Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1922-09-23
ByStanley


the woman. n shadow deepened In
the visible corner OF her fullllpped
mouth. One fancied something sar.
donic In that covert smile.
She went on down. Lanyard came
out OF hiding with n fresh enterprise
abrew.
Lame would be Mt least another
half an hour busy with her teweiry.
and the thought presented itself that
the library. Immediately beneath her
room. should DO worthy an investiga.
ton.
The library was furnished with
bulky old Italian pieces Of carved
oak. but suitable enough with one
exception. a ponderous buffet. com.
pletely out OF place In q room OF that
character.
But-this drew n frowning STARE
there was n key In the lock Of the
middle door.
There's such thing M too much
luck" Lanyard communed. FIRST
the service gnte and door. and now
s"t"t t'ohN W NY UuUu-E
lie swung sharply round and
searched every shadow IN the room
with the glare OF tho portable lamp.
Placing the lamp on the floor and
adjusting rs hood 30 that Il focused
squareiy upon the middle section Of
the buffet. he turned the key and
discovered. behind tho door. n small
safe.
The combination dial was SNUG
with ill'grounded confidence In It's
own inviolate integrity. stili (.an.
yard told ~ II could hardly be En-.
pected TO know. II had yet TO be-
dealt with by the shade OF the Lone
Wolf. =
Amused by the eoncclt, Lanyard
laid hold Of the knob with steady,
delicate fingertips that had not yet,
In spite OF years OF honorable Idle.
ness. forgotten their cunning. Tho
dial wbiried. paused. reversed.
turned oil but imperceptibly. In
three minutes he sat back on his
heels. grasped the T.handlc. turned
II. had tho satisfaction OF hearing
the bolts siids back into their sock.
cts. and opened the door wide.
But the racked pieconholes held
nothing 10 interest him whose one
aim was tho recovery OF the Mon.
talais Jewels. The safe was. In fact,
dedicated simply 20 the storage Of
documents.
Love iettersr Lanyard unused
with a grimace Of WEAKNESS. and
zach believed. no doubt. she cared
loo much 10 compromlse him. Good
Lord! what vanity II man'sr'
lie selected plseonhols at hazard.
md emptied it Of several bundles OF
eiters. all neatly bound with tape
Dr. faded ribbon and clearly docket.
ID. His eye was caught by u great
lamo endorsed on the face OF one
" the packages: and reading what
Use was written there his brows
lose high while his lips shaped q
'oundless whistle. Lane had kept
a,ch documents N gave her power
,ver others. Lanyard wondered 70 Il
xero possible hs held In his land an
instrument 10 bend the woman 10 his
VISA.
Suddenly he put out a hand and
Iwitched OF the light. a gesture
lutte involuntary. simple reaction 70
he muffed thump OF q chair over.
urned on the floor above.
Sounds OF scuffiing followed. a. ~
LANE were dancing TO no music with
heavy.footed partner. Then
Ills hands moved % rapidly and
lefty that. although he seemed 10
Use without a seconds delay. the
afe was closed and the combination
ocked when he did %. the buffet
loor was shut and its key In his
rocket.
This time Lanyard sscended the
,airs without needing what noise
10 made. Nevertheless his actions
we're never awkward or iii.timcd;
ils approach was not heard. his or.
ivai on the upper landing was IN.
,otieed.
In an instantaneous pause he
ooked into the ross-pink room and
aw Lane Delorme. In q nsgiiUss
Ike a cobweb over q nightdress even
more sheer. kneeling and clawing at
'er throat. round which q heavy silk
handkerchief was slowly tightening:
yer face already purple with stransu.
alton. her eyes bulglng from their
ockets. her tongue protrudlng b.
ween swollen lips.
A thick knee was planted between
Ter shoulderbindes. abe ends Of
he handkerchief were In the sinswy
ands Of Albert Dupont.