The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-02-26

at the ample, open and unguarded
pOrte-cochere of roomy court walled
with heetling, ancient tenements.
Assuring himself that Ine courtyard
was deserted. Lanyard addressed him
self to door on the right; to his
knock it swung promptly ajar with a
click of its latch. At the same time
the adventurer produced from beneath
his cloak a small black velvet vizor
and adjusted it to mask the upper
portion of his face. Then. entering a
narrow and odorous corridor. whose
obscurity was only emphasized by a
lonely. guttertng candle. ne turned the
knob Of the first door and walked into
small, ill-furnished room
a spare-bodied young man. who had
been sitting at e desk. reading by the
light of an oil lamp with heavy green
shade. rose and bowed courteously-
Good morning. monsieur" he said
with the cordially of one who greets
an acquaintance Of old standing BE
seated" he added, indicating an arm
chair beside the desk 1T is some
time since I have had the honor OF
call from monsieur"
That is So" Lanyard admitted. sit
ting down
The young man followed suit The
lamplight. striking across his face be-
meath the greenish penUmbTa OF the
shade. discovered a countenance OF
Hebraic- cast
Monsieur has something to show
me. eh?'
But naturally"
OF curtness-as who should say. What
did you expect?" He was puzzled by
something strange and new in the at
titude of this young man. trace Of re-
serve and constraint
They had been meeting In this nan
ner for several years. conducting
their secret and lawless business &C
cording to a formula invented by
Bourke and religiously observed by
Lanyard. A note or telegram Of innO-
cent superficial intent, addressed to,
certain member of a leading firm OF
jewelers. in Amsterdam, was the in
variable signal for meetings such as
this, which were always held in the
same place. at an indeterminate hour
after midnight, between this fntelli-
gent, cultivated and welImannered
young Jew and the thief in his mask
Why, then. this sudden awkward
ness and embarrassment on the part
Of the agent?
Lanyard's eyes narrowed with sus-
picion.
In silence he produced a jewel case
OF morocco leather and gave it to the
Jew, then settled back in his chair. his
attitude one of lounging, but his mind
as uneasy with distrust as his fingers
which. under cover Of his cloak, rested
close to the pocket containing his au-
tomato
Accepting the box with little bow.
the Jew pressed the catch and uncoV-
cred its contents. But the richness Of
the treasure thus disclosed did not
seem to surprise him; and, indeed, he
had more than once been introduced
with no more formality to plumber OF
greater value. Fitting a jewelers. mag
nifying-glass to his eye, he picked up
one after another of the pieces and ex-
amined them under the lamplight-
Presently he replaced the last and
shut down the cover of the box
He turned a thoughtful countenance
to Lanyard, made as if to speak. but
hesitated.
'wen?" the adventurer demanded
impatiently.
This, 1 take it." said the Jew alb
sently, tapping the box, SIS the iewelry
Of Nine. Omber."
q took it." Lanyard retorted good
humoredly-'not to put too fine a
point upon it!''
The Jew shrugged. and with the tips
Of his fingers gently pushed the box
toward his customer
This makes me very unhappy" he
admitted; but have no choice in the
matter, monsieur. AS the agent Of my
principals. 1 am instructed to refuse
you an offer for these valuables."
"Why?"
Again the shrug. accompanied by a
deprecatory grimace: THAT is diff
icult to say. No explanation was
made me. My instructions were mere
Iy to keep this appointment as usual.
but to advise you that it would be i'm
possible for my principals to continue
their relations with you as long as
your affairs remained in their present
status"
Their present status?" Lanyard re-
peated. What does that mean?'
81 cannot say, monsieur. I can only
repeat that which was said to me-"
After a moment Lanyard rose, took
the box and replaced it in his pocket
Very WELL" he said quietly Your
principals, of course, understand that
this action on their part definitely
ends our relations rather than merely
interrupts them at their whim?"
q am desolated, monsieur, but-one
must assume that they have consid-
cred everything You understand. it
is a matter in which 1 am wholly with
out discretion, trust?"
"Oh. quiteI" Lanyard assented care
lessIy. He held out his hand Good
by, my friend"
The Jew shook hands warmly.
Good night, monsieur-and the
best of Iuck!"
There was a significance in his last
words that Lanyard did not trouble to