8
THZ SUNDAY CREGOXIAX, PORTLAND, DECEMBER 3, 1916.
-1' .
V!
Dramatized and produced by
the VttagTaph Company from the
popular novel of the name name
by C. N. and A. M. Williamson.
Everything you read here today
you jran see this week at leadiner
motion-picture theaters in vivid
motion pictures, with Earle Will
iams as Christopher Race and
Miss Zena Keefe as Sidney
Chester. Next week another
story and new pictures.
(Copyright. 1916, by the Star
Company. All foreign rights re
CHAPTER VIII.
TIIK CiLOVK AD THE RIXG.
I
ASK nothing of life except
death." said the Marchese Baria.
"The one thing life cannot
answered Christopher Race.
Cive.
They were sitting together at Flor-
lan"s, in Venice, at one of the out-of-doors
tables. They had met for the
lirst time that evening at 9. when the
place had been crowded, and they had
been forced to sit down at a table to
gether, if they would sit at all. Now
It was 2 in the morning (for Florian's
never closed), and they had talked
ever since.
Christopher knew that Baria had
loved a lady. ' the most beautiful on
earth according to her lover: that
they had been engaged: and that he
had lost some thousands of pounds, and
had received an adverse opinion con
cerning his health from an eminent
doctor. The lady admired strong men,
and threw Baria over to take one whose
lungs and whose bank account were
both more satisfactory than his. She
was now the wife of this person, who
happened to be a Prince, and the Mar
chese Baria wished to forget her as
soon as possible. The only way in
which he felt himself able to do this
was by death: and at present he wa
engaged in shortening the short lease
of life given him by his doctor by tak
lng too much alcohol. He found this
recipe disagreeable, as he disliked wine
and spirits. But. unfortunately, he had
promised his English mother on her
deathbed that never, in any circum
stances, would he follow the example
set by one or two of his father's hot
blooded ancestors and commit suicide.
Noxious microbes had refused to infect
him. He could not take typhoid fever,
or any other disease warranted to
carry off a delicate patient. But he
had hopes of pneumonia. That was
why he had chosen to sit out of doors
on
an unseasonably chill, cold, rainy
night, clad in the lightest of garments.
"Is it murder to annihilate a person
whose one wish is to die?" the Mar
chese asked.
"I'm inclined to think the law would
regard it so. But" and Christopher
spoke slowly, as if on mature deliber
ation "I'll tell you what I can do.
you say you're trying a course of freez
ing treatment to hurry up matters.
Well, this is June, but it's more like
October weather, and I can give you
a long, strong dose of cold air in my
motor. What about coming on with
me until you pick up pneumonia, or, if
not that, a violent attack of inflam
mation of the lungs or even pleurisy,
as you may do if it doesn't soon stop
raining?"
"You are a good fellow!" exclaimed
Baria. "The moment we exchanged our
first words, I felt you would be a
friend."
"And I you," replied Christopher.
"The pity is, our friendship's likely to
be so short."
"Still, we shall be together till the
end," said the Marchese.
"It's worth trying." assented Chris
topher. "Scarlet Runner and I are at
your service for the experiment. I've
got rid of my passengers: I've seen
Venice. I must take the car home in
time for another engagement, and I
shall be delighted to have a. compan
ion." "For as long as I last?" said Baria.
"For as long as you last," echoed
Race.
They started next morning, the Mar
chese having wound up his more press
ing affairs in case of a sudden end,
and giving all necessary instructions
to the servants who looked after his
palace on the Grand Canal.
Their way led through southern
country, where the days should have
been Summer days: but the weather
was abnormal. There were cold winds
and burstsof rain, which delighted the
Marchese Baria. He would wear
no overcoat, and insisted upon sitting
in front beside Christopher. Each night
he expected to be ill; but he had in
stead an enormous appetite, and slept
as he had not slept since the marriage
of his faithless lady. This annoyed
and puzzled him, but he was somewhat
comforted by Christopher's suggestion
that the seeming improvement might
be a mere flash of life before the end.
They drove through Padua and Ve
rona to Milan, and on to Alessandria;
so across the plain of Lombardy to
Cuneo, all by easy stages: and when
the sun shone on them again Baria no
longer cougnca, except when it oc
curred to him as the duty of a lilted
lover.
