Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-02-24


and give me those Sewels, without res
ervation, in exchange for what infu-
ence l have in certain quarters"
With your famous friend, the chief
Of the surete, eh?"
Possibly. l am known also at La
Tour Pointure."
q confess l don't follow you, unless
you meal to lay IN information
against me-"
Never that"
Its 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 l
shall be at home to you until midnight
tomorrow-today, rather"
Lanyard laughed quietly and sub
sided into a reverie 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-
feur was doubtless eager for his bed.
AS they drew near Troyon's, how
ever, Lanyard sat up and jealousy
reconnoitered 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
I'D where he knows he can find YOU
but only to your leaving without per-
mission!"
Something in that, perhaps. Still,
l always give myself the benefit of
every doubt"
There was, indeed, no sign of am.
bush that he could detect in any quar-
ter-no indication that Popinot's Apa-
ches 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 l & ana little
devil-you really can't trust me!
Adieu, M. 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 th~oroughfare
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 its cause, he could find no
excuse for the sensation, and shaking
himself impatiently, pressed the but
ton that rang a bell by the ear Of the
concierge, heard the latch click, thrust
the door wide, and re-entered Troy
on's.
He thought longingly Of bed, yawned
involuntarily, and, reaching his door
fumbled the key in a most unprofes
sional way; there were weights upor
his eyelids, a heaviness in his brain
But the key met with no resistance
from the wards, and in a trice, appre
ciating this fact, Lanyard was wide
awake again.
No question but that he had locked
the room securely on leaving after hi
adventure with the charming somnam
bulist.
Had she, then, contracted the habit
Or was this only proof Of what h,
had anticipated in the beginning
bit of sleuthing on the part of Roddy
He entertained little doubt as t
the correctness of this latter surmis
as he threw the door open an,
stepped into the room, his first actio
/ being to grasp the electric switch. Blu
no light answered.
"Hello!" he exclaimed softly, RI
, membering that the light could read
lily have been turned off at the bulbs
whats the good of that?"
In the same breath he started viz
lently and swung about.
The door had closed behind hin
r swiftly but gently, eclipsing the fair
flight from the hall, leaving stark darl
/ ness.
Y His first impression was that the II
truder-Roddy, or whoever it migf
be-had darted past him and out, pul
Il ing the door to in the act.
Before he could consciously revis
n this misconception he was fighting fl
" his life.
d So unexpected, so swift and sudde
fell the assault that he was caugl
completely off guard-between Il
shutting of the door and an onslaugl
whose violence sent him Keeling to IL
q wall, the fight Of time could hal
I been measured by the Pickering of
It eyelash.
# Two powerful arms were round b
body, pinioning his hands to his side
his feet were tripped from under hi
Ii and he was thrown with a force tn
fairly Jared his teeth.