River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1916-02-03
ing Ed De morhfhan. go rae the favor

y
a name to call me by, Smiths good
enough"
The incisive force Of his enunciation
carried out consistently the general
habit Of the man. Lanyard recognized
a nature no more pliable than his own.
Idle to give time to pickering with
this one.
1t doesn't matter" he said shortly,
and, drawing back chair, sat down.
IF it did, should insist-or else de-
cline the honor of receiving the adj
dresses of this cosmopolitan commit
tee. Truly, you flatter me. Here we
have Mr.. Wertheimer, representing
the swell mobsmen across the chan
mel; III. lie Comte standing for the
gratin OF Paris-and vice versa; Popi
not, spokesman for our friends, the
Apaches, and the well-known Mr..
Goodenough Smith, ambassador Of the.
gunner of New York-apparently. A
most suspicious occasion! But l pre-
sumo I'm to understand you wait upon
me mainly as representing the fine
flower of the European UNDERWORLD"
You're to understand that /, for
one, don't like your impudence," the
stout Popinot snapped.
Sorry. But l 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 a joke. wouldn't
you?"
"You misapprehend, Mr.. ali =
Smith; 1t is my first aim and wish that
you do not take me in any manner.
shape or form. 1t 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 forefnger.
Through some oversight Of mine, or
cleverness 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 1ight-fm
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 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 adj
mitted.
"In other words, you need me. You
say to yourselves: Well pretend to
be the head of a criminal syndicate,
such as the silly novelists are forever
writing about, and we'll threaten to
put him out Of business unless he
comes to our terms But you over
lock one important fact: that you are
not mentally equipped to get away
with this amusing representation!
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 timld women, or
you, De Morbihan, because you exc
out your income by showing handful
of second-story men where to seek
plumber in the houses Of your friends?"
He made a gesture of Impotence
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. l 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. well, 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
holly, Il engage that monsieur of the
high hand here will either work with
us or conduct no more operations in
Paris"
cor in New York." the American
amended.
England is yet to be heard from"
Lanyard suggested mockingly.
To this Wertheimer replied, almost
with diffidence: eff you ask me, don't