Now Scarlet Runner was set to climb
the mighty barrier of the Alps which
shuts off Piedmont from the Mediter
ranean, and darkness had fallen for the
third time since her staTt. when she
had passed through the long tunnel of
the Col di Tenda, and had begun to
descend past San Dalmazzo, Into the
valley of the Koya.
Christopher had entered Italy with
his late passengers by way of Mount
Cenis, and the valley of the Roya was
strange to him. He knew it only
Through study or maps and guide
books, but he had no fear of losing the
way, and hoped to reach Mentone by
midnight. There, though it was out
of season, one or two hotels would be
open.
Scarlet Runner's lamps and search
light threw a blinding glare ahead a
the car picked its way, round sharp
curve after sharp curve of rock, down
the slipper road. On one side rose
always a wall of mountain: on the
other was a precipice, in the trough
f which roard the River Roya. There
was no reason that - anyone ahead
should be surprised at sight of Scarlet
Runner, yet suddenly taking a quick
curve, the car all but dashed into the
leader of three horses drawing a market-cart.
Instantly Christopher put on the
brake and stopped the motor, just in
time to save disaster, but not in time
to avoid frightening the horses. The
leader, whose pale gray color gleamed
ghostlike in the fierce light of the j
acetylene lamps, reared back upon his
fellows, swerved. and would have
Tdunged over the precipice, dragging
the other two horses and the great
covered cart with him, had not Baria
, sprung out of the car and seized him
by the rein.
It was admirably done, not the act
of a world-weary invslid, but of alert
youth, quick to think and do, because
full of Interest In life. There was just
time for admiration and something of
(surprise to flash through Christopher's
mind as he also jumped down and ran
- to help his friend with the horses.
Between the two they had the ani
mals under control after n few wild
seconds of struggling confusion: and
as soon as the clamor of pawing and
enorting ceased, Christopher began
scolding in French the Invisible driver
of the cart.
"You deserve to be in the river." he
ahouted, "or in Jail, for not lighting
up! And on a road like this! What's
the matter with you? Are you drunk
or only asleep? Fellows like you would
I sleeD while the last trumn sounded." I return with the motor, having found I
sleep while the last trump sounded."
Still ljo answer. Nothing moved In
the darkness under the big white hood
which arched over the cart.
"Drunk, of coures." said Bariu. "He's
been across the frontier and taken- his
eggs to market; now he s on nis way
home to Cuneo, trusting to his horses
to find their way over the Col and
through that awful tunnel. How like
a peasant! They all do it in my coun
try, forgetting that this Is the day of
automobiles."
I'll stir up the idot," said Christo
pher.
He and Baria had carefully led the
horses past tile great silent, lighted
shape of Scarlet Runner, so that the
market cart had the width of the road
to itnelf, standing back to back with
the motor car. Now as Baria held the
head of Oe grey leader, who seemed
anxious to get on, Christopher peered
under the cover of he cart. For a mo
ment he was silent; then he gave an
exclamation. " i
"What's wrong?" asked the Marchese.
"I can't make out yet, but it's very
queer, answered Christopher.
He nurried back to Scarlet Runner
and got out the electric lantern. Flash
ing its white ray into the dark tunnel
under the canvas roof, it was as if he
had swept a black curtain away from a
strange and ominously-suggestive pic
ture. There was in it no human figure, yet
it did not lack dramatic elements.
Empty egg boxes were piled and tum
bled in confusion. On the broken heap
lay a woman's cloak of blue clot.i. torn
from collar to hem; and half hidden un
der the folds of thie garment which
had not been made to cover the shoul
ders of a carter's wire a handsome
though small traveling bag of alligator
skin gaped wide and empty as if it had
been wrencZied open in mad haste or
fury. Among the boxes and scattered
bunches of straw were tossed various
articles of a woman's wardrobe; a silk
blouse, handkerchiefs, a long fichu of
rich lace. And on the back of the driv
er's seat a little grey, gauntleted glove
held the reins and was itself kept in
place by a knife which pinned fast both
t.ie delicat kid and heavy ieatner.
T the carter dead?:- called Baria.
'There is no carter," Race answered.
and cried out to his friend at the
horse's head the things which the lan
tern-light snowed.
"It sounds like murder the murder
of a woman," answered the Marchese
"and no common peasant wench."
