Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1916-04-13

| tdAlCAD, anu IN ten minutes more WAS
at the ample. open and unguarded
porte-cochere Of roomy court walled
with beetling. ancient tenements.
Assuring himself that the courtyard
was deserted. Lanyard addressed him
self to door on the right; to his
knock 1t swung promptly ajar with a
click of its latch. At the same time,
the adventurer produced from beneath
his cloak small black velvet vizor
and adjusted 1t to mask the upper
portion of his face. Then, entering a
narrow and odorous corridor. whose
obscurity was only emphasized by a
lonely. guttering candle, he turned the
knob of the first door and walked into
a small. ill.furnished room.
spare-bodied young man, who had
been sitting at desk reading by the
light of an oil lamp with heavy green
shade. rose and bowed cOurteously
Good morning, monsieur" he said
with the cordiality of one who greets.
an acquaintance of old standing. BE
seated" he added indicating an arm
chair beside the desk ut Is some :
time since have had the honor Of q Z
call from monsieur"
THAT is So" Lanyard admitted. sit
ting down.
The young Inan followed suit The
lamplight, striking across his face be-
meath the greenish penumbra of the ,
shade, discovered a countenance OF
Hebraic cast.
Monsieur has something to show
me, eh?"
But naturally"
Lanyards reply just escaped flavor
OF curtness-as who should say. What
did you expect" He was puzzled by
something strange and new in the at
titude of this young man, trace Of re-
serve and constraint.
They had been meeting in this man
ner for several years. conducting
their secret and lawless business ac-
cording to a formula invented by
Bourke and religiously observed by
Lanyard. A note or telegram of limo
cent superficial intent. addressed to a
certain member of leading firm of
variable signal for meetings slsch as
this, which we're always held in the
same place. at an indeterminate hour
after midnight, between this intelli-
gent, cultivated and well-mannere6
young Jew and the thief in his mask.
Why. then, this sudden awkward
ness and embarrassment on the part
of the agent?
Lanyard's eyes narrowed with sus-
picion.
In silence he produced jewel case
of morocco leather and gave 1t to the.
Jew, then settled back in his chair his
attitude one of lounging, but his mind
as uneasy with distrust as his fingers
which, under cover of his cloak, rested
close to the pocket containing his au-
tomato.
Accepting the box with little bow
the Jew pressed the catch and uncov-
cred its contents. But the richness of
the treasure thus disclosed did not
seem to surprise him; and, indeed, he
had more than once been introduced
with no more formality to plumber of
greater value Fitting a jewelers. mag
nifying-glass to his eye, he picked up
one after another of the pieces and ex-
amined them under the lamplight.
Presently he replaced the last and
shut down the cover of the box
He turned thoughtful countenance
to Lanyard, made as If to speak, but
hesitated
"Well?" the adventurer demanded
impatiently.
This, | take it," said the Jew alb
sently. tapping the box, "is the jewelry
of Nine. Omber."
81 took it," Lanyard retorted good
humoredly-"not to put too fine a
point upon i'll"
The Jew shrugged, and with the tips
of his fingers gently pushed the box
toward his customer
This makes me very unhappy" he
admitted; but have no choice in the
matter, monsieur AS the agent of my
principals, / am instructed to refuse
you an offer for these valuables.
"Why?"
Again the shrug, accompanied by
deprecatory grimace: THAT is diff
ficult to say. No explanation was
made me- My instructions were mere
ly to keep this appointment as usual,
but to advise you that it would be i'm
possible for my principals to continue
their relations with you as long as
your affairs remained in their present
status"
Their present status?" Lanyard re-
peated. What does that mean"
81 cannot say, monsieur. can only
repeat that which was said to me-"
After a moment Lanyard rose, took
the box and replaced it in his pocket.
very WE'LL" he said quietly. Your
principals, of course, understand that
this action on their part definitely
ends our relations rather than merely
interrupts them at their whim?"
81 am desolated, monsieur, but-one
must assume that they have consid-
cred everything. You understand. lt
is a matter in which am wholly with
out discretion, trust ?"