The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1916-05-05

tuC toot HA1cs anu AVCAtcAcN @ANS
on's.
Here reigned a silence even more
marked than that Of the street, ST.
lence as heavy and profound as the
graves. so that sheer instinct prompt
ed Lanyard to tread lightly as he
made his way down the passage and
across the courtyard toward the stair
way; and in that hush the creak OF a
greaseless hinge, when the concierge
opened the door of his quarters to
assure himself OF the identity Of this
belated guest, seemed little less than
downright profanity.
Lanyard paused and delved into his
pockets, nodding genially to the
blowzy, sleepy old face beneath the
guardians nightcap.
Sorry to disturb you. monsieur" he
said politely. further impoverishing
himself in the sum Of five francs in
witness to the sincerity of his regrets.
Il thank monsieur; but what need
to consider me? It's my duty. And
what is one interruption more or less?
All night they come and go"
Good night, monsieur" Lanyard
cut short the old mans garrulity, and
went on up the stairs, now little
YEARLY, of a sudden newly conscious
of his enervating fatigue.
He thought longingly of bed, yawned
Involuntary, and, reaching his door.
fumbled the key in a most unprofes-
sional way; there were weights upon
his eyelids, a heaviness in his brain.
! But the key met with no resistance
from the wards, and in a trice, appre-
ciating this fact, Lanyard was wide
awake again.
No question but that he had locked
the room securely on leaving after his
adventure with the charming somnam-
bulist
Had she, then, contracted the habit ?
Or was this only proof of what he
had anticipated in the beginning-a
bit Of sleuthing on the part of Roddy?
He entertained little doubt as to
the correctness of this latter surmise
as he threw the door open and
stepped into the room, his first action
| being to grasp the electric switch. But
no light answered.
/ "Hello!" he exclaimed softly, re-
Numbering that the light could read
+ lily have been turned off at the bulbs.
whats the good of that?"
In the same breath he started VIC
lently and swung about.
The door had closed behind him
i swiftly but gently, eclipsing the faint
light from the hall, leaving stark dark
ness.
His first impression was that the in
truder- Roddy, or whoever it might
be-had darted past him and out, pull
ing the door to in the act.
Before he could consciously revise
this misconception he was fighting fol
his life.
SO unexpected, so swift and sudden
fell the assault that he was caught
completely off guard between tbs
shutting Of the door aud an onslaught
whose violence sent him Keeling to the
wall, the fight Of time could have
been measured by the pickering of an
eyelash.
Two powerful arms we're round his
body, pinioning his hands to his sides
his feet were tripped from under him
and he was thrown with a force that
fairly Jared his teeth.
For a breath he lay dazed, strug
Cling feebly; not long, but long enough
to enable his antagonist to shift hi;
hold and climb on top Of his body
where he squatted. bearing dowr
heavily with knee on either of Ian
yards forearms. two hands encirclini
his neck, murderous thumbs digging
into his windpipe.
He revived momentarily, pulled him
self together, and heaved nightly IL
futile effort to unseat the other.
The sole result of this was tighten
ing pressure on his throat.
The pain grew agonizing; Lanyard'i
breath was almost completely shu
off; he gasped vainly; his eyeballl
started; myriad lights danced blind
ingly before them; in his ears ther,
rang roaring like the beat Of heav!
surf upon rockbound coast.
| Then of a sudden he ceased /,
struggle and lay slack and passive II
the others hands.
Only an instant longer was tn,
clutch on his throat maintained. Boil
hands left 1t quickly, one shifting t
his head to turn and press 1t roughly
cheek to the floor. simultaneously h,
was aware Of the other hand fumbun,
about his neck, and then of a toucl
of metal and the sting Of needl,
driven into the flesh beneath his ear
That galvanized him; he came Il
life again in twinkling, animate will
threefold strength and cunning Tn,
man on his chest was thrown off al
by a young earthquake, and Lanyard
right arm was no sooner free than
shot out with blind but deadly acct
racy to the point Of his assailant'
jaw. A click of teeth was followed b
a sickish grunt as the man lurche
over.
And then Lanyard was scramblin
to his feet, a bit giddy, perhaps, bu
still sufficiently master of his wits t
whip his pistol out before making on
further move.
CHAPTER XII.
Turn About.
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