Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-04-12
CHAPTER Xxx.
of With the Old,

OF With the Old.
With a sensation of being crushed
and suffocated by the encompassing
dark mystery, she nerved herself
against a protracted vigil. The obscur-
ity on every hand seemed alive with
stealthy footsteps, whisperings, MUIR
murings, the passage of shrouded
shapes of silence and of menace. Her
eyes ached, her throat and temples
throbbed, her skin crept, her scalp
tingled. She seemed to hear thousand
different noises of alarm.
The only sounds she did not seem to
hear were those-if any-that accom-
panied Lanyard's departure and re-
turn. Had he not been thoughtful
enough. when a few feet distant, to
give warning with the light she might
we'll have greeted with cry Of fright
the consciousness of a presence near
her, so silently he moved about. AS
it was, she was startled, apprehensive
of some misadventure, to find him
back 50 soon, for he hadn't gone three
minutes, long though her nervousness
had made that period seem.
''It's quite all right" he announced
ing. -There are just five people in
the house aside from ourselves-all
servants, asleep In the rear wing.
We've a clear field-if no excuse for
taking foolish chances! However,
Wen be finished and eff again within
ten minutes. This way"
Their destination proved to be
huge and gloomy library at one ex-
IRENE of chain Of magnificent salons
that formed a veritable treasure-gal-
lery Of exquisite furnishings and au-
thentic old masters. AS they moved
slowly through these chambers Ian.
yard kept his flash-lamp busy; involun-
tarily now and again, he would check
the girl before some splendid canvas Of
extraordinary antique.
I've always meant to happen in
some day with a moving-van and loot
this place property" he confessed
with little sigh. considered from
the viewpoint of an expert practitioner
in my-ah-late profession, it's sin
and shame to let all this go neglect
ed when it's so ill-guarded. The old
lady--Aladam Omber, you know--has
all the money there Is, approximately,
and when she dies all these beautiful
things go to the Louvre, for she's with
out kith or kin"
But how did she manage to accumu-
late them all?" the girl wondered.
Its the accretion of generations of
passionate collectors" he informed
her. The late NJ. Omber was the last
of his dynasty; he and his forbears
brought together the paintings and the
furniture; madame added the Orien-
tails gathered by her first husband and
her own collection of antique jewelry |
and precious stones. That's her par
ticular fad. Here we are!"
AS he spoke the light Of the fash
lamp was blotted out An instant later !
the girl heard little clashing noise Of |
curtain rings sliding along a pole, and
this was thrice repeated. Then, follow
ing another brief pause, switch
clicked, and, streaming from the hood
of portable electric desk lamp. pool
of light flooded the heart Of vast
place Of shadows.
Reviewing it swiftly, the girl found
herself in an apartment whose doors
and windows alike were cloaked with
heavy draperies hanging from floor to
ceiling In long, shining folds. Immense
black bookcases lined the walls, their
shelves crowded with volumes in rich
bindings; from their tops pallid, sculp-
tured masks peered down inquisitively.
leering and scowling at the intruders.
A huge mantelpiece of carved mar
BILE, supporting great, dark mirror,
occupied the best of one wall; beneath
It wide, deep fireplace yawned, insult
ficiently shielded BY screen Of
wrought brass and crystal. In the mid
die OF The room stood a library table
Of mahogany; huge leather chairs and
touches encountered the remainder Of
It's space. And one corner, that to the
right OF the fireplace. was shut of BY
. high Japanese screen Of cinnabar
and gold.
To this Lanyard moved confidently,
the lamp. Placing it on the
floor. he grasped one wing Of the
screen with both hands, and at cost Of
considerable effort swung it aside, un-
covering the face of a huge, old-style
safe, OF which the body was buried In
the wall.
For several seconds-but not for
studied this problem
lntently standing quite motionless.
head lowered and thrust forward,
hands resting on his hips. Then, turn
Ing, he nodded an invitation to come
nearer.
my last job he said, with smil-
Ing countenance oddly lighted by the
lamp at his feet-"and my easiest I I
fancy. Sorry, too, for I'd rather have
liked to show of = bit! But this old
fashioned tin bank gives no excuse for
spectacular methods"
But" the girl objected, you've
brought no tools!"
ooh, but I have!" And fumbling in
\ pocket. Lanyard produced a pencil.
Behold" he laughed, brandishing it.
She knitted thoughtful brows. Il
don't understand"
"All need-except this"
Crossing to the desk. he found