Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-04-19

DILL Suc oIuUUOIAAy WituAcAu Acl
hand. mo, moi" she pleaded. It'd
rather not touch it. Put it back. Let's
hurry. I'm frightened"
He shrugged and, acquiescent, re
placed the jewel; then yielded again tc
impulse of curiosity and lifted the lid
of the second case.
It contained nothing but pieces sci
with colored stones Of the first order
-emeralds, amethysts, sapphires, ru
bies, topaz, garnets, lapis-lazuli
jacinths, jades-fashioned by master
craftsmen into rings, bracelets, chains
brooches, lockets, necklaces Of ex-
quisite design-the whole thrown
heedlessly together, without care OF
arrangement.
For moment the adventurer stared
down modify at this priceless hoard,
his eyes narrowing, his breathing per-
ceptibly quickened. Then, with slow
gesture, he reclosed the case, took
from his pocket that other case which
he had brought from London, opened
it, and held it aside, beneath the light,
for the girls inspection.
He looked not once either at its con-
tents or at her, fearing lest his coun-
tenance betray the truth, that he had
| not yet succeeded completely in exor-
Ching that mutinous spirit, the Lone
Wolf, from the tenement over which
it had so long held sway; and content
with the sound Of her quick, startled
sigh of amaze, that what she now be-
held could so marvelously outshine
what had been disclosed in the other
boxes, he withdrew his hand, shut the
case, found place for it In the safe,
and without pause closed the door,
shot the bolts, and twirled the dial
until the tumblers fairly sang.
One final twist of the lever handle
convincing him that the combination
was effectively dislocated, he rose,
picked up the lamp, replaced it on the
desk with scrupulous care to leave no
sign that it had been moved, and
looked round to the girl.
She was where he had left her, a
small, tense. vibrant figure among the
shadows, her eyes dark pools of won
der in face of blazing pallor.
With high head and his shoulders
well back he made q gesture signify
ing more eloquently than any words:
AL that is ended"
AS though thereby released from
chains of some strange enchantment,
she started and came swiftly toward
him.
And now" she asked breathlessly.
"Now to make our getaway" he re-
piled with assumed lightness. Before
dawn we must be clear Of Paris. Two
minutes, while straighten this place
up and leave it as found it."
He moved back to the safe, restored
the wing OF the screen to the spot from
which he had moved it and, after an
instant's close scrutiny Of the rug, be-
gan to explore his pockets.
What are you looking for?" the girl
inquired. coming over to him again.
my memoranda of the combina-
ton"
II have It," She indicated it's hid
Ing place in a pocket of her coat. "You
left it on the floor and I was afraid
you might forget"
mo fear!"g he laughed. "No"-as
she offered him the folded paper
keep ie ana destroy it once we're out
of this. Now those portieres."
Distinguishing the desk-light, he
turned attention to the draperies at
doors and windows
Within five minutes, leaving every
thing as they had found it, the two
were once more In the silent streets
of Passy.
They had to walk as far as the
Place de Trocadero before Lanyard
found q cab, which he later dismissed
at the corner Of the Faubourg st. Ger
main.
Another brief walk brought them to
q gate in the garden wall Of resi-
dence situated at the junction Of two
quiet streets.
This, I think, ends our Partisan
Lanyard announced. III
you'll be good enough to keep an eye
for busybodies-and yourself as in
conspicuous as possible in the recess
Of this doorway"
And he walked back to the curb,
the wall with his eye.
What are you going to do?"
He responded by doing it so swiftly
that she gasped with surprise: pausing
within yard of the walk.
ae gathered himself together, shot up
ithely into the air. caught the top