Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-11-19
The Scarlet Runner


clump Of trees To line up ACROSS the
road.
christopher's first thought was to
blame himself for slowing down TO
glance behind. and To atone by maxi
ing dash. scattering the men, who
might be conspirators in the same plot.
But. even at distance. his clear
sighted eyes recognized a face lie had
seen before. one of these policemen
was a well-known motor trappcr."
withwhom christopher had come into
friendly contact more than once. What
ever the men at the inn mile back
might he. these were genuine servants
OF the law: and a brilliant idea danced
into Races mind. With the view OF
making IL useful. he slowed down in
Stantly
You've done the measured distance
at speed Of nifty and a half miles AN
hour. said the inspector OF police,
whom Christopher remembered his
stop watch in his hand. where's your
licenSe?"
Here it is, and here's my card an
swered Race. Don't you know me. in
sPe"tor-ih spite or the dust? And
don't YOU know Scarlet Runncr?,'
Why. yes. Mr.. Race. recognize
YOU now. said tho policeman I'm
sorry to say. however. as YOU we're
going at such a speed"
First offensc. isn't IL" laughed
christopher. And when you've heard
word or two. think even YOU will
say was justified in exceeding the
legal limit Summon me il you thing
r'Ent: hut go back now to tho next
puo'ic mouse ana rescue my passengers.
ono OF whom is, | believe. a nephew
ct the millionaire. Peter Maritz''
Inc inspector waited to hear no
more" Nh his professional pride was
on hrc. Go on, Mr.. Race" he broke
in; well overlook your furious driv-
Il
your friends"
Never had Christopher driven so fast
through traffic, except on tho day
when he followed the automobile with
inc Nuremberg watch and at the last
moment. as he drove through bronze
gates into the millionairc's famous
courtyard. he just escaped being
crashed into by a passing motor omni-
bus
The gates had been opened. perhaps.
Tor an electric brouEham which stood
before the door To pass out and tho
servants III livery giarca daycers at
the reckless chauffeur who dashed in.
fiSkinE collision. Hut CHRISTOPHER
stopped Scarlet Runner At "a safe dis
lance. and called out that hc wished
70 sec MI. MaritZ on urgent business
~ the sound of that name, "A gentle
man looked from tho window OF rho
hr"nsham. and his face had been made
familiar by the same methods which
iinmortalizcd his mansion
com" from Mr.. van Cortlandt"
added CHRISTOPHER, this time address
ing himself directly TO the millionaire.
itc exp ed to sec a look Of cnlicht-
cnment dawn on the clever. somew what
hard. featNes. Eut, to his surprise.
for an instant, Peter Mari,z appeared
puzzled. MIR. van CortIandt"' he re-
pcated aues,ioninsly Then. with a
hGht exclamation aud change Of on
precision. hc opened tho door or Tho
br"ugiiam before his alert servants
had time 10 touch it.
You have message for me from
Mr. van Cortlandt?. he asked
Not exactly a mcssuse,'' answered
Christopher. "Eut have news OF i'm
portance."
come indoors with me and tell me
u. then" said reter Maritz. who had
III" manners Of "a gentleman. as we'll
as tho wealth Of millionaire
christopher looked doubtful "Tn
not sure about leaving tho ear" he
replied In lower voice. u NAV he
carrying something of--er--considcr-
able value
Maritz asked u" further questions
and made no now suggestions. hut
mounted 10 the seat beside CHRISTOPHER
which Jacobs had last occupied. giving
nj IN" same time a glance at his SER
wants which sent them to distance
Race did not begin his story at the
slurrinE over what had happened untIl
Nc reached the episode nj the inn.
when Maritz heard that Van Cort-
i'ndt and Miss Warren had been seized
" men in III" dress of policemen, his
tark face suddenly naIcd
"lIut my nephew told YOU to drive
"rscly
Yes. And came as fast as could.
otter sending back three genuine po
c"men to the rescue"
Ihen where is that which nv
Icnhew trusted YOU To bring 10 me-,
lie trusted me with noth!nE-exccpt
IN" sense To understand his meaning
hut MISS Warren tossed her music
I'll into the ear as shot away from,
TIC inn" 80
That was clever Of her. and sho,ed
mat she is the right kind OF girl
i'u' though She thought she was car
rEinG something of Importance, as :,
matter OF fact she wasn't She was a
Kind o. iccoy duck"
The man Jacobs. who venture n
nchcvc Is fraud. disguised to look
lik" some one else. left his oycrcoat
behind very much against his will
NO doubt il was against his win
u" had put - little parcel he ought
10 have had into one OF it's pockets
i'ut there's nothing In that ovcrcoat
which can interest me. And for the
moment I'm not interested In this spu-
rious Jacobs. who was probably fnriou.
al being seen by Fan on the boat.
What want is the thing which my
nephew. whom you know az Mr. van
SortlandI must have given you to
bring me. or hr would certainly not
nave scnt YOU away from him with
your car"
II tell you he gave mo nothing" per-
sisted christopher, beginning to resent
the piercing glance OF the millionaire