Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-12-04
REy9LNER Cooked AND AIMED

that friend and for his daughter would
have been too much; yet-she was
gone, her belongings ransacked, her
bloodstained glove pinned to the reins.
The sole comfort was that, If she were
dead, Loris Ravelli must have died in
trying to save her. He would not have
failed to do his utmost, and-he, too,
had disappeared. y
AS for the glove, nailed conspicu-
ously to the seat, holding the reins in
kind Of horrible mockery, it had
been put there for purpose, the
young men said gloomily to each
other There were those who wished
them to know that certain plan
had failed, and through whom it had
failed
Let us go, then, and find them and
punish them before it is too late"
said Christopher.
1t seemed that hours must have
passed since Scarlet Runner and the
driverless cart had so nearly come
into collision, but it was not an hour
yet, when the door of the kitchen was
unbarred and three out of the five
Ravellis accompanied their guests
late prisoners--to Christopher Races
motor car Two stayed behind, max
iiS ~ 'VAPiuAolioilsH put thSy ioo
looked at each other, glancing with
meaning towards the other locked
door and they had exchanged few
hurried words with the young woman.
Though nothing had been said,
Christopher and Baria both knew that
those who remained were on guard,
watching over life that was more to
them than their own. Don't let him
be seem" they had exclaimed. That
no harm might reach him, enough
men to protect him were staying at
the farm.
There had been few moments
when Christopher had hardly expected
| to smell the night air again, or to
see the car that he loved. 1t was good
now to sit on the drivers seat of
Scarlet Runner, to hear the comfort
ing thrum-thrum of its engine, to feel
its steering wheel under his hand and
to see its lights drinking up the dark
ness. 1t was life, after a cold dream
of death.
The Ravellis had an idea where to
go. They would be anxious to get
away with her" were she living or
dead, and the papers they, must have
found in the opened bag.
She" was called Alexa-so. much
! llity Sooh teal utu, lOG lflt HdIlt WAS
| spoken over and over again by the
/ brothers.
So the brothers talked. speaking of
Loris as if he were dead, and of Alexa
as if, perhaps, it would be better to
know that she were dead, too. But
there was no doubt in their minds
that the way to take was to &c
straight and quickly to Ventimiglia
The car rushed on towards Ven
timiglia, obedient to the brothers idea
that Ventimiglia was the center for
the quest to begin.
I'VE don't wish to know your Sc
crets but tell us one thing" said
Christopher. us this woman per-
son politically important or merely OF
Importance to private interests?"
| she is of great Importance politi-
cally-not here, but in another coun-
try" answered Michael Ravelli.
ut would be worth good deal of
trouble, then, and large expendi-
ture of money to people in high posi-
ton to get her back to--that coun-
try?" Russia" was the word which
came to Christopher's lips, but he
pressed it back
Yes" Michael admitted. Much
money must have been spent already
II dthlhS ItCi viii VIC HlUSl Shllltu
detectives at the disposal of her enc
mics. otherwise they would never have
succeeded as they have in spite OF
all our precautions"
You think, then, that they would
have preferred to let her live?"
IL think they wished us for the
time to believe her dead. a time long
enough for them to go far away with
her. But they would hope to gain
much by questioning her when they
had her safely back again in that land
where anything may be done in the
name of the law"
Then / don't believe they will risk
travelling by train" said Christopher
by motor for short distance, per.
1 haps, but not far. You see, they
would be anxious to get her out OF
Italy and France before you could dc
anything to, stop them. Knowing moth
ing of us and our car, they might cal
u culate on q few hours before you