Mountain advocate., 1916-06-02
Downright, by Louis Joseph YnDeol
CHAPTER XVIII.
Sheer lmpudenee.

1nOuBn II was HOl YET eibne Sio~s
when they entered the restaurant. Il
was something after eleven before
Lanyard called for his bill.
We've plenty of time" he had e.
planned: eth be midnight before we
can move. The gentle art OF house
breaking has it's technique. you know.
and It's ctuics-we can't wen Violate
the privacy Of Nine. Omber's strong.
box before the Caretakers on the
premises are sound asleep. Il isn't
done. you know-it isn't class to 90
burglariziug when decent, law-abidinS
folk are wide awake. Meantime wore
better OFF here than trapesins the
streets"
It's a silent web OF side ways and .
gloomy one by night that backs up
north Of Les Halles-old Paris, grim,
taciturn, and somber, stepped In IT.
memories of savage romance. But for
infrequent corner lamps, the street
that welcomed them from the doors Of
the warm and coy restaurant was -
dismal as an alley in some city Of the
dead Its houses. with their mansard
roofs and boarded windows, bent their
heads together like mutes at . wake.
black-cloaked and hooded; seldom one
showed a light never one betrayed by
any sound the life that lurked behind
its Jealous blinds.
Now again the rain had ceased and,
though the sky remained overcast. the
atmosphere was clear and brisk with Q
touch of frost. in grateful contrast to
the dull and muggy air that had OBJ
tanned for the last twenty-four hours.
Wen walk Lanyard suggested
'if you don't mind-part of the way at
least; it'll eat up time, and bit Of ex-
ercise will do US both good"
The girl assented quietly.
The drum Of their heels on sastdry.
ing sidewalks struck sharp echoes
from the silence of that drowsy quar-.
ter, a lonely clamor that rendered II
impossible to ignore their apparent
solitude-as impossible as It was for
Lanyard to ignore the fact that they
were followed.
The shadow logging them on the far
side OF the street, some fifty yards be-
hind, was as noiseless as any cat; but
for this circumstance Lanyard would
have been slow TO believe 1t was con-
cerned with him, so confident had he
felt, till that moment OF having given
the Pack the slip.
And from this he diagnosed still an
other symptom of the Packs incurable
stupidity!
Supremacy on the alert, he had dis
covered the pursuit before they left
the block Of the restaurant. Dissem-
bling, partly 10 avoid alarming the
girl, partly TO trick the follower into .
feeling of greater security. he turned
this way and that. round several cor
ners. until quite convinced that the
shadow was dedicated to himself e.
clusiyeIy then promptly revised his
prior purpose and, instead of sticking
TO darker baCkways, struck out direct
ly for the broad, well-lighted. and live
ly Boulevard Sebastopol.
Crossing this without another back.
ward glance. he turned north. seeking
some cafe whose arrangements suited
his designs; and, presently, though not
before their tramp had brought them
almost to the line OF the Grand boule
wards, found one to his taste. Q cheer
full and well-lighted establishment situ-
ated upon a corner. with entrances
from both streets. A hedge Of forlorn
air trees knee-deep In wooden tubs
guarded its collection of round. metal
tables and spindle-shanked chairs. OF
which few were occupied. Inside. Wis
ible through the wide plate-glsss win
dows, perhaps a dozen patrons sat
round half as many tables-no more
idling over dominoes and gossip
steady paced burghers with their
wives, men in small ways Of business
in the neighborhood.
Entering to this company. Lanyard
selected a square, marble-toppsd table
against the back wall entrenchsd him
self with the girl upon the plush-up-
holstered seat behind IT, ordered cot.
fee and writing materials. and proceed.
ed to light a cigarette with the non
chalance of one to whom time u Of no
consequence.
What is IT," the girl asked guard
eddy. as the waiter scurried of to exc
cute his commands. You've not
stopped in here for nothingi"
"True-but lower. pleassr he
begged. IF we speak English loud
enough to be heard II win attract at.
tentlon. The trouble 10. were followed.
But as yet our faithful shadow doesn't
know we know it-unless he's more In
telligent than he seems. Consequent
ly, II don't misjudge him. he'll take
table outside, the better to keep an
eye on US, as soon - he sees we're sp-
parently settled for some tune. More
than that, I've got note 70 vrits--and
not merely as a subterfuss. eThis fsi.
low must bs shaken on. and q long -
we stick together that can't vsry vel