Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-06-14

he TOOK B StrlQe 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
character of uncommon tolerance and
'amiability.
"Pardon, madame. but" he began
abruptly; then checked himself in con.
strained appreciation of his impudence.
II that's permission to interrupt
your reverie," Nine. Omber remarked.
II don't mind telling you you're the
strangest burglar ever heard of"
FOOTBALLS became audible on the
stairway-the hasty, scufiling sounds
OF slippered feet.
rs that you, Sidonie?" madame
called.
The voice of the maid replied: Eyes.
misunderstanding"
''Well-don't, just yet Wait there
till call you"
Every good, madame"
The woman returned complete at.
tention to Lanyard.
Nov, monsieur Of two minds. what
II 1t 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"
Il am" Lanyard admitted tersely.
"Ah! Now this does begin to grow
Interesting! Would you mind telling
me why?"
Because, madame, I have done you
. great service, and feel I can count
upon your gratitude"
The Frenchwoman's eyebrows lifted
ct this. Doubtless monsieur knows
what he's talking about"
Listen, madame. am in love with
q young woman, an American,
stranger, and friendless in Paris. II
anything happens to me tonight, II I
am arrested or assassinated-"
'Is that likely?"
"Quite likely, madame. have enc
mics among the Apaches and in my
own profession as well. 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 speak will
need 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; 1t was who
stole them"
you? You are, then. that Lone
Wolff"
Il was, madame.
why the past tense?" the woman
demanded. eying him with a gathering
trown.
Because am done with thieving."
She threw back her head and
laughed, but without mirth. "A likely
story, monsieur! Have you reformed
since caught you here"
Does 1t matter when? take it that
proof, visible, tangible proof of my sin.
cerity, more than meaningless date,
would be needed to convince YOU"
mo doubt about that monsieur-the
Lone Wolff"
Gould you wish better proof than
that Of restoration of your stolen prop.
erty?"
Are you trying to bride me to let
you off with an offer to return my
'jewels?'
I'm afraid emergency reformation
wouldn't persuade you"
"You do we'll to be so afraid"
"But If can prove I've already re-
stored your Jewels"
But you cannot"
If madame will do me the favor to
open her safe she will find them there
-conspicuously placed"
What nonsense"
Am I in error In assuming that
madame didn't return from England
until quite recently?"
"But today, in fact"
"And you haven't troubled to inves.
tigate your safe since returning?"
1T had not occurred to me-"
Then why not test my assertion be.
fore denying it,"
With an incredulous shrug Nine.
Omber terminated a puzzled scrutiny
of Lanyard's countenance and turned
to the safe.
But to have done what you declare
you have" she argued, you must have
known the combination-since it ap.
pears you haven't done any breaking
open."
The sequence of the combination ran
glibly off Lanyard's tongue. And at
this. with every evidence of excite I
ment, at length beginning to hope
more than to believe-the woman set t
herself to open the strongbox. Within I
q minute she had succeeded, and the
jewel box was in her /
hand.