Meade County news., 1916-06-01

presence that moved not, but eyed him
steadfastly; an apparition the more
arresting because of its very immo-
bility.
Rapidly the face of the minister of
war lost several shades of purple. He |
moistened his lips nervously withs
thick, dry tongue, and convulsively he |
clutched the bedclothing high and |
tight about his neck, as though labor
ing under the erroneous impression |
that the sanctity of his person was
threatened.
What do you want, monsieur" he |
suffered in still, small voice which
he would have been the last to ac-
knowledge his own.
II desire to discuss matter of bust
ness with monsieur" replied the in
truder after q small pause. "If you
will be good enough to calm yourself
-"
II am perfectly calm"
But here the minister of war verified
with one swift glance an earlier i'm
preston, to the effect that the tres
passer was holding something that
shone with a metallic luster, and his
soul began to curl up round the edges.
There are eighteen hundred francs
in my pocketbook-about, he man.
aged to articulate. my watch is ON
the stand here. You will find the fam
lily plate in the dining room safe, be-
hind the buffet-the key is on my ring
and the jewels of madame, my wife,
in small strong box beneath the head
of her bed. The combination"
Pardon; monsieur labors under a
misrepresentation" the housebreaker
interposed dryly. 81 have no wish
to harm you. Nor have any wish
other than to lay before you, as
senting government, certain matter
| Of state business"
There was silence while the minis
ter Of war permitted this exhortation
to sink in. Then, apparently reassured,
he sat up in bed and eyed his untimely
visitor with glare little short of true
ulent
"Eh? What's that?" he demanded.
Business? What sort of business? If
you wish to lay under my considera-
tion any matter of business, how Is it
you break into my home at dead Of
night and rouse me in this brutal fash
| ion-er-" here his voice faltered-
with lethal weapon pointed at my
head?"
Monsieur will admit he speaks I'M
der an error" returned the burglar.
81 have yet to point this pistol at him.
l should be very sorry to feel obliged
to do so. I display it, in fact, simply
that monsieur may not forget himself
and attempt to summon servants in
his resentment of this-I admit-un-
usual method Of introducing oneself to
his attention. When we understand
each other there will be no need for
such precautions, and then shall put
my pistol away, so that the sight Of it
may no longer annoy monsieur"
at is true, do not understand you,"
grumbled the minister of war. "Why-
If your errand be peaceable-break in.
to my house?"
Because 1t was urgently necessary
to see monsieur instantly. Monsieur
will reflect upon the reception one
would receive did one ring the front
door bell and demand an audience at
three o'clock in the morning."
"Well-" M. Ducroy conceded dubi-
ously. Then, on reflection, he iterated
the monosyllable testify: "Well! What
is it you want, then?"
Il can best explain by asking mon
sieur to examine-what have to show
him"
With this Lanyard dropped the pis-
tol into his coat pocket, from another
produced gold cigarette case, and
from the store of this last selected
single cigarette with meticulous care.
Regarding the minister Of war in
mystifying manner, he began to roll
the cigarette briskly between his
palms. A small shower Of tobacco
sifted on the foor; the rice paper
cracked and came away; and with a
bland smile and gesture OF a profes-
sional conjuror, Lanyard exhibited a
small cylinder of stiff paper between
his thumb and index finger.
Goggling resentfully, M. Ducroy
spluttered:
"Eh-what impudence is this?"
His smile unchanged, Lanyard bent
forward and silently dropped the cylin-
der into the Frenchman's hand. At the
same time he offered him a pocket
magnifying glass.
What is this?" Ducroy persisted
stupidly. "What-what-"
"If monsieur will be good enough
to unroll the papers and examine them
with the aid Of this glass"
With wondering grunt M. Ducroy
complied, smoothing out several small
sheets Of photographers printing-out
paper, to which extraordinarily compli-
Gated and minute designs had been
transferred-strongly resembling la
borious efforts to conventionalize
spiders web.
But no sooner had M. Ducroy focused
upon them the magn1fying glass than
he started violently, uttered an excited