The Washington times., 1916-12-16
CHAPTER xI.
The Miaslnn Chnpter.

The Missing Chapter.
when Christopher Race came back
from Amsterdam and he had been
idle for a day or two, adventure pre-
sented itself in n modest card bearing
the name, James Harkness."
The owner OF the name was small
in stature, with a neat, slender figure.
He would have somewhat resembled
a provincial Napoleon. IL instead OF
Napoleon's eagle gaze he had not pos.
sessed the soft, wistful brown eyes of
a misunderstood dog.
'How do you do, sir5 I'm very
pleased to have the honor of meeting
the celebrated Mr.. Race, and 1 hope
that, IL you're not engaged, can get
you to take me a trip In your auto
mobile" said Mr. Harkness, with an
accent that proclaimed him from the
middle West OF America.
Christopher replied that he and the
Scarlet Runner were disengaged.
James Harkness might have been
ing for thirty.hvc. and there was
grave, business experience In the Arm
set OF his jaw. But the eyes were n
boys eyes, and Christopher liked him.
Mr. Hardness went on: I'm taking
n vacation; It's the first one I've ever
had since left school, and that was
when l was fourteen years old. I've
had my nose TO the srindstone ever
Mrs. Hardness goes. to the seaside
every summer, which is the right
thing for n lady to do; and II was her
idea / should take this vacation and
and took train right to London"
"I shall be delighted to take Mrs.
Hardness and you for tour, IL you
don't want to be gone longer than q
fortnight" said Christopher.
"Two weeks Is Just what was
thinking Of" said Mr.. Harkness. But
my wife won't bo In the party, The
reason I can go Is because l had a
been invited to stay awhile In a
French chateau. The people who've
promised to go automobiling with me
met on the steamer; suppose
three passengers and their baggage
wouldn't be too much OF a burden to
you, sir?"
CHRISTOPHER set Mr.. Harkneas' mind
at rest on this point. when they dis
cussed routes, II appeared that Mr..
finaily decided that Scarlet Runner
should conduct the party through
Devonshire and Cornwall, going by
way of the New Forest.
The start was TO be made next day,
as there was no time to waste, and
Christopher was asked 20 bring Scar.
let Runner 60 an old.fashioned hotel
in suffoik street. not at all the sort OF
hotel an American would be likely to
choose, and his car arrived promptly
before the door at 10 o'clock In the
morning, according to arrangement.
Seldom had he been moro surprised,
than when his client ushered OUT from
sex the most amazing part OF their
unexpectedness. That which was par
ticuiariy astonishing about them was
one was elderly. the other. young.
sho who was elderly was English; and
the thought that flashed !nlo Christie.
pher Races head was that u she lad
= twin brother he wouid en nne.
This woman, th<ugh womanly, had
the eyes OF n soldier-steadfast, sn'
during: and though she was not
yet really old. her hair was white, IN
hno contrast with the calm dark
brows.
She, for a ship acquaintance OF Mr..
Harkness, was remarkable enough;
but her companion-a young girl who
could hardly be twenty-was Devil
christopher had never seen a girl
like her. She was a princess out OF
Miss Dalrympie-MissN Nourma Dai;
rymple-let me present MT. Race.
ratified on the American, primly ana
oonncientiously. "This is the automo'
bile I've been talking TO you about
A beauty. isn't she?"
Then, having discharged what he
considered his duty, they started, ana
as Race was not carrying a chauffeur.
Harkness proposed 20 sit beside him
on tho front seat. But Miss Dat
rymple the elder asked for his com.
pany In the tonneau, and he accepted
the invitation, shly, delightrdly,
Christopher heard him telling one or
two funny typically American stories,
and IL ever a silence fell, IL was
Hardness or tho girl who broke II.
never the elder OF the two women,
whom Nourma paSymple called
Aunt Constance"
The weather was perfect. and each
day that came TO take the place OF its
daad brother was more exquisite than
the last. Christopher was cordially In
vited TO have his meals with his pas