Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-12-04

could possibly follow. Doesn't it &C.
cur to you that a yacht would suit
their purpose better than anything
else?"
Michael half sprung up in his seat
beside Christopher, who was driving.
"a yacht" he echoed. You are right.
They would have a yacht. 1t 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 thought
fully.
1T is as if you spoke on inspira-
tion"' cried Michael,
Scarlet Runner flew into Mentone
and made straight for the harbor, Out
of season as 1t was, there were two
yachts in port-one small one and a
fine, large craft which had got up
steam and was ready to go out. At
sight of its 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
NE had left his automobile in charge
VI the yOuuStSl VI tuC ENdNCili VI oth7
ers. He and Barfa had sauntered up
alone. The four had the air of being
out for late walk after a hot day,
and where would breeze be found
astir if not down by the port?
Christopher put his question as If
in the curiosity of idleness and the
harbor master, who was sleepy and
would rather have been in bed than
where he was, answered carelessly:
"Nadege, belong to a Russian prince
Been here for week"
Christopher did not inquire the
name of its owner 1t was enough
for him that it was Russian and that
it was about to leave.
whats it waiting for?" he seemed
to reflect abound.
Been waiting for an automobile
which it's to take on board" said the
harbor master. Its come now and
they're going TO ship it from pom
toon."
The motor car was drawn up near
crane close to the edge of the quay
and late though it was 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 the
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 Baria from going
close to the car. They peered into
the dark depths, while the two Ra-
vellis engaged the weary harbor mas
ter in conversation, lest he should
chance to follow with his eyes the
movements of his late questioners.
In the covered tonneau of the au-
tomobile, half sitting, half lying, they
could make out the slender figure Of
woman, who appeared to be sleep
ing. This, after the statement of the
douanier, was what they had ex-
pected to see, and they had laid their
plans accordingly, hoping against
hope for just such a chance-just
such clear moment-as Fate offered
them now.
Softly Baria opened the door of the
car and out came strong Whit of
chloroform, which was relief to
their fears-since 1t is not necessary
to drug the dead. Reaching in,
Christopher took the limp form in his
strong arms and in his joy would have
forgotten the last whispered words Of
Michael Ravelli: Remember to look
for bag or a bundle of papers," II
the unconscious girls feet had not
dragged against a leather dispatch
case on the floor. Baria snatched 1t
out on the instant and shut the door
as. noisely as he had opened it. Then
each of the young men supported the
crirl takinor hor
the darkness of the night, intensified
by the blaze of the cars lamps ahead
as well as the preoccupation of every
other person concerned-or not con-
cerned-favored their quickly carried
out maneuver.
At any instant the chauffeur. who
had been left on guard. might dis
cover his loss and raise an alarm
among his fellow-conspirators. Their
footsteps and the hammering of their
hearts loud in their own ears, Christie
pher Race and the Marchese Baria
walked as fast as they dared, support
ing and hiding as well as they could
the unconscious form which hung in
their arms. AS they neared the spot
the harbor master had stood, the Ra-
vellis joined them and helped conceal
the presence of the girl The door
of. Christopher's car stood open. They
flung the dispatch box in and Baria
with Michael Ravelli, got the limp
form on to one of the seats while
Christopher started the engine.
Baria sat in the car with the girls
head upon his shoulder, while with
his arm round her body he kept her
steady as Scarlet Runner few on. Mi
chael Ravelli was outside with Chris
topher, but the two Others were in the
covered tonneau. anXiously engaged in
breaking open the dispatch box. For
the papers the brothers so eagerly
sought Baria cared nothing, but for
a man who hated life and women be-
cause one woman was false he showed
singular interest in the delicate pro-
file outlined like pale cameo against
the dark gray of his coat.
She was young and very beautiful
he could see as much as that. He
could imagine a great deal more and
he knew that she had been brave
witness her strange journey, her cloak
torn in a struggle, the ring in the
glove wrenched from resisting hand.
Scarlet Runner had swept like a
tornado along the deserted road and
reached the Italian frontier The de-
lay was short. since Christopher pa
pers were in order. yet it seemed an
eternity to Baria, turning his head
always to see if the Russian car with
its wicked searchlight had rounded
the last corner. He scarcely heard the
EXPLANATIONS of joy drawn from the
Ravellis by the discovery that all they
hoped to find was in the dispatch box.
He thought only of the girl and of a
plan that perhaps would not have
sprung, full-fledged, into his head had
hers upon his shoulder been less beau
tiful. curl which had escaped less
golden.
AS Scarlet Runner shot away past
the customs house and still no
searchlight had flashed upon her from
behind, Baria spoke to the Ravellis
''They-whoever they are-will