The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-13
CHAPTER xxx-contInued.

46nSlOn, IoI0eQ MS arms, IOunSSO
against the desk, and watched Nine.
Omber acknowledge. none too cordial
~, the sergent's query.
81 am Nine. Omber-yes. What can
do for you?"
The sergent gaped.
"Pardoni" he stammered, then
laughed as one who tardily appreci-
etes joke. 1T is well we are here in
time, madame" he added-"though it
would seem you have not had great
trouble with this miscreant. Where is
the woman?"
He moved a pace toward Lanyard
handouts jingled in his grasp.
"A moment, if you pleased" madame
interposed. Woman? What woman? %
Pausing, the sergent explained in
tone of surprise:
His accomplice, naturally! Such
were our instructions-to proceed at
once to madame's home, enter quietly
by way of the servants entrance
which would be open-and arrest a
burglar with his female accomplice."
Again the stout sergent moved to-
ward Lanyard; again Nine. Omber
stopped him.
"One moment, if you pleased"
Her eyes, dense with mystif1cation
and suspicion, questioned Lanyard's.
who, with a significant nod toward the
Jewel case still in her hands, gave her
look of dumb entreaty.
After brief hesitation, ut is a mis-
take" madame declared; there is no
woman in this house that 1 know of
who has no right to be here. But
you say you received a message? l
sent none!"
The fat sergent shrugged. THAT is
not for me to dispute, madame. l have
only my information to go by"
He glared sullenly at Lanyard, who
returned a placid smile which, despite
what little hope was to b6 derived
from madame's irresolute manner,
masked a vast amount of trepidatiOn.
He felt toIerably sure Nine. Omber
had not summoned the police on prior
knowledge of his presence in the Ii
brary. This meant, then, a new form
of attack on the part of the Pack. He
must certainly have been followed
or else the girl had been caught at
tempting to steal away and the infor-
nation extracted from her by force
majeure Moreover, he could hear two
more pairs of feet tramping through
the salons.
Pending the introduction of these
last, Nine. Omber said nothing more.
And, unceremoniously enough, the
newcomers shouldered their way into
the library-two men in citizens cloth
ing-one pompous body of otherwise
undistinguished appearance, promptly
identified by the sergents de vile as
the commissaire of that quarter, the
other, puffy mediocrity, known to
Lanyard at least (if no one else seemed
to recognize him) as Popinot.
At this confirmation of his darkest
fears the adventurer abandoned hope
of any aid from Nine. Omber and be-
gan to take unostentatious stock of his
chances of escaping by his own eff
forts.
But he was altogether unarmed
thanks to his precipitate action il
drawing the teeth of madame's re
volver, and the odds were heavy-foul
against one. all four no doubt under
arms, and two at least-the sergenti
De NAi0-mGu VI SOUuQ MILITARY LTdlu
ing.
Mime. Omber?" inquired the com
missaire. saluting that lady with i'm
mAnse dignity. "One trusts that thi
intrusion may be pardoned. the circum
stances remembered. In an affair o
this zature, involving this repositor.
OF so historic treasures
THAT is quite well understood, nor
sieur lie commissaire." madame replie
distantly. "And this monsieur is. n
doubt. your aid?''
''Pardon!" Monsieur lie commissair
fastened to make his companio
known. m. Popinot, agent de l;
surete, who lays these informations.
With a profound obeisance to Nine
Omber, Popinot strobe dramaticall
over to face Lanyard and explore hi
Hneaments with his small. keen, shift
eyes of pig-a scrutiny which the aC
venturer suffered with superficial in
perturbability.
\ TT is he!" Popinot announced wit
a gesture. "Messieurs, call upon 20
to arrest this man. M. Michael Lar
yard. seIf-styled the Lone Wolf"
He stepped back a pace. expandin
his chest in vain effort to eclipse hi
abdomen. and glanced round triumph
antly at his respectful auditors.
Accused" he added with intens
relish. 'of the murder of Inspectc
Roddy of Scotland Yard at Troyon'
and of setting fire to that establish
ment-"
For this, Popinot." Lanyard int
rupted in an undertone. Il shall som
time cut OF your ears!" He turned t
Nine Omber: Accept, if you pleas
madame. my sincere regrets-but tn
accusation happens to be one of whic
am altogether innocent"
Instantly, from his passive pos
Lanyard Strengthened up, and tt
heavy brass and mahogany humidt
whereon his right hand had been res
ing seemed fairly to leap from i
place on the desk as, with a sweep
his arm, he sent it spinning poir
blank at the younger sergent.
Before that one, wholly unprepare
could more than gasp, It caught him
blow like kick just below the breas