The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-05-12
CHAPTER xNX-cOntlnusa.


wasn't taking any He met that chal.
lenge with look of blank noncompre,
henslon, folded his arms, lounged
against the desk. and watched Nine
omber acknowledge, none too cordial
ly the sergents query.
u am Nine. Omber-yes. What can
do for your"
The sergent gaped.
"Pardonl" he stammered then
laughed as one who tardily apprecl-
ates a joke. 1T is well we are here in
time, madame" he added-"though It
would seem you have not had great
trouble with this miscreant. Where is
the woman?"
He moved a pace toward Lanyard
h; ldcuffs jingled in his grasp.
"A moment, II you pleased" madame
interposed. Woman? What woman?"
Psusing, the sergent explained in a
tone OF surprise:
His accomplice, naturally Such
were our instructions-to proceed at
once to madame's home, enter quietly
by way OF the servants entrance
which would be open-and arrest a
burglar with his female accomplice."
Again the stout sergent moved to-
ward Lanyard; again Nine. omber
stopped him.
zone moment, II you please!"
Her eyes, dense with mystihcation
and suspicion, questioned Lanyard's,
,yho ,,,gtb , cyor;6oo,E nod tDu,o rd tba
jewel case still in her hands, gave her
a look of dumb entreaty.
After brief hesitation, 1T is a mis-
take, madame declared; there is no
woman in this house that know Of
who has no right to be here. But
you say you received a message? l
sent none!"
The fat sergent shrugged. THAT is
not for me to dispute, madame. have
only my information to go by"
He glared sullenly at Lanyard, who
returned a placid smile which, despite
what little hope was to be derived
from madame's irresolute manner
masked a vast amount of trepidation.
He felt tolerably sure Nine. Omber
had not summoned the police on prior
knowledge of his presence in the IL
brary. This meant, then, a new form
OF attack on the part Of the Pack. He
must certainly have been followed
or else the girl had been caught at
tempting to steal away and the infor-
nation extracted from her by force
!,
more pairs of feet tramping through
the salons.
Pending the introduction Of these
last, Nine Omber said nothing more.
And, unceremoniously enough, the
newcomers shl uldered their way into |
the library-t,yo men in citizens cloth
ing-one pompous body Of otherwise |
undistinguished appearance, promptly |
identified by the sergents de vile as |
the commissaire of that quarter, the |
other, a puffy mediocrity, known to
Lanyard at least (if no one else seemed |
to recognize him) as Popinot.
At this confirmation of his darkest |
fears the adventurer abandoned hope !
sR any aid from Nine. Omber and be-
kan to take unostentatious stock of his |
chances of escaping by his own ef-
forts.
But he was altogether unarmed,
thanks to his precipitate action in
drawing the teeth of madame's re-
vOlver, and the odds were heavy-four
against one, all four no doubt under
arms, and two at least-the sergehts
de ville-men of sound military train
ing.
Mime. Omber" inquired the com.
nlissaife saluting that lady with i'm
mense dignity. "One trusts that this
intrusion may be pardoned, the circum-
stances remembered. In an affair of
this nature, involving this repository
of so historic treasures"
That Is quite well understood, mon
sieur lie commissaire, madame replied
distantiy. And this monsieur is, no
doubt, your aid?"
"Pardon!" Monsieur le commissaire
hasteued to make his companion
known IN. Popinot, agent de la
surete who lays these informations."
With a profound obeisance to Nine.
Omber, Popinot strode dramatically
over to face Lanyard and explore his
lineaments with his small, KEEN shifty
eyes Of a pig--a scrutiny which the ad-
venturer suffered with superficial i'm
perturbability.
1T il he!" Popinot announced with
a gestuYe. "Messieurs, call upon you
to arrest this man, M. Michael Ian
yard, seIS styled the Lone Wolf"
He stepped back pace, expanding
hts cbagt in vain effort to eclipse his
abdomen, and glanced round triumph
aDtly at his respectful auditors.
Accused" he added with intense
relish, "of the murder of Inspector
Roddy of Scotland Yard at Troyons,
and of setting fire to that establish ,
/
For this, PopInot," Lanyard inter /
rupted in an undertone, Il shall some '
time cut off your ears!" He turned to I
Nine. Omber: Accept, If you please, s
madame, my sincere regrets-but this {
accusation happens to be one of which 9
| am altogether innocent" l
Instantly from his passive pose, t
Lanyard Strengthened up, and the t
heavy brass and mahogany humidor r
his right hand had been rest b
Ing seemed fairly to leap from it's
place on the desk as, with sweep Of h
his arm. he sent 1t spinning point b
blank at the younger sergent
Before that one, wholly unprepared il
sOuld more than gasp It caught him a
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