Christopher had climbed on the step
of the cart and was peering within "It
is blood on the glove," lie said; "a light
smear of it, dry or almost dry. What
ever has happened here must have hap
pened an hour or more ago. And there's
something in one of the fingers some
thing small and hard."
He was supporting himself with one
hand and had freed the other by setting
the lantern on the straw-strewn seat.
Now. with an effort, he wrenched out
the knife which stabbed glove and reins
and wood. The dainty bit of gauntleted
grey suede wag released.
It s a ring! ae exclaimed. A queer
-ring with e. shield of red enamel and
.raised black and gold crest on It." As
he spoke he gathered the reins into his
own control, and clambered on to the
seat.
At once the horses knew that they
were under guidance. The leader ceased
ceased to start and tremble, but stood
still, as if relieved to find life resuming
its normal routine. Baria let go tlie
animal's head, and, as keenly alert with
curiosity as if "he had never lost inter
est in the things of this world, he ran
to see what he had heard described.
."he was a gentlewoman young and
beautiful, pertiaps," he said, staring at
ring and glove. W hat can the mys
tery he? Why was she in this cart
alone?
"I doubt she was alone," said Chris
topher. "There's a knitted scarf of
worsted under the seat, such as peasant
men wear."
"The driver?" exclaimed Baria. "You
think ne killed her and stole what val
uables she had. knowing they were
worth his having?"
It seems the most probable theory
said Christopher. "She whoever slie
was had engaged him to drive her.
There must have been a strong motive
for trusting him. If he were a stran
ger." .
"But If he were not a stranger and
deceived her?
"A'.. then Yet why the glove nailed
to the seat?"
"Unless It were for a signal. Santa
Maria! We must get to the bottom of
this. Shall we go on in your car, as we
were going, and trace the mystery, step
by step, along the road by which this
cart has come?" .
"What! and let the car go on alone?"
"No. that would not do. One of ns
migjt stop- with it until the other could
2?jno ia&a? iScrrtsr of irafar'. .
return with the motor, having found
out the truth or, at worst, having
given an alarm at the nearest gen
darmerie." "I think we'd better not separate,"
said Christopher. "We may be wrong
in otlr theories. And we can't tell
which way we should take. There are
20 or 30 tracks in the mud. made by.
Just such market-carts as this, going
towards France or returning into Italy.
If there's any difference between this
and others, it's too dark for us to tell.
How can we be sure which one of many
small branch roads between here and
Bentimiglia is the road we ought -to
follow?"
"Have you no plan, then?" asked the
Marchese .impatiently. "We must do
something."
"I've a thought not a plan.' Did you
notice anything peculiar about the gray
leader?"
"Only that he's an unusually good
horse to draw a market-cart. He's got
bleo,d in him."
'That what I meant. He s almost
as mysterious as everything else about
the cart, more like a riding horse than
cart horse - somebody s -favorite.
Well, he'll lead the others and the
cart back to where he came from
back to where that somebody is wait-
ng for him. If we want to take the
quickest and most likely way of get-
mg to the root of this queer business.
my idea Is let us go on with the cart
and see what happens."
Good!, said the Marchese, thrilling
at the thought of the danger, the mys
tery, ahead. His eyes sparkled in the
lantern-light. He did not want to fade
away now. Indeed, he had forgotten
that he had ever wanted to fade away.
Good! But the car "
'We'll tow. her, lights out, behind
the cart, so that she may make no
noise. You shall sit in her to steer and
put on the brake if necessary. I'll lie
low in the cart, ready for anything
with my revolver. I'd give that part
to you, for I know you'd like it, but
you're not quite strong enough yet for
a job where- both our lives may depend
on strength as well as quickness.
Baria saw that it was Race's inten
tion to keep him screened and protected
in case of sudden assault, but he could
not object. He could only regret, for
poignant instant, that he had so
busily wasted instead of husbanding
his strength. As for Christopher, he
saw Baria's -silent disappointment and
was sorry.
'Keep these, he said, handing his
friend the glove and the ring.
"We may be going Into a den of
thieves and assassins." said Baria,
cheering up as he prepared to change
places with Race. '
If so," said Christopher, trailing
the ray of his lantern along the can
vas cover of the cart, it may not be
long before we get there. Look! here's
the name of the owner or alleged
owner Ravelli. Valegio. Valegio's
that village, you remember, whose
lights we saw twinkling far above us
about half an hour ago as we came
down the pass. Some road branching
off near here must lead to it. It if
does, the gray horse will take it. and
perhaps Signor Ravelli will have a
surprise."
