Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-05-03
CHAPTER XXI.
Enigma.

@s'0"'Vs
Lanyard had found no reason to be
lieve that Lucy had left him otherwise
than voluntarily, or that their .adven
lures at the homes of Nine. Ombel
and M. Ducroy had been noted by spies
Of the Pack. The testimony of his own
wits assured him that they hadn't
been followed at any time subsequent
to leaving the Rue des Acacias; their
way had been too long and purposely
too involved, and his vigilance toe
lively for that. Left to herself there
in the garden for quarter-hour, she
had been free to think independently
for almost the first time since she had
descended from the studio.
Then, horror overmastering her, she
had fled the garden-wildly, blindly
he didn't doubt-and probably had
sought refuge in some obscure hotel
till morning. What then? She had
neither money nor any friends in
Paris, but had mentioned some per.
sonal jewelry she planned to pawn.
That would be her first move, then
to pawnbroker's, where he must
seek her-not to force himself again
upon her, but to follow at distance
and watch over her, to ward off any at
tempt on Bannon's part to interfere.
The government pawnshop had its
attraction for Lanyard as well; he was
there before the doors we're open for
the day-was the first to enter; and
fortified by loans negotiated on his
watch, cigarette case, and a ring or
two, retired to nearby cafe which
commanded a view of the entrance to
the establishment on the Rue des
Blancs-Manteaux and settled himself
against a day-long vigil.
1t wasn't easy; drowsiness buzzed in
his brain and weighted his eyelids;
now and again, involuntarily, he nod.
ned over his glass of black coffee. And
when evening came and the doors of
the pawnshop were closed for the
night he rose and stumbled off, telling
himself that possibly he had mapped
little without his knowledge and thus
had missed her visit.
Engaging obscure lodgings close by
the Rue des Acacias, he slept till near
ly noon Of the following day, then rose
to put into execution design which
had sprung full-winged from his brain
at the moment of awakening.
He had his car and a chauffeur's IL
cense of long standing in the name of
Pierre Lamier-was free, in short, to
cruise at will the streets Of Paris
without lawful let or hirdrance. And
with the aid of few judicious selec-
lions from the stock Of a secondhand
clothing shop and of few other pur-
chases at chemists, he felt tolerably
sure that it would need keen eyes
whether the Packs or the procedures
to identify Pierre Lamier with either
Michael Lanyard or the Lone Wolf.
BY the close of the third day he re-
luctantly conceded that she must have
managed to escape from Paris without
his aid.
Then he began to suspect that Ban
non had fled Paris as we'll, for the
most diligent investigation he was
able to pursue unchallenged failed to
unearth the least clue to the move
ments of the American subsequent to
the fire at Troyon's.
Now. toward midnight of that same
third day, Lanyard was driving slowly
westward on the Boulevard de la Made
leine when a limousine of familiar
aspect rounded corner half a block
ahead and, drawing up in front of
Wells, discharged four passengers.
The first was Wertheimer, and at
sight of his rather striking figure, ar.
rayed for the evening in apparel from
Bond street, Lanyard slackened speed.
Turning as he alighted, the English
man offered his hand to young wom-
an. She jumped down to the sidewalk
in radiant attire and temper, laughing
like delighted child. s
Involuntarily Lanyard stopped his
car, and chauffeur driving Immediate
ly to the rear, swerving out to escape
collision, shot past, cursing him lib
orally, while sergent de vile scowled
darkly and uttered an imperative
word.
Lanyard pulled himself together
somehow and drove on.
The girl was just then passing into
the restaurant through the revolving
door, Wertheimer attending her. while
De Morbihan had alighted from the
car and was lending a solicitous arm
to Bannon.
But to these last Lanyard paid little
attention. Quite automatically he
passed Wells, rounded the Madeleine,
and turned up the Boulevard Males.
herbes. Paris and all its brisk midnight
traffic swung by without claiming a
1.-THE of his attention-he was mainly
conscious Of lights that reeled dizzily
round him, like multitude of staring,
malicious, hooking eyes.
At the junction with the Boulevard
second sergent de vile
'oused him with warning about care
ess driving. He went more sanely
but with a heart of utter
wretchedness-his eyes still wore a
LACED expression, and now and again
ne shook his head impatiently, as
:hough to rid 1t of a swarm of tor.
nenting thoughts.
So 1t seemed he had all along been
Ter dupe; that all the while he had
'een ostentatiously shielding her from
larm and efficiently showing her
o1rid al l.