The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1916-04-25
CHAPTER XXX-Continued.

hension, folded his arms, Iounged
against the desk, and watched Nine.
Omber acknowledge, none too cordial
~, the sergent's query.
! am Nine. Omber-yes. What can
do for your
The sergent gaped
"Pardon!" he stammered, then
laughed as one who tardily appreci-
ates joke. 1T is well we are mere in
time, madame" he added-"t though it
would seem you have not had great
trouble with this miscreant Where is
the woman"
He moved pace toward Lanyard
handouts jingIed in his grasp.
"A moment, if you pleased" madame
interposed. Woman? What woman?"
Pausing, the sergent explained in a
tone of surprise:
His accomplice, 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
burglar with his female accomplice."
Again the stout sergent moved to-
ward Lanyard; again Nine. OmDer
stopped him.
One moment, if you pleased"
Her eyes, dense with mystiication
and suspicion, questioned Lanyard s,
who, with a significant nod toward the
jewel case still III her hands, gave her
a look of dumb entreaty.
After brief hesitation, 1T is a mis-
=
woman in this house that l 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 go by"
lie glarcd sullenly at Lanyard, who
returned placid smile which, despite
what little hope was to be derived
from madames irresolute manner,
masked a vast amount of trepidation.
lie felt tolerabIy sure Nine. Omber
had not summoned the police on prior
knowledge of his presence in the Ii
brary. This meant, then, a new form
Of attack on the part of the Pack. He
must certainly have been followed
or else the girl had been caught at
tempting to steal away and the infor
nation extracted from her by force
majeure. Moreover, he could hear two
more pairs of feet tramping through
the salons.
Pending the introduction of these
last, Nine. Omber said nothing more.
newcomers shouldered their way into
the library-two men in citizens cloth
ing-one pompous body of otherwise
undistinguished appearance, promptly
identified by the sergents de vile as
the commissaire of that quarter, the
other, a puffy mediocrity, known to
Lanyard at least (if no one else seemed
to recognize him. as Popinot.
At this confirmation of his darkest
fears the adventWer abandoned hope
OF any aid from Nine Omber and be-
gan to take transformations stock of his
chances Of escaping by his own eff
forts.
But he was altogether unarmed,
thanks to his precipitate action in
drawing the teeth of madames re-
yolyer, and the odds were heavy-four
against one, all four no doubt under
arms, and two at least-the sergents
de ville-men OF sound military train
ing.
Nine Omber?" inquired the COM
mssaire, saluting that lady with i'm
mense dignity One trusts that this
intrusion may be pardoned, the circum-
stances remembered. In an affair of
this nature, involving this repository
OF so historic treasures"
THAT is quite well understood, mon
sieur lie commissaire," madame replied
distantly. And this monsieur is, no
doubt, your aid?"
'Pardon!" Monsieur lie commissaire
fastened to make his companion
known. M. Popinot, agent de la
surete, who lays these informations"
With a profound obeisance to Nine
Omber, Popinot strobe dramatically
over to face Lanyard and explore his
lineaments with his small, keen, shifty
eyes of a pig-a scrutiny which the ad-
venturer suffered with superficial i'm
perturbability.
1t Is he. Poplnot announced with
a gesture "Messieurs, call upon you
to arrest this man, Nj. Michael Ian
yard. self-styled the Lone Wolf"
He stepped back a pace, expanding
his chest in vain effort to eclipse his
abdomen, and glanced round triumph
antly at his respectful auditors.
Accused he added with intense
relish, of the murder of Inspector
Roddy of Scotland Yard at Troyon's,
and of setting fire to that establish
ment-"
For this, Popinot," Lanyard inter
rupted i'll an undertone, y shall some
time cut of your ears!" He turned to
Nine. Omber: Accept, if you please,
madame, my sincere regrets-but this
accusation happens TO be one of which
/ am altogether innocent
Instantly, from his passive pose,
Lanyard Strengthened up, and the
heavy brass and mahogany humidor
whereon his right hand had been rest
ing seemed fairly to leap from its
place on the desk as, with a sweep of
his arm, he sent it spinning point
blank at the younger sergent.
poforo that ono wholly ,,cr,,a-,