Meade County news., 1916-05-18

beneath the lonely lamp-post, shoul-
der against it-A featureless civilian
silhouette with attention fixed on the
little house.
But Lanyard didn't doubt that this
one had q 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
skylight, the second the missile Of de-
struction lying amid litter Of broken
glass-a brick wrapped in newspaper
by the look Of It.
Swooping 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 bull
let fred from the roof of one Of the
adjoining buildings, confirming his
prior reasoning that the first missile
must have fallen from height rather
than have been thrown up from the
street to wreak such destruction with
those tough, thick panes Of clouded
glass.
Swearing softly to himself, he de-
scended to the kitchen.
"As l thought" he said coolly, 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 1t.
"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; II wouldn't have
picked this place out otherwise. Nor
would Solon have rented it in the first
instance had 1t lacked an exit in event
Of creditors. Although sol"
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 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!
Marrow escape of guests in their
whatyemaycallems. Three lives be-
lieved to have been lost-one body re-
covered, charred almost beyond recog-
nition'-Roddy's, of course-poor
devil! Two guests missing, M. Lam
yard, the well-known connoisseur OF
art, who occupied the room adjoining
that of the unfortunate detective. and
Mile. Bannon, daughter of the Ameri
can millionaire, who himself escaped
only by q miracle with his secretary
M. Greggs, the latter being overcome
by fumes'-what q shame! Police and
firemen searching the ruins'-h-m
h-m-'extraordinary interest manifest
ed by the prefecture indicates a suspi
cion that the building may have beer
fired to conceal some crime of q DO
litical nature
Crushing the newspaper between his
hands Lanyard tossed 1t into corner
What was written on the paper?'
the girl demanded obliquely.
He made his eyes blank. Writer
on the paper"
IT saw something In red ink at tn,
head of the column. You tried to hid
it from me, but saw. What was it?"
"Oh-that!" He laughed contemptu
ously. "Just Popinot's impudence-aI
invitation to come out and be goo,
target"
He shrugged himself into his boz
rowed raincoat, buttoned it to his chir
and turned down the brim Of his sof
felt hat; but when he looked up at tn
girl again he found she hadn't moved
rather, she remained as one spellboun
by thought, staring less at tina
through him, her expression inscruts
, BILE.
. WELL" he ventured-%f you're quit
. ready, Miss Shannon"
"Mr. Lanyard" she demanded a
most sharply, what was the full wore
: ing of that message?"
! III you must know"
Il must!"
He lifted q depreciative shoulde
III you like, I'll read it to you-o
rather translate 1t from the thieve
argot Popinot complimented me b
l. using"
% mot necessary" she said tersel
a IN take your word for 1t. But yc
q must tell me the truth"
!" "As you will. Popinot delicatel
B. suggested that II leave you here,
e be reunited to your alleged parent
Is If I'll trust to his word Of honor, thi
v ID, and walk out Of the house aton