5
TKE -SO'DAT- OCEGOXIAX, PORTLAND, NOVEMBER 26, 1916.
CADI
-f JL
NN
Dramatized and produced by
the Vitagraph Company from the
popular novel of the name name
by C. N. and A. M. Williamson.
Everything you read here today
you can see this week at leading-motion-picture
theaters In vivid
motion pictures, with Earle Will
iams as Christopher Race and
Miss Zena Kecfe as Sidney
Chester. Next week another
story and new pictures.
(Gopyright, 1918. by the. Star
Company. All foreign rights re
served.) .
CHAPTER Vlt.
The Red-Whiskered Man.
W
HAT a queer place for a rich
man's relatives to live!",
thought Christopher, looking
up In a puzzled way at the tall, dilap
idated house In the Jewish quarter of
Amsterdam, In front of which he
stopped Scarlet Runner..
Christopher, who by special arrange
ment and extra payment had brought
the motor across from England on the
night boat to the Hook: of Holland, had
spun along good clinker roads, bowl
ing his car and his one passenger Into
Amsterdam ih time for a late break
fast. That meal he had taken at a
hotel, while his employer (unknown to
him a few hours before) had driven oft
In a cab to the house of a relative, who
was expected to Join the party for a
week's run through Holland. Instruc
tions were that, after breakfast and a
couple of hours rest, Christopher was
to call at a certain address.
Here he was. then. In front of the
house, an ancient, secretive-looking
building that nodded forward as if its
time to tumble Into ruin might come at
any moment; and a vague. suspicion of
mystery In his errand suddenly stole
into Christopher's mind.
The young man who had engaged him
and the Scarlet Runner the young
man with the features, bearing and
manner of an Englishman, the accent
of Oxford, and the name of a Dutch
man. Van Cortlandt had seemed
frankness Itself. He had Insisted (as
lie was a stranger to Christopher and
the car was . to be taken out of Eng
land) upon paying 50 In advance. He
had been an agreeablo companion dur
ing the runshowing himself a cosmo
politan In knowledge of the world, of
literature and of drama. Christopher
val inclined to like and admire his
passenger, and fancied that the Dutch
cousin to be visited In Amsterdam
would turn out a merchant prince. Yet
this was the cousin's house; the hour
appointed and passed, and young Air.
van Cortlandt seemed- In no hurry to
appear 'with his relative.
It was a house. Christopher told him
self, where things might happen; and
wasn't it, now he came to think of It.
n little odd that Van Cortlandt had
asked him to wait without sendti-.g in
word or announcing his presence In
any way?
When he had sat in front of the
house for a quarter of an hour. Chris
topher stopped the motor: and It was
Just after he had done this that the
door opened and a girl came out. She
.wore a blue tissue veil draped over her
bat. and the long ends fluttered grace
fully behind her in the slight breeze.
She was dressed In a neat, inconspicu
ous tailor suit of dark gray, and car
ried in her hand a roll of music In a
leather case. Perhaps It was vanity on
Christopher's part, but he fancied that
the large eyes glimmering alluringly
through the veil rested upon Scarlet
Runner with interest and evn curiosity.
He watched the girl as she walked to
the corner, and at the end of the street
saw her hail a cab. Immediately aft
erwards a man who had been staring
aimlessly at the bottles In a cheap
hairdresser's shop on the other side of
the way became abruptly aware that
he had been wasting time. He hurried
off briskly In the direction the girl had
taken and also found a cab. so promptly
as to suggest the idea that it had been
waiting his orders.
'Doesn't look like the sort of fellow
who could afford to drive," Christopher
said to himself fainly interested, and so
forgetting his own affairs for the In
stant that it was a surprise suddenly
to see Mr. Ean van Cortlandt standing
in the street.
How he had got there Christopher
was not sure, but one thing was cer
tain; he had not come out of the build
ing In front of which. Scarlet Runner
had been waiting for nearly half an
hour. There was a A-ague impression
in the mind of Scarlet Runner's owner
that his employer had run down the
steps of a house two doors farther on,
but his thoughts had been so occupied
with the doings of others at the instant
i.iat he could not have sworn to this
had it been to save his life or Van
Cortlandt's.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting,"
said the other. "It was unavoidable."
He paused for a moment, evidently hav
ing something more he wanted to say
and not knowing how best to say it.
"And I'm sorry too," Mr. van Cort
landt went on, "that all my plans are
changed. My cousin, who was to have
gone with me on this motor trip, can't
go family affliction, something quite
sudden: and that being the case, I feel
it would be hard-hearted, as well as
gloomy, to make the tour without him.
