The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-05-05

to protest, Lanyard thrust her forcibly
the windows, closed them.
shot the latch and stole like a ghost
round the farther side of the desk,
pausing within few feet Of the screen
and safe.
The footsteps were mufled by q rug
in the drawing room-the woman was
walking slowly, heavily, like one
weary and thoughtful.
Where the girl had placed II, behind
the cinnabar screen, the desk.lamp was
still alight, and Lanyard knew that the
diffusion of it's reflected rays was
enough 20 project his figure in silhou-
cite against the glow distinctly visible
to one on the threshold
Now everything hung upon the tenn
permanent Of the householder, how she
would take that appartion-whether
quietly, deceived by Lanyards mum
ming into believing she had only
poor thievlsh fool to deal with, or with
bourgeoise hysteria.
In the latter event, Lanyard's hand
was ready planted, palm down, on the
top of the desk; should the other at
tempt to raise an alarm, a single bound
would carry the adventurer across 1t in
full fight for the front doors.
In the doorway the mistress of the
house appeared and halted, quick,
glinting eyes shifting from the glow
on the floor to the dark figure of the
thief. Then, with quick gesture, put
ting forth hand, she found the chan
delier switch and turned on a blaze
Of light.
AS this happened Lanyard covered,
lifting an elbow as if to guard his face
as If expecting to find himself under
the muzzle of a revolver.
The gesture had the calculated ef-
feet of focusing the attention of the
woman directly to him, after one swift
glance round had taken in the curtains
that were still swaying at the window,
and shown her a room tenanted only
by herself and a cringing thief. And
Immediately it was made manifest that,
whether or not deceived, she meant
to take the situation quietly. If with
strong hand.
Her eyes narrowed and the muscles
of her square and almost masculine
jaw stood out ominously as she looked
the intruder up and down in silence.
Eventually a flicker of contempt mod
Grated the grimness of her dark coun-
tenance She took three steps for
ward, stopping on the other side OF the
desk, her back to the doorway.
Lanyard trembled visibly.
"Well!"-the word doomed like the
opening gun of an engagement. well,
my man!"-the shrewd eyes swerved
to the closed door of the safe and
quickly back again-'you don't seem
to have accomplished a great deal!"
Lanyard gripped the edge of the
desk, quivering.
For Gods sake, madame" he blurt-
ed in husky, shaken voice, nothing
like his own-"don't have me arrest
ed! Give me a chance! l haven't
taken anything. Don't call the fiics!"
He paused, lifting an uncertain hand
toward his throat, as if his tongue had
gone dry.
Come, come!" the woman answered,
with look almost of pity. 81 haven't
called anyone-as yet"
The fingers of one strong white hand
were drumming gently on the top of
the desk; then, with a movement so
quick and sure that Lanyard himself
could hardly have bettered it, they
slipped to handle Of a drawer, jerked
it open, closed round the butt of re-
volver and presented it at Lanyard's
head
Automatically he lifted his hands.
Don't shoot" he cried. I'm not
armed"
rs that the TRUTH"
You've only to search me, ma
dame!"
"Thanks!" Madames accents now
discovered a trace of somewhat dry
humor "I'll leave that to you. Turn
out your pockets on the desk there
and remember, I'll stand no non
sense!"
The weapon covered Lanyard stead
lily, leaving him no alternative but to
obey. AS for that, he was glad of the
excuse to listen for any sound to indi-
cate how the girl was faring in her
flight And he made a pretense of
trembling fingers to cover the slowness
with which he complied.
But he heard nothing.
When at length he had visibly turned
every pocket inside out, and their con-
tents lay upon the desk, the woman
looked them over incuriously.
PUT them back" she said curtly.
"And then fetch that chair over there
the one in the corner I've a notion
I'd like to talk to you. That's the usual
thing. isn't it?"
"How?" Lanyard demanded with q
vacant stare.
I'm all the criminal novels i've ever
read, the law-abiding householder al.
ways sits down and has sociable chat
with the housebreaker-befo calling
in the police. I'm afraid that's part of
the price you've to pay for my hospital.
ity."
She paused, cycling Lanyard inquis-
itively while he replaced his belong
ings in his pockets. Now get that
chair" she ordered, and waited, stand
ing until she had been obeyed. That's
it-there! sit down"
Resting herself against the side Of
the desk, the revolver held negligently,
the speaker favored Lanyard with a
seaond inspection. at her Leisure. the