom.
Thoughtfully Lanyard reyiewet
these phenomena.
Must kick like mule, that dope!
he reflected. Lucky it didn't get m
before | guessed what was up! |
I'd suspected its strength, however
I'd have been less hasty--I could d
with a little information from MI
Mysterious Stranger here!"
Suddenly conscious OF his dry an
burning throat, he rose, and going t
the washstand, drank deep and thirst
lily from a water-bottle, then set hin
self resolutely to repair the disarra
of his wits and consider what wa
best to be done.
In abstraction he wandered to
chair over whose back hung a ligh
dressing gown of wine-colored sill
which, because it would pack in sma
compass, he was in the habit of carry
ing with him on his travels. Lanyar
had left this thrown across the BEE
and he was wondering subconsciousl
what use the other man had though
to make Of 1t that he should hav
taken the trouble to remove it to th
chair.
But even as he laid hold Of It b
dropped the garment in sheer surpris
to find it damp and heavy in his grasl
sodden with viscid moisture. An
when. in a swift flash Of intuition, h
examined his fingers. he discoyere
thereon a faint discoloration--a rel
dish stain.
Had the dye run? And why had tn
. American come to dabble the thing
J water?
Then the shape Of an object on tn
: floor near his feet arrested Lanyard
: questioning vision. He stared, increl