Mountain advocate. (Barbourville, Ky.) 1904-1935, 1916-03-24

his iips-"unfit to liveI" he amended
venomousiy.
Lanyard murmured a conventional
expression Of sympathy Through II
all he was conscious OF the regard of
the girl Her soft, brown eyes met
his candidly, with a look cool in its
composure. straightforward in its In
quiry. neither bold nor mock.demure.
And II they were the first TO fall, IL
was with an effect of curiosity stated,
without trace Of discontinue. And
somehow the adventurer felt himself
measured, classified, filed away.
Between amusement and pique he
continued TO stare, while the elderly
American recovered his breath and
De Morbihan jabbered on with unfail
ing vivacity; and he thought that this
closer scrutiny discovered in her face
contours suggesting maturity of
thought beyond her apparent years
which we're somewhat less than the
sum of his own-and with this the
suggestion of an elusive, provoking
patient melancholy.
1--WE are of for a glimpse Of Mont
martre." De Morbihan was explain
| ing-"M. Bannon and l. He has not
seen Paris in twenty years, he tells
me. Well, it will be amusing to show
him what changes have taken place
/ in all that time. One regrets made
moiselle is too fatigued to accompany
us. But you, my friend-now IL you
would consent to make our third, II
would be most amiable of you
I'm sorry" Lanyard excused him.
self; but as you see, am only Just
in from the railroad, long and tire
some journey. You are very good, but
i"
/ "Good?" De Morbhan exclaimed
with violence. II? On the contrary,
l am a very selfish man; ! seek but
to afford myself the pleasure of your
company. You lead such busy life,
my friend, romping about Europe,
here one day, God knows where the
next, that one must make ones best OF
your spare moments. You will join
us. surely"
Really l cannot tonight. Another
time, perhaps, If you will excuse me-"
But it is always the way" De Nor
bihan explained to his friends with
vast show Of mock indignation. An
other time, perhaps'-his invariable
response! I tell you, not two men In
all Paris have any real acquaintance
with this gentleman whom all Paris
knows! His reserve is proverbial-
as distant as Lanyard we say on the
boulevards!"
And turning again to the adventur-
er, meeting his cold stare with the De
Morbihan grin Of quenchless effron-
terry:
"As you will, my friend!" he grant
ed. But should you change your
mind-well, you'll have no trouble
finding us. Ask any place along the
conventional route. We see far too
little of each other, monsieur-and
am most anxious to have a little chat
with you
1T will be an honor" Lanyard re-
turned formally.
In his heart he was bordering sew
eral most excruciating methods of
numbering the man. What did he
mean? How much did he know? II
he knew anything, he must mean i'll,
for assuredly he could not be ignorant
of RoSdy's business or that every
other word he uttered was riveting
suspicion OF IDENTITY with the Lone
Wolf or that Roddy was listening with
all his ears and staring into the bar
gain!
Decidedly something must ne done
to silence this animal, De MorBI nan
should it turn out he really did know
something!
1t was only after profound reflec-
ton over his liqueur-while Roddy de-
voured his Daily Mail and washed it
down with third bottle of Bass-that
Lanyard summoned the maitre d'hotel
and asked for a room.
1t would never do to fix the doubts
of the detective by going elsewhere
that night. But, fortunately, Lanyard
knew that warren which was Troyon's
as no one else knew it, Roddy would
find 1t hard to detain him should
events seem to advise an early de-
parture.