Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-03-09

"One may say that"
"And you can't hold him."
THAT one? No fear! You were
anything but wise to bait him as you
did"
Perhaps, It's purely matter of
taste in associates"
eff | were the fool you think me, .
rejoined the count, I'D resent that in
nuendo. AS it happens, I'm not. At
least, l can wait before calling you
to account"
and, meantime, profit by your pa
tience?"
Naturally. Haven't said as much?"
Still I'm perpleXed. l can't mag
inc how you reckon to declare your
self in on the Omber loot"
THAT will transpire If you were
wise you'd hand the stuff over to me
here and now and accept what
choose to give you in return. But
inasmuch as you're the least wise of
men, you will have your lesson"
Meaning"
"The night brings cOunsel-you'n
have time to think things over. By
tomorrow you'll be coming to find me
and give me those jewels, without res
erVation, in exchange for what infu-
ence | have in certain quarters"
With your famous friend, the chief
Of the surete, eh?"
Possibly l 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"
IT'S a riddle, them"
For the moment only But l 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"
Impressed in spite of himself, Ian
yard stared. But the count maintained
an imperturbable manner, looking
straight ahead. Such calm assurance
could hardly be sheer bluff
81 must think this over" Lanyard
muttered
Pray don't let me hinder you" the
count begged with mild irony Il have
my futile thoughts as we'll"
Lanyard laughed quietly and sub
sided into a Teverie 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-
i feur was doubtless eager for his bed
/ AS they drew near Troyon's, how
! ever, Lanyard sat up and jealousy
reconnotered 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,
I L always give NY Sell luS D6uSLI OIL
every doubt"
There was, indeed, no sign of am
! bush that he could detect in any quar-
| ter-no indication that Popinot's Apa-
| cnes 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
Here reigned a silence even more
marked than that of the street, a 81
lence as heavy and profound as the
graves, so that sheer instinct prompt
ed Lanyard to tread lightly as he
made his way down the passage and
across the courtyard toward the stair
way; and in that hush the creak Of
greaseless hinge, when the concierge
opened the door of his quarters to
assure himself of the identity of this
belated guest, seemed little less than
downright profanity.
Lanyard paused and delved into his
pockets, nodding geniaIly to the
blowzy, sleepy old face beneath the
guardians nightcap.
Sorry to disturb you, monsieur" he
said politely, further impoverishing
himself in the sum of FIVE francs in