Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-07-05
Listening to the Drone That Presently
Dwinded to Mere Thread Of Sound.

Listening to the Orone That Presently
DwindIed to Mere Thread Of Sound.
but left him for cause-divorced him
and married again in England. Yor
Damon 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"
II think" said Wertheimer. restor
ing the oil can to it's 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 makings Of
pan. Will you shake hands-with
copper's nark?"
He gave Lanyard's hand a firm and
f~iopdly orocp opd turp od to tho 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. 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 tc
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 filed that isolated hollow
in the Downs with sound like the
purring of a dynamo.
With a final wave Of his hand, Vert
heimer grasped the starting lever.
It's BROOD deepening. the Parrot
stirred, shot forward abruptly. In two
seconds it was fifty yards distant, its
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 motionless. cling
ing together, hand in hand, their faces
upturned, as IL expecting its reappear'
ance, listening to the drone that pres
emily dwindled to a mere thread OF
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
1aps, we have dreamed it,"
Suddenly, with a low cry, the girl
rave herself to Lanyard's arms; and
IS this happened the mists parted and
bright sunlight flooded the hollow in
he Downs.
After little, taking her lips away,
he girl rested her head on his shout
Ter and sighed little sigh, soft
Ugh of content.
If we hurry" she said then, ITS
possible that we may win to London
'et, before it's too late"
"Too late"
ITO get a special license-or what.
yer it tG one must get before one may
marry in haste in England. Don't you
:now?"
He shook his head, laughed, and
aught her more closely to him.
NO." he confessed; IL don't know.
haven't had much experience. But
70 can ask policeman. Who's
fraid?"
USNn