The Washington times., 1916-10-14
Cast for Photoplay

attached; but Mr.. Corlipgwiid had re-
marked that THE would be no objection
|if ne liked the place. II was late 10
's s. ts cs more s..rs S' 81 hay sw e,
American gentleman had seemed very
energetic, and had insisted upon going.
He had been interested 70 hear that
the ownership. two hoiresses Of the
which must be sold owing to the con.
ditions OF the fathers Will. Mr.. Col
lingwood had heard Of some valuable
pictures and Jewels, which were heir
,o .J ;n In TIE Atbsrton family, FOR h. he
honset and, on being told they were
still there. he had been anxious 70 set
OF at once with an order to visw.
II was the heirlooms had determined
ebout an antique watch which, the young
lady had forgotten to show her father
being az well worth his attention as any
Of the Anterior things. he hardly lis
tened, but hurried the ladies' out Of the
was nothing else said about the
wstchr asked Christopher.
Mr.. Collinswood promised 10 have D
look at'it later. I think, from the little
discussion. II was q question Of some
present from a person he didn't care for
course. II was no affair Of mine, and /
paid no great attention.
Race waited for no more. but got out
Of the Office ~ quickly AZ he could With
decency. and dashed on In the direction
Christopher took Scarlet Runner In.
past the lodge. where therc was still no
slsn OF life, and up q eiightly ascending
avenue that turned and twisted under a
tunnel-like arch OF branches.
still the avenue wound on, but half .
mile. perhaps, beyond tho stone gate
pests and the dark lodge a turn in the
drive brought the tunnel Of trees to an
end. Through rain and darkness he
s ,1n p distance. u, across wide lawn. a
was cut. sharp and black. out Of the
somber fabric OF the sky. Christopher
saw no lights. but intervening shrubber-
les might hide some windows Of the
lower noors. ana the agent had said
the house. Race had slowed down. for
the white glare OF his lamps on the pale
mud and wet grass was bewildering; but
he was proceeding gently when with a
sudden bump Scarlet Runners front
yielding obstacle. Surprised, Christopher
stopped the car 30 abruptly that mad
vertently. he stopped the engine as well.
Instantly he jumped down to sec what
chauffeur forgot his anguish In this new
excitement
The obstruction. whatever II might be.
was mysteriouBly invisible. but In mo-
ment Christopher had stumbled over q
thick wire tightly stretched across the
drive ut a height of twelve or fifteen
inches above the ground, Had Scarlet
Runner been going at an ordinary pace
there would certainly have been an ugly
accident.
As Christopher pitched forward. and
righted himself hurriediy. the chauffeur
cried out. and would have broken INTO
excited questioning; but Race silenced
him with raised finger OF warnins.
Telling the chauffeur to stand by
Scarlet Runner. unless called, Christo-
pher began to climb slight eminence.
the wind and rain In his face, as his
feet squashed through the soaked.
spongy grass: Mounting TO. the top. ne
came Into fun sight Of the house. above
trees. At the axtreme western end was
a row OF three lighted, diamond PANIED
windows on the ground floor. The room
within was hidden by semi-transparent
IN that win were black as TINS one
had been a moment ago; for the bed
rooms Of the old-fashloned house doubt
less depended upon candles for light
and remained In darkness when their
occupants were absent.
This light, which cast It's white beam
up and down, shining out through, thin
white curtains. was neither the light Of
candle nor lamp.
AS Christopher noiselessly approached
the lighted panes he suddenly saw, In q
vlsion, what was passing on the other
side.
A man. with a small. wiry figure, and
a half-mask of Grape or some black ma
terial hiding the upper part Of his face,
was tip-toeing, catlike. about the room.
guiding his movements by means Of a
dark lantern. He had evidently Just
satisfied himself that there were things
worth having IN the room, despite .he
risk Of the thin curtains, and. having
locked the door OF an adjoining room.
he placed on the floor by tho dressing
table q partly-niled bag OF plumber, si-
ready secured. before moving toward
the door leading out TO the corridor.
Here he suffered q disappointment.
Flashing his lantern up and down the
oak, he found no bolt, no key in the
lock. For a second he hesitated; out
there was a litter OF jeweled gold brushes
and bottles and boxes on the dressing
table (such luxurious things as Ameri-
can heiresses cAn afford to carry about
when they traveD, and men OF his pro-
fession must be accustomed to such
risks, such disappointment In old-fash-
loned. carelessly conducted houses
q a. kAA - l,1 AZ