Mountain advocate. (Barbourville, Ky.) 1904-1935, 1916-06-23

head?"
Monsieur will admit he speaks un.
der an error, returned the burglar
Il have yet to point this pistol at him.
I should be very sorry to feel obliged
to do SO. l display 1t, 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 shall put
my pistol away, so that the sight of II
may no longer annoy monsieur"
1T is true, ! do not understand you"
grumbled the minister OF war. why
II your errand be eaceable--break In.
to my house?"
because II 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: We'll! What
Is It you want, them"
Il can best explain by asking mon
sieur to examine have to show
him."
With this Lanyard dropped the pts.
tol into his coat pocket from another
produced gold cigarette case. ana
from the store of this last selected Il
single cigarette with meticulous care.
Regarding the minister of war in n
mystifying manner, he began to roll
the cigarette briskly between his
palms. A small shower of tobacco
sifted on the floor; the rice paper
cracked and came away; and with a
bland smile-and gesture Of a profess
sional conjuror, Lanyard exhibited a
small cylinder of stiff paper between
his thumb and index finger.
Goggling rescntfully, NJ. Ducroy
spluttered;
"Eh--what impudence is this"
His smile unchanged. Lanyard bent
forward and silently dropped the cyiin-
der into the Frenchmans hand. At the
same time he offered him a pocket
magnifying glass.
What is this?" Ducroy persisted
stupidity. "What-what--"
IF monsieur will be good enough
to unroll the papers and examine them
with the aid of this glass"
With a wondering grunt NJ. Ducroy
complied smoothing out several small
sheets of photographers printing out
Gated and minute designs had been
ENTHUSIASTICALLY resembling la.
borious efforts to conventionalize a
spiders web.
But no sooner had VI. Ducroy focused
upon them the magnifying glass than
he started violently. uttered an excited
exclamation and subjected the papers
to an examination both prolonged and
exacting.
Monsieur Is no doubt now salts.
fed?" Lanyard inquired, when his pa.
tience would endure no longer
These are gcnuine?" the minister
OF war demanded sharply. without
looking up.
Monsieur can readily discern nota
tons made upon the drawings by the
inventor, George iIuysman. in his own
hand. Furthermore, each plan has
been marked in the lower left,hand
corner with the word accepted fol
lowed by the initials of the German
minister of war. ! think this estab
fishes beyond dispute the authenticity
of these photographs of the pans for
Huysman's invention"
Yes" the other agreed brcathlessly
You have the negatives from which
these prints were made?'
Here" Lanyard said, indicating a
second cigarette.
And then, with "a movement 50 leis
urely and careless that his purpose
was accomplished before the other in
his preoccupation was aware of IT, the
adventurer leaned forward and swept
up the prints from the counterpart in
front of NJ. Ducroy.
Here" the Frenchman exclaimed
why do you do that?"
Monsieur no longer questions theiI
authenticity"
II grant you that"
Then l return to myself these
prints, pending negotiations for their
transfer to France"
How did you come by them?" de
manded NJ. Ducroy. after a moments
thought
Need monsieur ask? Is France SC
ill-served by her spies that you do moi
already know of the misfortune re
Gently suffered in London by one Cap
tain Ekstrom?"
Ducroy shook his head. Lanyard re
ceived this indication with impotence
1t seemed hardly possible that the
French minister OF war could be either
so stupid or so ignorant. But with o
patient shrug he proceeded to eluci
date.
Captain Ekstrom," he explained
but recently succeeded IN photograph