Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-03

! engagement 10 go on. Meanwhilc NtO-
! let WAS to stop with him in some coum-
, try house he was taking. Hardcastle
promised to write. and promised that
| III everything went as he expected. VIC
| let should too. He'd let me- know the
address and all that. Well ! heard
nothing. found out his Office address
and wrote several times. No answer
Just then couldn't get leave. which
was horrid bother: hut after Il fort
night OF worry and suspense. | receiv
cd n letter from violet. evidently writ
ten in great haste. Here 1t is. You
shall see 1t. Mr.. Race
From an inner pocket Nnylor pro-
duced half sheet Of papr. Ut sight
o! which Race had to restrain an en-
clamation. for 1t exactly matched the
one which he himself possessed and
tho writing which covered IT WAS the
same as that in the letter over which
he had so often puzzled.
Dearest Maurice he read, this is
in tn. greatcst haste. I've run away
from my uncle's house-cscaped. 1
might call it: for, since II dreadful
seem We had, I'VE been practically Il
prisonar I've been planning this for
days. but have only Just succeeded.
I'VE got To Il farmhouse not far from
the village. giving different name.
and making up Il stupid story about
myself. but IL answers very veil. for
they're Keeping me aS lodger for "a
night or two. Really. I'm in hiding
here. for | daren't leaN" til" hois" lest
my uncle or that hateful wicked old
valet OF his YOU saw in Paris pounco
down Oh me like hawks and vary me
bach again. tell YOU, dearest. I'm
afraid or them both. | don't now what
they maynt do, and all because Of my
money. I'm sure uncle must have done
something dishonest with it. Amy way
lac came 10 me one night and said that
he knew m! mother had left me q
great deal which had never come into
his hands: that he'd got Information
about there being valuable bonds in a
bank in New York OF which lie ought To
have known ! admitted that ii was
true. and that dear mother had given
me letter abuut the bonds. Just he
fore she died saying that they were
never 10 be put in his charge. lie
said lac must have them. that hc WAS
In difficulties, bu, This extra money
would tide him over. and he would
make I, all riEhi afterwards. lie beg
seo and pleaded 50 that | began To
give him the letters OF the combination
lock. and had got As far as TVB when
II seemed exactly as If mothers voice.
spoke in ny car and forbade me To
20 ON. Their" WAS Il miserable scene
between us after that. His eyes were
awful. and frightened me You know
In my little cigarette casc. which YOU
gave me with your initials In II. and
your photograph hidden inside, told
You I would keep the thing most val
liable to IN. after YOUR picture That
thing Is the combination by which tho
safe at the bank which contains the
bonds can he opened. No one has oprn-
cd II and cut the bonds since mother
was in New York last. not long before
she died. Not soul living except ms
SELF Knows thu combination. not even
the manager OF the bank I'm sure
mother was right in not trusting uncle,
ana that this secret fortune Is all
have left. daren't wait for you 10
come mere. but shall try IL get TO Lon.
don by motor, rather than show my
Sell at a railway station. and will 20
straight 10 tho Savoy. You will get this
just In tine TO meet m" there IT YOU
star, from Paris Thursday morning
shall finish this letter and writ. nm
other arranging about the motor. and
20 do both I've but one sheet of paper.
Your loving VIOLET"
think" remarked O'Brien gravcly.
that we'd better go down at once into
Warwickshire, and pay "A surprise visit
10 MI. Hardcastle's houac. thaN sooner
the better"
We can so In my car;' said Chris.
TOPPER. and we can start whenever
YOU likc--in half an hour. If il suits
YOU"
There's just one thing We must do
before we start" said O'Bricn. ana
that ts, get a warrant for Iardcastie's
arrest. | can do il. though Mr. Races
evidence about what occurred to-
night"
was > o'clock ON Sunday morning.
and still pitch dark. when thew not of,
in Scarlet Runner: but they had the
warrant: and the good car seemed to
know that there was stiff work to he
done.
MIR. Hardcas;le announced q sour
raced middie-"Scd woman who opcneo
the door. was not at home
we will see Miss IIardcastle. # her
uncle is not here" lie said authorize
lively. And 10 his surprise and III.
astonishment Of his companions. tho
servant made no objection. usheriur
all three into q handsome IL sparsciv
furnished drawing room she said that
Miss Hardcastle was NOT we'll, but
should have the gcntlcmen's message
and would either come down or send
word
Tell her it's cir. Naylor" cried tho
girls lover "Mr. Maurice Naylor. who's
found her, though she gave him no an-
dress. and he couldn't make out Tho
Dostmark Oh her letter"
VIII She Gomez" WAS the question in
INV ihihuS on IN" lhrcc men And i'm
two minutes il was answered. hv ,bc
Sirl herself. pale and lovely. in a tea
gown or white, her beautiful hair dis
ordered as il she had risen hastily from
bed.
Oh. Maurice" she sobbcd running
TO him. with eyes for no one else
1T WAS tr:e that Mr.. iIarocastlc was
mot al home as his servum, had said
Bus he had returned early that morn.
ing, by motor. as o'Ericn had guessed
and by threatening 10 Kill Mamie,
NaNlor. whom lie know 10 he ia Lon
don he had induced Violet to tell nor
her carefully guarded secret. 10 eoyn
her lovers life. Then with his On
hdentiai mfn. her uncle had gone of
again in his car
"Hut luckily" remarked tho detoc
tive when lie had beard these details
from the girl The cart sail for New
York to-day"
IL WONDER she said II faprcn IA
know that hes lately bought or hire,
= his steam yacht. bus don't know
her name
''Win know bcs,,.