Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-04-20


to protest, Lanyard thrust her forcibly
through the windows, closed them
shot the latch and stole like a ghost
round the farther side of the desk
pausing within a few feet of the screen
and safe.
The footsteps were mufiled by a rug
in the drawing room-the woman was
walking slowly, heavily, like one
weary and thoughtful.
Where the girl had placed it, behind
the. cinnabar screen, the desklamp was
still alight, and Lanyard knew that the
diffusion of its reflected rays was
enough to project his figure in silhou-
cite against the glow distinctly visible
to one or the threshold.
Now everything hung upon the tenn
permanent of the householder, how she
would take that apparition-whether
quietly, deceived by Lanyard's mum
ming into believing she had only a
poor thievish fool to deal with, or with
bourgeoise hysteria.
In the latter event, Lanyard's hand
was ready planted, palm down, on the
top Of the desk; should the other at
tempt to raise an alarm, a single bound
would carry the adventurer across it in
full flight for the front doors.
In the doorway the mistress of the
house appeared and halted, quick,
glinting eyes shifting from the glow
on the floor to the dark figure of the
thief. Then, with a quick gesture, put
ting forth a hand, she found the chan
delier switch and Surned on a blaze
of light.
AS this happened Lanyard covered,
lifting an elbow as if to guard his face
AS if expecting to find himself under
the muzzle of a revolver.
The gesture had the calculated eff
feet of focusing the attention of the
woman directly to him, after one swift
glance round had taken in the curtains
that were still swaying at the window,
and shown her a room tenanted only
by herself and a cringing thief. And
Immediately it was made manifest that,
whether or not deceived, she meant
to take the situation quietly, if with a
strong hand.
Her eyes narrowed snd the muscles
OIL her square and almost masculine
Jaw stood out ominously as she looked
the intruder up and down in silence.
Eventually a flicker of contempt mod
Grated the grimness of her dark coun-
tenance. She took three steps for
ward, stopping on the other side of the
desk, her back to the doorway.
Lanyard trembled visibly.
"Well!"-the word doomed like the
opening gun of an engagement. well,
my man!"-the shrewd eyes swerved
to the closed door of the safe and
quickly back-again-"you don't seem
to have accomplished a great deal!"
Lanyard gripped the edge Of the
desk, %quivering.
For Gods sake, madame" he b1urt-
ed in a husky, shaken voice, nothing
like his own-"don't have me arrest
ed! Give me a chance! l haven't
taken anything. Don't call the fics!"
He paused, lifting an uncertain hand
toward his throat, as if his tongue had
gone dry.
Come, GOMEZ" the woman answered,
with a look almost of pity. 81 haven't
called anyone-as yet"
The fingers of one strong white hand
were drumming gently on the top of
the desk; then, with a movement SO
quick and sure that Lanyard himself
could hardly have bettered it, they
slipped to a handle of a drawer, jerked
it open, closed round the butt of a re-
volver and presented it at Lanyard's
head.
Automatically he lifted his hands.
Don't shoot" he cried. I'm not
armed"
rs that the TRUTH"
You've only to search me, ma
dame!"
Thanks" Madame's accents now
discovered a trace of somewhat dry
humor. "Tll leave that to you. Turn
out your pockets on the desk there
and remember, I'll stand no non.
sense!"
The weapon covered Lanyard stead
lily, leaving him no alternative but to
obey. AS for that, he was glad Of the
excuse to listen for any sound to indi-
cate how the girl was faring in her
flight. And he made a pretense OF
trembling fingers to cover the slowness
with which he complied.
But he heard nothing.
When at length he had visibly turned
every pocket inside out, and their con-
tents lay upon the desk, the woman
looked them over incuriously.
Put them back" she said CURLY.
"And then fetch that chair over there
the one in the corner. I've a notion
Ia like to talk to you. That's the usual
thing, isn't IT."
How? Lanyard demanded with a
vacant stare.
In all the criminal novels I've ever
read, the law-abiding householder al
ways sits down and has a sociable chat
with the Observation-Disclosures calling
in the police. I'm afraid that's part OF
the price you've to pay for my hospital
ity."
She paused, cycling Lanyard inquis-
itively while he replaced his belong
ings in his pockets. Nov get that
chair" she ordered. and waited, stand.
ing until she had been obeyed. That's
it-therei Sit down"
Resting herself against the side OF
the desk. the revolver held negIigently,
the speaker favored Lanyard with a
second inspection, at her leisure, the