Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-03-16
ate matters, doesn I

Judge now desperate L am WnSQ-l pre-
fer to throw myself on your gener-
osity-and already I've strained your
patience"
Not much,'' he interrupted pleas
antly, in a soothing voice. "But-half
a moment-we1l have to talk this
over"
Directing the cocher to drive to the
Place Pigalle, he re-entered the cab.
suspicion more than ever rife in his
mind But as far as he could see
with that COMPOUNDED sergent de Vile
staring-there was nothing else for it.
He couldn't stand there in the rain for
ever, gossiping with girl half hyster-
zeal or pretending to be.
you see" she explained when the
facre was again under way, 81 thought
| had a hundred-franc note in my peck
etbook, and SO I have-but the pocket
books back there in my room at
TroyOn's."
"a hundred francs wouldn't see you
far toward New York" he observed
thoughtfully.
ooh, hope you don't think"
She drew back into her corner with
o little shudder Of humiliation.
AS if he hadn't, Lanyard turned to
the window, leaned out, and redirected
the driver sharply: "Impasse Stanis-
laa!"
Immediately the vehicle swerved,
Rounded a corner, and made back
toward the Seine with a celebrity which
suggested that the stables lay on the
Rive Gauche.
"Where?" the girl demanded as Ian
yard sat back. Where are you taking
me?"
I'm sorry Lanyard said, with every
appearance of sudden contrition; II
acted impulsively-on the assumption
Of your complete confidence. Which,
of course, was objectionable. But,
believe me, you have only to say no,
and it shall be as you wish"
But" she persisted impatiently-
you haven't answered me: what is
this Impasse Stanislas?"
TIE address of an artist l know
Scion, the painter. We're going to take
possession Of his studio-residence in
his absence. Don't worry; he won't
mind. He is under heavy obligation to
me-IVe sold several canvases for
him, and when he's away, as now, in
the States, he leaves me the keys It's
a sober-minded, steady-paced neigh
borhood, where we can rest without
misgivings and take our time to think
things out"
But" the girl began in an odd
tone
Permit me-" he interposed hastily,
"to urge the facts of the case upon
your consideration.
"We1?" she said in the same tone.
as he paused.
ITO begin With don't doubt you've
good reason for running away from
your father"
"a very real, very grave reason"
she affirmed quietly.
And you'd rather not go back
THAT is out of the question:" with
restrained passion that almost woa his
credulity
But you've no friends in PARISH
mot one!"
'And no money. So it seems, If
you're to elude your father, you must
find some place to hide pro tenn AS
for myself, I've not slept in forty-eight
hours and must rest before I can do
more. before I'll be able to think clear
ly and plan ahead And we won't ac-
complish much. riding round forever
in this miserable ark. So I offer you
the only solution I'm capable of ad-
vancing under the circumstances.
you are quite right" the girl agreed
after a moment please don't think
me unappreciative. Indeed, it makes
me very unhappy to think l know no
way to make amends for your trouble"
There may be a way" Lanyard in
formed her quietly; "but We'll not dis
cuss that until we've rested up a bit"
Il Shall be only toe glad" she be-
gan, but broke off and, in a silence
that seemed almost apprehensive,
eyed him speculatively throughout the
remainder of the journey.
1t wasn't a long one, and in the
course of the next ten minutes they
drew up at the end Of shallow pocket
Of a street a scant halfblock in depth.
Alighting, Lanyard helped the girl out,
paid and dismissed the cocher, and
turned to an iron gate in a high stone
wall crowned with spikes
The grillewoFk of that gate afforded
glimpses of a small, dark garden and
little house Of two stories. Blank
walls of beetling tenements shouldered
both house and garden on either side.
Unlocking the gate with a ready key,
Lanyard refastened it very carefully,
repeated the business at the front door
of the house, and when they were Sc
curely locked and bolted within a dark
reception room, turned on the electric
light
But he granted the girl little more
than time for fugitive survey of this
anteroom to an establishment Of
unique artistic character
"SoIons living quarters are down
stairs here" he explained hurriedly.
He's unmarried and lives quite
alone-his studio devil and the woman
who cares for things come in by the
day only-and so he avoids that pest
of Partisan life, the concierge. With
your permission, I'll assign you to the
studio-up here"
And leading the way up a narrow