Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-04-20

The voice Of the maid replied: Yes
madame-comlngl"
"well-dont Just yet. Wait ther'
till l call you"
Very good. madame"
The woman returned complete at
tention to Lanyard.
Now. monsieur Of two minds, whai
is 1t you wish?"
Why did you do that?" the adven
turer asked. nodding toward the recep
ton hall.
Tell Sidonie to wait instead Of call
ing for help? Because-well, because
you interest me strangely. I've a curl
Gus notion you're in desperate guam
dairy and about to throw yourself on
my mercy"
Il am" Lanyard admitted tersely.
All Now this does begin to grow
Interestingly Would you mind telling
me why?"
Because, madame, I have done you
a great service, and feel l can count
upon your gratitude"
The Frenchwoman's eyebrows lifted
at this. Doubtless monsieur knows
what he's talking about"
Listen, madame. l am in love with
a young woman, an American. a
stranger, and friendless in Paris. Ii
anything happens to me tonight, If
am arrested or assassinated@
rs that likely?"
"Quite likely, madame. l have enc
mics among the Apaches and in my
own profession as well. l have reason
to suspect that some of these are in
this neighborhood tonight. may pos
sibly not escape them. In that event,
this young lady Of whom l speak will
need a protector"
"And why must l interest myself in
her fate, pray?"
Because, madame, of this service /
have done you. Recently, in London,
you were robbed"
The woman started and colored with
excitement. "You know something of
my stolen JEWELS"
Everything, madame; it was l who
stole them"
you? You are, then, that Lone
Wolff"
Il was, madame"
why the past tense?" the woman
demanded, eying him with a gathering
frown.
Because l am done with ~thieving."
She threw back her head and
laughed, but without mirth. "A likely
story, monsieur! Have you reformed
since l caught you here"
Does it matter when? 1 take it that
proof, visible, tangible proof of my sin
certify, more than a meaningless date,
would be needed to convince you"
mo doubt about that monsieur-the
Lone Wolff"
Gould you wish better proof than
that of restoration of your stolen prop
erty?"
Are you trying to bride me to let
you off with an offer to return my
jewels?'
I'm afraid emergency reformation
wouldn't persuade you"
"You do well to be so afraid"
But if | can prove I've already re.
stored your jewels"
But you cannot"
IF madame will do me the favor to
open her safe she will find them there
-conspicuously placed"
What nonsense"
Am | in error in assuming that
madame didn't return from England
until quite recently?"
But today, in fact"
"And you haven't troubled to inyes.
tigate your safe since returning?"
ut had not occurred to me"
Then why not test my assertion be-
fore denying it?"
With an incredulous shrug Nine.
Omber terminated a puzzled scrutiny
of Lanyard's countenance and turned
to the safe.
But to have done what you declare
you have" she argued, you must have
known the combination-since it ap-
pears you haven't done any breaking
open"
The sequence of the combination ran
glibly off Lanyard's tongue. And at
this. with every evidence of excite
ment, at length beginning to hope
more than to believe-the woman set
herself to open the strongbox. Within
a minute she had succeeded, and the
morocco-bound jewel box was in her
hand.
A hasty examination assured her its
treasure was intact.
But why" she stammered, pale
with emotion-"why, monsieur, why?"
Because / had decided to leave off
stealing for a livelihood"
When did you bring these Jewels
here"
-