Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-11-26

40 wv VI VIC 'dF uilu SHlIpc MIN
by the REIN
1t was admirably conc. not the act OF
- world weary invalid, but OF alert
youth. quick TO think and do. because
fun OF interest IN life. There was
just time for admiration and come.
thing OF surprise 10 fash through
chrlstophers mind as he also jumped
down and ran to hc!r his friend with
tho horses
Between the TWO they had the ami.
mails under control after Il few wild
seconds OF struggling confusion: and
as soon rs tho clamor uf paving and
snorting ceased. christopher began
sroIding in French the invisible driver
Of tho cart.
You deAerv" 10 be in the river" IL.
shouted, ''or in Jail. for not lighting
up! And on a road 'lkc This. What's
the matter with you? AR" you drunk
or only asleep? Fellows Ike you would
tlccp while thc last trump sounded"
Stiil no answer. Nothing moved in
the darkness under The big white hood
which archcd over the cart
Drunk. OF course said Raria Hes
h"cn across the frontier and taken his
eggs TO market; row hes OH his way
home to Cuneo. trusting To his horses
10 lind thei; way over tho col and
through that awful tunnel. How like a
peasant They All TO !; in ~, coun.
try. forgetting that this is the day Of
automobiles
I'll stir NJ ;hc IDIOT. said Christie
phrr.
He ANA l:aria hai carefully led the
'sorses pas; III" great silent, lighted
shaLe of Scarlet Runner. 80 that the
inarket-cart had tho width OF tho road
to itself, sinndirg back !" back with
the motor car. Now as IinrIa held tho
bead Of the gray leader, who seemed
anxious to &c, on. Christopher pecred
under the cover Of the ear. For "a mo-
meat he was silo"t: then hc CAV. AN
exclamation.
What's wrouH? - asked The Mar
ch"Xc
4 can't make 90, yc.. but it's very
queer. answered Christopher.
lie hurried back 10 scarlet Hummer
aad got on. tho electric lantern. Flash.
Ing its white ray into the dark tunnel
under the canvas roof. il was IL
II" had swept 4 black curtain ava:
FROM ii strange aud ominouSly -suSges-
tive picture.
There was IL il no HUMAN figure.
Vet i, did not lack dramatic elements.
Empty egg boxes Wcro piled and tum-
bIch ia confusion. IN the broken
heap lay Il ~ 0iuIn'S cloak ~ blue cloth,
torn fio,n collar to hem: and half
hidden under tho folds OF this ger
,ncnt-whicn laG not been made to
cover the shoulders Of a cartcr's wife
a handsome. though small. travelling
bag OF alligator skiu gapcd wide and
empty as II IL had hecn wr.nchcd open
ia mad haste or fury. Among tho
boxes ana scattered punches Of sttaw'
we're tossed various articles OF Il WON
an's wardrobe. Yiik blouse handker.
chiefs. - long Hchu OF rich lace. And
on the back OF the drivers seat y iittic
gray, rnuntietod glove held the rcins
and was itself KEEP. in place by Il
knife which pinned fast both the deli
cate kid and heavy leather
is the carter dead" called Baria.
There is no carter. Race answered,
and cried oil, TO mis- friend IT the
horses head the things which che
lantcrn-liGht showed.
1T sounds like murder-the murder
q! i woman, answered tho Marcnese.
and 40 common peasant wcnch"
Christopher had climbed on the step
OF the cart. and was pc.ring within
1T Is blood on the glove he said :
- light smcnr az IL, dry or almos:
dry. Whatever mas happened here
must have h:ppened IN hour o., more
ago. And there's something in one
OF The hngers-somethins SNAIL and
hard"
He MAS supporting himself with one
ting the lantern on the straw-..:rown
seat Now. with AN effort. he wrcnched
out The knife which stabbed glove and
reins aud wood The dainty bit OF
Sauntietcd gray suede wa3 released.
IT'S = ring ii. exclaimed. a., queer
ring with sheli u rcd enamel and
raised bi.-ck and gold crest Oh it,
As lie spoke lie gathered the rcius into
his own control, ana clambercd OH to
The seat.
At once the horses knew tina, they
were under guidance. The leader
cease" 20 start ana trembl>, but stood
stiil. as IL relieved to find life re-
Stunning its normal routine. Baria let
30 the animals head. and as keenly
alert with curiosity as If he had never
lost interest III the things OF this
world he ran to see what he had
heard described.
she Wa ecutlewonlan-youn
and beautiful. perhaps" he said. star
ms AT ring ana glove. What can The
mystery be" Why was she in this
cart--alonc?'
topher. There's = knitted scarf or
worstcd under tho seat such as nc1s
men wear"
The driver" exclaimed BarGa. You
think he killed her and stole what
Ha!uahles she had--knowin2 they we're
Hoi tIt HIS paving,
IT seems the most probable ticorv.''
said Christopher. "She-whoeycr she
was-had cnsagcd him 10 drive her.
There must have been . strong motiy,.
Tor trusting hirh. il he were a stranger"
'Hut II he were not st!.anr.r-ond
deceived her"
All. ihcn--- Yet VIII. The glove
nailed to the scnt?"
Unless it were for u signal Santa
Maria! We must get to the bottom OF
this. Shall we so on in YOU: car. ~.
we were going, and trace the mystery.
step by step, along the road by which
THIS cart has come??''
hat! and let the ear go on alone?'
No: that would not do One of us
might stop with it until the other could
return with the motor. having found
out the truth--or, at worst having
given an alarm AT the nearest gem
darmerc"
II think we'd better not separate
said Christopher. I'VE may be wrong
iii our theories. And we can't tell
which way VIC should take. There arc
twenty or thirty tracks in the mud.
made by just such market carts as this.
going towards France or returning into
Italy. II there's any difference between