Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1916-04-01

play the spy last night, Miss Bannon-
you couldn't keep it up You ran
away to escape further contamination
from that pack of jackals.'
''Not-you feel sure-merely to keep
you under observation"
Il do feel sure of that. 1 have your
word for it."
The girl deliberately finished her
tea and sat back, regarding him stead
lily beneath level brows. Then she
said with an odd laugh: You have
your own way of putting one on
honori"
'1 don't need to-with you"
She analysed this with gathering
perplexity. What do you mean by
that?"
81 mean 1 don't need to put you on
your honor-because I'm sure of you.
But even if 1 were not. still I'd refrain
from exacting any pledge, or attempt
ing to-" He paused and shrugged be-
fore continuing. IF thought you were
still to be distrusted. Miss Bannon, I'd
say: There's a free door; go when
you like, back to the Pack, turn in
your report, and let them act as they
see fit Do you think I care for them
Do you imagine for one instant that
fear any one-or al1-of that gang?"
If he might read her countenance, it
expressed more than anything else dis
tress and disappointment.
"Why do you boast like this-to
me?"
LESS through se1f-satisfaction than
through contempt for a pack of muir
derous mongre1s- impatience that
have to consider such creatures as
Popinot, Wertheimer, De Morbihan
and-au that crew!"
"And Bannon," she corrected calm
ly-"you meant to say!"
''Well-" he stammered, discounte-
nanced.
ct doesn't matter" she assured him
81 quite understand. and strange as 1t
may sound, I've very little feeling in
the matter" And then she acknowl
edged his stupefied stare with a weary
little smile. 81 know what 1 know,
she affirmed with obscure significance
I'D give a good deal to know how
much you know" he muttered in his
confusion.
"But what do you know" she caught
him up-"against Mr.. Bannon-against
my father, that is-that makes you SO
ready to suspect both him and me:"
Nothing" he confessed-'1 know
nothing; but 1 suspect everything and
everybody. And the more think of it.
the more closely / examine that brutal
business of last night, the more
seem to sense his will behind it all
as one might glimpse a face in dark
ness through a lighted lattise-"
His pause and questioning look
evoked no answer; the girl sat move
less and intent, meeting his gaze with
a countenance inscrutable. And some
thing in her impressive attitude
worked a little evaporation into his
temper.
why" he declared hotly-+ff dare
trust to intuition-forgive me if pair
| you"
She interrupted with impatience:
I've already begged you not to con
slider my feelings, Mr.. Lanyard! If yot
/ dared trust to your intuition-ther
| what?"
'eWhy, then 1 could believe that Mr.
Bannon. your father could believe il
was his order that killed poor Roddy!
There could be no doubling her hor
rifed and half-incredulous surprise.
o "Roddy?" she iterated in whisper
| almost inaudible, with face fast blanch
| ing. "Roddy-"
| Inspector Roddy of Scotland Yard.
he told her mercilessly. was murderet
in his sleep last night at Troyon's. Thu
4 murderer broke into his room by wa.
of mine-the two adjoin. He used m.
| razor, wore my dressingrgown to pre-
tect his clothing, did everything h
could think of to cast suspicion on me
and when came in assaulted me
meaning to drug and leave me inser
sible, to be found by the police. Fol
4 tunately-I was beforehand with him
left him in my place-drugged. in
sensible-when l stole away and me
you there in the corridor. You didn
1 know
How can you Sask?" the gin
moaned.
Bending forward. an elbow on tn
table, she gripped her hands togethe
until their knuckles shone whit
through the skin-but not as white a
the white face from which her eye
sought his with look OF dumb horror
dazed, pitiful, imploring.
You're not deceiving me? But no
: why should your" she faltered. "Br
how terrible, how unspeakably awful
I'm sorry Lanyard mumbled. II
have held my tongue if i hadn
! thought you knew"
'You thought / knew-and didn't Iii
finger to save the MANI" She jumpe
up. with a blazing face "Oh. no
could your"
~ 49, he