However, you shan't suffer in any way
by the change, Mr. Race, for matters
between us shall stand exactly as If I'd
been using your car for the next week,
as arranged; but I've made up my
mind to turn round and go back to
England today, after all."
Christopher was surprised, but he
showed no astonishment. He merely
regretted, civilly, that there was trou
ble in Mr. van Cortland't family and
disappointment for Mr. van Cortlandt
himself.
Nothing could have been pleasanter
or more friendly than the manner of
the two young men in discussing the
situation: nevertheless, Christopher had
a strong, if Inexplicable, conviction
that. In some way and for some reason
thus far incomprehensible, he had been
a tool in the hands of the other; that
no sudden affliction had befallen the
Amsterdam relatives of Mr. van Cort
landt, and that Mr. van Cortland't had
never really intended to take the trip
he professed to abandon with so much
reluctance.
"We will go back now to your hotel,
and pick up the suitcase which I asked
you to leave there until my plans were
settled," said Van Cortlandt. "There
ought to be time for lunch, too; but as
we have to arrange for the shipping of
the car tonight I don't want any con
tretemps, and I think we'd better order
plenty of food and drink to take on
board the car, and tat by the way
whenever we feel Inclined."
Christopher turned the proposal over
in his head, but could make nothing
mysterious of it: nor had he got hold
of any further clue by the time Scarlet
Runner had landed them at the door of
the old-fashioned Bible Hotel.
When they had arrived there, he ex
pected his passenger to go in and see
to the retching of the suitcase, which.
irom tne tirst, Christopher had ven
tured to think rather scanty provision
for a week's tour. But Van Cortlandt
had a different Idea. He suggested
that, as Race had arranged for the dis
posal of the luggage, he had better be
the one to ask for It now; otherwise
there might be a misunderstanding.
Alio he was to order something to
f--y-p u . lumy - s- m huhhiiiih PMli.mi M i n im m. - "m W" III iii,Diuiiiwil;H - i - ' 5
it ' " x ' - r ; I r
,v.:.r-i;'-j''iih. ' "Willi iiMin.-r ' .. -. ti tt . I.J.
f 1 ZJ ' V t k X- ,s ' 1
f . y "V t -""-'- - - ' f fc - i V i 'i
11 ms , I ffir7fteri. J
eat and drink on the journey. Chris
topher agreed, wondering, half humor
ously, half anxiously, if the plot con
sisted in making off with Scarlet Run
ner during his absence.
During one of the moments when
Christopher's attention was diverted
from his best-beloved possession, Mr.
Van Cortlandt left his seat and began
examining the car with frank interest.
His back was turned to the door of
the hotel, where Christopher stood
guard, but when the owner of the car
came hurriedly out, accompanied by a
porter with the suitcase and a waiter
with a neat parcel, the passenger was
peering into the petrol tank. "You're
sure there isn't rather a queer smell?"
he inquired. "I thought as we came
there was a bad carburation, or some
thing." Christopher, quick In defense of his
darling, denied the bad carburation,
and explained to the amateur that, even
if it had existed, the petrol in the tank
could have nothing to do with it.
They had an uneventful drive to the
Hook. Christopher, who intended, as a
matter of course, to guard the car on
board the boat, expected that his pas-
senger would take a cabin and rest
during the passage, which promised to
be disagreeable owing to the steamy,
unseasonable heat of the weather. But
Van Cortlandt would not hear of leav
ing his chauffeur to get through the
night alone. This would not be "sport
ing." said he; and the two spent the
seven hours of the voyage together,
never for the second out of sight of
Scarlet Runner.
It was the gray, misty dawn of a
mid-August day when the boat slowed
into harbor. The passengers looked
shadowy and anxious as ghosts who
had just been ferried across the Styx.
Christopher and his companion had not
seen any of their fellow sufferers dur
ing the night, as they "had got on
board earlier than the others, on ac
count of the car. As they were some
what out of the way of .the passing
crowd, and could not leave the ship
until every one else had gone, they
would In all probability have got off
as they had got on, without meeting
a soul, had not a young woman, with
a modest air of wishing to escape ob
servation, flitted out of the way of the
passengers pressing up from the cabins.
She wore a jieat, dark gray tailor
suit; her hat was draped with a blue
tissue veil which fell over and covered
her face, and she carried in her hand
a leather-cased roll of music.
