River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1916-03-16
CHAPTER XXI.
Enigma.


Lanyard had found no reason to be-
lieve that Lucy had left him otherwise
than voluntarily, or that their adven-
lures at the homes of Nine. OmbeT
and M. Ducroy had been noted by spies
Of the Pack. The testimony Of his own
wits assured him that they hadn't
been followed at any time subsequent
to leaving the Rue des Acacias; their
way had been too long and purposely
too involved, and his vigilance too
lively for that. Left to herself there
in the garden for q quarter-hour, she
had been free to think independently
for almost the first time since she had
descended from the studio.
Then, horror Overmastering her, she
had fed the garden-wildly, blindly,
he didn't dOubt-and probably had
sought refuge in some obscure hotel
till morning. What then? She had
neither money nor any friends in
Paris, but had mentioned some per-
sonal jewelry she planned to pawn.
That would be her first move, then,
to a paWnbroker's, where he must
seek her-not to force himself again
upon her, but to follow at distance
and watch over her, to ward off any at
tempt on Bannon's part to interfere.
The government pawnshop had its
attraction for Lanyard as we'll; he was
there before the doors were open for
the day-was the first to enter; and
fortified by loans negotiated on his
watch, cigarette case, and a ring or
two, retired to a nearby cafe which
commanded a view of the entrance to
the establishment on the Rue des
Blancs-Manteaux and settled himself
against a day-long vigil.
Il wasn't easy; drowsiness buzzed in
his brain and weighted his eyelids;
now and again. involuntarily, he nod
ned over his glass of black coffee. And
when evening came and the doors Of
the pawnshop were closed for the
night he rose and stumbled off, telling
himself that possibly he had mapped
little without his knowledge and thus
had missed her visit.
Engaging obscure lodgings close by
the Rue des Acacias, he slept till near
ly noon of the following day, then rose
to put into execution a design which
had sprung full-winged from his brain
at the moment of awakening.
He had his car and chauffeur's IL
cense Of long standing in the name of
Pierre Lamier-was free, in short, to
cruise at will the streets of Paris
without lawful let or hindrance. And
with the aid Of a few judicious seIec-
lions from the stock Of a secondhand
clothing shop and Ct few other pur-
chases at chemists, he felt tolerably
sure that it would need keen eyes
whether the Packs or the prefecture's
to identify Pierre Lamier with either
Michael Lanyard or the Lone Wolf.
BY the close Of the third day he re-
luctant1y conceded that she must have
managed to escape from Paris without
his aid.
Then he began to suspect that Ban
non had fed Paris as well, for the
most diligent investigation he was
able to pursue unchallenged failed to |
unearth the least clue to the now.
ments of the American subsequent 80
the fire at Troyon's.
Now, toward midnight of that same |
third day, Lanyard was driving slowly |
westward on the Boulevard de la Made
leine when a Limousine Of familiar
espect rounded a corner half a block !
ahead and, drawing up in f:snt OF
Viel's, discharged four passengers.
The first was Wertheimer. and 1t /