Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-02-09

But it must be so hard to credit
Why, it's more than year since it
last happened. OF course, as a child
it was almost habit; they had to
watch me all the time. Once But
that doesn't matter. am so sorry!"
"You really mustn't worry" Ian.
yard insisted. TITS all quite natural
such things do happen-are happen
ing all the time"
But don't want you-"
II am nobody, Miss Bannon. Be.
sides, I sha'n't mention the matter to
a soul. And if ever am fortunate
enough to meet you again, shall have
forgotten it ompletely-believe me-"
There was convincing sincerity in
his Tone The girl looked down, as
though abashed.
"You are very good" she MUIR
INJURED, moving toward the door.
II am very fortunate"
Her glance of surprise was question
enough.
"To be able to treasure this much
of your confidence" he responded with
a tentative smile.
She was near the door; he opened it
for her, but cautioned her with a
gesture and a whispered word: wait.
I'll make sure nobody's about"
He stepped noiselessly into the hall
and paused an instant, looking keenly
right and left, listening.
The girl advanced to the threshold
and there halted, hesitant, eying him
auxiously.
He nodded reinsurance: "All right
coasts clear!"
But she delayed one moment more.
cts you who are Mistaken" she
whispered, flushing again beneath his
regard, from which admiration could
not be absent. 1T is I who am for
tunate-to have met a-gentleman."
Her difident smile, together with
the candor of her eyes, embarrassed
him in such degree that for the mo-
ment he was unable to frame reply.
Good night" she whispered-"an
thank you, thank you!"
Her room was at the far end Of the
corridor. She gained it's threshold in
one swift dash, noiseless save for the
silken whisper of her garments,
turned, flashed him final look that
left him with the thought that novel
lists did not always exaggerate, that
eyes could shine like stars.
Her door closed softly.
Lanyard shook his head, as if to dis.
sipate swarm Of Fostering thoughts,
and went back into his own bedcham-
Der.
He was quite content with the ex-
PLANTATION the girl had given, but as
the victim of methodical and peril
nacious habit of mind, spent five busy
examining his room and all
that it contained with a. perseverance
that would have done credit to a
Frenchman searching for a mislaid
sou.
If pressed, he would have been put
to it to name what he sought or
thought to find. What he did find was
that nothing had been tempered with,
and nothing more-not even so much
as dainty, lace-trimmed wisp Of sheer
linen bearing the lady's monogram
and exhaling faint but individual
perfume.
Which, when he came to consider it,
seemed hardly playing the game by
the book.
AS for Roddy, Lanyard wasted sew
eral minutes, now and again, listening
at the communicating
door; but if the detective had stopped
snoring, his respiration was clear
enough in that quiet hour, sound of
harsh monotony.
True, that proved nothing; but Lam
yard, after the fiasco of his first at
tempt to catch his enemy awake, was
no more disposed to be hypercritical;
he had his fill of being ingenious and
profound. And when presently he
again left Troyon's-this time without
the rest Of the concierge
it was with the reflection that, if
Roddy were really playing possum, he
was welcome to whatever he could
find IN the quarters of Michael Ian
yard.