Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-22

"Hy Jove." said Christopher. loak
inr blank.
Tia. ha! IL YOU don't understand.
| Prepared as YOU are. how rauch less
will they" II VIII ho the great April
fool trick of the world
For YOU. But won't il Spoi, Miss
van Hsouten's ball"
TO do next
i swear im in the dark
All this viii happen just before
supper. There's TO be a grand sit-down
supper. and unmasliing. People viii be
in ;hc most awful puandary. by that
time they wont know whether they've
been .rlie victims OF grand joke ar
whether they've been robbed of their
little alt; but'.-they'il 40 in 10 supper.
except the poor detectives. who'll bc
ScurrNtng around like mice Tor NJ ws OF
the mysterious motor Then after mid :
night will appear Il great dish--a pic
with wonderful cover. Ii will be set
GOWN by servant (he'll be in our pay
not .liSS van. Iiout"n'$. by the bye or
the principal table. with q request fol.
Miss van Routen hrraei! to cut H. She
VIII do SO: and in that pie will he all
tne stolen jewels. with our visiting
cards on top, and u sort OF round robin
dated All Fools pay and claiming the
prize for ourselves, Your name nee,in' [
|
Know Miss van i;outen and aren't one
OF her iavitcd quests; but you'll get
YOUR share all the same. iIvnryOn,
Viii vote Is the prizo-or be voted
without sensc Of humor Now. there's
an adventure for YOU. n'est-ce pas"
It's regular boy-and- girl adven-
ture-nothing grown-up about it," said
Christopher. SURPRISED and amused at
the childishness Of the great game"
That's the charm" retorted Fitx-
gerald: and Christopher admitted that
perhaps he was right.
In any event. he was committed to
the affair now. and he was so ea;:er
to find out whether the beautiful Miss
Dauvray were bored with il all or
vcNcd with him for being in it. that
he would not have hacked out even
ii he could
When til" great night came. Chris
TOPPER could have laughed at himself
for the hoyish excitement which ran
through his veins. He was thoroughly
in the spirit of the adventure at last
as thoroughly as Fitzgerald.
tie arrived early III the rendezvous.
but not early enough to lie the frs;
on the scene. There was Il garden
with rather = high wall, and AS Scar
let Runner ;cuffeufcS round tho COR
ner OF the quiet street the gate OPEN
ed. and Fitzgerald looked out from
u.der Il dim. hanging light. Stonrino
The car. Christopher saw that there
were two other men with him, both
already wearing motor goggles. which
disguised them enough even for an
appearance at the masked ball
We've ali been dining here said
Fitzgerald. and are impatient TO
III off we've been ready for the last
ten minutes. Mrs. Dauvray our friends
grandmother. can't bear the smell of
smoke. :" we've had Is cigarette apiece
IN the garden. expecting You. I'll cali
Miss nauvray Oh. here she comes
now. Shc must have heard the ear
The opening door threw out a stream
&c ;h; and the cloakcd figure of
tall gill appeared. attended by IL maid.
Miss bauvray had covered her face
With u thick chiffon veil as a pro;ec.
iion against wind-tthere was no ,iustJ
nut under the hanging lamp at Inc
.satv, lie caught 4 CLEAN OF c.cs that
searched FOR his.
Fitzgerald would have helped her
INTO the ionncau of the car, but some
aow she slipped past him. and Chris
opler had an odd yet strong convic.
ion that she wished him to put her in.
Without an instant'S hesitation he held
out his arm ts Il support for her hand.
md she laid her fingers lightly upon
4. AT the same time, with her other
thrust something as far as she could
Gp the young mans sleeve.
II was :: thing that felt large and
'inEularly cold, but, surprised as he
vas at III" girls act christopher kept
mis- countenancc perfectly. liy move
mcnt OF his wrist he held the thing
" hatcvcr il was--wcll concealed. and
prevented ii from slipping down.
with Fitzgerald safely in his seat.
.,,I at l,s .i,l
,rivcd To slide out of his sleeve
Smith and WeSson revolver. A folded
bit OF white paper was kept in place
on the barrel 10y means of an innocent
little red rubber band. AS he slipped
the revolver from his hand inta deep
pocket OF ms motor coat, christopher
pulled of and unfolded the paper. ON
one side few words were written.
which he absorbed in II second in the
eye oil Scarlet Runners blazing lamp
ITO use instead, Of your unioadcd
one, in case anything should go wrong"
We're III" instructions flashed into his
mind brfor" he crumplcd up the paper
into Il ball and dropped il into his
pocket after the revolver.
"In ease anything should go wrong"
VIVA, could she mean? What could
possibly go wrong which would excuse
his Substitutin. u loaded revolver for
the harmless TOY he had in his belt +"
There was little time to think. az
Pousonhy Fitzgerald al his side kept
up running fire OF chan, and there
would bc no chance to ask questions.
If Miss Dauvray had hoped for any
later opportunity to communicate her
secret ideas to him she would have
said 50 III her note. He might take il
tina. this was her final word, and he
mus; :rnst TO luck and his own wit
to find she clue.
The Noua: moon had gone To sleep
lonG ago when Scarlet Hummer wheeled
thraurh the open gates ut ST. Roman $
Mount, past the smiling lodge keeper:
and - thin. milky haze yelled the stars.
with >" much time to spare, they had
not Travelled fast, aud Il distant church
clock told u'cm. as they spun round
the drive. that thc% had arrived nj :,
Quarter after eleven. The music OF the
White IiunGarians IN the ballroom
drowned tho drumming Of the motor
and II was as If Scarlet Runner made
II" Sonn" as she ran under the ballroom
windows and turned IL corner.
Ncr" here at cXactly> the right
time" said Fitzgerald Every soul