"By Jove!" muttered Van Cortlandt
under his breath: and instantly it was
clear to Christopher that he was' not
alone in recognizing the pretty girlish
figure. .
Race kept silence: but the other started
forward and, without joining the girl,
approached near enough to call her in
a low voice without being heard by
any of the more distant passengers.
Watching intently, Christopher saw
her start, peer anxiously through the
blue cloud of her veil (which she did
not lift), and then flit quickly up to
Van Cortlandt. Evidently It was as
great a surprise for her to see htm
as it was for him to find her on board.
But they talked together in whispers,
speaking with intense earnestness, the
girl's back turned to the groups of
passengers who stood or moved about
on deck.
Among these, however, was an
elderly, spectacled man, with old-fashioned
side whiskers, turning gray from
sandy red. while shaggy brows and
lank hair matched in color the grizzled,
reddish bunches on his thin cheeks.
He, wore a soft felt hat, which looked
a if he had slept in it, and an over
coat so much too heavy for the heat
of the weather that he must havo suf
fered from its weight. Separating
nimseu irom tne line of passengers
forming to leave the ship, he strolled
towards the retired snot where Van
Courtlandt and the girl In the blue veil
were talking together. Then suddenly
nis eyes behind his spectacles lighted
upon Van Cortlandt's face and lingered
tor an instant, nis expression changing,
It was at this moment that Chris
topher became aware of the man's ex
istence. He saw him glance at Van
Cortlandt and turn away with some
slight suggestion of haste; but evl
dently Van Cortlandt had recognized in
him another acquaintance. The face of
his employer was turned from Chris
topher, but the quick start forward he
made told its own tale.
"Jacobs, is it possible?" Christopher
heard Van cortlandt ask.
The other man hesitated as if un
willing to answer, and Van Cortlandt
spoke again sharply. "Surely you rec
ognize me? Surely you know who I
am?"
"I suppose so," the stranger admit
ted at last.
"Then In heaven's name, tell me in
the name of all the demons why you
t,oo, are on board this boat, when you
ought
But Race . caught no more. The
sandy-whiskered man moved closed to
Van Cortlandt, and the two fell into
earnest conversation, to which the girl
listened without joining in.
By this time the boat was moored
and the people beginning to go off.
Presently no one was left save Scarlet
Runner's owner, her late passenger, and
that passenger's two new-formed ac
quaintances. As the last group crowd
ed the gangway Van Cortlandt came to
Race, leaving the girl and the elderly
man standing together.
"I suppose you won't mind carrying
three of us instead of one?" he said.
"A young lady'l know has unexpectedly
turned up, and a man with whom I've
nad some business dealings. I had no
idea they were on board with us until
I saw them this morning. In fact, it's
only a series of accidents that they
are not somewhere else. But being
here, and both bound for Liondon, if you
don't object I would like to take them
on the car. They have nothing with
them except hand luggage."
Christopher answered that Scarlet
Runner would not feel the difference
between two passengers and four, and
as soon as the car was on dry land
and ready to stArt the newly arranged
party boarded her. Formerly Van Cort
landt had sat beside the driver, and
such luggage as the two young men
carried was in the tonneau. But now
the old man was placed In front with
Christopher and Van Cortlandt was the
girl's companion in the tonneau.' the
big k!t-bagand suitcase being put on
the roof.
Neither of the new occupants of the
car was properly prepared for motor
ing. As for the girl, her hat was low
and broad, and before starting she
took off her veil and made a scarf Of
it, which she tied over her head and
under her chin. Thus Christopher's
wish was gratified, and he saw that
she was very pretty, even prettier
than he had dared to picture her, after
that tantalizing glimpse of big, dark
eyes.
She was distinctly or the gypsy type,
with a dusky color coming and going
under the brown of her peach-smooth
cheeks. Deep dimples sprang Into life
a she laughed: her great black eyes
were exceedingly brilliant and full of
expression, while every little gesture
had an individual grace and eloquence
which spoke of a singularly vivid per
sonality. There was no doubt that she
was a lady; and the first words that
Christopher heard her speak told him
that she was an American. In spite
of the tiresome Journey and the heat
of the day. the girl was sparkling with
the Jov of youth and life, and was
childishly delighted with the prospect
of several hours' spin tn a fine auto
mnhflo PnKuihlv too Van Cortlandt's
presence had something o do with her
pleasure; in any case It was plam that
he was an object of deep Interest to
the young man who could scarcely
take his eyes from her face.
The man on the front seat was ap
parently far from being as well satis
fied with his situation as the others.
