The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-11-18

"a v iive!" thought Christopher.
.t looking up in q puzzled
vay AZ the tall. dilapidated house In
tho jewish quarter Of Amsterdam. in
front of which he stopped Scarlet Run
nsr.
Christopher. who by special arrange
ment and extra payment had brought
the motor across from England on the
night boat to the Hook Of Holland, had
spun along good clinker roads. bowl
ing his car and his one passenger into
Amsterdam In time for q late break
fast. The meal he had taken at a
hotel, while his employer unknown to
him few days before) had driven off
in . cab to the house OF q relative.
who was expected to Join the party for
q weeks run through Holland. Instruc-
tons were that, after breakfast and a
couple OF hours rest, Christopher was
TO cali at a certain address.
The young man who had engaged
him and Scarlet Runner-the young
man with the features, hearing. and
manner Of an Englishman. the accent
Of Oxford, and tho name Of a Dutch
man. Van Cortlandt-had seemed frank
ness itself. He had insisted upon pay
ing fifty pounds In advance. He had
been an agreeable companion during
the run, showing himself q cosmopoi-
ltan In knowledge Of the world, OF
literature. and Of drama. Christopher
was inclined to like and admire his
passenger. and fancied that the Dutch
cousin to be visited in Amsterdam
would turn out q merchant prince Ye,
this was the cousins house: tho hour
appointed had passed, and young Mr.
Van Cortlandt seemed In no hurry II
appear with his relative.
When he had sat In front Of the .,cuse
Aor quarter OF an hour christopher
stopped the motor; and 1t was just afte,
no had done this that the door opened
and girl came out. Perhaps It wal
vanity on Christophers part. but he fan,
ossd that the large eyes glimmering al
lurfngiy through her veil rested upor
Scarlet Runner with interest and ever
curiosity. He watched the girl as she
walked to the corner. and at the end oil
ne street saw her hail a cab; Imme'
diately afterwaTd a man who had beer
staring aimlessly at the bottles IN 9
cheap hairdresser's shop on the otheI
4de OF the way became abruptly aware
bat he had been wasting time. He hur'
liNo Otl IN TIE ulTeCllOn tnt
girl had taken and also found a cab. &c
promptly as TO suggest the idea that Il
had been waiting his orders.
Doesn't look like the sort Of fellow
who could afford to drive" christopher
said to himself family interested, and 81
forgetting his own affairs for the in
slant that Il was a surprise suddely L
see Mr. van Cortlandt standing In tn,
street.
There was a vague impression in tn,
mind nf Grarlat ptinnaFia ha
employer had run down the steps of {
house two doors farther on, but hi!
thoughts had been so occupied with tn,
doings OF others at the instant that h,
been to save his life or Van Cortlandt' s
sorry to have kept you waiting" sale
the other. 1T was unavoidable" II,
paused for a moment. evidently HAVING
something more he wanted to say an(
not knowing how best to say II.
landt went on. that all my plans al,
changed: Ny cousin, who was to hav,
gone with me on this motor trip, cam
go-family affection. something quit,
IT would be hard-hearted, as well a
gloomy, to make the tour without him
However. you shan't suffer In an,
way by the change. Mr.. Race. for mat
ters between us shall stand exactly al
II I'd been using your car for the mex
week, as arranged; but I've made u,
my mind to turn round and 30 back t,
England today, after all"
"Christopher was surprised. but h,
showed no establishment. He merel!
regretted, civilly, that there was troubl,
In Mr.. van Cortlandt's family and dis
appointment for Mr.. van Cortlandt him
Nothing could have been pieasanter o
two young men In discussing the situa
ton; nevertheless. Christopher had
strong, II inexplicable, conviction that
In some way and for some reason thu
far. incomprehensible, he had been
tool In the hands of the other; that n
sterdam relatives Of Mr.. van Cortlandt
and that Mr.. Van Cortlandt had neve
really intended to take the trip he pro
tesssd to abandon with so much re
1--WE will go back now to your hote
and pick up the suitcase which I aske
you to leave there until my plans wer
settled" said Van, Cortlandt. =. "Ther
ought to be time for lunch. too; but a
tSs car tonight I don't Want any CON
trotemps, and think we'd better orde
plenty Of food and drink to take o.
board the car. and eat by the wa
Whenever we feel Inclined"
In lis head, but could make notS hin
mysterious OF II; nor had he got hol
Of any further clue by the time scariee
Runner had landed them at the door 0
the old shioned Bible Hotel.
When they had arrived there, he ex
pected his passenger to 70 In and sc
TO the fetching Of the suitcasel which
from the first. Christopher had venture
to think rather scanty provision for
weeks tour. But van Cortlandt had
different Idea. He suggested that, a
Race had arranged for the disposal O
the luggage. he had better be the one I
AJAX for Il now; otherwise there Nigh
be q Misunderstanding.
During one Of the moments whe
Christopher's attention was diyerte
from HIS bestowed possession. Mr. va
cortlandt left his seat and began es
amlning the car with frank interes
His back was turned to the door OF III
hotel where Christopher stood guar
but when the owner OF the car cam
hurrledly out, accompanied by a porte
with the suit case and waiter with
neat parcel. the passenger was peerin
into the petrol tank. You're sure theT
isn't rather a queer smeil?' he inquire,
" thought as we came there was ba
carburation, or something"
Christopher, quick IN defense 81 hi
darling. denied the had carhiIra IL,