Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-08
EPISODE ONE
TUE CAB AND Ills MAJESTY
II vas such an unusually peau,lfu

vas such an unusually beautiful ana
Z then ssrn car ,has everyone looked at it.
This. rhis Was what Christopher Race had
Good old scsrie, Runner" he .s,s n, Re
E trrp Good old GIRL you're making your
Slowly the red car moved up Regent Stree,
,n,, 'a h a. Oxford circua. where IT turned to
rot. pack. IKE some great splendid beast
II was past seven o'clock: but the sky ws.
80, olue end silver mosaic OF stars. and cleo
struck and Elinted the rich scarlet pan
els OF the automobile
SHOP and factory tho army OF pleasure
seekers Re, pouring into restauran, and theatre.
TO make out the crcst-gold and dark blue
painted painted on scarlet: and those among the
Christopher Race az
ne drove alone. bu, he was dressed like a
ehauneur. He was a thin, dark. eagle faced
young man, with an air of breeding not con
HIS nouth--clean- shnven-gave him strength
OF eharaeter and his eyes OF humor
The electric globes lit his face with the
nerce Intensity OF theatre footlights. reveal
only the good looks OF tho driver thni M.
ttraeted attention; IT wan his extraordinary
He sharply scanned each pnsser-by as q,
searching the crowd for some lost friend !:
S ana whenever he caush, the eye of we'll
dressed man who might. from his appearance
nave good bank account and n correspond :
.nG,y good position In society. up went tho
Siored hand OF the motor driver in evident
Invitation; a, the same time he smiled and
slightly lifted his eyebrows. that his
whole race seemed to ask question.
No one responded TO his agreeable signals
and he arrived at the corner OF Charles
In this quiet thorouphfaro of respectable
private hotels and hetser-class lodging
some enough to rva n. red eap 7, was
dark green in color. and /, stood silent and
sad before discreet-looking doorway-si-
lent because the motor had ceased TO throb;
sad because. apparently. there some ma
iign reason for Its silence.
the discreet door opened and gentleman
He was d dressed A as an English gentleman
should he when he Is going to dinner on a
looked above all things a" gentlemen . oO he did
not look IKE an English gentleman:
thick white SIX handkerehef ' tha a1V , es
in the ~ OF the black overcoat face
passed without second glance.
Never before had the young man in the
asd car sene'd ina, face in in the flesh
to a grand pageant to gaze in awe a; those
same clean-cut features Cor others exactly
But. unless he were egregicusly mistaken. he
had seen the face in a hundred photographs.
illustrated Journals: he had seen II carica-
tured in comic sketches. and flashed on to
white sheets by bographs at music halls.
For a moment christopher Race forgot all
about his car. his errand with the car. and
his interest in the car that was disabled.
But the first words spoken by the gentle
with the shining hat and neat over
Goa, reminded him forciby of all three.
mo better success?" asked q clear voice
in perfect English, enriched by a slight for-
eiGn accent.
81 am very sorry indeed sir. apologized
to make out what's the matter. Something
wrong with the carburetor or the ignition"
I'm late already" broke In the gentle
man, risibly bolstering up his patience
of la
red car chose for making his habltuai ges-
ture, which he accompanied with the usual
inviting smile and questioning lift of the
eyebrows.
Instantly the keen gaze of the man with
hold up your hand?' inquired the clear tones,
with the un- English accent. At the Same
SHADOW d bacEine away from the blaze of tbe
two cars acetylene lamps
IT hold up my hand because I'm plying
for hire" answered Christopher Race
"Eh? Plying for hire with that carr You
are Joking. suppose" Tone and eyes ex-
pressed astonishnent. perhaps dstrust But
and the gentleman in the tall hat had stepped
to the edge of the pavement to examine It
at CLOSE quarters also to examine. incident
ally, its driver.
Not at ALL" said Christopher Race. "un.
less life Is joke, I'm out to gain a liveli-
license to drive. IL you would care to see
"Haw said the other. you are a remark.
May ask II you are in the employment Of
some person who sends you out on this
busness?
Pm my own employer-under Fate.
drive my car; Fate drives me-"
Indeed? I'm inclined to think"-and the
Keen eyes Mashed to the tinkerng chauffeur
that Fate intends you to drive me- What
do you think about it?'
II should be delighted to think TINT Won
are right" returned Christopher Race.
Very we'll, said the other; 81 will en-.
gage you-for the evening. You can take
me where ] wish nI to go. and wait. If my
chauffeur can bring my chr round later.
the same money What your charges!"
For the entire evening, Ave suineas" said
Christopher. 1870
Good; that is settled" Tho gentleman
etepped forward, and the owner OF tho rcd