The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-04-01

skylght, the second the missile of de-
struction lying amid a litter of broken
glass-a brick wrapped in newspaper
by the look Of it.
Swooping forward, he retrieved this
and darted back from the exposed
space beneath the shattered skylight
barely in the nick of time, for he had
no more than cleared the threshold
than a second something fell through
the gap and buried itself in the hard
wood parquetry. This last was a bull
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 cIouded
glass.
scended to the kitchen.
AS 1 thought he said coolly. ex-
hibiting 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; 81 wouldn't have
picked this place out otherwise Nor
would Scion 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 heap of smoking
ashes'!" 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 guessi
Narrow escape of guests in their
whatyemaycallems. Three lives be-
lieVed to have been lost-one body re-
covered, charred almost beyond recog-
milton of course-poor
devil! Two guests missing, NJ. Ian
yard, the wellknoWn connoisseur of
art, who occupied the room adjoining
that of the unfortunate detective, and
Mile. BannOn, daughter of the Ameri-
can millionaire, who himself escaped
only by miracle with his secretary,
NJ. Greggs, the latter being overcome
by fumes'-what a shame! Police and
iremen searching the ruins'-h-m,
h-m-'extraordinary interest manifest
ed by the prefecture indicates a suspi-
cion that the building may have been
fired to conceal some. crime of a po-
litical nature
Crushing the newspaper between his
hands Lanyard tossed it into a corner
What was written on the paper?''
the girl demanded obliquely.
He made his eyes blank. Written
on the paper"
q saw something in red ink at the
head of the column. You tried to hide
it from me. but 1 saw. What was it?''
"Oh-that!" He laughed contemptu-
ously. Just Popinot's impudence-an
invitation to come out and be a good
target"
He shrugged himself into his Dor
rowed raincoat, buttened it to his chin,
and turned down the brim of his soft
felt hat; but when he looked up at the
girl again he found she hadn't moved:
rather, she remained as one spellbound
by thought. staring less at than
through him, her expression inscruta-
BILE.
Well" he ventured-''if you're quite
ready, Miss Shannon"
Mr. Lanyard" she demanded al
most sharply. what was the full word
ing of that message?"
IF you must know"
Il must!"
He lifted a depreciative shoulder.
'If you like. I'll read it to you-or,
rather translate it from the thieves
argot Popinot complimented me by
using"
Not necessary" she said tersely.
cI'n take your word for it. But you
must tell me the truth
'As you will Popinot delicately
suggested that If l leave you here. to
be reunited to your alleged parent
if I'll trust to his word of honor, that
| is. and walk out Of the house alone.
he'll give me twenty-four hours in
which to leave Paris"
Then only l stand between you
and"
My dear young woman!" he pro-
tested hastily. Please don't run away
with any absurd notion like that. Do
you imagine I'd consent to treat with
such canaille under any circum-
stances?'
| "Ail the same" she contended stub
| bornly, I'm the stumbling block.
You're risking your life for me-
/ Well" he laughed. have it your
own way! But it's my life. isn't It?
l really don't see how you're going to
prevent my risking it for anything that