The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-03-11

and give me those jewels, without res
ervation, in exchange for what inf1u-
ence | have in certain quarters"
With your famous friend, the chief
of the surete, eh?''
Possibly ! am known also at La
Tour Pointure."
Il confess l don't follow you, unless
you mean to lay an information
against me-"
Never that
Its a riddle. then?''
For the moment only But I will
say this: it will be futile, your at
tempting to escape Paris; Popinot
has already picketed every outlet
Your one hope resides in me; and
shall be at home to you until midnight
tomorrow-today. rather"
Lanyard laughed quietly and sub
sided into a reverie which, undis-
turbed by De Morbihan. endured
throughout the brief remainder OF
their drive; for. thanks to the small
ness of the hour. the streets were
practically deserted and offered no
hindrance to speed. while the chauf
feur was doubtless eager for his bed
AS they drew near Troyon's, how
ever, Lanyard sat up and jealousy
reconnoitered both sides of the way
Surely you don't expect to be kept
out?" the count asked dryly. But that
just shows how little you appreciate
our good Popinot. He'll never offer
any objection to your locking yourself
up where he knows he can find you
but only to your leaving without per
mission!"
Something in that, perhaps Still.
| always give myself the benefit of
every doubt"
There was, indeed, no sign of am
bush that he could detect in any quar-
ter-no Indication that Popinot's Apa-
ches were skulking about None the
less, Lanyard produced his automatic
and freed the safety catch before
opening the door.
"A thousand thanks, my dear
count"
For what? Doing myself a serv-
ice? You make me ashamed"
Il know" agreed Lanyard, deprecia
tory; "but that's the way ana little
| devil-you really can't trust me!
Adieu, NJ. lie Comte"
"Au revoir, monsieur!"
Lanyard watched the car round the
corner before turning to the entrance
of Troyon's, simultaneously keeping
| his weather eye bright. But when the
motor was gone the street seemed
| quite deserted and as soundless as
! though it had been the thoroughfare
of some remote village rather than an
artery of the pulsing old heart of
| Paris
/ Yet he wasn't satisfied. He even
shivered a bit. perhaps because Of
! the chill in that air of early morning.
possibly because a shadow of premo-
milton had fallen athwart his SOUL
Whatever it's cause, he could find no
excuse for the sensation. and shaking
himself impatiently, pressed the but
ton that rang bell by the ear of the
| concierge, heard the latch click, thrust
the door wide, and re-entered Troy
on's
| He thought longingly of bed, yawned
involuntarily. and. reaching his door.
| fumbled the key in a most unprofes-
! siona1 way; there were weights upon
his eyelids, a heaViness in his brain.
| But the key met with no resistance
! from the wards, and in a trice, appre-
| ciating this fact, Lanyard was wide
awake again.
No question but that he had locked
the room securely on leaving after his
adventure with the charming somnam-
| bulist
! Had she, then, contracted the habit?
| Or was this only proof of what he
had anticipated in the beginning
bit Of sleuthing on the part of Roddy?
He entertained little doubt as to
| the correctness of this latter surmise
as he threw the door open and
stepped into the room, his first action
being to grasp the electric switch But
| no light answered.
"Hello!" he exclaimed softly, re-
membering that the light could read
lily have been turned of at the bulbs.
Whats the good of that?'
In the same breath he started VIC
lently and swung about.
The door had closed behind him,
light from the hall. leaving stark dark
ness.
His first impression was that the in
truder-Roddy, or whoever it might
be-had darted past him and out. pull
ing the door to in the act.
Before he could consciously revise
this misconception he was fighting for
his life
So unexpected, so swift and sudden
fell the assault that he was caught
completely of guard-between the
shutting of the door and an onslaught
whose violence sent him Keeling to the
wall. the flight of time could have
been measured by the Pickering of an
eyelash.
Two powerful arms were round his
body, pinioning his hands to his sides,
his feet we're tripped from under him.
and he was thrown with force that
fairly Jared his teeth.
For breath he lay dazed. strug