He pulled his hat as far down as pos
sible to keep the dust out of his eyes,
turned up the collar of his overcoat.
then nervously unbuttoned the great
coat and threw it back, sighing witn
relief.
"What kind of a person was it who
followed you. Jacobs?" the young man
In the tonneau leaned forward to ask,
after a long conversation with the girl
who sat beside, him.
Jacobs swallowed heavily, and Chris
topher saw his hand tighten on the
back of the seat as he turned to an
twer: "Don't you think, sir, that I
that we- that it might be wiser not
Van Cortlandt laugned. "Oh. I see,
you think I'm incautious In talking
business before outsiders? That's like
your prudence, which my uncle de
scribed to me when he showed me your
photograph the other day, and told me
what sort of man I must expect to
And. But, as a matter of. fact, we can
speak as among friends here now that
our errand has been done and we're
close to home again. This young lady.
Miss Warren, has been on the same
mission that you and I have been on."
The man on the front seat gave a
jump. "She, sir! And you, too, the
same errand as mine!"
"Yes," said Van Cortlandt- "You
probably guessed when you were in
troduced to me, over there, tha"t you
weren't the only one sent."
"I no reason was given me to think
that there were others." stammered
Jacobs. "I supposed that mine was
was the only message."
" 'Message' is rather a good word for
a cautious man like you," laughed Van
Cortlandt. "You're quite right; there's
only one real 'message.' as you csll it.
but there are three of sorts, and each
of us is carrying one. Even I don't
know which Is which. It is a strange
thing that all three should have been
brought together in this car, when only
one should have come this way, an
other by Flushing, another by Rotter-
Tdam, as an . additional precaution in
case of followers.
"It is strange, indeed," said Jacobs,
glancing stealthily at Christopher.
"Oh, Mr. Race isn't in this, except
that he's taking us all to London as
fast as he can get us there three pas
sengers instead of one he'd engaged to
transport. As for Miss Warren, she's
rather a celebrity, too. If you were an
American instead of what do you call
yourself. Jacobs? you would probably
know something about Miss Constance
Warren, who . writes for the papers.
When this day's work is over she will
be privileged to make or it what she
would call a "story." I got my uncle
to employ her, so that she might get
a little kudos out of the thing after
It wss well tjver, and the secret could
be allowed to come out. But you
haven't told me yet what sort of per
son followed you, and caused you to
think it would be iser to coine this
way instead of going by Flushing as
arranged."
"It was a fat, Jewish-looking man,
sir." replied Jacobs, becoming glib at
last. "I could hardly describe him be
yond that he had a hooked nose, a
large black beard and was well dressed.
He kept pressing against me in the
railway station and looked at me with
such particular Interest that, when I
got a chance to escape In a sudden
press of the crowd -a lot of emigrants
pouring Into the station I got away,
and hastily decided to come by the
Hook. 1 hope you think I did right."
"Oh, quite, if you felt sure that your
imagination wasn't playing games with
you. Miss Warren's experience was
even more trying than yours. Because
of a person who apparently chased
her in a cab from the firsthand who
climbed lfl'to her railway carriage at
the last minute, she jumped out sfter
the train beg.an to move, rlsktn.
trouble with Dutch officials, to say
nothing of broken bones. She Is a
brave girl. But I knew that before
hand." And Ean van Courtlandt' gave
M.s Warren a look which. If he had
wished to hide his feelings for her,
would have been, to say the least, im
prudent. "T was quite sure imagination had
nothing to do with It," Jacobs Insisted,
anxious to exonerate himself. "Of
course, the man may have been only an
ordinary pickpocket. But do I look
like a man whose pocket would be
worth picking? This Is the watch I
carry about with me." And. somewhat
ostentatiously, he pulled out a plain
old gun metal watch.
Christopher heard this salk with In
terest, and confessed to himself that,
though it wasn't "his afralr." he would
like to know the nature of the mes
sage to which the man beside him
had so cautiously referred.
Before them now rose the spires and
the clustered roofs of a village, and as
they entered it Jacobs, who had been
silent arter putting away his watch,
turned again to speak to Van Court
landt. "It would he a great favor." he said,
"if you would be willing to make a
Fhort stop here., sir, only long enough
for me to send a telegram. I don't
know If you uncle mentioned to you
that my wife is ill and worrying about
this trip of mine?"