Out went the light of the lantern.
The lamps of the car were already
dark. Christopher, lying among the
egg boxes, the reins held loosely in his
hand, his revolver ready, let the gray
leader go at his own pace and in
his own way. The car trailed behind
noiselessly, invisible to anyone in
front. Thus the horses, steady enough
now, plodded up the pass down which
Scarlet Runner had swept but half an
hour ago.
Soon, as Christopher had prophesied,
the gray horse turned without hesita
tion at a rough branch road, leading
steeply uphill. Far above hung the
lights of high Valeglfo, like a thin
crescent made of yellow stars. But the
cart was still a long distance below
the level of the mountain village when
the gray horse abruptly took another
turn. Confidently he walked through
an open gateway, yawning black in a
rough stone wall. And in the darkness
Race was aware that a man had leaped
up and out of some hiding-hole, to
lead the horse, as the gray shape glim
mered towards him.
There was not a word, scarce the
rustle of a footfall, nor was there a
light anywhere. But In the thick blue
dusk Christopher had heard for an in
stant a man's breathing.
Suddenly there broke into the still
ness ox the night one deep, baying
note from the throat of a dog a blood
hound. Race Judged by the rich, bell
tone, different from the bark of other
dogs. Next moment there were scuf
flings, as if someone were holding the
animal in check; and Christopher's
heart began to pound against his side.
Soon the bulk of. a house loomed a
blacker mass against the blackness of
the sky. The man who guided the
gray horse swung him around a corner;
a half-open door let a flood of yellow
light flow out into a stone-paved court
yard; and huddled in the doorway Race
could see several figures looking out
peering, listening." Then the horse
stopped. Still Christotpher lay without
moving. He wanted to know, if pos
sible, what these people expected to
find.
The man who had guided the leader
came towards the cart, asking a ques
tion as he approached, but he spoke
neither in Italian rfor in French, nor
any language which Christopher Race
had ever heard before. When no an
swer followed he repeated the same
words anxiously, then sprang forward
to look into the cart.
What he saw was Christopher, sit
ting up, his revolver cocked and aimed,
for now there seemed little hope of
explanations, and it was necessary to
be ready on thb instant for reprisals.
The thing which any normal man
would do on suddenly'seeing a revolver
aimed at his head at such close quar
ters is to start back mechanically, but
this man was different. With a roar
of rage he risked death and leaped
at the stranger as a tiger leaps, and
Christopher did not fire.
In an instant the courtyard was
echoing with cries and footfalls. The
door was flung wide open and three
or four young men and a woman had
thrown themselves, like living shad
ows, among the shadows of the stone
paved square. Baria. fearless and ex
cited, had dashed out of the car and
run forward at the sound of the first
cry, waving a revolver. But he could
not fire, for three tall men had torn
Christopher Race out of the 'cart and
wrenched his weapon away. The group
struggled together, and Baria dared
not fire lest he should kill the one he
would save. Then, suddenly, someone
CONTESTS ADD MUCH TO
1 , INTEREST OF STUDENTS
Competition Proves Spur to Pupils and Zest Given to School Tasks in
County-Wide Teste Is Reflected in Better Results.
OREGON CI1
ciaL) Wit
routine cla
REGON CITY. Or. Dec. 2. (Spe-
With the idea of giving to
ass work that element
of competition which makes games in
teresting. County School Superinten
dent Calavan and Supervisor Vedder
hae perfected' and have put into suc
cessful operation county-wide arith
metic and spelling contests. Practi
cally every one of the 135 schools in
the county has volunteered to take up
the work, as under the state school
laws the Superintendent cannot compel'
them to follow out his suggestions. Al
most 9000 pupils in Clackamas County
are taking part in the contests, the ul
timate aim of which is to select the
best spellers and the best students of
arithmetic ir the county.
