Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-03-23

electrics full ablaze below, would give
the show away completely. The house
is known to be unoccupied, and it
wasn't to be expected that both the
police and Popinot's crew would over
look so shining a mark. And it's all
my fault, my oversight. I should have
warned you about the lights! High
time I was quitting a game I've no
longer the wit TO play by the rulesi"
But the police would never
Certainly not This is merely Popi-
not's gentle method of informing US
he's on the job, But I'll just have a
look to make sure. No-stop where
you are, please. Id rather go alone. "
He swung alertly through to the re
ception hall windcw, pausing there
only long enough for an irA antaneous
reconnaissance through the draperies
"a fugitive survey that discovered the
Impasse Stanislas no more abandoned
to the wind and rain, but tenanted
visibly by one, at least, who Iounged
beneath the lonely lamp-post, a Shout
der against it-a featureIess civilian
silhouette with attention fixed on the
little house.
But Lanyard didn't doubt that this
one had dozen fellows skulking with
in call
Springing up the stairs, he paused
prudently at the topmost step, one
quick glance showing him the huge
rent gaping black in the middle of the
skyight, the second the missile Of de-
struction lying amid litter of broken
glass-a brick wrapped in newspaper
by the look of it.
Sweeping forward, he retrieved this
and darted back from the exposed
space beneath the shattered skylight
barely in the nick Of time, for he had
no more than cleared the threshold
than a second something fell through
the gap and buried itself in the hard
wood parquetry. This last was a bull
let fired from the roof of one Of the
adjoining buildings, confirming his
prior reasoning that the first missile
must have fallen from a height rather
than have been thrown up from the
street to wreak such destruction with
these tough, thick panes of clouded
glass.
Swearing softly to himself, he de-
scended to the kitchen.
LAS I thought" he said coolIy, ex-
hibiting his find. They're on the roof
Of the next house-though they've sta
toned a sentry in the street, of
course"
But that second thump-" the girl
demanded
A bullet" he answered, placing the
bundle on the table and cutting the
string that bound it; they were on
the qui vive and fired the instant l
showed myself beneath the skylight"
''But l heard 10 report" she re-
toTted.
"a Maxim silencer on the gun,
fancy" he explained, unwrapping the
brick and smoothing out the newspa-
per Glad you thought to put OH your
hat and coat before you came down"
he added with an approving glance;
sit wouldn't be safe to go up to the
studio again-of course"
His nonckaIance was far less real
than it seemed but helped to steady
one who was holding herself together
with a struggle.
But what are we to do now?" she
stammered. IF they've surrounded
the house"
Don't worry-there's more than one
way out" he responded, frowning at
the newspaper; Il wouldn't have
picked this place out otherwise. Nor
would Scion have rented it in the first
instance had it lacked an exit in event
of creditors. Although so!''
'What-"
"Troyon's is gone" he said, without
looking up. This is tonight's Presse
Totally destroyed by fire which start
ed at six thirty this morning and in
less than half an hour had reduced the
ancient structure to a heap of smoking
ashes'!" He ran his eye quickly down
the column, selecting salient phrases:
" Believed to have been of incendiary
origin, though the premises were unin-
sured'-that's an intelligent guess!
Narrow escape of guests in their
Interchangeable Three lives be-
Heyed to have been IOst-one body re-
covered, charred almost beyond recog.
nition'-Roddy's, of course-poor
devil! Two guests missing, N. Ian
yard. the well-known connoisseur Of
art, who occupied the room adjoining
that Of the unfortunate detective, and
Nile. Bannon, daughter of the Ameri-
can. millionaire, who himself escaped
only by miracle with his secretary,
NJ. Greggs, the latter being overcome
by fumes'-what a shame! Police and
fremen searching the ruins'-h-m,
extraordinary interest manifest
ed by the prefecture indicates a suspi-
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