Van Cortlandt consented to the slight
delay, and Christopher stopped the car
in front of the village postofflce. Jacobs
scrambled lightly down, like a young
er man than he appeared to be, and
Christopher happened to notice that his
hands looked strong and muscular. As
he hurried into the postofflce. Van
Cortlandt strolled after him, buying a
few stamps and standing near enough
to take a glance at the address on the
telegram. This was not because he dis
trusted Jacobs, but because he had
much at stake in this venture and could
not afford to take chances. The cipher
message was unreadable, but the name
of Jacobs stood out plainly at the top.
and Van Courtlandt was satisfied, as
he had expected to be.
At last they were off again, but they
had not gone far when tJacobs cried
out that his handkerchief had just
blown away. It was one he valued; his
wife had embroidered his initials on it.
Really, he thought he saw it caught in
a bush a little way behind. By Van
Cortlandt's consent, Christopher re
versed the car and went back for half
a mile, but the handkerchief was not
found, though Jacobs got out and ran
sacked a group of bushes to look for
It. being gone some time.- Returning,
he rejoined the -road ahead of Scarlet
Runner, which stood throbbing impa
tient to be off. and Christopher thought,
as he advanced toward, the car, shak
his his head and bemoaning his loss,
that he scattered something by the
way. Starting on again, with the nerv
ous old man hardly settled in his place,
there came a sharp explosion and Scar
let Runner had burst a tire.
The sudden sound gave Jacobs a
shock, which caused him to grip the
seat nervously and cry out. He had
never been in a motor before, he ex
claimed, and thought that someone must
have shot at the car.
Some curious conjectures passed
through the mind of Race as he did
his work Of repairing, with his three
passengers sitting, or walking up and
down, by the roadside. What he thought
he kept to himself, as it would have
been th height of impropriety to ac
cuse, on the vaguest suspicion, the
trusted employe of his own employer.
Nevertheless. when the tire was
changed and Scarlet Runner on the
way once more, he threw an occasional
keen glance at the whiskered race under
the shadow of the dusty hat brim.
The day grew more and more sultry
and- the air was so heavy . that even
in driving there was no freshness. The
thick dust also was very disagree
able, especially for the two new mem
bers of the party, who were unprepared
for motoring, and Christopher was not
surprised when, after two-thirds of the
run to liondon, Jacobs complained of
headache and vertigo. It was. he sup
posed, in an apologetic murmur, his
Inexperience In motoring, as well as
having been somewhat upset at sea.
which caused him to suffer now, but
Christopher suggested that It was far
more likely to be the weight of his
big overcoat and advised him to take
it orr.
There were no pockets on the out
side, but there might well be several
capacious hidden ones. And though
Jacobs seemed so certain that the con-I
tents of such pockets must be safe,
when he had taken off the overcoat
he not only sat upon, but leaned both
shoulders against It, as it draped the
back of the seat.
Still he felt no better, and on coming
In sight of an old-fashioned roadside
Inn not far outside the dark fringe
of London suburbs, he begged that the
car might pause at the door long
enough for him to get a glass of brandy.
"Hadn't you better wait a bit till we
get farther on?" asked Van Cortlandt.
not unsympathetlcatly. "The stuff's
sure to he bad here."
"Oh, s'ir. if you knew how faint and
queer I feel" faltered Jacobs, and
Christopher hastily slowed down in
front of the Inn. where a small, un
covered automobile was already stand
ing, covered with fresh dust.
The whiskered face was gray with
dust, therefore It was impossible to
see the natural state of the sufferer's
complexion, but he sat with eyes half
closed and head bowed forward, as if
on the verge of unconsciousness, and
Van Cortlandt Jumped quickly out to
order the brandy. Miss Warren sprang
down from the car also, coming'around
to the front for an anxious look at the
sick man's face, and to ask if she could
do anything. She had her leather-cased
music roll in her hand, and Christopher
saw the dulled eyes of Jacobs glance
at It from unded drooping lids.
Then, Just an Van Cortlandt would
have entered the Inn. out burst three
policemen. "We arrest you all on a
warrant, charged with theft." called
out one. "and It will be better for you
not to resist,"
But Van Cortlandt did resist, and vio
lently. Not for himself alone, but for
the girl. He hurled off the man who
grasped him by the shoulder, and.
springing to the aid. of Miss Warren,
dashed aside the big ellow In blue
who would have seised her by the arm.
Instantly Jacobs had waked from his
dazed state Into vivid alertness. The
third policeman, who attempted to
catch Van Cortlandt around the waist.
was sent reeling by a back-banded blow
rrom a strong .fist In deadlv earnest:
and, seeing this violence, seeing also
tne iittie crowd which quickly gathered
at Van Cortlandt's cry of "Help." Jacobs
slipped out of the car, lithe as a snake.