Superintendent Calavan discovered
three years ago that a touch of compe
tition was the needed sauce to the dry
meat of school work'. Spelling, of all
studies, is probably the driest, yet when
he organized a system of county-wide
spelling bees he found every pupil
spending more time with the speller;
he found that all written papers were
better spelled and that class work im
proved in a. marked degree. '
Pupils, both boys and girls, would
work for weeks on spelling before one
of the bees, which were oral matches.
and the driest, most shunned study of
all became the most interesting. After
a series of spelling matches covering a
' - . . . 1 4-t ..... I.
penoa o I several iuuiilubc cl jiiibli Indian
was held in Oregon City among the
district winners to select the county
champion. Hundreds crowded into the
high school auditorium from every part
of the county to- hear the match, so
great was the interest aroused.
Strain Tells on Pupils.-
But, in spite of the success of the
oral bees. County Superintendent Cala
van found that the strain on the pupils
was too great. The element-of com
petition was there, the pupils were
much interested in a subject heretofore
almost neglected, but the excitement
was too much. Girls, after weeks" of
preparation, would miss a word which
they could spell easily when not under
the strain, and go to their seats crying,
Some became hysterical.
Superintendent Calavan then went to
work to devise a plan whereby the
competition could be retained and the
seized his arms "from behind and
snatched his revolver as he discharged
it Inadvertently in the air. and at
the same moment a woman's voice
shrieked in Italian: "An automobile
an automobile!"
Other voices, all voices of men, par
leyed passionately together in that
strange language of which Baria could
understand no more than Christopher.
It might, perhaps, be German, thought
Baria, who knew only English and
Italian, with enough French to read
and travel, and the poorest smatter
ing of German, remembered vaguely
from his school days. Therefore he
called up some words of .that tongue.
and strove to protest furiously, as he
and Christopher were dragged toward
the house, unarmed now and well-nigh
helpless, in the grasp of four or five
strong men.
No one understood or would seem
to understand, and they were at the
open door, surrounded and powerless.
when some inner door opened, and for
an instant a tall and magnificent old
man, with long white hair falling on
the collar of a curiously-fashioned
brown coat, appeared on the threshold.
"Whatever happens, don't let him be
seen!" cried one of the men quickly in
Italian. - At this the woman ran ahead
into the house, pushing the tall old
man with her hands on his breast, then
shut'ting the door he had opened, and
bolting it.
Even in this moment of extreme
peril, Christopher Race and the Mar
chese Baria, in the hands of their cap
tors, were stabbed with curiosity be-
qause of the old man.' He was beau
tiful, wonderful, with the face of a
prophet. Who was he. that the young
men of this strange house had cried
with one accord, as if in fear, "Don't
.let him be seen!"
They were now all inside the lighted
room, a big farm kitchen with white
mental strain done away with. The an
swer lay in written tests, conducted in
every school in the county at the same
time and under the same conditions.
Two contests were organized early
this year, one for spelling and the other
for arithmetic. In the arithmetic con
tests the County Superintendent's of
fice prepares each month tests of 10
problems for each grade from the
fourth to the eighth, inclusive, for five
consecutive months. The teachers o
the various schools conduct the tests,
grade the papers, keep a record of the
class average and report to the Super
intendent alter each test.
Each grade that makes an average of
80 per cent or better in the five tests
will be eligible to send a representative
to take part in the final zone contests,
which will be conducted by renresenta
tlves from the Superintendent's office
in centrally located places. A sultabl
diploma will be awarded to each grade
wnose representative makes 95 ner een
in mis nnai contest.
Spelling Testa Similar.
The speling contest is organized
long somewhat similar lines. Th
arithmetic contests began early thi
month, but the first of the snelllng
tests win be conducted - early nex
month. Grades from the fourth to th
eighth. Inclusive, will take part and
all contest work will be written. Each
of. the four grades will pass a test early
in December, January, February and
March and. as with the arithmetic con
test, the teachers will grade the papers.
keep a record of grades and report to
the Superintendent.
Afl pupils making an average grade
of 98 in these four contests will be
given a diploma. Final zone contest
will be held from April 16 to 20 in cen
trally located places. All pupils wh
average 98 per cent or better in the four
contests shall be eligible to take par
in the county finals. All pupils mak
lng 100 per cent in these final tests
will be given a county championship
diploma.
In both the spelling and arithmeti
contests all work is written, in thi
way removing the nervous strain whic
accompanies the oral work. Yet the in
terest in the work is stimulated and th
pupil who really applied himself to th
studies is rewarded, with a diploma.
