Mountain advocate., 1916-05-05


beg your pardon"
"I wish to catch the first train for
London" the girl informed him calmly.
You'll have some time TO wait"
Lanyard informed her The first
train leaves about half past eight, and
now It's not more than FIVE"
THAT can't be helped can wait
in the station"
He shrugged; that was her look.
out-if she were sincere in her asser.
tion that she meant to leave Paris;
something which he took the liberty
of doubling.
you can reach it by the Metro" he
suggested - "the underground, you
know; there's a station handy-St.
German des Pres. If you like, I'll
show you the way"
Her relief seemed so naive he could
almost have believed It genuine And
yet"
81 shall be very grateful" she mur.
INJURED
He took that for whatever worth Il
might assay and quietly fell into
place beside her, and in mutual 81.
lence-perhaps largely due to her in
tuitive sense of his bias-they gained
the Boulevard st. German. But
here, even as they emerged from the
side street, that happened which again
upset Lanyard's plans-a belated fiacre
hove up out of the mist and ranged
alongside, its driver loudly soliciting
patronage.
Beneath his breath Lanyard cursed
the man literally; nothing could have
been more inopportune; he needed
that uncouth conveyance for his own
purposes, and If it had only waited un-
til he had piloted the girl to the Metro
politain station, he might have had it.
Now he must either yield the cab to
the girl or-share It with her. And
why not? He could readily drop out
at his destination and bid the driver
continue to the Care du Nord, and the
Metro was neither quick nor direct
enough for his design--which included
getting under cover well before day
break.
Somewhat sulkily, then, IL without
betraying his temper, he signaled the
cocher, opened the door, and handed
the girl in with the suggestion:
"If you don't mind dropping me en-
route"
II shall be very glad" she said
anything to repay, even in part, the
courtesy you've shown mel"
"Oh. please don't worry about that
He gave the driver precise direc-
tions, climbed in. and settled himself
beside the girl The whip cracked, the
horse sighed, the driver swore, the
aged fiacre groaned. stirred reluctant.
ly. crawled wearily off through the
thickening drizzle.
Within its body a common restraint
held silence like wall between the
two
The girl sat with face averted, read
ing through the window what corner
signs they passed: Rue Bonaparte,
Rue Jacob. Rue des Saints Peres,
Quai Malaquais, Pont du Carrousel, rec
ognizing at least one landmark in the
gloomy arches of the Louvre, vaguely
wondering at the inept French taste
in nomenclature which had christened
the vast, lowering. echoing quadrangle,
the Place du Carrousel, unliveliest OF
public squares in her unhappy Pari-
sian experience.
And in his turn Lanyard reviewed
those welremembered ways in vast
WEAKNESS of spirit - disgusted with
himself in consciousness that the girl
had somehow OWNED his distrust
THE Lone Wolf, eh?' he mused bit
terly. Rather. the Cornered Rat-if
people only knew! Better still. the
Errant--no-the Arrant Ass!"
They were skirting the Palais Royal
when suddenly she turned to him in an
impulsve attempt at selfjustification.
What must you be thinking of me,
Mr.. Lanyard"
Il? oh, don't consider me, please.
II doesn't matter what | think-does
it?"
But you've been so kind, | feel |
owe you at least some explanation OF
what must seem strange to you"
"Oh. as to that" he countered cheer
fully. I've got pretty definite no
tion that you're running away from
your father"
Yes. couldn't stand it any
! longer-"
She G. 'ght herself up, as though
I ,mpted mt afraid TO say more. He
waited briefly before offering encour-
agement.
81 hope l haven't seemed imperti'
nent."
mo, mol"
Than this impatient negative his
pause of invitation evoked no other
recognition. She had subsided into
her reserve. but-he fancied-not alto
gether willingly.
Was it, then. possible that he had
misjudged her?
You've friends in London, no
doubt?" he hazarded.
"No-none."
But"