"Don't resist safe not to resist, sir!"
he cried: and. while apparently wishing
to aid his patron, so stumbled against
him as to fling him into the arms of
I the tallest policeman.
I Seeing himself trapped. Van Cort-
icu iu i x c iiinTijr-niiiD ram
Lane!" and at the same Instant some
thing was tossed Into the tonneau.
Quick as light. Christopher took his
cue and dashed off at speed. Jacobs
and one of the policemen tearing after
him.
"Ninety-nine Pars Lanel Ninety-nine
Park Lane!"
He seemed to hear Van Cortlandt's
voice still calling the direction in his
ears.
At first the -number had no special
meaning for him, but as his first hot
excitement cooled he realized that 9
Park Lane had some association of im
portance In his mind.
"By Jove, it's Marltz's house!" he ex
claimed. And the mystery of his tour
and the" experiences attending it ap
peared suddenly to flash with rainbow
colors, clear and bright. For Maritz
was (and is) a South African million
aire, president of the Blue Sinbad Dia
mond Mines, Limited. A rumor had
been flitting about that he had bought
from the company that great diamond
lately found in their own fields, named
the New Koh-I-Noor. and that, with
the view of currying favor In high cir
cles and perhaps securing a title, he
intended to present It to the Crown.
What if Van Cortlandt had Journeyed
to Amsterdam on business concerning
the New Koh-l-Noor? The cutting of
the diamond must have been done there
and if the young man were a nephew
of Peter Marlts (Jacobs had alked about
"your uncle"), what more natural that
he should be trusted to bring It back
safe, despite all attempts likely to be
made upon It en route If the secret of
the errand had leaked out?
With these thoughts running through
jhis head, Christopher slowed down. Just
enough to make it safe to turn his head
and give a quick glance behind to see
what thing had been thrown into the
tonneau at the moment of his flight.
It was Miss Warren's music roll, and
she must have contrived to toss it there
on learning from Van Cortlandt's order
that the car was to make a break for
freedom. In his haste to aid his em
ployer, or to mingle in the tussle in
some way. Jacobs had Jumped out. leav
ing his precious overcoat: therefore it
was nbt strange that he had run
screaming after Scarlet Runner.
"From the first I thought he was
disguised and anxious to screen his face
from the light," Christopher thought.
"That cipher telegram he sent! He'd
Just learned from Van Cortlandt that
there were three messengers Instead
of one, and all. by a queer chance. In
this car. Could he have wired to bring
those fellows out? What if they're not
policemen?"
As the last -word formed Itself In his
mind it was as though it had been a
magic summons to call up other men
In blue coats; for before Scarlet Run
ner had got her speed again three uni
formed figures leaped from behind a
clump of trees to line up across the
road.
Christopher's first thought was to
blame himself for slowing down to
glance behind, and to atone by making
a dash, scattering the men. who might
be conspirators in the same plot. But.
even at a distance, his clear-sighted
eyes recognized a face he had seen be
fore. One' of these policemen was a
well-known "motor trapper." with
whom Christopher had come Into
friendly contact more than once. What
ever the men at the inn a mile back
might be, these were genuine servants
of the law; and a brilliant Idea danced
Into Race's mind. With the view of
making It useful, he slowed down In
stantly. "You've done the measured distance
at a speed of fifty and a half miles an
hour." said the Inspector of police,
whom Christopher remembered. his
stop-watch In his hand. "Where's your
license?"
"Here It Is. and here's my card." an
swered Race. "Don't you know me. in
spector in spite of the dust? And
don't you know Scarlet Runner?"
"Why. yes. Mr. Race. I recognize you
now." said the policeman. "I'm sorry
to say, however, as you were golnrf at
such a speed"
"First offense, isn't it?" laughed
Christopher. "And when you've heard
a word or two, I think even you will
say I was Justified in exceeding the
legal limit. Summon me if you minK
rlghJ: but go back now to the next
public-house and rescue my passengers,
one of whom Is. I believe, nephew of
the millionaire. Peter Marlta."
The Inspector waited to hear no more.
All his professional pride was on fire.
"Go on. Mr. Race." he btoke in: "We'll
overlook your furious driving this time.
And have no fear for your friends."
Never had Christopher driven so fast
through traffic, except on the day when
he followed the automobile with the
Nuremberg watch and at the laBt mo
ment, as he drove through bronze sates
Into the millionaire's famous court
yard, he Just escaped being crashed into
by a passing motor omnibus.
