The Washington herald., 1914-04-07
THE MYSTERY OF
THE WHITE CAR

sNy Lady Rafiies again." unused Phil
Kelly, scowling at the note sent him by
the President of the San Patricio Re
public The last time we met she slip
ped away from me In an airship, and the
frnpudent young thing left a note for me
saying we would meet again on terra
Trina. Well, this time, Ny Lady
But Phil Kelly had ceased making
himself promises>in ventures where Ny
Lady Rafies was concerned. Many
time when he thought he had caught her
like q mouse IN a trap she had eiuded
him with the uncanny agility Of q wrath
Like colossal question mark she had
5igEed across the path Of his detective
career, toying dafingly with his cum
ming introducing him to new ideas in
the line Of trap doors, secret panels, sub
ferranean passages, DISCUSSES and NEGRO
1psntfc tricks-an the old contrivances
eucounfered In real or mythic detective
pursuits, plus Ny Lady Raffies' silvery
laughter. amazing caprices and mischiev-
Gus eyes
smile curled his lips, as he once
more scanned the note: Il have been
iuplored to attend the ball TO be given
ny the Countess Szcheney tonight" he
rad. sand should feel greater safety
n I knew you were thers." He smiled
arzsn: he could almost see the funny
little President swaying IN fright on
iexs a. shaiky as his republic. Il am
informed that young woman from your
country has come here to. join the IN
surrectos. and that an attempt is to be
made upon my lie
Kelly tossed the note aside. His SYM
pzthles were with the amazing Lady
Rafies rather than the bombastic PEDRO
de Leon, but he longed once more 10
~fnA r--fau xzrff1 fl7f1
In the world, and he decided TO accept
the invitation. AS he stood at the win
dow a whirring sound and a sonrting
Of motors were heard. A long white |
touring car rted down the roadway, |
swung gracefully around curve and dis |
appeared Kelly blinked perplexedly at |
the point where vt had vanished and /
looked at his assistant His swift glimpse |
Of the speeding car had given him an
impression of something weird and un- /
canny.
what was that?" he mumbled, still /
staring beyond the curve in the road
why there was mono driver in the
carr exclaimed his assistant, staring |
vacantly at his chief. THE car was
empty
And then Kelly knew There had been
no one in the car. yet 1t had slid around
the curve as guided by spirit hands.
My Lady Raffies," he mUrmured. Il
tank we had better hurry to the Coun-
tess Szcheney's ball. de smiled grimly.
II My Lady Raffies, the girl he had
learned to associate with everything
weird and unbelievable, was one of the
conspirators seeking Pedro de Icons
life his excellency the President had in
deed reason to fear. They made quick
change, and as they assembled the steps
leading to the Countess Szcheney's man
sion Kelly saw cleaning white car
standing in row of vehicles
The ghost car" he mumbled- HeI
turned to his assistant. You watch the
precious re of Mr.. de Leon for a while"
he whispered. II am going to look
around a bit" He stole softly down
heavily carpeted corridors, listened be-
hind the rich hangings outside rooms of
rarbaric splendor. and suddenly a rippI-
ing, silvery laughter reached his ears.
He stopped, drew the curtains slightly
apart and listened. Seated or standing
about the room were a score of dark
hued. sinister-locking men and women,
and. swinging carelessly back and forth
on a piano stool, a leopard-spotted cloak
hanging loosely from her shoulders, sat
My Lady Raffles-
The girl was toying with a little silver
backed mirror while the others were talk
ing in hushed tones. Kelly strained his
ears and listened. $50, that's it. is it?''
he mumbled. Nifty little plot-and {