River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1916-04-20


There was little silence.
Il may tell you, Mr.. Lanyard" the
Englishman resumed, looking up from
the motor, to which he was paying at
tention with monkey-wrench and Oil
can. that you were quite mistaken
when you ridiculed the idea Of the In
ternational Underworld, Unlimited
OF course, II you hadn't laughed, /
shouldn't fees quite as much respect
for you as do; in fact, the chances
are you'd be in handcuffs-or a cell in
the Sante-this very minute. But, alb
surd as 1t sounded-and was-the I'm
derworld' project was a pet hobby OF
Bannon's-who'd been the brains of a
gang of criminals in New York for
many years. He was bit touched on
the subject. A monomaniac, il you
ask me. And his enthusiasm won De
Morbihan and Popinot overland me!
He took wonderful fancy to me,
Bannon did; really was appointed
first lieutenant in Greggs' stead.
Nothing he wouldn't tell me. l even
got him to tell me about you-why he
was so uncommon vindictive. Do you
wish to know?"
IF you please"
1T seems Bannon was the chap who
kidnapped and abandoned you at Troy
on's. Your mother had been his wife.
but left him for cause-divorced him
and married again in England. You
were the child of her second marriage
Bannon managed to ruin your father
drove him into bankruptcy and to sui.
cide-and the shock of that, coupled
with your disappearance, killed your
mother. But even that wasn't enough
for Bannon; and when he found you'd
grown UP to be the Lone Wolf, he
signed your death warrant then and
there. Only you declined to be exc
cuted. Your family name"
Forgive me-" Lanyard interposed
hastily; "but / don't care to know my
family name. If have no parents liv-
ing, I've no kin who would welcome
my return. And If / had prefer to
prove myself before hunt them up
Some day, perhaps, may apply to you
for more information. But for the
present, I'm content-and grateful"
81 think" said Wertheimer, restor-
ing the oil can to its place in the tool
kit, you're very wise. In fact, my per-
sonal feeling for you is one of grow
ing esteem, if you'll permit me to say
So You've most of the markings Of a
man. Will you shake hands-with a
copper's nark?"
He gave Lanyard's hand firm and
friendly grasp and turned to the girl
"Good-by, Miss Shannon. I'm truly
grateful for the assistance you gave US.
Without you we'd have been sadly
handicapped. And now it's good-by
and good luck. l hope you may be
happy. I'm sure you can't go far with
out coming across highroad or vii
lage; but-for reasons not unconnected
with my professional pursuits pre-
fer to remain in ignorance of the way
you CO."
Releasing her hand, he stepped back.
saluted the lovers with a smile and
gay gesture, and clambered briskly to
the pilots seat Of the biplane.
When firmly established, he turned
the switch Of the starting mechanism.
The heavy, distinctive hum Of the
great motor filled that isolated hollow
in the Downs with sound like the
purring of a dynamo.
With final wave of his hand, Vert
heimer grasped the starting lever.
It's brool deepening, the PARROT
stirred shot forward abruptly. In two
seconds it was fifty yards distant, it's
silhouette already blurred, its wheels
lifting from the rim Of the hollow.
Then lightly it rose and scared,
parted the mists, vanished.
For some time Lanyard and Lucy
Shannon remained Gotion1ess, cling
ing together, hand in hand, their f6S5g
upturned, as IL expecting it's reappear-
ance, listening to the drone that pres
emily dwindled to mere thread or
sound and died out altogether In the
obscurity above them.
Then, turning, they faced each
other, smiling uncertainty, smile that
said: $50 all that is finished! Or, per-
haps, we have dreamed it,"
Suddenly, with low cry, the girl
gave herself to Lanyard's arms; and
as this happened the mists parted and
bright sunlight flooded the hollow in
the Downs.
After a little, taking her lips away.
the girl rested her head on his shout
der and sighed little sigh, a soft
sigh of content.
eff we hurry" she said them ITS
possible that we may win to London
yet, before it's too late"
"Too late"
"To get special license-or what
ever it is one must get before one may
marry in haste in England. Don't you
known"
He shook his head, laughed. and
caught her more closely to him.
s'No," he confessed; II don't know.
I haven't had much experience. But
we can ask policeman. Who's
afraid?"
THE END.