The gates had been opened, perhaps,
for an electric brougham which stood
before the door to pass out. and the
servants In livery - glared daggers at
the reckless chauffeur who dashed in.
risking a collision. But Christopher
stopped the Scarlet Runner at a safe
distance and called out that he wished
to see Mr. Maritz on urgent business.
At the sound of that name a gentle
man looked from the window or the
brougham, and his face had been made
familiar by the same methods which
immortalized his mansion.
"I come from Mr. Van Cortlandt."
added Christopher, this time addressing
himself directly to the millionaire, lie
expected to see a look of enlighten
ment dawn on the clever, somewhat
hard, features. But. to his surprise, for
an Instant Peter Martlz appeared ruz
zled. "Mr. Van Cortlandt?" he repeated
questlonlngly. Then, with a slight ex
clamation and a change of expression,
he opened the door of the brougham
before his alert servants had time to
touch it.
"You have a message for me from Mr.
Van Cartlandt?" he asked.
"Not exactly a message." answered
Christopher. "But I have news of im
portance." "Come Indoors wun me ann in n.
then." said Peter Maritz, who had the
manners of a gentleman as well as the
wealth of -a millionaire.
Christopher looked doubtful. "I'm not
sure about leaving the car." he replied
In a lower voice. "I may be carrying
something of er considerable value."
Morlts asked no further questions
and made no new suggestions, but
mounted to the seat beside Christopher
which Jacobs had last occupied, giving
at the same time a glance at his serv
ants which sent them to a distance.
Race did not begin his story at the
beginning, but very near the end. slur
Vlng over what had happened until he
reached the episode- at the Inn. When
Martls heard that Van Cortlandt and
Miss Warren had been seized by men in
the dress of policemen, his dark face
suddenly paled.
"But my nephew told you to drive
on. to come here?" he demanded tersely.
"Yes. And I came as fast I could,
after sending back three genuine po
licemen to the rescue."
"Then where Is that which my
nephew trusted you to bring to me?"
"He trusted me with nothing except
the sense to understand his meaning.
But Miss Warren tossed her music roll
into the car as I she-t away from the
inn."
"That was clever of her, and showed
that she Is the right kind of girl. But.
though she thought she was carrying
something of Importance, as a matter
of fact she wasn't. She was a kind of
decoy duck."
"The man Jacobs, who I venture to
believe is a fraud, disguised to look like
some one else, left his overcoat behind,
very much against his will."
No douot It was against his will, if
he had put a little parcel he ought to
have had into one of Its pockets. But
there's nothing In that overcoat which
can Interest me. And for the moment
I'm not interested in this spurious Ja
cobs, who was probably furious at be
ing seen by Ean on the boat. What I
want Is the thing which my nephew,
whom you know as Mr. Van Cortlandt.
must have given you to bring me. or
he would certainly not have sent you
away rrom him with your car."
"I tell you he gave me nothing." per
sisted Christopher, beginning to resent
the piercing glance or the millionaire.
"If there Is anything of his on board
it must be In his luggage."
"Very well; we'll have the luggage
down." said Maritx. "and I will look
through it here and now. sitting by
your side. Johnson!" and he raised
his tone imperatively "shut the gates."
The bronze gates closed and the court
yard became as private as if it had been
a vast room.
The next order was for Van Cort
landt's suitcase to come down from the
roof of the car, where It had been
placed when the new members joined
the party. A strange-looking, thin lit
tle key on the millionaire's watchchain
opened the case as though It had been
made for the lock: and the absent man's
clothing, neatly folded as If by a valet,
lay exposed to view. Peter Maritz
lifted everything out. shook each gar
ment, and ransacked each corner of the
handsomely fitted piece of luggage,
but the thing he searched for was not
there. He was looking very stern and
anxious now.
"I am as sure as I am of my own
lire that my nephew would not have
voluntarily remained In the hands cf
thieves, sending you and your motor on.
If he had had on his person the thing
I trusted htm to bring back to me."
said Maritz. with grim confidence. "He
himself did not know whether he. Miss
Warren, or my old servant Jacobs was
carrying back the real thing or an
imitation: nevertheless, as he knew
the chances were one in three that he
had the right one. he would have died
rather than risk breaking faith with
me."
"I can give you no exolanation of
the mystery," said Christopher.
"Now that you are here, in my court
yard, there Is no reason why I shouldn't
confirm your suspicions." said
Maritx. In a more conciliatory tone.
