The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-08


1syl saw the couple again. They we're
passing the post office and this time they
were side by side In n buggy; Tom was
driving furionsly up Market Street toward
the Alameda. 1t was NIL the queen could
do to keep back her tears and talk com.
posedly.
Meanwhile the knights booted and
spurred, had set out. n cnvalcnde Of some
half dozen riders, and pelted down First
street with small regard for the com.
fort OF pedestrians. They clattered TN.
''der the tail electric light tower to q
Spanish trot, singing and testing and
once out of the crowd, settled into lope
that brought them, IN three-qunrters OF
an hour to within sight of Golcher's
The party was cantering up TO the road
house when they suddenly heard wo.
mans voice screaming, They drew rein
and called to each other in surprise
the adventure was becoming more serious
then they had expected The grand com.
mander spurred forward like hero, and
the rest followed him. Pulling up at the
watering trough they threw themselves
from their saddles. BY this time the
screams had stopped, and the silence
alarmed them more than the shrieks had
done. III
,rhe front door was locked the windows
back of the house and all was closed Sc
c,,rely. The place seemed deserted except
for bull dog chained and growing
savagcly in the yard. The knights held
n. consultation on the front porch. and,
while one drew a revolver, the grand
commander put his foot through pane
Of glass, lifted the sash and climbed In.
The rest followed him. They trod lightly,
rs II afraid of the sound Of their own
| footballs and spoke in whispers. The
room was empty, so was the little white
dining room. so was the Kitchen.
| AS they were about to Investigate the
upper story, the grand commander dash
ed over to a corner OF the room and pick.
cd up q heavy wrap. 1t was a black
velvet cape, lined with ermne.
"rhat's Norine .Almeric's cape!" he
cried "She was to have worn 1t at the
coronation--I know It, because it was
rented from Cohen's costume place for
$50. with the crown and jewels. She
must be here in the housed!
at that moment n startling Shrek came
from the room directly over. their head.
Then all was still again.
| The grand. commander trembled hest
Eating but worshipful SCRIBE he with
the revolver, took the lead. Come OF,
boys" he called lets look upstairs. :"
They followed him up to landing
where we're three closed doors. The
rooms were found to be empty; the third
door was locked. The grand commander
peeped through the keyhole. but could
SEQ nothing WHO'S there?" he cried
| "Oh. for Gods sake let me out" wo.
man answered.
| who are you?" asked the grand COM
mander.
Let me out, can't you? I'm locked
I'M" she screamed.
Two of the knights threw themselves
at the door with violence, the bolt broke
free. and they fell into the room. There,
standing by the window, a handkerchief
to her mouth, was a handsome young
woman of swarthy complexion. dressed
in red fannelette shirt waist.
ooh. thank you, so much!" she ex.
claimed II was afraid I'd never get
out!'
"How did you get in? That's the aues-
ton. . said the grand commander, stern
ly. He was disappointed. SO were the
| knights. "How In thunder do YOU hap
pen to be locked into a room In de-
serted house. that's what I'd like to
know and who are you, anyway" All
the pedagosue In him was manifest In
his tone.
I my name" said the girl in the red
waist, us Dolores del Robes. But how
III happened to be here, locked III tns
room-that is long story"
"Before you tell that, then. miss, tell
me-have you seen Miss Almeric here In
| this house?'
"a tall young lady with light hair,
dressed in a beautiful white dress?"
"Yes, that's Norinc,' they exclaimed.
"where Is she?"
"Ah, I do not know. She was in this
room She went away. 1t is part OF
tho story!'
Then tell it, for heavens sake!' cried
the grand commander Come downstairs
and We'll light up, first thought"
They went down, but the girl, asking to
| be excused while she arranged her hair
watched them descend AS soon as they
/ were out Of sight, she ran quickly into
one Of the other rooms whose windows
| opened to the east overlooking the back
| of the house. She softly raised the sash,
and looked out Beside the stable a'buck-
| board was standing 1t held two persons,
! a tall girl and man. keep them for
| half an hour, If you cant he called. just
| loud enough for her to hear. The girl
! in the fnnnelette waist waved her hand
kerchef. rs the man took the reins and
drove hastily away.
senorta Dolores then descended the