Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-06-14
CHAPTER Xxx.
Many Things Happen Fast.

Incontinently-with as little cere'
mony as though the bullet had lodged
In himself-Lanyard tumbled back
ward into the room, while to tune OF
heavy boots gathering through the
salons, two sergents de vile numbered
valiantly into the library and pulled up
at sight of Nine. Omber, erect and
composed beside her safe, and of Ian.
yard picking himself up from the floor
- the open window.
Behind them Sidonie trotted, wiring.
ing her hands.
"Madame!" she bleated = they
wouldn't listen to me, madame
couldn't stop them!"
"All right, Sidonie. Go back to the
hall. I'll call you when need you.
Good morning, messieurs!"
One sergent advanced with halt.
ing salute and superfluous question:
Mime. Omber-" But the other waited
on the threshold, barring the way.
Lanyard measured the two specula.
tively-the spokesman was old and
fat, ripe for pensioning, little apt to
prove seriously effective in rough.
and-tumble, but the second was young
sturdy, and broad.chested, with the
poise of an athlete. Furthermore, he
carried, in addition to his sword, a
pistol naked In his hand. And his
clear blue eyes, meeting the adven.
turer's. lit up with glimmer Of invi.
tation.
For the present, however, Lanyard
wasn't taking any. He met that chal.
lenge with look of blank noncompre-
hension, folded his arms, lounged
against the desk, and watched Nine.
Omber acknowledge, none too cordial.
ly, the sergents query.
Il am Nine. Omber-yes. What can
l do for your"
The sergent gaped.
"Pardon!" he stammered, then
laughed as one who tardily appreci-
ates joke. 1T is we'll 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 pace toward Lanyard
handouts jingled in his grasp.
"A moment, If you pleased" madame
interposed. Woman? What woman"
Pausing, the sergent explained In q
tone Of surprise:
His accomplish. 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 accomplish"
Again the stout sergent moved to.
ward Lanyard; again Nine. Omber
stopped him.
Zone moment, II you pleased"
Her eyes, dense with mystiflcation
and suspicion. questioned Lanyards.
who. with significant nod toward the
jewel case still in her hands, gave her
q look of dumb entreaty.
After brief hesitation, 1T is a mis-
lake." 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 60 by"
He glared sullenly at Lanyard, who
'eturned placid smile which, despite
what little hope was to be derived
rom madame's irresolute manner
masked vast amount of trepidation.
He felt tolerably sure Nine. Omber
lad not summoned the police on prior
of his presence in the Ii
,rary. This meant, then, new form
# attack on the part Of the Pack. He
must certainly have been followed
II else the girl had been caught at
empting to steal away and the infor-
nation extracted from her by force
najeure. Moreover, he could hear two
more pairs of feet tramping through