The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1916-05-19

you'd be d rather engaging person.
Lanyard made no reply. n fact, he
wasn't attending.
In this suspense the iron control
which had always heretofore been his
was breaking down-since now it was
for another that he was concerned.
And he wasted no strength trying to
enforce it. The stress of his anxiety
was both undisguised and indisguis-
able. Nor did Nine Omber overlook
it.
whats the trouble, Ell? Is it that
already the cell door clangs loudly in
your ears?"
AS the woman spoke Lanyard left
his chair With spring as 1.-the and
sure and swift as an animals, that car
ried aim like shot across the two
yards or so that separated them
A hairs breath of error in his reck-
oning would have finished him, for the
other had been alert for just such
move, and the revolver was nearly
level with Lanyard's head when he
seized it by the barrel, imprisoned the
Woman's wrist with his other hand,
himself of the pistol without hurting
it's owner.
Don't be alarmed" he said quietly
I'm not going to do anything more
violent than to put this out Of COM
mission
Breaking it smartly, he shot a
shower Of cartridges to the floor. The
empty weapon itself he tossed into a
wastebasket beneath the desk.
"Hope I didn't hurt you," he added
abstractedly-"buty your pistol was in
my way!"
He took a stride toward the door,
then hung there in hesitation. frown-
ing absently at the woman, who, with
out moving, laughed quietly and eyed
Lanyard with twinkle of malicious
diversion.
The adventurer returned her stare
with one of thoughtful appraisal; from
the first he had recognized in her a
character of uncommon tolerance and
amiability.
Pardon, madame, but" he began
abruptly; then checked himself in con-
strained appreciation of his impudence
"If that's permission to interrupt
your reverie," Nine. Omber remarked,
Il don't mind telling you you're the
strangest burglar ever heard of"
FOOTBALLS became audible on the
stairway-the hasty, scuffling sounds
of slippered feet.
"Is that you, Sidonie?" madame
called.
The voice of the maid replied: eyes,
notwithstanding"
"Well-don't, just yet. Wait there
till call YOU"
Every good, madame"
The woman returned complete at
tention to Lanyard.
"Now, monsieur of two minds, what
is it you wish?"
"Why did you do that?" the adven-
turer asked, nodding toward the recep-
ton hall
"Tell Sidonie to wait instead of call
ing for help? Because-well, because
you interest me strangely. I've Curl
| Gus notion you're in desperate guam
| Diary and about to throw yourself on
my mercy"
81 am" Lanyard admitted tersely.
"Ah! Now this does begin to grow
interesting! Would you mind telling
me why?"
because, madame, have done you
great service. and feel l can count
upon your gratitude"
The Frenchwoman's eyebrows lifted
at this. Doubtless monsieur knows
| what he's talking about"
Listen, madame. l am in love with
| a young woman, an American, a
stranger, and friendless in Paris. Ii
anything happens to me tonight, IL I
am arrested or assassinated-"
''Is that ikely?"
"Quite likely, madame. I have enc
mics among the Apaches and in my
own profession as well. I have reason
| to suspect that some of these are in
this neighborhood tonight / may pos
sibly not escape them. In that event.
this young lady of whom I speak will
need a protector
"And why must interest myself in
her fate, pray?"
Because, madame, of this service
have done you. Recently, in London,
you were robbed"
The woman started and colored with
excitement. "You know something of
my stolen jewels?"
Everything. madame; it was I who
stole them"
"You? You are. then, that Lone
Wolff"
Il was, madame"
"Why the past tense? the woman
demanded, eying him with gathering
frown.
Because l am done with thieving."
| Che tbrou haok hor head and