Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-04-13

we'd just been talking about you"
Had you, thought"
Rather. Hadn't you better take me
where we can have quiet little talk ?"
I'm not conscious of the neces-
sity-"
| oh, I say!" Wertheimer protested
amiably. Don't be so rotten shirty,
old top. Give chap a chance Be
sides, / received today bit of news
from Antwerp l guarantee will inter
est you"
! Antwerp" Lanyard repeated, mys-
titled
"Antwerp-where the ships sail
from" Wertheimer laughed-"not Am
sterdam, where the diamonds fore
gather, as you may know"
Il don't follow you, I'm afraid"
81 shan't eIucidate until we're under
cover"
With brief hesitation Lanyard said
more p1acably: All right. But where
! shall I take your"
amy quiet cafe will do. You can
readily find one"
| Thanks - no." Lanyard obje cted
! dryly. IF / must confabulate with
! gentlemen Of your kidney, l prefer to
| do it under cover. Even dressed as
am, l might be recognized you know"
But it was evident that Wertheimer
| didn't mean to permit himself to be
ruffied
Then will my modest diggings suit
your" he suggested pleasantly. I've
taken a suite in the Rue Vernet, just
| back of the Hotel Astoria, where we
can be as private as you please. That
is, if you've no objection.
None whatever"
Wertheimer gave him the number
and replaced the window.
| His rooms in the Rue Vernet proved
to be a small ground-fiOor apartment
with private entrance to the street.
Took the tip from you," he told
| Lanyard, as he unlocked the door. Il
dare say you'd be glad to get back to
that little rez-de-chausse of yours in
the Rue Roget. Ripping place, that.
| By the way-iudging from your ap-
| parently robust state Of health, you
haven't been trying to live at home
of late"
"Indeed?"
Indeed yes, monsieur! If I may
presume to interfere-Id pull wide Of
the Rue Roget for a while-for as
long, at least, as you remain in your
present intractable temper"
Il fancy you're right" Lanyard said
carelessly, following, as Wertheimor
turned up the lights, into a. modest
salon, cozily furnished. you live here
alone, | understand"
"Quite-make. yourself perfectly at
ease; nobody can hear US. And the
Englishman added with a laugh, do
sit down = take that chair there,
which commands both doors, if you
| don't trust me-"
Meaning your impression is I made
it too hot for me?" Wertheimer inter
preted with a quizzical glance. Il
sha mt tell about that. But I'm hoping
to be able to run home for an occa-
sional weekend without stirring up
trouble. Why not go along with me
| sOulc llIu6
| Lanyard shook his head.
Comet" the Englishman rallied him.
| Don't put on so much side I'm not
bad company Why not be sociable,
| since we're bound to be thrown to-
gether more or less in the way of bust
ness ?"
oh, l think not"
DIT Il
this way. Playing Partisan taxi-bandit
is hardly your shop. And, of course,
you understand you won't be permit
| ted to engage in any more remunera-
tive pursuit until you make terms with
the powers that be-nr leave Paris"
MIR. Wertheimer," Lanyard in
formed him quietly, none of you will
stop me, if ever I make up my mind
to take the field again"
You haven't been thinking of quit
ting it-what?" Wertheimer demand
ed innocently, opening his eyes wide
We'll, THAT do you Think"
Il think" the Englishman laughed
Il think this conference doesn't get
anywhere in particular. Our simple,
| trusting natures don't seem to frater-
nize as spontaneously as they might
| We may as well cut the sparring and
get down to business-don't you think?
But before we do. I'd like permission
to offer one word of friendly adv Ice"
"And that is"
| "'Ware Bannon!"
| Lanyard nodded. Thanks" he
said.
| Il say that in all earnestness," Vert
heimer declared. God knows you're
nothing to me, but at least you've
played the game like a man; and
won't see you butchered to make an
Apache holiday for want Of warning"
Please step there!" Lanyard inter
| rupted holly. I was beginning TO like
you, too. But you persist in reminding
me you're hand and glove with the
brute who had Roddy slaughtered in
| his sleep"