Omaha daily bee., 1916-11-20


Christopher had made night run,
as Scarlet Runner was now fitted
with a fine searchlight which could
turn darkness into day, therefore, he
had no abiding place in the neighbor-
hood. Nevertheless, he had the Curl
osity to remain for an hour or two
at Tilton-on-Sea after towing the
Hansard there, in the hope OF some
calculation of-the mystery. But no
unknown motorist had stayed at the
hotel there or at any other nearby
to which inquiries were sent. No such
car as the rescued Hansard had been
noticed by anyone. and at last. little
wiser than when he had first seen the
SQUAT shape rising from welter OF
surf, Race drove off to London.
Leaving Scarlet Runner In her ga
rage he went to his club and picked
up the last edition Of his favorite pa
per
His eyes ran down column after
column OF the pages on which such
news might be displayed. and finally
caught at paragraph headed, "Mys-
terry Of a Motor Car"
Here we are!" Christopher NUT
tered, beginning to read with interest.
But TO his disappointment the para
graph had nothing to do with the af-
fair at Tilton-on-Sea
Yesterday morning" he read, IAN
empty motor car was discovered on
the Oxford road. A party Of 'aborers
going 10 work saw new looking, blue
painted car of moderate size standing
by the roadside, with no one In 1t.
They fingered for some time, expect
ing the owner to arrive, but when no
one came they ransacked the woods
in the -neighborhood, suspecung foul
play. The search proving vain, how
ever, the laborers gave Information
to the police of Needleham, the near
est town, and horse was sent out to
tow the automobile to the police sta
ton. There 1t was recognized during
the morning as the property OF gen.
tleman who had arrived at an hotel
the evening before, unaccompanied
by chauffeur. This gentleman had
already left town, but as he had gone
by rail he was traced to oxford, about
ten miles distant. Interviewed there
on the subject of the lost car he
changed color. and appeared at first
somewhat agitated at learning where
1t had been found. But he expressed
himself delighted to hear Of its re-
covery, offered reward to the men
who had given the information and
returned by the next train to Needle-
ham, where he once more took charge
of his property. The gentleman's
name as It appeared In the visitors
book OF the Bell and Bush hotel Of
Needleham was John Smith, London.
He refused to lodge complaint
against any person for the. theft Of
his motor. though he did not deny In
SO many words that he knew who had
taken it,
It was while Christopher was read
ing the column under somewhat
sensational heading. which the Daily
Recorder gave to the mystery Of Til
brought his breakfast brought with
II visiting card. The name was an
unfamiliar one, but the magic words.
DAILY Recorder" were printed be-
meath, as kind of "Open sesame to
closed doors.
"Tell the gentleman to come up"
said he to the little servant who had
brought him so many queer messages
and visitors of late.
In another moment a spruce look
Ing young man appeared--not an or
binary reporter, 1t seemed, but q rep
resentative deputed to ask Mr.. Races
help In solving the mystery Of the
blue motor car. The matter was to
be taken up" by the journal and a
reward was to be offered for infor-
nation. Mr.. Races name had been
popular with the public since he was
instrumental in placing the young
King and Queen Of Dalvania on their
disputed throne. Besides, he was
known in the motor world, and alto
gether. II he would lend himself to
the scheme. 1t would be considered an
advantage to the paper.
Christopher reflected and soon
reached practical conclusion. He
had no engagement for Scarlet Run
ner, having been obliged to sacrifice
one or two on the altar Of the new
Improvements.
He agreed to the proposal, and
promised to begin Investigations at
once, the Daily Recorder giving him
carte blanche as to his proceedings,
and asking only for a telegraphic re-
port Of progress each evening in time
to go to press with his news--or lack
Of news.
The first thing that Christopher did
was to proceed In Scarlet Runner to
Needleham. pretty little town which
had Just outgrown villagehood. At the
~ NJ I'm srs,.h ~ onSon aua
~ 80. snuS.na ~, n,,,, ~ - s,, amo
,wrs 10 M ,;s,.or sn hnps, e S,,,th
u .u,s ~ nv r, o s"n.,s WI, o ,au
% appa e s" ,nssaa VIZ
the ess sara ~ s ~ nv nv aad o.,s any
LIZ e sas .an a.h '"n a. "u uouo ~
h. Va ~ ha ous sun 'nae
.nat ~ go, o,,,aa. $780, I'M
y. u 80 eo, ~"
on. ~. .a Az, ~ MI III, e nau so,n .
S ~ a ,. IS hn, hsns
ns % o ea or NJ 1890, us.ween Wv u.s.
y. 'V anu 90, AZ. iS S.s',h annol'na.