New Britain herald., 1922-09-27


 gent notice of the room Phinuit chuckled, and consulted Monk in the tone of one reasonable man to his peer.
 It's plain to be seen he wants those iewels-means to have 'em, Do you know any way we can keep them from him ,"
 Monk moved his head slowly from side to side: None"
 Then you agree with me, il would save us all d heap Of trouble to let him have them without any more stalling?"
 Monk quietly opened a false door in a pedestal of his desk. Lanyard could hear the spinning of combi- nation manipulated by Monks long and bony fingers. And presently he saw Monk straighten up with size able steel dispatch box in his hands, place this upon the desk, and unlock 1t with a key on his pocket ring.
 There" he announced with an easy gesture.
 Lanyard rose and stood over the desk, investigating the contents of the dispatch box. The collection of mag nficent stones seemed to tally accur- ately with his mental memoranda of the discription furnished by Eve de Montalais.
 This seems to be right he said quietly, and closed the box. The au- tomatic lock snapped fast.
 Now what do you say, brother dear?"
 Your debt to me is fully dis charged. Liane. What is to prevent me from going ashore with these at once?"
 Nothing said Phinuit, but your own good sense.''
 "Ah!" said Lanyard-"ah!"- !"-and looked from face to face.
 Do I understand I am to consider myself your prisoner"
 "Oh dear, no," said Captain Monk, inexpressibly pained by such crudity. Consider favorably an invitation to be our honored guest on the voyage to New York;"
 Lanyard thought the matter over little
 Obviously, it would seem, you have not gone to all this trouble lured me aboard this yacht-merely to anuse yourselves at my expense and then knock me on the head"
 Absurd" Liane declared indig nantly. "As if I would permit such a thing, who owe you so much,"
 ..Or look at it this way. monsieur" Monk put in with a courtly gesture: "When one has an adversary whom one respects. one wisely prefers to have him where one can watch him. More than that said Liane with Ter most killing glance for Lanyard: "a dear friend"
 But Lanyard was not to be put off by fair words and fattery.
 No" he said gravey: but there is some deeper motive
 He sought Phinuit's eyes. and Phinuit unexpectedly gave him an open-faced return.
 There is," he stated frankly.
 Then why not tell me-?'
 'All in good time.
 With characteristic abruptness Liane Delorme announced that she was sleepy it had been for her most fatieuing day, Captain Monk rang for the stewardess and gallantly SSCOfIeQ yard got up with Phinuit to bow her out, but instead of following her suit helped himself to a long whiskey and soda. I'm afraid you've got a tendency to overestimate the gulllbility Of people in general" remarked Phinuit. | "Why this funny story of yours about wanting to get hold of the Montalais loot simply to slip it back to it's owner?"
 Lanyard felt spasm of anger con strict his throat Nevertheless his courteous smile persisted. T presume, Captain Monk, it's not too late to send a note ashore posted? I don't in the least mind l your reading it,- nonK Shrugged nis broN-, to-" ! paper. even went so far as to dip the | pen for Lanyard.
 Lanyard wrote .Dear Madame de Montalais:
 "I have not forgotten my promise, but my days have been full since l left the chateau. And even no" | must be brief within an hour l sail for America, within a fortnight you | may look for telegraphic adNices from | me, stating that your jewels are In my possession, and when I hope to be able to restore them to you.
 Relieve me, dear madame,
 "Devotedly your servant,
 Michael Lanyard. . Monk read and in silence passed this communication over to Phinult, while Lanyard addressed the en- velope.
 "Ouite in order" was Phinuits yer dict. accompanied by yawn.
 Harvard folded the note, sealed it in the envelope, and affixed a stamp eupplied by Monk, who meanwhile rang for a steward.
 "Take this ashore and post it at once" he told the man who answered bis summons
 "But seriously, Lanyard" Phinnit protested with a pained expression.
 We value your respect too much to let you go on thinking we have fallen for that hokum. We know you steered direct course from Lon don for the Chateau de Montalais, Monsieur sees too clearly . What were you up to that night, russyfooting about the chateau at two in the morning."
 But this is positively uncanny! Monsieur knows severything
 "why shouldn't 1 know about tbat9" Vanity rang in Phinuits self -a---------