These contests in a somewhat modi
fled form were carried out last year
with success. Superintendent Calavan
believes that he now has the plan near
perfection.
washed walls, and only one other door
besides the door of exit. That door
the woman had bolted, and at a word
fri-im one of the men she flew to lock
the other."
Christopher and Baria saw them
selves at the mercy of five young men.
all tall and broad-shouldered beyond
the common, and not one beyond the
age of 30. They were fair-haired, hav
ing the look of brothers, and their fea
tures were the hard, set .features of
the far North, their eyes grey and, full
of fire, but not the easily kindled fire
of the South. Only the woman was
of the South, if she might be judged
by the soft brown oval of her young,
frightened face and the dark velvet of
the startled eyes, which seemed al
ready to see the vision of a double
murder. She stood before the door she
had Just locked, pale and trembling.
"Are you going to kill them?" she
asked.
"We are going to execute them," an
swered the oldest of the five men.
whose age could not have been much
beyond". 30. "What else?. They are
spies, and worse." Then, having quiet
ed the girl his young wife, perhaps
in her native tongue, he had begun to
speak again in his own language to
his brothers, when Baria interrupted,
in Italian.
"You had better make sure first that
we are spies. My friend can speak
only French and English. He Is an
Englishman, from London; I, half Eng
lish, half Italian. His name is Chris
topher Race: I am Lorenzo Arnese,
Marchese Baria, of Venice. We came
here as avengers, not as spies. If you
miss any friends of yours from the
cart you had better question us. Then,
if we see reason to think you as inno
cent as we are, we will answer. And.
meanwhile, if you doubt our identity.
we have papers as well as an auto
mobile to prove it."
His impudence was Impressive. The
men consulted together, asked a few
questions, and got dramatic answers
with a description of the meeting of
cart and car on the road, and what
had been found under the canvas cover.
An he finished Baria showed the glove
and ring, and at the sight of them
the tide of angry sustcion turned
against him and his friend again, un
til Christopher whipped out the knife
which had held the reins fast.
Tell them where we found it. and
why we came here." he said to Barta,
for, though he could understand, he
ould speak no more than enough Ital
ian for servants, an inn or a garage.
The men, still guarding their pris-
ners, but no longer wholly antag
nistic, looked at the knife, touching
it and examining the blade and han-
le with care.
"It is Russian." commented the eldest
a low voice to his comrades. Then
s turned to Baria. "You may both
show the papers you spoke of. to
rove your identity." he said.
That one word "Russian," spoken in
Italian, was a clue instantly seized by
both Race and Baria. The language
which they had not been able to com
prehend was Russian. These men s
eatures were Russian their high
heekbones. their narrow grey eyes
and short noses.
"Why did you come to us?" the last
speaker asked, in Italian; and Earli',
prompted now and then by Christo
pher, explained with perfect frankness.
We wanted to know who had plotteu
the murder. If murder has been done
and we thought the quickest way to
find out was to travel with- the cart.
But it seems that you suspect us, as
we suspected you.
"If there has been murder, there is
not one of us who would not die to
avenge it." said the eldest of the young
men.
We should like to be with you in
that." said Baria.
'But why, if It has nothing to do
with you?"
It has this to do with us that we
found the glove and the ring, and our
blood grows hot against those who have
injured a woman. ' '
If they have injured her they shall
pay for it. exclaimed another of the
young men, in Italian. "They shall pay,
sooner or later."
Say to them that, with our motor.
we might help them to pay sooner,"
cut in Christopher.
Baria said it. And the men s faces.
fiercely set a few moments ago, soft
ened to a friendliness that was almost
guileless.
You are brave men. e are sorry
that we threatened you." he said to
Baria.
'Let us go, then, and find them, and
punish them before it is too late," said
Christopher.
It seemed that hours must have
passed since Scarlet Runner and the
driverless cart had so nearly come into
collision; but it was not an hour yet.
when the door of the kitchen was un
barred and three out of t'.ie five Ravel-
is accompanied their guest late pris
oners to Christopher liace s motor car.
Two stayed behind, making ho explana
tion; but they had looked at each other.
glancing with meaning towards the
other locked door, and they had ex
changed a few hurfied words with the
young woman.
'She was called Alexa so much
they soon learned, for the name was
spoken over and over again by the
brothers.
