Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-01-26

y Roddy still absorbed in. the Daily Mai
The girl bent forward with a loo
Of eager interest.
"The Lone Wolf? Who is that?"
"You don't know him in America
mademoiselle?"
"No-o."
"The Lone Wolf, my dear Lucia,
the valetudinarian explained in dr.,
and humorous accents, lis the sobrj
quet fastened by some imaginativ,
French reporter upon a celebrated
criminal who seems to have made him
self something of a pest over herr
these last few years. Nobody know!
anything definite about him, apparent
ly, but he operates in most individ
ual way and keeps the police busy try
ing to guess where he'll strike next
The girl breathed an incredulous ex
clamation.
"But I assure you" De Morbihar
protested. 'The rogue has had a won
derfully successful career, thanks tc
his dispensing with confederates and
combining his depredations to jewels
and similar valuables-portable and
easy to convert into cash. Yet" he
added, nodding sagey, lone is not
afraid to predict that his race is al
most run"
| "You don't tell me-" the older man
exclaimed. Have they picked up the
scent-at last?''
! 'The man is known" De Norbihan
affirmed.
By now the conversation had caught
the interest of several lettering wait
ers, who were listening open-mouth-
ed; and even Roddy seemed a bit
startled, and for once forgot to make
business with his newspaper, but his
wondering stare was exclusively for
De Morbihan.
Lanyard put down knife and fork,
swallowed a final mouthful Of Haul
Brion, and lighted a cigarette with the
hand of a man who knew not the
meaning of nerves.
s"Garcon!" he called quietly, and or
dered coffee and cigars, with a liqueur
to follow.
Known" the American exclaimed.
II didn't say that" De Morbihan
laughed; "but the mystery is no more
in certain quarters"
"Who is he,. them"
"That-monsieur will pardon me-
I'm not yet free to state. Indeed, I
may be indiscreet in saying as much
as I do. Yet, among friends"
His shrug suggested that, as far as
he was concerned, walters were not
human and the other guests OF the
establishment non-existent.
But" the American protested, per.
haps you can tell us how they got on
his track?"
1T was not difficult" said De Nor
bihan; Indeed, quite simple. This
tone of depreciation is becoming, for
it was my part to suggest the solu-
ton to my friend, the chief of the
surete. He had been annoyed and dis
tressed, and was even talking of re-
signing because of his inability to cope
with this gentleman, the Lone Wolf. |
And since he is my friend, I, too, was
distressed on his behalf, and badgered |
my poor wits until they CHANGED upon
the idea which led US to the light"
"You won't tell us?" the girl pro-
tested, with little moue Of disap-
pointment as the Frenchman paused |
>.~2
perhaps T. should not And yet
why not? ASH say, it was elementary
mere matter of logical |
deduction and elimination. One made .
up ones mind the Lone Wolf must be
a certain type of man; the rest was
simply sitting France for the man to
fit the theory and then watching him
until he gave himself away"
you're not going to stop there?"
the American demanded in an ag-
grieved tone.
mo? must continue? Very we'll;
confess to some little pride It was
! feat. He is cunning, that one!"
De Morbihan paused and shifted
sidewise in his chair, grinning like a
child.
BY this maneuver, thanks to the ar
of mirrors lining the walls,
ne commanded an indirect view of
Lanyard, a fact of which the latter
vas not unaware, though his express
sion remained unchanged as he sat
With a corner Of his eye reserved for
whether De Nor
,ihan were telling the truth or only
'oasting for his own glorification.
do go on-please!" the girl begged
,rettily.
II can deny you nothing, mademoi-
ellie. Well, then! From what little
vas known of this mysterious crea-
ure, one readily inferred he must be
bachelor, with no close friends That
> clear. I tr!.st?
"Too deep for me, my FRIEND" the
1derly man confessed.
'1mpenetrable ret1cence," the count
xpounded - and enjoying himself
possible in the human j
Citations. Sooner or later one is .
oOmed to share ones secrets, how
yer reluctantly, even unconsciously,
18th wife. mistress. a child, or
18th some trusted friend. And a Sc
ret between two is-a prolific breeder {
{ platitudes. Granted this line of 8
easoning, the Lone Wolf is of neces- {
ity not only unmarried, but practi- |
ally friendiess. Other attributes Of i