Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-03-16
CHAPTER XIV.
Confessional.

remained with troubled gaze focused
on some remote abstraction. You will
have tea. won't your" Lanyard urged.
She recalled her thoughts, nodded
with the faintest of smiles-"Yes,
thank you''-and dropped into chair.
He began at once to make talk in an
effort to dissipate the constraint that
stood between them like an unseen
alien presence: you must be very
hungry"
81 an" she assented
Sorry I've nothing better to offer
you. I'd have run out for something
more substantial, only"
Only she prompted, coolly help
ing herself to biscuit and potted ham.
81 didn't think it wise to leave you
alone"
''Was that before or after you'd made
up your mind about me-the latest
phase, l mean?" she persisted with
trace of malice.
Before" he returned calmly-''like-
wise. afterward. Either way you care
to take it, it wouldn't have been wise
to leave you here. Suppose you had
walked up to find me gone, yourself
alone in this strange house"
tive been awake several hours" she
interposed-"found myself locked in,
and heard no sound to indicate that
you were still here"
I'm sorry; l was overtired and slept
like a log. But assuming the case:
you would have gone out alone, penni-
less"
Through locked door, Mr.. Lam
yard?"
81 shouldn't have left it locked" he
explained patiently. you would have
found yourself friendless and without
resources in a city to which you are a
stranger"
She nodded. "True. But what of
that?"
In desperation you might have been
forced to return"
"And report the outcome Of my in
vestigation!"
Pressure might have been brought
to bear upon you to induce admissions
damaging to me-" Lanyard submitted
pleasantly. whether or no, you'd
have been obliged to renew associa-
lions you're well rid Of
''You feel sure of that?"
"Quite sure"
"How can you be-" she challenged.
you've yet to know me twenty-four
hours"
"But perhaps I know the associa-
tons better In point Of fact, [ do.
Even though you may have stopped to
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
81 do feel sure of that. 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
| honor!"
q don't need to-With you"
She analysed this with gathering
perplexity what do you mean by
that?"
81 mean I don't need to put you on
your honor-because I'm sure of you.
But even if I were not, still I'd refrain
from eXacting any pledge, or attempt
ing to-" He paused and shrugged be-
fore continuing. eff 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 l care for them?
Do you imagine for one instant that l
fear any one-or all-of that gang?"
''That rings suspiciously of ego
ism!"
Let it," he retorted Its pride Of
caste, if you must know. I hold my
self grade better than such cattle;
I've intelligence, at least. can take
care of myself"
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 self-satisfaction than
through contempt for a pack of muir
! derous mongre1s-impatience that I
have to consider such creatures as
Popinot, Wertheimer, De Morbihan,
and-aIl that crew."
"And Bannon," she corrected calm
ly-"you meant to say!"
"Well-" he stammered, discounte-
nanced
1T doesn't NATTER she assured him.
81 quite understand, and strange as it
may sound, I've very little feeling in
| the matter" And then she acknowl-
edged his stupefed stare with a weary
| little smile. 81 know what / know"
| she affirmed with obscure significance.
'T'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.. against
| my father, that is-that makes you SO
ready to suspect both him and me?"
Nothing" he confessed-'T know
nothing; but I suspect everything and
everybody. And the more I 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 face in dark
ness through lighted lattice. Oh,