Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-05-03
CHAPTER XIII.
No Solution.


and motives Of prudence alone-if
none more worthy-forbade an attempt
to replenish his pocketbook by revisit.
ing the little place in the Rue Roget
and realizing on the treasures there,
he had determined to have taximeter
lifted to his car and ply for hire until
time or chance should settle the ques.
ton of his future.
Already, indeed, he had complied
with the police regulations, received
permission to convert his machine in.
to a taxicab, and arranged to have the
clock installed.
Leaving his car before noon at the
designated depot, he received the prom.
1se that it would be ready for him at
four o'clock. Returning at that hour,
he learned that it couldn't be ready be-
fore six. Facing YEARLY two hours
with nothing to do, and too bored and
restless to vile them away in cafe.
he idled listlessly hither and yon along
streets and Observation-Disclosures in
the black melancholy depressing him,
whether or not he were recognized.
In the course of his wanderings he
found himself turning from the Rue
st. Honore through the Place Ven
dome to the Rue de la Paix.
Before one corner window Lanyard
paused involuntarily.
In that window there was a mirror,
set at an angle to one side, and sud-
denly Lanyard caught its presentment
of himself-a gaunt and hungry appari-
ton, with wolfish air he had never
worn when rejoicing in the sobriquet
Of wolf, his eyes staring with preda-
cious luster.
And lest some passer-by be struck
by this betrayal, he turned and moved
on hastily.
Halfway across the Boulevard des
Capucines, to the east of the Opera, he
leaped for his life from murderous-
minded taxicab, found himself tempo
rarily marooned upon one of those
isles of safety which the Partisan
calls "thank-Gods," and stood waiting
until an opening should offer in the
congestion of traffic and permit him
to gain the farther sidewalk.
| Presently the policeman in the mid
| die of the boulevard signaled with his
little white wand, and the stream of
east-bound vehicles checked and be.
gan to close up to the right of the
crossing, upon which they en-.
croached jealousy. A taxicab on the
outside, next the island, overshot the
mark, and, obedient to a curt word
from the sergent, pulled up sharply
and began to back into place. Before
Lanyard could move round it, its
window had drawn opposite him and
he was staring in, transtixed by cas-
ual glance.
There was sufficient light to enable
him to see clearly the face of tho
passenger-its pale oval and the eyes
whose gaze chung to hi with an effect
Of confused fascination.
She sat quite motionless until one
white-gloved hand moved uncertainty
toward her bosom.
lifting his cap, he stepped back a
pace and started to move on.
But at that she bent quickly forward
and Unattached the door. 1t swung wide
to him. y -. - ~,
Hardly knowing what he was doing,
ne accepted the mute invitation,
stepped into the cab, took the empty
seat beside her, and closed the door.
Almost at once the block was lift
ed, and the car moved on with Jerk,
the girl sinking back into her corner
with a suggestion of breathlessness,
as though the effort she made to seem
composed had been almost too much
for her strength.
Her face, turned to Lanyard in the
half-light, appeared immobile, ex-
pressionless; only her eyes were alert
with anticipation. But she said moth
ing.
On his part, Lanyard felt himself
hopelessly COMPOUNDED, in the grasp
of emotions that would scarcely suffer
him to speak. A great wonder OBJ
sessed his mind that she should have
opened the door to him no less than
that he should have entered through
1t. Dimly he understood that both
had acted without generalization, and
he asked himself WAS she already
regretting that momentary weakness
Or whatever 1t had been?"
why did you do that?" he heard
himself demand abruptly. and felt that
his voice sounded harsh, strained, un-
natural
She stiffened slightly, with a nervous
movement Of her shoulders.
Because saw you"
did you want to talk to me, per.
haps?" he prompted.
Il was surprised; had hoped-be.
lieved-you had left Paris"
She surveyed his costume with a
curious glance, perplexed.
"Why are you dressed that way? Is
1t disguise?"
"A pretty good one-as a matter of
fact, the national costume of one in
my present station in life"
But you are wrong. l recognized
you instantly, didn't I? And those 9TH
ers-they're as keen-witted as I-cer-
tainly! Oh, you should not have
stopped in Paris!"
Il couldn't 60 without knowing what
had become of you"
Il was afraid of that" she confessed.