The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-10-07
CHAPTER JANUARY.
The Car and His Majesty. p


TT WAS such an unusually beautiful
and striking car that everyone
looked at II. then, turned to look
again.
This was what Christopher Race had
counted upon.
Good old Scarlet Runner!" he said
as he drove. Good old girl, you're
making your impression"
Slowly the red car moved up Resent
street as far as oxford Circus. where
Il turned to roll back, like some great.
splendid beast pacing the length OF
vast cage.
It was past o'clock; but the SKY
was a blue and silver mosaic Of stars.
and electric globes pulsed with white
lights that struck and slinted on the
RICH scarlet panels OF the automobne'
The army OF workers pouring home
from shop and factory, the army OF
pleasure seekers pouring into restaurant
and theater, all looked at the car,
straining their eyes to make OUT the
crest-gold and dark blue painted on
scarlet; and those among the CROWDS
who were women looked also at Chris
topher Race.
He drove alone, but he was dressed
like a gentleman, not In the gloried
livery Of a chauffeur. He was thin.
dark, eagle-faced young man, with an
air OF breeding not contradicted by
his evident self-consciousness. His
clean shaven-gave him strength
of character, and his eyes sense or
humor and high daring.
The electric globes lit his face with
the fierce intensity of theater foot
lights. revealing in 1t not one mean
line. But 1t was not only the good
looks OF the driver that attracted at
tention; 1t was his extraordinary be-
havior.
He sharply scanned each passerby as
II searching the crowd for some lost
friend; and whenever he caught the
eye of well-dressed man who might
from his appearance. have good pahk
account and a correspondingy Boou
position in society, up went the gloVed
hand of the motor-driver in eVloeht
invitation. Al the same time he smiiec
and slightly lifted his eyebrows, so
that his whole face seemed to ask
question 49,.
No one responded to his agreeable
Signals, and he arrived at the corner
of Charles street without stopping
once.
III inns quiet VI iSSp~N
table hotels and better-class lodgin q
houses was drawn up an automobile.
handsome enough to rival the red
car. 1t was dark green in color. and
il stood silent and sad before a dis
Greet looking doorway-silent be-
cause the motor had ceased to throb;
sad because. apparently, there was
some malign reason for its silence.
As he slowed down to pass the green
car, the discreet door opened and a
gentleman came out on the pave
ment.
He was dressed as an English
gentleman should be when he IL GO
ing to dinner on winter evening In
London; but, though he looked above
all things a gentleman, ne did not
Under the sleek silk hat. and above
the thick, white silk HANDKERCHIEF
that filled gin the "V' of the black
overcoat. was face which an OBJ
servant person could hardly have
passed without second glance.
Never before had the young man In
the red car beheld that face in the
flesh. save once. when as little boy
he had been taken to grand pageant
to gaze in awe at those same clean
cut features Cor others exactly like
them, under a glittering silver he'll
met: But, unless he were egTegiously
hundred photographs. in as many
black -and-whit drawings in Illus
trated journals; he had seen II carica.
tured in comic sketches. and flashed
on to white sheets by biographs al
music halls.
For a moment, Christopher Race
forgot all about his car. his errant
car that was disabled. But the hrsi
words spoken by the gentleman with
the shining hat and neat overcoa
reminded him forcibly OF all three.
voice, in perfect English. enriched
by a slight foreign accent.
II am very sorry indeed. SIR" apollo
gizedN the chauffeur, but I haven
matter. Something wrong with tn,
carburetor or the Ignition"
I'm late already" broke in tn,
gentleman. visibly bolstering up hi
II was this moment that the drive
of the red car chose for making hi
habitual gesture, which he accompanie,
with the usual inviting smile and ques
tionlng lift OF the eyebrows.
Instantly the keen gaze OF the mai
with the waxed moustache fixed his
why do you hold up your hand?" in
CURED the clear tones, with the un
speaker tried to mask his face Il
shadow, backing away from the blaz
or the two cars actylene lamps. d.
u held up my hand because I'm ply
Race.
"Eh? Plying for hire with that car
You are joking, I suppose" Tone an
eyes expressed establishment. perhap
distrust. But the red automobile ha
come to a dead stop, and the gentlema
in the tall hat had stepped to the edg
of the pavement 20 examine II at clos
quarters, also to examine, incidentally
its driver
mot at ALL" said Christopher Rae,
''unless life Is joke I'm out TO gain
livelihood. I have no license to live, bu
have license to drive, II you woul
care to see It,"
"Ha!' said the other. "you are a re
markable pair, plying tpr hire-you an
your car May l ask II you are In tn
employment OF some person who send
you out on this business?"
I'm my own employer-under Fate.
drive my car; Fate drives meg
Indeed? I'm inclined to think"-an
the keen eyes flashed to the tinkerin
chauffeur-"that Fate intsnds You I
drive me. What do you think about II ?
Il should be delighted to think this
you are right" returned Christopht
Race,
VERY WELL" said the other: II will Ell
sage you-for the evening. You can TAX