Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-05-04

the motor, to which he was paying IT.
tention with monkey-wrench and oil
can. that you were quite mistaken
when you ridlculed the idea Of the In
ternatlonal Underworld, Unlimited
OF course, If you hadn't laughed. I
shouldn't feel quite as much respect
for you as / do; in fact, the chances
are you'd be In handcuffs-or a cell in
the Sante-this very minute. But, alb
surd as it sounded-and was-the I'm
derworld' project was a pet hobby of
Bannon's-who'd been the brains Of a
gang Of criminals in New York for
many years. He was a bit touched on
the subject. A monomaniac, if you
ask me. And his enthusiasm won De
Morbihan and Popinot overland me!
He took a wonderful fancy to me,
Bannon did; / really was appointed
first lieutenant in Greggs' stead.
Nothing he wouldn't tell me. l even
got him to tell me about you-why he
was so uncommon vindictive. Do you
wish to know"
IF you please"
at seems Bannon was the chap who
kidnapped and abandoned you at Troy
on's. Your mother had been his wife,
but left him for cause-divorced him
and married again in England. You
were the child of her second marriage.
Bannon managed to ruin your father
drove him into bankruptcy and to sui
cide-and the shock of that, coupled
with your disappearance, killed your
mother. But even that wasn't enough
for Bannon; and when he found you'd
grown up to be the Lone Wolf, he
signed your death warrant then and
there. Only you declined to be exc
cuted. Your family name"
Forgive me-" Lanyard interposed
hastily; "but / don't are to know my
family name. If I have nj parents hv-
ing, I've no kin who would welcome
my return. And if l had prefer to
prove myself before / hunt them up.
Some day, perhaps, / may apply to you
for more information. But for he
present, I'm content-and grateful"
81 think" said Wertheimer, restor-
ing the oil can to its place in the tool
kit, you're very wise. In fact, my per-
sonal feeling for you is one Of grow
ing esteem, If you'll permit me to say
SO. You've most Of the markings OF a
man. Will you shake hands-with a
copper's nark?"
He gave Lanyard's hand a firm and
friendly grasp and turned to the girl.
"Good-by, Miss Shannon. I'm truly
grateful for the assistance you gave us.
Without you we'd have been sadly
handicapped. And now it's good-by
and good luck. ! hope you may be
happy. I'm sure you can't go far with
out coming across a highroad or a vii
lage; but-for reasons not unconnected
with my professional pursuits pre-
fer to remain in ignorance of the way
you 60"
Releasing her hand, he stepped back,
saluted the lovers with a smile and
gay gesture, and clambered briskly to
the pilots seat of the biplane.
When firmly established, he turned
the switch of the starting mechanism
The heavy, distinctive hum of the
great motor filled that isolated hollow
in the Downs with a sound like the
purring of a dynamo.
With a final wave of his hand, Vert
heimer grasped the starting lever.
It's brool deepening. the PARROT
stirred, shot forward abruptly. In two
seconds it was fifty yards distant, It'll
silhouette already blurred, its wheels
lifting from the rim of the hollow.
Then lightly 1t rose and scared
parted the mists, vanished.
For some time Lanyard and Luc.
Shannon remained motionless, cling
ing together, hand in hand, their face!
u~pturned, as if expecting its reappear
ance, listening to the drone that pres
emily dwindled to a mere thread o
sound and died out altogether in thu
obscurity above them.
Then, turning, they faced eacl
other, smiling uncertainty, a smile tina
said: $50 all that is finished! Or, pei
haps, we have dreamed It'll"
Suddenly, with a low cry, the CIR
gave herself to Lanyard's arms; an
as this happened the mists parted an
bright sunlight flooded the hollow Il
the Downs.
After a little, taking her lips away
the girl rested her head on his shou
. der and sighed a little sigh, a sol
sigh Of content.
eff we hurry" she said then. ut
|, possible that we may win to Londo
: yet, before it's too Late"
100 late"
ITO get a special license-or wha'
: ever It is one must get before one ma
: marry in haste in England. Don't 20
: know"
!. He shook his head, laughed, an
, caught her more closely to him.
mo" he confessed; Il don't know
I haven't had much experience. BIZ
we can ask a policeman. Who
3 afraid?"
4 THE END.