Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1916-05-12
CHAPTER xxV.-continued.

HeVIl.
H. THAT was a sickening business,
'.sr,;t But who told you"
Never mind. It's true, isn't it?"
4voso the Bnglishman admitted
-,rof,,-'fts true. 1t lies at Bannon's
g 5..r when alFs said. Perhaps you
- believe NE, but it's fact didn't
,nom nositively who was responsible
til tonight"
oyou don't really expect me to be-
Rove that? You were pretty thick with
that gang.
AN. but on probation only! When
,5ev voted Roddy out l wasn't con-
srted They kept me in the dark
mostlv-I fiatter myself because they
Lnpw drew the line at murder. If l
had kpown-this you won't believe, of
cprse-Roddy'd be alive today"
I'D like to believe you," Lanyard
admitted. "But when you ask me to
sign articles with that vicious assas-
sin"
"You can't play our game with clean
hands" Wertheimer retorted.
LANYARD found no answer to that.
IF you've said all you wished to-"
he suggested, rising, 81 can assure you
nv answer is final-and go about my
business"
whats your hurry? Sit down.
There's more TO say-much more"
"As for instance"
Thad fancy you might like to put
sQuestion or two"
Lanyard shook his head; it was
plain to him that Wertheimer designed
TO draw him out through his interest
In Lucy Shannon.
% haven't the slightest curiosity
concerning any of your affairs" he OBJ
served.
But you should have; / could tell
sou great many interesting things
that intimately affect your affairs, if l
liked. You must understand that l
shall hold the balance Of power here
from now o."
Congratulations" Lanyard laughed
derisiyely.
mo joke, my dear chap. I've been
promoted over the heads of your
friends, De Morbihan and Popinot, and
shall henceforth be-as they say in
America-the whole works"
by what warrant?"
"The illustrious Bannon's. I've been
appointed his lieutenant-vice Greggs,
deposed for bungling."
DO you mean to tell me Bannon
controls De Morbihan and Popinot?"
The Englishman smiled indulgently.
II you didn't know it, he's comman-
der in chief of our allied forces, the
presiding genius of the international
Underworld, Unlimited"
"Bosh!" cried Lanyard contemptu-
Ously. Why talk to me as if were a
child, to be frightened by any such
bogy tale as that?"
Take it or leave it, my friend. The
fact remains. l know, if you don't. |
confess l didn't till tonight; but I've
learned some things that have opened
ny eyes You see, we had table in
quiet corner at the Cafe de la Paix.
and since the old mans sailing for
home before long, it was naturally
time for him to unbosom himself rath-
el thoroughly to the one he leaves to
act for him in London and Paris. l
never suspected our power before he
began to talk"
Lanyard, watching the man closely,
would have sworn he had never seen
one more sober. He was indescribably
perpleXed by this ostensible candor-
mystitied and mistrustful.
And then there's this to be consid-
cred, from your side," Wertheimer re-
sumed with the most businesslike man.
ner You can work with us without
being obliged to deal in any way with
The old man or De Morbihan or Popl-
not; you need never speak to either OF
mem. Bannon will never cross the
Atlantic again, and you can do pretty
much as you like, within reason-suo-
'ect to my approval, that is"
One of us is mad" Lanyard COM
mented profoundly.
One Of us is blind to his best inter-
ests' Wertheimer amended with en-
ure good humor.
Perhaps. Let it go at that. I'm
not interested-never did care for
fairy tales"
Don't go yet. There is still much
70 be said on both sides Of our argu-
ment."
Has there been one?"
Besides, promised you news from
Antwerp"
To be sure" Lanyard said, and
paused his curiosity at length en-
gagged.
Wertheimer delved into the breast
pocket Of his dress coat and produced
d blue talegraph-form, handing It 10
The adventurer.
VI even date, from Antwerp, it read:
Underworld, Paris: Greggs arrest
% today, boarding steamer for Amer
lea after desperate struggle. Killed
himself Immediately afterward. Poison.
NO confession-Q. e."
Underworld" Lanyard Cuerieo
AlaSl-1r,