Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-07-05
ne t4oiiow n the Downs.

mept.
4 "ln effect" he observed, stripping
on his gauntlets, you're right. Mr.
Lanyard Wertheimer' isn't my name
but II is SO closely identified with my
-ah-insinuative personality as tc
warrant the misapprehension. shan
demand an apology so long as you per
NIT me to preserve an incognito which
may yet prove somewhat useful"
'Incognito!" Lanyard stammered
completely discountenanced. Use
full"
You have my meaning exactly;
although my work In Paris is now end.
ed, there's no saying when it mightn't
be convenient to be able to go back
without establishing new identity"
Before Lanyard replied to this the
look Of wonder in his eyes had yielded
to one Of understanding.
Scotland Yard, eh?" he queried
CURLY.
Wertheimer bowed. Special agent"
he added
II might have guessed, If l hadn't
the wit of the domestic goose!" Lam
yard affirmed bitterly. But l must
| admit"
YES" the Englishman assented
pleasantly; Il did pull your leg--didn't
I? But no more than the limbs of our
other friends. OF course, it's taken
| some time had to establish myself
firmly over here as shining light Of
| the swell mob before De Morbihan
would take me to his hospitable bo-
SON."
"And-I presume I'm under arrest?"
With laugh the Englishman shook
his head vigorously.
mo, thank you!" he declared. 1--WE
had too convincing proof of your dis
taste for interference in your affairs.
You fight too sincerely, Mr.. Lanyard
and I'm as tired a sleuth this very
morning as ever was! I'll need
weeks rest to fit me to cope with the
task of taking you into custody-a
week and some very ablebodied assist
ance! But" he amended with graver
countenance, Il will say this: il you're
In England week hence. I'll be
tempted to undertake the job on gen.
eral principles. don't in the least
question the sincerity Of your inten-
ton to behave yourself hereafter; but
as servant of the king, it's my duty
to advise you that England would pre-
fer you to start life anew-as they say
in another country. Several steam
ers will be sailing for the States be-
fore the end of the week-further de-
tails l leave entirely to your discre-
ton. But go you must" he concluded
firmly.
81 understand" said Lanyard;
and would have said more, but
couldn't. There was something suspi-
ciously like mist before his eyes.
Avoiding the faces of his sweetheart
and the Englishman, he turned aside.
put forth a hand blindly to wing of
the biplane to steady himself, and
stood with head bowed and limbs trem-
bling
Moving quietly to his side, the girl
took his other hand and held it tight.
Presently Lanyard shook himself
tmpatiently and lifted his head again.
Sorry" he said apologetic-"but
your generosity-when looked for
nothing better than arrest-was bit
too much for my nerves."
"Nonsense!" the Englishman COM
mented with brisk good-humor. We're
all upset. A drop of brandy'll do US
no end of good"
Unbuttoning his leather surtout, he
produced flask from one of the inner
pockets, filled its metal cup. and of.
fered 1t to the girl.
"You first, If you please, Miss Shan
non. mol insist. You positively
need it,
She allowed herself to be persuaded,
drank, coughed, gasped and returned
the cup, which Wertheimer promptly
refilled and passed to Lanyard.
The raw spirits stung like fire, but
proved an instant aid to the badly
tangled nerves of the adyenturer. In
another moment he was much more
himself.
Drinking in turn, Wertheimer put
away the flask. That's better!" he
Nov shall be able to
cut along with this blessed machine
without fretting over the fate of Elk
strom. But till now l haven't been
able to forget"
He paused and drew hand across
his eyes.
1T was. then, Ekstrom-you think?"
Lanyard demanded.
"Unquestionably! De Morbihan had
know-of your bargain with
Oucroy; and know, too, that he and
Ikstrom spent each morning in the
langars at t.-Germain-en-Laye after
,our sensational escape. 1t never en-
cred my head, of course, that they
lad any such insane scheme brewing
Is that-else would never have so
;iddily arranged with Ducroy-through
he surete, of course-to take Vauque-
ms place. Besides, who else could
t have been? Not De Morbihan, for
les crippled for life, thanks to that
flair in the Bots; not Popinot. who
vas on his way to the Sante, last saw
# him; and never Bannon-he was
lead before I left Paris for Port Avia- !
ion."
Dead"
ooh, quite!" the Englishman af
rmed nOnchalantly "When we ar
ested him at three this morning ,
harged with completely in the MUIR {
or of Roddv-ha flew into a ma ssion