Meade County news., 1916-06-29
CHAPTER xxx-contInusd.

rOE Iu0 pIob0uLg uOW0VOEp AauyUT
wasn't taking any. He met that chal-
lenge with look of blank noncompre-
hension. folded his arms, lounged
against the desk. and watched Nine.
Omber acknowledge, none too cordial.
ly, the sergent's query.
'T am Nine. omber-yes. What can
I do for your"
The sergent gaped.
"Pardoni" he stammered, then
laughed as one who tardily appreci-
ates joke. 1T is well we are here in
time, madame" he added-"though 1t
would seem you have not had great
trouble with this miscreant. Where Ia
the woman%
He moved pace toward Lanyard
handouts jingled in his grasp.
"A moment, II you pleased" madame
interposed. Woman? What woman?"
Pausing, the sergent explained in q
tone of surprise:
"His accomplice. naturally! Such
were our instructions-to proceed at
once to madame's home. enter quietly
by way of the servants entrance
which would be open--and arrest Q
burglar with his female accomplice."
Again the stout sergent moved to-
ward Lanyard; again Nine. Omber
stopped him.
zone moment, II you pleased"
Her eyes, dense with mystification
and suspicion, questioned Lanyards.
who, with significant nod toward the
Jewel case still in her hands, gave her
q look Of dumb entreaty.
After brief hesitation. ut 10 . mis-
take" madame declared; there IL NO
woman in this house that know Of
who has no right to be here. But
you say you received . message? 1
sent none!"
The fat sergent shrugged. THAT is
not for me to dispute, madame. / have
only my information to 60 BY"
He glared sullenly at Lanyard. who
returned . placid smile which, despite
what little hope was to be derived
from madame's irresolute manner.
masked vast amount Of trepidation.
He felt tolerably sure Nine. Omber
had not summoned the police on prior
knowledge Of his presence in the IL
brary. This meant, then, new form
Of attack on the part of the Pack. He
must certainly have been followed
or else the girl had been caught at
tempting to steal away and the infor-
nation extracted from her by force
majeure. Moreover, he could hear two
more pairs Of feet tramping through
the salons.
Pending the introduction Of these
last, Nine. Omber said nothing more.
And, unceremoniously enough, the
newcomers shouldered their way into
the library-two men in citizens cloth
ing-one pompous body of otherwise
undistinguished appearance, promptly
identified by the sergents de vile as
the commissaire of that quarter. the
other, q puffy mediocrity, known to
Lanyard at least (if no one else seemed
to recognize him) as Popinot.
At this confirmation of his darkest
fears the adventurer abandoned hope
Of any aid from Nine. Omber and be-
gan tn take unostentatious stock of his
chances Of escaping by his own ef-
forts.
But he was altogether unarmed,
thanks to his precipitate action in
drawing the teeth OF madame's re.
volyer. and the odds were heavy-four
against one, all four no doubt under
arms. and two at least-the ser1ents
de ville--men Of sound military train.
ing.
"MmO. Omber?" inquired the com.
missaire. saluting that lady with i'm
mense dignity. "One trusts that this
intrusion may be pardoned, the circum-
stances remembered. In an affair Of
this nature, involving this repository
Sof 20 historic treasures"
'"That 10 quite well understood, mon
sieur ls commissaire," madame replied
distantly. "And this monsieur 10. no
doubt, your aid?"
"Pardon!" Monsieur le commissaire
hastened to make his companion
known. IN. Popinot, agent de Ia
surete, who lays these informations.
With q profound, obeisance to Nine.
omber. Popinot strode dramatically
over to face Lanyard and explore his
lineaments with his small, keen. shifty
eyes Of pig-a scrutiny which the ad-
venturer suffered with superficial I'M
perturbability.
1T is he!" Popinot announced with
q gesture. "Messieurs, call upon you
to arrest this man, M. Michael Lam
yard, self-styled the Lone Wolf"
He stepped back a pace expanding
his chest in vain effort to eclipse his
abdomen. and glanced round triumph
antly al his respectful auditors.
Accused" he added with intense
relish. "of tho murder Of Inspector
Roddy Of Scotland Yard at Troyon's.
and af setting fire to that establish
merit"
'tor thi.s Pop!not," Lanyard inter-
rupted In an undertone. 81 shall some
tine cut OF your earsl" He turned to
Ama. omI,av- Accept II Vou please,