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

seconds of struggling confusion, and
as soon as the clamor OF paving and
snorting ceased Christopher began
scoding in French the invisible driver
of the cart.
"You deserve to be in the river"
he shouted, 'or in jail, for not light
up. And on a road like this. What's
the matter with you? Are you drunk
or only asleep? Fellows like you
would sleep while the last trump
sounded"
Still no answer. Nothing moved in
the darkness under the big white hood
which arched over the cart.
Drunk, of course said Baria
Hes been across the frontier and
taken his eggs to market: now he's
10 his way home to Cuneo, trusting
to his horses to find their way over the
Col and through that awful tunnel
How like a peasant. They all do 1t
In my country. forgetting that this Is
the day of automobiles"
"I'll stir up the idiot" said Chris
topher.
He and Baria had carefully led the
horses past the great silent, lighted
shape of Scarlet Runner, so that the
market-cart had the width of the road
to itself standing back to back with
the motor car Now as Baria held
the head of the grey leader, who
seemed anxious to get on, christopher
peered under the cover Of the cart.
For moment he was silent; then he
gave an exclamation.
What's wrong?" asked the mar
CHEESE.
81 can't make out yet, but it's very
queer" answered Christopher.
He hurried back to Scarlet Runner
and got out the electric lantern.
Flashing its white ray into the dark
tunnel under the canvas roof, 1t was
as II he had swept black curtain
away from a strange and ominously-
suggestive picture. -.,
There was in 1t no human figure,
yet 1t did not lack dramatic elements,
Empty egg boxes were piled and tum-
bled in confusion. On the broken
heap lay womans cloak of blue
cloth. torn from collar to hem, and
half-hidden under Sthe folds of this
garment--which had not been made
to cover the shoulders of a carriers
wife--a handsome though small trav-
sellng bag of alligator skin gaped wide
and empty as II II had been wrenched
open In mad haste or fury. Among
the boxes and scattered punches of
straw were tossed various articles of
woman's wardrobe; silk blouse,
handerchiefs, long fichu of rich
lace And on the back of the drlv-
er's seat little grey, gauntleted
glove held the relns and was itself
kept In place by knife which pinned
fast both the delicate kid and heavy
leather.
''Is the carter dead2" called Ba-
ria.
There Is no carter" Race an
swered, and cried out to his friend at
the horses head the things which the
lantern light showed.
1T sounds like murder---the murder
of woman" answered the marchese,
land no common peasant wench."
Christopher had climbed on the step
of the cart and was peering within.
ut is blood on the glove" he said; "a
light smear of 1t almost dry. What
ever has happened here must have
happened an hour or more ago. And
there's something In -one of the An
gers--something small and hard"
He was supporting himself with one
hand and had freed the other by set
| ting the lantern on the straw-strewn
seat. Now, with an effort, he wrenched
out the knife which stabbed glove
and reins and wood. The dainty bit
OF gauntleted gray suede was re-
| leased
ats a ring!" he exclaimed. "A
queer ring with shield of red enamel
and raised black and gold crest on
It." As he spoke he gathered the
reins into his own control and clamb-
cred onto the seat.
At once the horses knew that they
/ ryara anIar oni1onra Tho Loo do
ceased to start and tremble, but stood
still, as II relieved to find life resum-
ing It's normal routine. Baria let go
the animals head and as keenly alert
with curiosity as " he had never lost
interest In the things of this world,
he ran to see what he had heard de-
scribed.
II "She was a gentlewoman-young
and beautiful perhaps" he said. star
ing at ring and glove. What can the
mystery be? Why was she in this
cart--alone?" ~
81. doubt she was alone" said Chris
topher. There's knitted scarf OF
worsted under the seat, such as peas
ant men wear"
i "The driver?" exclaimed Baria
"You think he killed her and stole
what valuables she had-knowfng
they were worth his having?"
1T seems the most probable the
ory," said Christopher "She-who-
ever she was--had engaged him tc
drive her. There must have been a
strong motive for trusting him, IL he
were stranger" 't-
But II he were not stranger
and deceived herr"
. "Ah, then--Yet why the glove
, nailed to the seat?"
4 UNLESS it were for signal Santa
Maria! We must get to the bottom
Of this. Shall we go on In your car
, as we were going, and trace the mys
t terry, step by step, along the road b.
J which this cart has Gomez" Rs
What! and let the cart go oil
alone?"
! mo. that would not do. Ono of u
D might stop with it until the othe
1 could return with the motor, havinl
9 found out the truth--or. at worst. hav
g ing given an alarm at the nearest gen
1 darmerie."
. II think we'd better not separate,
G said Christopher. I'VE may be wronl
2 which way we should take. Their
/ are twenty or thirty tracks in tn
: mud. made by just such market cart
as this, going towards France or re
e turning into Italy. II there's any diff
n ference between this and others, it.
e too dark for us to tell How can W
e be sure which one of many SINAI
d branch roads between here and Ben
e timiglio Is the road we ought to fol
n low?"
e Have you no plan, them" aske
g the marchese impatiently. 1--WE mus
It do something
a I've a thought-not plan. Di
n you notice anything peculiar about tn
gray leadef?"
Il only that he's an unusually goo
i horse to draw market-cart. He
e got blood in him."
IS That's what meant He's almos
y as mysterious as everything els