The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-03-04
CHAPTER TX.
War Declared.


War Declared.
With nod acknowledging the cour-
tesy, Lanyard consented to precede
him and entered a room of intimate
proportions, furnished chiefly with a
green-covered card table and five easy
chairs, of which three were occupied
two by men in evening dress, the
third by one in well-tailored lounge
suit of dark gray.
All three men wore vizors of black
velvet
Lanyard looked from one to the
other and chuckIed quietly.
De Morbihan cleared his throat an
grily and with an aggrieved air
launched into introductions.
'Messieurs, have the honor to pre-
sent to your our confrere, NJ. Lanyard,
best known as the Lone Wolf NJ
Lanyard-the council of our associa-
ton, known to you as the Pack"
The three rose and bowed ceremoni-
Ously. Lanyard returned a cool, good
natured nod. Then he laughed again
and more openly:
"A pack Of knavesi"
Monsieur doubtless feels at ease?"
one retOrted acidly.
In your company. Popinot? But
hardIyI" Lanyard returned in light
contempt
The fellow thus indicated, a burly
rogue of Frenchman in rusty and
baggy evening clothes. started and
flushed holly beneath his mask; but
the man next him dropped a restrain
ing hand upon his arm, and Popinot
turned, shrugged. and sank back into
his chair.
Upon my world" Lanyard declared
gracelessly-'i as good as a playI
Are you sure, NJ. lie Comte. there's no
mistake these gay masqueraders
haven't lost their way to the stage
of the Grand Guignol?"
Damn" muttered the count Take
care, my friendI You go too fart"
you really think so? But you
amaze me! You, in reason, can't ex-
pect me to take you seriously, gentle
men!"
IF you don't it will prove serious
business for you, my friend!" growled
the one he had named Popinot
You mean that? But you are mag
nifcent, all of you! We lack only
the solitary illumination of a candle
end-a grinning skull-a cup of blood
upon the tabIe-to make the farce com
plete! But as it is, messieurs, you
must be rarely uncomfortable, and
feeling as foolish as you look into
the bargain! Moreover, I'm not a
child. PopinOt. why not disburden
your amiabIe features? And you, Mr.
Wertheimer. I'm sure, will feel more
at ease with an open countenance-
as the saying runs" he said, nodding
to the man beside Popinot LAS for
this gentleman he concluded, ewing
the third. 81 haven't the pleasure of
his acquaintance"
With short laugh Wertheimer IN
masked, exposing a face of decidedly
English type, fair and well modelled.
betraying only the faintest traces OF
Semitic cast to account for his sur
name. And with this example Popinot
snatched off his own black vfzor and
glared at Lanyard-in his shabby dress
the incarnate essence of bourgeois
outraged. But the third, he Of the
gray lounge suit, remained motion
Tess, HIS Sg Is C1dSuSQ VIII Ile adv en-
turer's.
He seemed man little if at all Ian
yards senior. and built upon much the
same lines. A close-cIipped black mus
tache ornamented his upper lip. His
chin was square and strong with char
acter. The cut Of his clothing was
conspicuously neither English nor con-
tinentaI-
q don't know you, sir" Lanyard
continued slowly. puzzled to account
for a feeling of familiarity with this
person, whom he could have sworn
he had never met before But you
won't let your friends Guido you in
| civiIity, l trust?"
eff you mean you want me to un-
mask, I won't" the other returned
brusquely in fair French. if with a
decided transatlantic information.
American, eh?''
Native born, If it interests you"
Have 1 met you before?"
You have not"
MY dear count" Lanyard said. turn