Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-03-30
asked without moving his Inns

said With every indication of enjoying
most tremendous joke His face Is
all in shadow"
''Patience!" counseled the adven-
turer. He'll take heart Of courage
when convinced of our innocence"
He poised his pen, scrutinized the
ceiling for inspiration, and permitted
a slow smile to irradiate his features.
You'll take this note, if you please, %
he said cheerfully, ito the address on
the envelope, by taxi-it's some dis
lance, near the Etoile. A long chance,
but one we must risk; give me half an
hour alone, and l guarantee to discour-
age this animal one way or another.
You understand"
Perfectly" she laughed archly.
He bent over and for a few mo-
ments wrote busily.
Now he's walking slowly round the
corner, never taking his eyes from
you," the girl reported, shoulder to
shoulder and head distractingly near
his head.
Good. Can you see him any bet
ter?"
mot yet"
"This note" he said, without stop
ping his pen or appearing to say any
thing, SIS for the concierge Of a build
ing where | rent stabling for little,
closed car l find occasionally useful.
I'm supposed there to be a chauffeur
in the employ Of a crazy Englishman
who keeps me constantly travelling
with him back and forth between
Paris and London. That's to account
for the irregularity with which l use
the car. They know me, monsieur and
madame of the conciergerie, as Pierre
Lamier; and | think they're safe-not
only trustworthy and of friendly dis
position, but quite simple-minded; l
don't believe they gossip much. If so,
the chances are De Morbihan and his
gang know nothing of the arrangement.
But that's all speculation-a forlorn
hopei"
81 understand" the girl chuckled at
his elbow. He's still proving up and
down outside the hedge"
''We're not going to need that car to-
night; but the home OF Nine. Omber is
close by; and I'll follow and join you
there within an hour at most. Mean
time, this note will introduce you to
the concierge and his wife-I hope you
won't mind-as my fancee. I'm telling
them we became engaged in England,
and I've brought you to Paris to visit
bI1+ 4
tanned by my employers business, and
will they please give you shelter for an
hour"
He's coming in" the girl announced
quietly.
TN here?"
"No-merely inside the row of little
trees"
Which entrauce?"
"On the boulevard side. He's taken
the corner table Now walters go
ing out to him.
"You can see his face now?" Ian
yard asked, sealing the note.
Not we'll"
Nothing you recognize about him
eh?"
Nothing
do you know Popinot or Vert
heimer by sight?"
mo; they're only names to me; De
Morbihan and Mr.. Bannon mentioned
them last night"
ct won't be Popinot." Lanyard re
nected, addressing the envelope; "he's
tubby"
This man is tall and slender"
'Wertheimer, possibly. Does he sug
gest an Englishman in any way?"
Not in the least. He wears mus
tache- blond-twisted up like the
kaiser's."
Lanyard made no reply, but his
heart sank, and he shivered imper
ceptibly with foreboding. He enter
| tanned no doubt but that the worst had
happened, that to the number of his
enemies in Paris was added Ekstrom
One furtive glance confirmed this
inference. He swore bitterly, if pri
vately, and with a countenance Of
childlike blsndness, as he slipped the
coffee and finished his cigarette.
who is it, them" she asked. "Dc
you know him?"
He reckoned swiftly against distress
ing her, recalling his mention Of the
fact that Ekstrom &as credited with
the Huysman murder.
Merely a hanger-on of De Morbi
hams" he told her lightly; "a spine
less animal-no trouble about soaring
him off. Here-take this note, please
we'll go now. But as we reach the
door, turn back-and go out the other
You'll find taxi without trouble. An6
stop for nothing"
He had shown foresight in paying
when served, and was consequently
able to leave abruptly, without giving
Ekstrom time to shy. Rising smartly
he pushed the table aside. The cir
was no less quick and little less sen
sitive to the strain of the moment; bu
as she passed him her lashes lifteC
and her eyes were all his for the in
slant.
Good night" she breathed-"go
night-my dear!"
She could have guessed no NOR
shreWdly what he needed to nerve hin
against the impending clash. H
hadn't hesitated as to his only course
but till then he'd been horribly afraid
knowing too well the desperate cast o
the outlawed Germans nature. Blu
now since she had SOokaD he cOu1dn'