The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-03-03


not, spokesman for our friends, the
Apaches, and the well.known Mt
Goodenough Smith, ambassador OF the
gunmen Of New York-apparently. A
most auspicious occasion! But ! pre-.
sumo I'm to understand you wait upon
me mainly as representing the fine
flower OF the European underworld? 2
You're to understand that l, for
one, don't like your impudence,' the
stout Popinot snapped.
Sorry. But / have already indicat-
ed my inability to take you seriously >
why not?" the American demand
ed ominously. You'd be sore enough
if we took you as joke, wouldn't
your"
You misapprehend. MIR. - ah -
Smith; It is my first aim and wish that
you do not take me in any manner.
shape or form. u is you, remember,
who requested this interview, and
er-dressed your parts so strikingly! "
what are we to understand by
that?" De Morbihan interposed.
This, messieurs If you must
know" Lanyard dropped for the MO
ment his tone OF raillery and bent for
ward, emphasizing his points by tap
ping the table with a toretnger
Through some oversight of mine, or
cleyerness Of yours can't say which,
perhaps both-you have succeeded in
penetrating my secret. What then?
You become envious Of my success
In short, / stand in your light m
always getting away with something
you might have lifted if you'd only
had wit enough to think Of it first.
As your American confrere, Mr.. Mys-
terious Smith, would say, 'cramp
your style"
You learned that on Broadway"
the other commented shrewdly.
Possibly. To continue: So you get
together and bite your nails until you
concoct a plan to frighten me into
sharing profits with you I've no doubt
you're prepared to allow me to retain
one-half the proceeds Of my operations
should elect to ally myself to you"
That's the suggestion we were en-
powered to make" De Morbihan ad-
mitted.
"In other words, you need me. You
say to yourselves: Wen pretend to
be the head of a criminal syndicate,
such as the silly uovelists are forever
writing about, and well threaten to
put him out of business unless he
comes to our terms But you over
look one important fact: that you are
not mentally equipped to get away
with this amusing impersonation!
What! Do you expect me to accept
you as leading spirits of gigantic
criminal system-you, Popinot, who
live by standing between the police
and your murderous rats Of Belle
vile, or you, Wertheimer, sneak thief
and blackmailer of timid women, or
you, De Morbihan, because you exc
out your income by showing handful
of second-story men where to seek
plunder in the houses Of your friends? ?"
He made a gesture of impatience
and lounged back to await the answer
to this indictment. His gaze, ranging
the four, encountered but one face
that was not darkly flushed with re-
sentiment, and this was the Ameri-
cans.
Aren't you forgetting me?" this
last suggested gently.
"On the contrary. refuse to rec
ognize you in this conference as long
as you lack courage to show your
face"
LAS you will, my friend" the Ameri-
can chuckled. Make your profit out
of that any way you like"
Lanyard sat up again. We'll, I've
stated your case. It amounts to
simple, clumsy blackmail I'm to split
my earnings with you or you'll de-
nounce me to the police. That's about
it, isn't it?"
mot of necessity" De Morbihan
purred softly, twisting his mustache.
For my part" Popinot declared
uOLly, GuSdSG LuelL hlOloACul "a IhO
high hand here will either work with
us or conduct no more operations in
Paris"
"Or in New York" the American
amended.
England is yet to be heard from,
Lanyard suggested mockingly.
To this Wertheimer replied, almost
with diffidence: IF you ask me, don't
think you'd find it so jolly pleasant
over there if you mean to cut up nasty
at this end"
Then what am to infer? If
you're afraid to lay an information
against me-and it wouldn't be wise.
| admit-youn merely cause me to be
eh?"
mot of necessity" the count MUIR
INJURED in the same thoughtful tone
and manner, as one with a trump in
reserve.
There are so many ways of arrang-
ing these matters" Wertheimer ven
tured.
None the less, If refuse, you de-
clare war;"
Something like that" the Ameri-
can admitted.
I'm that case-I am now able to
state my position definitely" Lanyard |
got up and grinned provokingly down
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