"You ought to have with you the New
Koh-i-N'oor. of which you must have
heard. You see I have cause for anxiety
and have had cause enough ever since
the truth about my.purchase of the fin
est diamond found in a hundred years
unfortunately leaked out. I was cer
tain that a well-known gang of dia
mond thieves would be on the lookout
for the stqne on Its way back from
Amsterdam, and I did my best to guard
It. It was my nephew's Idea to employ
fu and your car: and knowing your
name and the reputation you made. In
Dalvanla. I approved the notion. A
for giving you a false name, he did
nothing of the sort. His middle name
is an Cort land t h Is last Is the samej
as mine: though ho has lived much
abroad, and. luckily ror my project, la
scarcely known here ss yet. You can
see' why he did not wish to give- his
own name. Maritz. on account or the
association. It was better ror you t
know nothing, and you need have no
resentment ir he was not entirely
frank. The mission was not his own.
but mine, though If he succeeded ho
was to be made my private secretary,
with such a salary ns to keep himself
and a wire, ir he chose to take one
Miss Warren, for instance in luxury.
Now you understand what hung upon
success for him. and you must see that
he would not easily fall me. If von are
hiding anything because you thinq you
haven't been treated fairly "
Christopher broke In with a protest:
but the position was now becoming
worse than tincomf ortable. He was at
his wits' end. and tn his desperation
would have told the millionaire to send
ror the police and have him searched,
ir he chose, when a loud clang at the,
gate bell cut him short.
"Keep everybody out!" cried Maritz.
"What ir it Is your nephew himself!"
exclaimed Christopher.
"Then let him in." amended the mas
ter of the house: and an instant later
the small gate at the side of the great
ones was opened to admit Van Cort-landt-Marltz,
with Miss Warren.
"Hurrah, uncle!" cried the. young
man. "We hired a motor and came on
like lightning after the rescue. Poor
old Jacobs was drugged on his way to
get the diamond, it seems: and who
but the notorious Tom Astley did the
trick and disguised himself so well I
think even you wouldn't have detected
the fraud so well he was exactly like
Jacobs' photograph which you showed
me and got the parcel. Hut he's
caught, and his three confederates; and
the diamond's in his oven-oat. This girl
is the trump I told you she would be.
and her packet she threw into he car.
as Mr. Race must have told you."
"But yours yours. Kan; that is what
I want." almost panted the millionaire.
"I stuffed It Into the petrol tank
Just room to squeeze It In." said the
young man, calmly. Then, turning to
the girl, he rausht her hand. Won'c
you have a 'story' to write?' he cried.
"And it will have to end with our wed
ding." "Forgive me for everything, Mr.
Race," said 1'eter Maritz. "You must
come to that wedding."
t; A new hld venture eit Week.)
GIANT IS PERFECT MAN
Missouri Itai-kwooiNiiian Never lias
Vsetl Liquor or Tibaxo.
CMNTON. Mo.. Nov. 1!. Dusty and
travel-worn, but with his long strides
retaining the vigor of all his 18 years
or backwoods lire. Clarence Barton,
trudged Into town, after covering ISO .
miles rrom Turner. Mo. He came In
the heat and dust over the miles of
hills afoot to attend the Missouri con
ferences of the Seventh Dny Advcn
tists. And this youth has lived a
strange life In the very modern and
up-to-date state of Missouri.
In all his IS years he never tasted
a mouthful of meat. Never has &
drink of tea or coffee pssscd his lips.
His meager fare of dully food has
never been seasoned with pepper. He
never has tasted a drop of alcchol in
any form and does not know the twang
or tobacco smoke. And he Is a perrect
specimen a young backwoods giant.
Barton excelled In nil the sports of
the rump.
Because it cleanses, purifies
and beautifies, while the Oint
ment soothes and heals pimples,
blackheads, etc Do not con
found these fragrant, delicate
emollients with coarsely medi
cated soaps and ointments.
Sample Esch Free with 35-p PWo TxiX
bymuramiil. Artrtrsw post-canl : 'T.v.tl
cunuDepcF.BMtoii." bold evenrw-
Quick, Safe Way
to Remove Hairs
(Toilet Talks.)
Keep a little delatone powder on
your dressing table, and when ugly,
hairy growths appear make a paste
with a little or the powder and some
water; apply and let remain on the
hairy surface for two or three min
utes, then rub orr. wash the skin and
the hairs have vanished. This treat
ment Is quite harmless, and rarely
more than one application Is required,
but to avoid disappointment care should
be used to buy lue real Uelatoue Adv.
MM