So the brothers talked, speaking of
Loris as if he were dead, and of Alexa
as If, perhaps, it would' be better to
know that she were dead, too. But
there was no doubt in their minds that
the way to take was to go straight and
quickly to ventlmiglia.
We don't wish to know your se
crets, but tell us one thing." said
Christopher. "Is this lady a person
politically Important, or merely of ini
portance to private interests?"
She is of great importance polit
ically, not here, but in another coun
try." answered Michael Ravelli.
It would be worth a good deal of
trouble, then, and a large expenditure
of money to people in high position
to get her back to that country?'
Russia" was the word which came to
Christopher's lips, but he pressed it
back. -
"Yes," Michael admitted. "Much
money must have been spent already
in tracking her with the most skilled
detectives at the disposal of her ene
mies: otherwise they would never have
succeeded as they have, in spite of al
our precautions."
"You think, then, that they would
have preferred to let her live?"
"I think they wished us for the time
to believe her dead, a time long enough
for them to go far away with her. But
they would hope to gain much by
questioning her, when they had her
safely back again in that land where
anything may be done -in the name of
the law."
"Then I don't believe they will risk
traveling by -train." said Christopher.
"By motor for a short distance, per
haps, but not far. You see, they would
be anxious to get her out of Italy and
France before you could do anything
to stop them. Knowing nothing of us
and our car, they might calculate oi
a few hours before you could possibly
follow. Doesn t it occur to you that i
yacht would suit their purpose bette
than anything else?"
Michael half sprang up. in his seat
beside Christopher, who was driving.
"A yacht!" he echoed. You are right
They would have a yacht. It would
be the one plan of all others. And
there are men who would, gladly lend
their yachts for this scheme."
"The yacht would lie in Mentone
harbor," said Christopher thoughtfully.
"It is as if you spoke on insplra
tion!" cried Michael.
Scarlet Runner flew into Mentone
and made straight for the harbor. Out
of season as it was. there were two
yachts in port one small one, and a x
fine, large craft which had got up
steam and was ready to go out. At
sight of her lights In the distance,
Christopher slowed down Scarlet Run
ner and stopped the engine. He was
not anxious to advertise the presence
of his car,
"What yacht is that?" he asked the
harbor master, whom he sought when
he had left his automobile in charge
of the youngest of the Ravelli broth
ers. He and Baria had sauntered up
alone, two of the Ravellis strolling not
far behind. The four had the air of
being out for a late walk after a hot
day: and where would a breeze be
found astir if not down y the port?
Christopher put his question as If In
the curiosity of idleness, and the harbor
master, who was sleepy ana wouia
rather have been in bed than where he
was. answered carelessly: "Nadege. be- .
long to a Russian Prince. Been here
for a week.
"What's she waiting for? he seemed
to reflect aloud.
"Been waiting for an automobile
which she's to take on board," said the
harbor master. "It's come now, and
they're going to ship it from a pon
toon." The motor car was drawn up near a
crane close to the edge of the quay, and
late though it was. a knot of three or
four idle onlookers had collected to
watch the sailors. Christopher and
Baria joined the group. A chauffeur
stood by the bonnet, absorbed in tho
preparations to sling the automobile.
As the Russians did not dream that
pursuers from the Roya Valley could
possibly arrive before their departure,
they were off guard for the moment,
and there was nothing to prevent
Christopher and -Barta from going close
to the car. They peered into the dark
depths, while the two Ravellis engaged
the weary harbor master in conversa
tion, lest he should chance to follow
with his eyes the movements of his lato
questioners.
In the covered tonneau of the auto
mobile, half sitting, half lying, they
could make out the slender figure of a
woman, who appeared to be sleeping.
This, after the statement of the doua
nier, was what they had expected to
see. and they had laid their plans ac
cordingly, hoping against hope for just
such a chance just such a clear mo
ment as fate offered them now.
Softly Baria opened the door or tne
. . i i .
car, ana out came a strong wiuu
chloroform, which was a relief to their
fears since it is not necessary to arug
the dead. Reaching In. Christopher
took the limp form in his strong arms,
and in his Joy would have forgotten the
last whispered words ot Michael Kavei
11: "Remember to look for a bag or a
bundle of papers," if th unconscious
girl's feet had not dragged against a
leather dispatch case on the floor.
