The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1916-04-18

| 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 muffied 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 desk-lamp was
still alight, and Lanyard knew that the
diffusion Of it's reflected rays was
enough to project his figure in silhou-
cite against the glow distinctly visible
to one on the threshold.
Now everything hung upon the tenn
permanent of the householder, how she
would take that pparition-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
|
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 quick gesture, put
ting forth hand, she found the chan
delier switch and turned 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 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 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 and the muscles
of her square and almost masculine
jaw stood out ominously as she looked
the intruder up and down in silence.
Eventually 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 visibIy
| "Welli"-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 again-"you don't seem
to have accomplished a great deal!"
Lanyard gripped the edge of the
desk, quivering.
| For Gods sake, madame" he burt
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 f1ics!"
He paused, lifting an uncertain hand
toward his throat, as if his tongue had
gone dry.
| Come, GOMEZ" the woman answered,
l L
called anyOne-as yet"
| The fingers of one strong white hand
were drumming gently on the top of
the desk; then, with movement so
| quick and sure that Lanyard himself
| could hardly have bettered it, they
slipped to handle of 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
Is that the TRUTH"
you've only to search me, ma
dame,"
Thanks" Madames accents now
| discovered a trace of somewhat dry
humor. I'll 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 curtlv.
And then fetch that chair over there
the one in the corner I've a notion
I'd like to talk to you. That's the usual
thing, isn't it,"
How" Lanyard demanded with
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 inouis-
itively while he replaced his belong
| ings in his pockets. Now get that
chair" she ordered. and waited, stand
/ ing until she had been obeyed. That's
| it-there! Sit down."
Resting herself against the side of
| the desk, the revolver held negligently.
| the speaker favored Lanyard with