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

slightly. but In Finchley Road n .e,
; 'icu again as denscly as ever. and Inc
; could 20 little more than a wnikinr
pace.
; suddenly. at what seemed :, he :,
corner of the wide country road mo,
Tar outside Barnet, voice cried ia
him. w
Scarlet Runner" it shouted: and
race astonished. answered before lie
had stopped TO think: Yes,
Next instant a black figure WINS ii,
h"uettcd strangely In the pale ha.. az
'hc car lamps, and three short shnrp
reports harked dryly I'm the night
S"iar one had fired IL revolver M his
IRVING wheel tires, and two shots had
taken effect, Tor he could feel IN. "a ,.
settling down on the deaat.d inner
tnetS Hot with fury at the outrage.
race lcnp"o trtm his seat to the road :
way. p.er!ns int" the darkness. ting
IinS |" intiict punishment. and rockies.
81 a'' danger for himself. There was
II" sound OF running footsteps The
scouii"rel must bc lurking Rui the
th"uGht was cut short abruptly as IN,
pEeEh'ns OF a thread. AS he touched
Sr"und something thick and soft was
'"t"WH over his head from behind
an" twisted tightly round his neck
Taken by surprise in the heal of his
rag. for an instant christopher lost
ms breath fic stumbled under the on
s'a"Eht' staggered. and nearly lost his
balance Hands deftly, swiftly, tore
open the buttons OF his oyercoat ana
lac knew instantly with returning nr.s
.hr- OF mind that he had two men
10 deal with
fierce upward swing OF his right
arm was just I'm time TO prevent the
man NJ MS back from twisting the
mood TOO tightly round his throat
Si"ppinr back heavily ON the feet or
ihis fellow. he shot out a left arm like
gathering ram and caught the would
zoe pirkp"rNvt squarely in the face
There WAS a sruut OF pain and the prv-
inS hands fell away from Chlistoph.rs
coat.
To attempt pursui; in the fog would
DC useless. Besides. he had seen tho
face 81 neither man. Painting from tn,
struggle. he assured himself with some
sense of triumph that the cigarette
cas-. was still safe in his waistcout
pocket.
BY the time the car was ready 10 go
on AGAIN, he had made up his mind not
/" pay the call alone. but To take for
a companion member OF the local no.
lice.
Most policemen within motoring
iadiuS of London had heard the name
of Christopher Race. and he was re-
c"iNed faNorably at the police station
III Barnet. Without telling the story
OF the cigarette case, he confided TO tho
Inspector in charge Of ths fact that a
piece of jewclry in his possession was
NiF''. 'HNiE 'oNtttt 10y an hnSCruDuIOllS
stranger He showed the letter with
TN" address Of The Laurels" which
was written. not embossed ana gave
an account OF what had occurred TO
him on his way TO keep the appon:-
mcnt.
Whoever this man is" said the no
ilceman. he thinks more OF his rcpu-
tation than he does of getting what he
wants from YOU. though he's evidently
Keen on that. You can count OH The
i.aurels being watched; but my opinion
is that the hunt won't come back tina,
way. You'll and the wind blowing
from some other quarter. an unex-
pected one. maybe. and my word To
YOU is. consult Scotland Yard"
With this advice still echoimc in his
ears. Christopher at last drove Scaylet
Runner rapidly back to London. the
fog having lifted with a hint of breeze
he was tired and hungry: and knowing
that he would get nothing TO eat at his
lodgings. when he had put up the, car
h" went to his club, where refreshrnc nt
liquid or solid was TO be had at any
hour.
Two men sat a, a table in corner
talking earnestly. and hearing him enter
they looked up. as IL NOT too pleased
To have the room invaded. Both were
young. and strangers TO Christopher.
Yet the face OF one seemed curiouslv
familiar TO him. Now where have
seen that rood-looking chap before
m.
Then. suddenly. the answer spranE
into his mind This was the original
OF the photograph in the gold cigarette
case.
lie took the gold cicaretta case from
his pocket and laid il on the table
where its diamonds flashed in the light
Of a red shaded candle. Three minutes
later its CLEAN caught the eye Of the
Young man. and Christopher saw his
face 20 through the changes from as
! constituent and increuulitv 10 intopscut
caCerness
what Will he DO now" was the
question in Christophcr's mind But
II was almost instantly answered. What
the young man did was to jump ND and
ON pretenSe of going to the fireplace to
warm HI" hands PASS cioae 20 tho table
where Rae" sat. He paused. and Chris.
tophcr's eyes ana his met. Ills were
honest eyes, as well as handsome ones
an" amy doubt that might have crcpt
int" Races mind concerning tie orig
maj Of the photograph sl;cd in a see
ond
You viii think il vcry strange"
Said The young man. but lnus, beg
YOU 10 tell me how YOU got that Gig
arctic case"
d"h't think it strange" returned
CHRISTOPHER. When ! recognized YOUR
race put the case there hoping you'd
ISIS me that question. I'll answer il
WI" HE greatest pleasure and there
are ais" some questions I trua; ycu'll
answer nc"
The other man go, up aud came
''r"SS inc room. You're Mr.. Race
aren't YOU hc asked
Christopher assen:cd. and added ,hat
ne liza" Just learned that the other
"hS Fergus o'Hricn. Of Scotland Yard
rms is ny fricnd-imdced my dis
I"n' relative Mr.. Maurice Naylor" said
'IIrion.
M. n" a>"launed cbris,ooher I'm
pulively
Exactly. We were snsdking of that
''-"fc''" case. when YOU showed in
an YOU also tell me Who is Y. l..
ho Is violet liardcastie. the niece
no, u! visit while YOU were our. Sh.
''i"h CIV" YOU the cigarette case"
'cfn'ps IT tell Won how got the
cigarette case j; will he,o yo, NON :.
Ia