The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-04-14

| growls, yelps against an undertone
made up Of the blended voices of eX,
| citod noncombatants.
as suddenly as though someone
WC1ryiug OF the entertainment, had
lifted the needle from that record. II
| WIS discontinued The minister OF
war stirred uneasily in his sleep, NUT,
tered naughty word, opened one eye,
aaoWled, opened the other.
tie bliuked furiously, halfblinded
but still able to make out the discom-
posing silhouette OF O man seated just
| beyond the radius of glare-a quiet
presence that moved not but eyed him
sleadlasuy; am apporitiou the more
aresting because of its very immo-
bility.
Rapidly the face Of the minister of
war lost several shades Of purple. He
mo!stened his lips nervously with a
thick, dry tongue, and convulsively he
clutched the bedclothing high and
tight about his neck, as though labor
ing under the erroneous impression
that the sanctity Of his person was
threatened
What do you want, monsieur" he
suffered in a still, small voice which
he would have been the last to ac-
knowledge his own.
Il desire TO discuss a matter of busi-
ness with monsieur" replied the in
truder after a small pause. IF you
will be good enough to calm yourself
-"
Il am perfectly calm"
But here the minister of war verified
with one swift glance an earlier i'm,
preston, to the effect that the tres.
passer was holding something that
shone with a metallic luster, and his
soul began to curl up round the edges.
There are eighteen hundred francs
in my pocketbook about" he man
aged to articulate My watch is on
the stand here. You will find the fam
lily plate in the dining room safe, be-
hind the buffet-the key is on my ring
and the jewels of madame my wife,
in a small strong box beneath the head
Of her bed. The combination"
Pardon; monsieur lahors under a
misapprehension," the housebreaker
interposed dryly. Il have no wish
TO harm you. Nor have | any wish
other than to lay before you, as
senting government, certain matter
Of state business"
There was silence while the minis
ter Of war permitted this exhortation
to sink in. Then, apparently reassured,
he sat up in bed and eyed his untimely
visitor with a glare little short of true
ulent
"Eh? What's that?" he demanded.
Business? What sort of business? If
you wish to lay under my considera-
tion any matter of business, how is it
you break into my home at dead of
night and rouse me in this brutal fash
ion-er-" here his voice faltered-
with lethal weapon pointed at my
head"
Monsieur will admit he speaks un-
der an error" returned the burglar.
81 have yet to point this pistol at him
l should be very sorry to feel obliged
to do so. l display it, in fact, simply
that monsieur may not forget himself
and attempt to summon servants in
his resentment of this-I admit-un-
usual method of introducing oneself to
his attention When we understand
each other there will be no need for
such precautions, and then l shall put
my pistol away so that the sight of 1t
may no longer annoy monsieur"
1T Is true, do not understand you,"
grumbed the minister of war. Why
if your errand be peaceable-break in.
to my house?"
Because it was urgently necessary
to see monsieur instantly. Monsieur
will reflect upon the reception one
would receive did one ring the front
door bell and demand an audience at
three o'clock in the morning!"
well" M. Ducroy conceded dubi-
ously. Then, on reflection, he iterated
the monosyllable testify: We'll! What
is it you want, then"
Il can best explain by asking mon
sieur to examine-what have to show
him"
With this Lanyard dropped the pis-
tol into his coat pocket, from another
produced gold cigarette case and
from the store of this last selected a
single cigarette with meticulous care.
Regarding the minister OF war in a
mystifying manner, he began to roll
the cigarette briskly between his !
palms. A small shower Of tobacco
sifted on the floor; the rice paper
cracked and came away; and with
bland smile and gesture Of a profes-
sional conjuror, Lanyard exhibited a
small cylinder of stiff paper between
his thumb and index finger.
Goggling resentfully, M. Ducroy
5pluttered:
"Eh-what impudence is this?"
His smile unchanged, Lanyard bent
forward and silently dropped the cylin-
Ter into the Frenchman's hand. At the
same time he offered him a pocket
glass.
what is this?" Ducroy persisted
"What-what-"
'If monsieur will be good enough
% unroll the papers and examine them
With the aid of this glass"
With a wondering grunt M. Ducroy
complied, smoothing out several small
lhests of photographers printing-out !