The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-03-31

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/ sEylight. the second the missile of de
struction lying amid a litter Of broker
glass-a brick wrapped in newspapeD
by the look OF II.
Swuoping forward, he retrieved thiI
and iartod back from the exposed
space beneath the shattered skyligh
barely in the nick of time, for he hac
no more than cleared the threshold
than a second something fell through
the gap and buried itself in the hard
wood parQuotry. This last was a bul
let fired from the roof of one of the
adjoining buildings confirming his
prior reasoning that the first missile
must have fallen from a height rather
than have been thrown up from the
street to wreak such destruction with
those tough, thick panes OF clouded
glass.
Swearing softly to himself he de
scended to the kitchen.
"As | thought" he said coolly, ex,
hiblting his find They're on the roof
of the next house-though they've sta.
toned a sentry in the street. of
course"
But that second thump-" the girl
demanded.
"A bullet" he answered placing the
bundle on the table and cutting the
string that bound it.
But what are we to do now?" she
stammered. If they've surrounded
the house"
Don't worry-there's more than one
way out" he responded, frowning at
the newspaper; Il wouldn't have
picked this place out otherwise. Nor
would Solon have rented it in the first
instance had it lacked an exit in event
of creditors Although SOL"
What"
"Troyon's is gone" he said, without
looking up. This is tonight's Presse.
Totally destroyed by fire which start
ed at six thirty this morning and in
less than half an hour had reduced the
ancient structure to a heap of smoking
He ran his eye quickly down
the column, selecting salient phrases:
" Believed to have been of incendiary
origin, though the premises were unin-
sured that's an intelligent guess!
Narrow escape of guests in their
whatyemaycallems. Three lives be-
lieved to have been lost-one body re-
covered, charred almost beyond recog-
milton -Roddys, of course-poor
devil! Two guests missing, M. Ian
yard, the well-known connoisseur of
art, who occupied the room adjoining
that of the unfortunate detective, and
Mile. Bannon, daughter of the Amerl-
can millionaire, who himself escaped
only by a miracle with his secretary,
NJ. Greggs, the latter being overcome
by fumes'-what a shame! Police and
iremen searching the ruins-h-m,
extraordinary interest manifest
I'd by the prefecture indicates a suspi-
zion that the building may have been
ired to conceal some crime of a po-
itical nature"
Crushing the newspaper between his
lands Lanyard tossed it into corner
What was written on the paper?"
he girl demanded oRliquely.
He made his eyes blank. Written
N the paper"
81 saw something in red ink at the |
lead of the column. You tried to hide
t from me, but ] saw. What was it?"
"Oh-that!" He laughed contemptu-
usly. Just Popinots impudence-an
INVITATION to come out and be a good
arget."
He shrugged himself into his bor- !,
owed raincoat, buttoned it to his chin,
nd turned down the brim of his soft
cit hat; but when he looked up at the
irl again he found she hadn't moved;
ather, she remained as one spellbound
y thought, staring less at than
trough him, her expression inscruta-
le
We'll" he ventured-"if you're quite
eady, Miss Shannon"
"Mr. Lanyard" she demanded al
lost sharply, what was the full word
lg of that message"
"If you must know"
81 must!"
He lifted a depreciative shoulder.
II you like, I'll read it to you-or,
lther translate it from the thieves
rgot Popinot complimented me by
sing"
mot necessary" she said tersely.
II take your word for it. But you
ust tell me the truth"
"As you will Popinot delicately
lggested that II leave you here, to
} reunited to your alleged parent
I'll trust to his word of honor, that
and walk out of the house alone,
I'll give me twentyfour hours in !
nich to leave Paris" {
Then only stand between you {
ID" s
my dear young woman!" he pro '
5ted hastily. please don't run away t
tn any absurd notion like that. Do {
IL imagine I'd consent to treat with /
ch canaille under any circum- h
ances| /
"All the same" she contended stub. '
rnly, I'm the stumbling-block. n
,u're risking your life for me-" n
WELL" he laughed, have 1t your F
IN way! But it's my life, isn't IL?
'eally don't see how you're going to II
avent nv risking Il for ANYTHING that Il