Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1916-03-04

He walked three blocks. picked up
taxicab. and in ten minutes more was
at the ample. open and unguarded
porte-cochere of a roomy court walled
with beetling. ancient tenements.
Assuring himself that the courtyard
was deserted. Lanyard addressed him
self to a door on the right; to his
knock it swung promptly ajar with a
click of it's latch. At the same time
the. adventurer produced from beneath
his cloak a small black velvet vizor
and adjusted it to mask the upper
portion of his face Then, entering a
narrow and odorous corridor whose
obscurity was only emphasized by a
lonely. guttering candle, he turned the
knob Of the first door and walked into
a small. ill-furnished room
spare bodied young man, who had
been sitting at a desk, reading by the
light of an oil lamp with a heavy green
shade. rose and bowed courteously.
Good morning. monsieur" he said
with the cordiality of one who greets
an acquaintance of old standing. BE
seated" he added. indicating an arm
chair beside the desk 1T is some
time since l have had the honor OF
call from monsieur"
THAT is So" Lanyard admitted. sit
ting down.
The young man followed suit. The
lamplight. striking across his face be-
meath the greenish penumbra of the
shade. discovered a countenance of
Hebraic cast.
Monsieur has something to show
me. eh?"
But naturally"
Lanyard's reply just escaped flavor
of curtness-as who should say. What
did you expect?" He was puzzled by
something strange and new in the at
titude of this young man. a trace of re-
serve and constraint.
They had been meeting in this man.
ner for several years. conducting
their secret and lawless business &C
cording to a formula invented by
Bourke and religiously observed by
Lanyard. A note or telegram of inno-
cent superficial intent, addressed to a
certain member of a leading firm of
jewellers in Amsterdam. was the in
variable signal for meetings such as
this. which were always held in the
same place. at an indeterminate hour
after midnight, between this intelli-
gent, cultivated and wellmannered
young Jew and the thief in his mask
Why, then, this sudden awkward
of the agent?
Lanyard's eyes narrowed with sus-
picion.
In silence he produced a jewel case
of morocco leather and gave it 70 the
Jew, then settled back in his chair. hts
attitude one of lounging, but his mind
as uneasy with distrust as his fingers
which, under cover of his cloak. rested
close to the pocket containing his au-
tomato.
+ Accepting the box with a little bow.
the Jew pressed the catch and uncoy-
cred its contents. But the richness of
the treasure thus disclosed did not
seem to surprise him; and, indeed. he
had more than once been introduced
with no more Formally to plumber of
greater value. Fitting a jewelers. mag
nifying-glass to his eye, he picked up
one after another of the pieces and ex-
amined them under the lamplight
Presently he replaced, the last and
shut down the cover of the box
He turned thoughtful countenance
to Lanyard, made as if to speak. but
hesitated-
''Well?" the adventurer demanded
impatiently.
This, 1 take it," said the Jew alb
sently, tapping the box. lis the jewefry
OF Nine. Omber."
Il took it," Lanyard retorted good
humoredly-"not to put too fine
point upon iti''
The Jew shrugged. and with the tips
of his fingers gently pushed the box
toward his customer.
This makes me very unhappy" he
admitted; but 1 have no choice IN the
matter. monsieur. AS the agent of nay
principals. l am instructed to refuse
you an offer for these valuables."
"Why?"
Again the shrug. accompanied by
deprecatory grimace: THAT is DIFF
ficult to say. No explanation was
made me. My instructions were mere
ly to keep this appointment as usual
but to advise you that it would be i'm
possible for my principals to continue
their relations with you as long as
your affairs remained in their present
status"
Their present status?" Lanyard re-
peated. What does that nean?"
Il cannot say. monsieur. 1 can only
repeat that which was said to me-"
After a moment Lanyard rose, took
the box and replaced it in his pocket.
Very we'll" he said quietly Your
principals, of course, understand that
this action on their part definitely
o7de than ryaaral5y