Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-03-02

: What am 1 TO understand? That you
wish me to accompany you to the
alden Of the Pack?"
Where else?" De Norbihan grinned.
But where is it,"
Il am not permitted to say
Still one has ones eyes. Why not
satisfy me here?"
Your eyes, by your leave, monsieur,
will be blindfolded'
Impossible
| 'Pardon-ft is an essential"
Come, come, my friend-we are not
in the middle agesi"
I have no discretion, monsieur. My
| confreres-"
7 insist, there must be trust on both
| sides, or no negotiations"
But | assure you, my dear friend"
My dear count, it is useless. am
| determined. Blindfold? | should say
| not! This is not-need 1 remind you
| again the Paris of Balzac and that
wonderful Dumas Of yours!"
What do you propose, them" De
Morbihan inquired. worrying his mus
| tache.
What better place for the proposed
| conference than here?'
| But not here, monsieuri"
''Why not? Everybody comes here
it will cause no gossip. l am here
have come half way; your friends
| must do as much on their part"
1T is not possible
'Then tender them my regrets
would you give us away?"
Never that--one makes gifts ts
ones friends only But my Interest IN
yours is depreciating so rapidly that,
should you delay much longer, it will
be on sale for the sum of two sous"
"Oh-damni" the count complained
peevishly.
with all the pleasure in life. But
now" Lanyard went on, rising to end
the interview, you must forgive me
for reminding you that the morning
| wanes apace. [ shall be going home
| in another hour
De Morbihan shrugged. "Out of my
great affection for you," he purred
| venomously, Il will do my possible
But [ can promise nothing"
Il have every confidence in your
| powers of moral suasion, monsieur"
Lanyard assured him cheerfully. EAU
revoiri"
And with this, not at all i'll pleased
with himself, he strutted off to an ad-
joining table, where high-strung ses-
sion of chemin de fer was in process,
| possessed himself of a vacant chair,
and in two minutes was so engrossed
in the game that the Pack was quite
forgotten.
In fifteen minutes he had won thrice
as many thousands of francs
Twenty minutes or half an hour
later a hand on his shoulder broke the
grasp Of his besetting passion.
Our table is made up, my friend"
De Morbihan announced with his mex
tinguishable grin. Were waiting for
you"
quite at your service"
Settling his score, and finding him
self considerably better off than he
had imagined, he resigned his place
gracefully and suffered the count to
link arms and drag him away up the
main staircase to the second story,
where smaller rooms were set apart
for parties who preferred to gamble
privately.
$50 it appears you succeeded" he
chaffed his conductor good-humoredly.
Il have brought you the mountain"
De Morbihan assented
Zone is grateful for small miracles"
But De Morbihan wouldn't laugh at
his own expense; for moment, in
deed. he seemed inclined to take UNI
bragg at Lanyard's levity. But the sud
den squaring of his broad shoulders
and the hardening Of his features was
quickly modified by an uneasy, side
long glance at his companion. And
then they were at the door of the
cabinet particular.
De Morbihan raped, turned the
knob, and stood aside, bowling politely.
CHAPTER TX.