Mountain advocate. (Barbourville, Ky.) 1904-1935, 1916-05-19
iidnr discover your flight before eight
o'clock this morning. Is itT'
"I'm afraid not"

I'm AFRAID not.
"And they've drawn the deadline for
mo round every conceivable exit from
Paris Popinot's Apaches are picketed
rycrywhore. And n Bannon had found
out about you in time II would have
needed only word"
lie paused and shuddered to think
What might have ensued had that word
neon spoken and the girl been caught
liting for her train In the Gar, du
Nord
"Mcrcifully, we've escaped that. And
now, with any sort Of luck, Rannon
ought TO be busy enough, trying TO get
or kecp-his precious Mr. Grcgss
out Of the Sante. TO give us a chance.
And fighting chance is all ask
MIR. Lanyard"-the girl bent toward
him across the table with gesture of
eager interest-"have you any idea
why he-why Mr.. Bannon hates you
so?"
But does he? ! don't know"
"If he doesn't, why does he connivo
IN plot to cast suspicion of murder
on you? Why was he so anxious to
know whether you were really the
Lone Wolf? I saw his eyes light up
when De Morbihan mentioned that
name after dinner; and II ever I saw
hatred in mans face, II was in his
rs he watched you when you weren't
looking"
"As far as know, I never heard of
him before" Lanyard said carelessly.
II fancy II was nothing more than the
excitement OF a man.hunt Now that
they've found me out, De Morbihan
and his crew won't rest until they've
got my scalp"
'But why is that?"
professional jealousy. We're all
crooks, all In the same boat only |
won't row to their stroke. I've always
played lone hand successfully; now
they insist on coming into the game
and sharing my winnings. And I've
told them where they could go
And because Of that, they'd"
There's nothing they wouldn't do,
Miss Shannon, to bring me to my
knees or see me put well out of the
way, where my operations cant hurt
their pocketbooks. Well-all | ask is
a fighting chance, and they shall have
heir way!"
Her brows contracted 81 don't un.
derstand. You want a fighting chance
to surrender-to give in to their de.
mands?"
in q way-yes. / want a fighting
chance to do what I'd never in the
world get them to believe | mean TO
do-chuck 1t all up and leave them a
free field"
And then. when still she searched
his face with puzzled eyes, he insist
ed Il mean 1t; want to get away
clear out-chuck the game for good
and ALL"
A little silence greeted this an
nouncement. Lanyard, at pause near
the table, resting hand on it, bent
to the girls upturned face a grave but
candid regard. And the deeps of her
eyes that never swerved from his We're
troubled strangely in his vision.
He could by no means account for
the light he seemed to see therein-a
iyht that kindled while he watched
like tiny fame. feeble, fearful. vacil.
liant; then, as the moments passed
steadied and grew stronger, but evcl
leaped and danced, so that he, lost in
wonder of it and forgetful OF himself
thought of 1t as the ardent face of
happy child dancing In the depths OF
some brown autumnal woodland.
YOU" she breathed incredulously-
you mean you're going to stop
have stopped, Miss Shannon. The
Lone Wolf has prowled for the last
time. | didn't know it till just now
when | woke up an hour or so ago
but I've turned my last job"
But why?" she demanded in bewil
derment. But why do you say that!
What can have happened TO make
you"
Not fear of that Pack" he laughed
mot that, promise you. If thought
Paris too small for them and me I'd
never leave 1t alive!"
"Oh, | know" she said impatiently
II know that very well. But still !
don't understand"
IF it won't bore you. I'll try to eX'
plain" He drew up his chair and sat
down again, facing her across the lit
tered table. Il don't suppose you've
ever stopped to consider what an es
sentially stupid animal crook must