Baria snatched it out on the instant,
and shut the door as noiselessly as ho
had opened it. Then each of the young
men supported the girl, tpking her be
tween them; and the darkness of the
night, intensified by the blaze of the
car's lamps ahead, as well as the pre
occupation of every other person con
cerned or not concerned favored
their quickly carried out maneuver.
At any instant the chauffeur, who
had been left on guard might discover
his loss and raise an alarm among his
fellow-conspirators. Their footsteps and
the hammering of their hearts loud in
their own ears, Christopher Race and
the Marchese Baria walked as fast as
they dared, supporting and hiding as
well as they could the unconscious
form which hung in their arms. As
thev neared the spot where the harbor
master had stood, the Ravellis joined
them and helped conceal the presence
oi the girl. The door of Christopher's
car stood open. They flung the dis
patch box in. and Bawa. with Micnaei
Ravelli. got the limp form on to one of
he seats while Chrlstopner sianea mo
engine.
Baria sat in the car with the girls
head upon his shoulder,-while with his
arm around her body . he kept her
steady.
As Scarlet Runner snot away pasi ins
custom house, and still no searcnngni
had flashed upon her from Denina,
Baria spoke to the Ravellis.
"They whoever they are will know
where to look for this lady, no doubt."
he said softly, as if fearing to disturb
her. . .
It will go hard hard with us Detoro
they find her."
A nlan which has been growing in
my mind in this. My friend and I could
take them both, father and daugnter.
back to my palazzo in Venice. I am
well known there, and my people have
always had influence, at Milan and Pa
dua, too, in case we were caught before
reaching Venice. She mignt. n sne
would, and if her father would permit
in such a caue. pass as my fiancee.
What Russian could touch either of the
two, if the lady were known as the fu
ture bride of the Marchese Baria?"
The plan is good, and you are gooa.
said Serglus Ravelli. "But it Is right
you should know who you are offering
to protect. They are Prince Alexander
Murgleneff and his daugnter Aieia.
"More than ever. Baria answered. fc
PrSnce Alexander Murgleneff is no an
archist, but a prophet a friend oi
peace as he Is of liberty, ana some oay
his country will learn to value him."
Thev reached the farm without acci
dent or sign of pursuit, and this time
Christopher and Baria entered the
house as trusted rrienas. By tne min
istrations of Michael Ravelll's young
wife the girl was revived, and she and
her father were told of the plan that
had been hastily made for them.
The old man did not hesitate, but de
cided for himself and his daughter,
while she was still unable to decide for
herself. They would go to Venice with
the Marchese Baria in the car of his
English friend. And. if necessarj-.
Alexa should pass as the fiancee of the
Marchese.
Instead of sleeping quietly at Men-
tone or Monte Carlo, as they had eiv
pected to p, the two young men spent
the night on the driver's seat of Scarlet
Runner, while the father and daughter
sat together inside.
Never stooping, they drove oacK over
the Col di Tenda. and on through the
dark hours and Into the morning. At a
farmhouse they stoppewi for food, and
water for the car; then on to Milan,
where they rested in comparative
safety. But the rest was only for a few
hours, and by hard going, tne next
night they reached Venice.
By that time both young men wouia
gladly have given their lives for the
old Russian and his brave, beautirui
daughter. Christopher risked being
late for Scarlet itunners iungiisn en
gagement by waiting to see the refu
gees installed in the Palazzo Baria,
while Baria himself " found quarters
with a neighbor cousin. There was no
news yet of pursuit: therefore, when
all was settled peacefully, Christopher
had no longer an excuse for lingering.
He left after three days, but they were
epoch-making days, and he was not
surprised to receive a long telegram
when he had arrived at Southampton
and unshipped his faithful car:
"Best of friends, I cannot wait to tell
you that I am really engaged to her.
She. is adorable. There is no other
woman. There never was, exoept in my
sick imagination. You saved my life,
you gave me health and love, and love
gives me love of life. We shall bo
married as soon as possible. She loves
me. I am perfectly happy, and hope
not to die until I am a hundred and site
ninety-one Yours until then.
"BARIA." .
Christopher sent as a wedding pres
ent a little model of Scarlet Runner,
done in red enamel and gold.
(A New Adventure Next Week.)
i