Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1916-04-22

II
but Std able to make out the discom-
posing silhouette of a man seated Just
beyond the radius of glare-a quiet
presence that moved not, but eyed him
steadfastly; an apparition the more
arresting because of its very irnmo-
| bility.
Rapidly the face of the minister of
war lost several shades of purple He
moistened his lips nervousIy with a
thick, dry tongue, and conyulsively he
clutched the bedclothing high and
tight about his neck, as though labor
| ing under the erroneous impression
that the sanctity Of his person was
| threatened
What do you want, monsieur" he
suffered in still, small voice which
he would have been the last to ac-
knowledge his own
81 desire to discuss a matter of busf-
ness with monsieur" replied the in
truder after a small pause. "If you
will be good enough to calm yourself
Il am perfectly calm"
But here the minister of war verified
with one swift glance an earlier i'm
preston, to the effect that the tres
passer was holding something that
shone with a metallic Iuster, and his
soul began to curl up round the edges.
There are eighteen hundred francs
in my pocketbook-about," he man.
aged to articulate. MY watch is on
the stand here. You will find the fam
lily plate in the dining room safe, be-
hind the buffet-the key is on my ring
and the jewels of madame, my wife,
in small strong box beneath the head
of her bed. The combination"
Pardon; monsieur Iabors under a
misrepresentation" the housebreaker
interposed dryly. 81 have no wish
to harm you. Nor have I any wish
other than to lay before you, as
senting government, certain matter
of state business
There was silence while the minis
ter of war permitted this exhortation
to sink in Then. apparently treasured,
he sat up In bed and eyed his untimely
visitor with glare little short of true
ulent
''Eh? What's that?" he demanded.
Business? What sort of business? If
you wish to lay under my considera-
ton any matter of business, how is it
you break into my home at dead of
night and rouse me in this brutal fash
ion-er-" here his-voice faltered-'
with lethal weapon pointed at my
head?"
Monsieur will admit he speaks I'M
der an error returned the burglar.
L have yet to point this pistol at him.
/ should be very sorry to feel obliged
to do SO. I display it, in fact, simply
that monsieur may not forget himself
and attempt to summon servants in
his resentment of this-I admit-un-
usual method of introducing oneself to
his attention. When we understand
each other there will be no need for
such precautions, and then 1 shall put
my pistol away, SO that the sight of it
may no longer annoy monsieur"
1T is true, do not understand YOU"
grumbled the minister of war why
If your errand De peaceable-break in
to my house?"
Because it was urgently necessary
to see monsieur instantly. Monsieur
Will reflect upon the reception one
would receive did one ring the front
door bell and demand an audience at
three o'clock in the morning..
well" NJ. Ducroy conceded dubi-
ously- Then, on reflection, he iterated
the monosyllable testify: well. What
is 1t you want, them"
Il can best explain by asking mon
sieur to examine-what have to show
him"
With this Lanyard dropped the pis-
toll into his coat pocket. from another
produced a gold cigarette case, and |
from the store of this last selected a |
single cigarette with meticulous care.
Regarding the minister of war in a |
mystifying manner, he began to roll |
the cigarette briskly between his |
palms. A small shower of tobacco |
sifted on the hoor; the rice paper |
cracked and came away; and with a |
bland smile and gesture of a profess
sfonal conjuror, Lanyard exhibited a /
small cylinder of stir paper between
his thumb and index finger.
Goggling resentfully, M Ducroy
spluttered:
Eh-what impudence is this?''
His smile unchanged, Lanyard bent
forward and silently dropped the cylin-
der into the Frenchman's hand. At the
same time he offered him q pocket /
glass.
What is this?' Ducroy persisted
stupidity. 'What-what@"
If monsieur win be good enough
to unron the papers and examine them
with the aid of this glass"
With wondering grunt NJ. Ducroy I
complied, smoothing out several small