The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-02-25

A spare-bodied young man, who haf
been sitting at a desk, reading by th'
light OF an oil lamp with heavy greer
shade, rose and bowed courteously
Good morning. mon5ieur he said
with the cordiality OF one who greet'
an acquaintance OF old standing. BE
seated" he added indicating an arm
chair beside the desk 1T Is some
time since have had the honor Of
call from monsieur"
"That is So" Lanyard admitted, sit
ting down.
The young man followed suit. The
lamplight, striking across his face be
meath the greenish penumbra Of the
shade, discovered a countenance o.
Hebraic cast.
Monsieur has something to show
me. eh?'
but naturally"
Lanyard's reply just escaped a 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, a 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 a leading firm OF
] jewelers. in Amsterdam, was the In.
variable signal for meetings such as
| this, which were always held in the
same place. at an indeterminate hour
after midnight, between this intelli
gent. cultivated and welI-mannered
young Jew and the thief in his mask.
Why. then. this sudden awkward.
ness and embarrassment on the part
Of the agent?
! Lanvard'= eyes narrowed with sus
Z picIon.
- S'Iance he produced jewel case
~ marocco leather and gave 1t to the
J.sw. then settled back in his chair his
attitude one of lounging, but lis mind
as uneasy with distrust as mis- fingers
which, under cover of his cloak, rested
close to the pocket containing his au-
tomato.
Accepting the box with a 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 plunder 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 a thoughtful countenance
to Lanyard, made as if to speak, but
hesitated.
"Wel?" the adventurer demanded
impatiently
This, take it," said the Jew alb
sently, tapping the box, 'fs the jewelry
of Nine. Omber"
81 took it," Lanyard retorted good
humoredly-"not to put too fine
point upon it,"
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 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-ons
must assume that they have consid.
cred everything You understand, it
is a matter in which am wholly with
out discretion, | trust%
"Oh, quite!" Lanyard assented care
lessly. He held out his hand. Good
by, my friend"
The Jew shook hands warmly.
Good night, monsieur-and the
best of luck!"
There was a significance in his last
words that Lanyard did not trouble to
analyze. Beyond doubt the man knew
more than he dared admit. And the ad-
venturer told himself he could shrewd-
ly surmise most Of that which the !
other had felt constrained to leave un-
spoken.
Pressure from some quarter had |
been brought to bear upon that emf |
nently respectable firm Of jewel mer-
chants in Amsterdam to force them |
to discontinue their clandestine rela-
Lions with the Lone Wolf, profitable |
though these must have been.
CTO BE CONTINUED)
~~~-~S~S~~D~-o~~-~-~-~~
a man a period of restfulness; 1t
sbOuId n ford hin, c,,iat bo,rs 4, +ho |