The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1916-03-28

ity he was giving a prOtracted lmlta-
ton of dog fight; and he was really
exhibiting sublime virtuosity-one
readily distinguished individual bowls,
growls, yelps against an undertone
made up of the blended voices Of ex-
cited noncombatants.
AS suddenly as though someone,
wearying of the entertainment, had
lifted the needle from that record, it
was discontinued. The minister Of
war stirred uneasily in his sleep, NUT
tered a naughty word, opened one eye,
scowled, opened the other.
He blinked furiously, half-blinded
but still able to make out the discom-
posing silhouette of a man seated just
beyond the radius of glare-a quiet
presence that moved not, but eyed him
steadfastly; an apparition the more
arresting because of it's very immo-
bility.
Rapidly the face of the. minister of
war lost several shades of purple. He
moistened his lips nervously with a
thick, dry tongue, and convulsively he
tight about his neck, as though labor
ing under the erroneous impression
that the sanctity of his person was
threatened.
What do you want, monsieur" he
suffered in still, small voice which
knowledge his own.
Il desire to discuss matter of bust
ness with monsieur" replied the in
truder after a small pause. IF you
will be good enough to calm yourself
-"
j am perfectly calm"
But here the minister of war verified
with one swift glance an earlier i'm
preston, to the effect that the tres
passer was holding something that
shone with a metallic luster, and his
soul began to curl up round the edges.
There are eighteen hundred francs
in my about" he man
aged to articulate. MY watch is on
the stand here. You will find the fam
lily plate in the dining room safe, be-
hind the buffet-the key is on my ring
and the jewels of madame, my wife,
in small strong box beneath the head
| of her bed. The combination"
Pardon; monsieur labors under a
misapprehension," the housebreaker
interposed dryly. Il have no wish
to harm you. Nor have I any wish
| other than to lay before you, as
| senting government, a certain matter
| of state business"
There was silence while the minis
ter of war permitted this exhortation
| to sink in. Then, apparently treasured,
he sat up in bed and eyed his untimely
visitor with glare little short of true
| ulent.
"Eh? What's that?" he demanded.
| Business? What sort of business? If
| you wish to lay under my considera-
| ton any matter of business, how is it
you break into my home at dead of
night and rouse me in this brutal fash
| ion-er-" here his voice faltered-
with a lethal weapon pointed at my
| head?"
| Monsieur will admit he speaks I'M
der an error" returned the burglar
L have yet to point this pistol at him
| should be very sorry to feel obliged
to do so. / display it, in fact, simply
| that monsieur may not forget himself
and attempt to summon servants in
his resentment of this-I admit-un
usual method of introducing oneself to
his attention. When we understand
| each other there will be no need for
such precautions, and then l shall put
my pistol away, so that the sight of ii
may no longer annoy monsieur
1T is true, do not understand you,
| grumbled the minister of war why
| if your errand be eaceable-break in.
to my house?"
Because it was urgently necessary
| to see monsieur instantly. Monsieur
will reflect upon the reception one
would receive did one ring the front
door bell and demand an audience at
three o'clock in the morning."
| well" NJ. Ducroy conceded dubi
ously. Then, on reflection, he iterated
the monosyllable testify: We'll, What
is it you want, them"
II can best explain by asking mon.
sieur to eXamine-what | have to show
him
With this Lanyard dropped the pis
tol into his coat pocket. from another
produced a gold cigarette case, and
from the store of this last selected a
| single cigarette with meticulous care
Regarding the minister of war in a
mystifying manner, he began to roll
the cigarette briskly between his
palms. A small shower of tobacco
| sifted on the floor; the rice paper
cracked and came away; and with a
bland smile and gesture Of a profes
sional conjurors Lanyard exhibited a
small cylinder of stiff papeE between
his thumb and index finger.
Goggling resentfully, NJ. Ducroy
spluttered:
"Eh-what impudence is this?"
/ His smile unchanged, Lanyard bent
| forward and silently dropped the cylin.
| der into the Frenchman's hand. At the
| same time he offered him a pocket
magnifying glass.
What is this?" Ducroy persisted
stupidly. '.What-what-"
If monsieur will be good enough
to unroll the papers and examine them
with the aid of this glass"
With a wondering grunt NJ. Ducroy
complied, smoothing out several small