The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-03-25
CHAPTER XVI.
Decision.

DOOI
Don't pity mel" she insisted, still
with face averted. 81 don't deserve it.
If I had the spirit of mouse I'd have
defied him; it needed only courage
enough to whisper one word to the
police"
But who is he, then?" Lanyard de-
manded. What is he. mean?"
Il hardly know how to tell you And
I hardly dare. 1 feel as if these walls
would betray me if 1 whispered even
But to me he's the incarnation of all
things evil
She shook herself with a nervous
laugh.
But why be silly about it? 1 don't
really know what or who he is. / only
suspect and believe that he is a man
whose life is devoted to planning evil
and ordering it's execution through his
lieutenants. When the papers at home
speak of The Man Higher Up they
mean Archer Bannon, though they
don't know it-oF else I'm merely a
hysterical woman exaggerating the i'm
pressions of a morbid imagination.
And that's all know of him that mat
ters."
But why, if you believe this-how
did you at length find courage"
Because 1 had no more courage to
endure; because was more afraid to
stay with him than to go-afraid lest
my own soul be the forfeit. And then,
last night, he ordered me to go to your
room and search it for evidence that
you were the Lone Wolf. 1t was the
first time he'd ever asked anything of
the sort Of me. / was afraid, and
obeyed; but was glad when you inter
rupted me-glad. even though 1 had to
lie to you the way 1 did. And all that
worked on me. after I'd gone back to
my room, until I felt 1 could stand it
no longer. and after long time. when
the house seemed all still, 1 got up,
dressed quietly, and That is how
came to meet you-quite by accident"
But you seemed so frightened at
first when you saw me"
Il was" she confessed simply; 81
thought you were Mr.. Greggs."
"Greggs?"
Mr.. Baunon's private secretary
his right-hand man. He's about your
height and has a suit like the one you
wear. and in that poor light and at the
distance 1 didn't notice you were clean
shaYen-Greggs wears a mustache-''
Then it was Greggs murdered
Roddy and tried to drug me! 1 shaved
of his mustache when left him there
to wait for the police. By George. I'd
like to know whether they got there
before Bannon or somebody else dis
covered the substitution. 1t was
telegram to the prefecture, you know,
I sent from the Bourse last night"
In his excitement Lanyard began to
pace the floor and now that he was
no longer staring at her. the girl lifted
her head and watched him closely as
he moved to and fro. talking aloud
more to himself than to her.
81 wish 1 knew And what a lucky
thing you did meet me; for if you'd
ed there-weIl, it isn't likely Bannon
didn't discover your flight before eight
o'clock this morning, is it,"
Mr.. Eanyard"-the girl bent toward
him across the table with a gesture of
eager interest-"have you any idea
why he-why Mr.. Bannon hates you
soy"
"As far as know, never heard of
him before" Lanyard said carelessly.
81 fancy it was nothing more than the
excitement of a man-hunt. Now that
they've found me out, De Morbihan
and his crew won't rest until they've
got my scalp"
But why is that?"
- III
crooks, all in the same boat, only
won't row to their stroke. I've always
played a lone hand successfully; now
they insist on coming into the game
and sharing my winnings. And I've
told them where they could CO."
And because of that. they'd"
There's nothing they wouldn't do,
Miss Shannon. to bring me to my
knees or see me put well out of the
way, where my operations can't hurt
their pocketbooks. Wel1-all ask is
a fighting chance. and they shall have
their way!"
derstand. You want fighting chance
to surrender-to give in to their de-
mands?"
IN Way-yeS- want nSnClng
chance to do what I'd never in the
world get them to believe mean to
do-chuck it all up and leave them a
free field"
And then, when still she searched
his face with puzzled eyes. he insist
ed: Il mean it; want to get away
clear out-chuck the game for good
and ALL"
A little silence greeted this an
nouncement. Lanyard, at pause near
the table, resting a hand on it, bent
to the girls upturned face a grave but
candid regard. And the deeps OF her
eyes that never sWerved from his were
troubled strangely In his vision.
He could by no means account for
the light he seemed to see therein-a
light that kindled while he watched,
like a tiny fame, feeble, fearful, YaciI-
liant; then. as the moments passed.
-~-~-~-~-~~-o-~-~->----0-
Thrill of
There is something rudimentary and