Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-17
CHAPTER NJ.
THE MISSING. CHAPTER.

ment with Scarlc, Runner which he had
expected 10 take UP fell through: there
fore he was none too we'll pleased to
find himself free for more than a fort
night. But when he had been idle for
day OF TIVE, adventure presented it.
self in a modest card bearing the name.
james Harkncss
The maid who. during the last few
menths. had brought to christopher
Races door so many strange people,
now produced one whom no wildes,
stretch OF imagination could associate
with tho idea OF romance.
lie was small in stature. with n neat,
slender figure clad IN gray tweed
suit that boaste6 the American Shout
der" He had fine head. aud would.
from the ape OF his forehead and cut
or his features, have somewhat re-
xemblcd a provincial Napoleon. II in
stead OF Napoleon's eagle gaze he had
not possessed the soft, wistfu! brown
eyes Of misunderstood dos-a dog
who has never deserved a kick In his
life, but hae had many and has ceased
lie hope or even wish for a caress-in'
deed, would be startled and embar-
rassea'n he got one.
This neat, rather dapper lutte man
walked into the ugly lodS Ing house sit
tinx-room with an air that was briskly
business.like, yet oddly apoiogeuc.
How do you do. sir? I'm very
pleased to have the honor OF injecting
the celebrated Mr.. Race: and hope
that, If you're not engaged. can get
you to take me a trip i'll your automo-
bile" said Mr.. Hardness with an &C
cent that proclaimed him from the
Middle West Of America.
Christopher replied that he and
Scarlet Runner were disenEased for
the present. and invited his caller 10
sit down and talk business There
was something in the combination Of
American brlskness and--perhaps-ah
American shyncss which pleased him.
and James Harkness--not on shiny
pa.teboard. but in flesh and hlood-hsd
u winning smile; winning because II
was like A schoolboy's. and had no
self consciousness in it. He might
have been old looking for thirty, or
young looking for ,hirtyhve, and
there was grave. business experience
in the nrm set Of his jaw. Eui the
eyes were a boys eyes. and Chris
topher liked him. in spite of the fact
THAT James--plain. unromantic, undi-
luted James--did not appear an III
chosen name 10 express his person
ality
Mir. darkness went on: I'm taking
a vacation: It's the first one I've ever
had since lct, school. and that was
when I wns fourtccn years old. I've
had m: nose 10 the Srindstonc ever
since hut like it we'll enough. Mrs.
darkness goes 10 the seaside every
summer. which is the right thing for
Il lady TO 90. and she's had run out
TO California and down TO Florida uuc
OF twice, winters. Now she's travelling
in Europe with some lady friends of
hcr.--has hccn for the last eighteen
months-and it was her idea I should
take this vacation and NEE, her.
just landed YESTERDAY and took train
right TO London. SO. YOU see.
haven't los. much time in giving
myself the pleasure Of calling on YOU.
sir"
II shall he delighted 10 take Mrs.
darkness and YOU for tour. IL YOU
cont want 10 he gone longer than
a fortnight" said Christopher pleased.
in spite OF himself by the genuine ad-
m'ration in the brown eyes,
Two weeks is just what | VAS
thinking of" said Mr. darkness "Ru,
my v!ff won, be in the party. The
REASON I can. 20 j. becaus. | had a
Marconi on board ship saying she'd
been invited TO stay awhil. in a French
chateau and she though, shed like
10 have the experience She hasn't
been acquainted with the Baron and
Baroness lone--theyrc friends @, her
frisnds-so she couldn', AK them 10
invite me too: and her idea was for
me just 10 fool around. SEEING slshth
in England, till SHE was through visit
ing. The people who've promised 10
go automohiling with ma met on the
steamer. suppose three passengers
and their baggage wonidn', be too
much OF burden 20 YOU, sir 49,
Christopher act MIR Harknes.s mind
At rest on this point. and then. flndins
that the American WAS al, amateur In
motoring he gave him advice about
the luggage. Also, they discussed
routes. ard Il appeared tina, Nj lark
ness, who had never found time 10
leave his own country before had no
preterenre. All he wanted was 10 sec
come Of the prttties, places: and il
war tnaily decided that Scarlet RUN
ner should conduct the party through
Devonshire and Cornwall, going by wav
" Slit NV 'ltS's No question OF
money lag in abe>aucc tin the last.
an6 then it vas Christopher WHO in
troduced IL ~ guess can leave the
price TO you, SIR. said the little man
from the West. II don't know any
thing ahou; the ctarse FOR automobiles
myself but you're a gentleman. and
whatever YOU say NIL bc right
Tho start mas 10 BE- made next dav
as there was no time to waste. ana
Christopher Tas asked io bring scar!e,
Runner 20 an old-fa.hioued hotel IN
Suffolk street. no, a, all the sor, ~
h"tei an American would he lik.ly ia
choose unless he had heard Of i, >ror,
English friend. IIo.ever. tina. was
""i Haces a'fa,-, aud he ana nis ear
ar~iv't promp.is before ,hc doo- =, 10
"'C"cH IN tho morning ACCORDING 70
:rrtnrenent
seldom had he been more .lrnrs.a
'nan when his clienr usher.d on, TO,
n" hotel tao ladies Nor va, ,i,.i.
sex ;he most amazing Part o, ibcir M.
'Hpret""ness. That urich -a- Iar
'iet iail; astonishing abou, them ,y,s
) Themselves
r;io vas cldtrl!. III, otber ,.ou,r
Ste who uas ~'doriy was English. y ~
tlte thought tina, flashed into ,,h,i.,.