Omaha daily bee., 1916-12-11

which restored his circulation If not
his temper, Christopher regained the
inn.
The wound in the arm was not Sc
rious, and Christopher, determined to
keep his own counsel, attended to il
unaided. But he could not help re-
fieeting that it. haN perhaps been
rather close shave for him. That
| noiseless air-gun need only to have
trbeen a little better aimed to have
reached his heart, instead of infiicting
some slight damage on his left arm.
Christopher began to see that this
affair was of a far more serious and
complicated nature than he had sup
posed at first even when its mystery
had most puzzled him. In his own
room at the inn he took out the Gig
arctic case and considered 1t with in
terest, the while he rid himself of his
soaked clothes. Certainly the little
gold box was of great value to some
one, value far beyond its intrinsic
worth. in spite of weight and spark
ling diamonds, Was it for the con-
cealed photograph, or the slip of
paper with the queer cipher, that
someone had lain in wait to shoot or
drown him?
1t was after nine when he walked
again, and he was much annoyed
with himself for wasting time in bed,
when he might have been better en-
ployed in playing detective During
the long,, wakeful hours Of the night
he had planned, when day came, to
find out something about the man
who had peered at him through the
cottage window, over the old care-
takers shoulder But when, by his
request, London newspaper and
breakfast were brought to his room,
paragraph in the personal column
OF the Daily Recorder" turned his
attention in an instant from people
and events at Stoke d'Estcourt.
'T.<V. r." stared at him in large
black capitals at the head of that
famous column, whoever can sup
ply information as to these letters
and those following. will be richly
rewarded If he communicates with
Box 2001, Daily Recorder Office" he
read with a keen stab of excitement
Quick work" Christopher said to
himself. For he did not doubt that
he was the person for whose benefit
the paragraph had been put in print.
He was in a position to supply the
wished-for information, but he would
not supply 1t until he could be sure
that the advertiser was the rightful
owner of the cigarette case, with such
secrets as 1t contained.
Having dressed hastily, he paid his
bill at the inn and departed with
Scarlet Runner.
En- route to town he concocted a
telegram, which he would not have
thought 1t wise to send from the Stoke
d EStcourt poStotiice and ppt n ar
from a small town where he stopped
to lunch, ,
Should the advertiser wish to hear
more of T. V. b., the only way of
doing so will be to call~9 o'clock to-
night friday on Christopher Race,
who may be able to give information
but will accept no reward"
This was all, save for the address
of his lodgings, number and street.
The first thing he did in the morn
ing was to open the DAILY Recorder"
and cast his eyes down the personal
column. '"r, V. b." was conspicuous
only in absence; but towards the end
of the column appeared something
else which caught Christopher's at
tention at a glance.
w. L. N. is earnestly implored to
communicate Immediately with one
who hoped to meet on Thursday at
address V. L. III. knows. Great anxi-
ETY.. Can't bear SUSPENSE"
so, Christopher Race was not the
only person who had been given rea-
SON to count upon meeting " l.. H.
on Thursday!
Christopher wished very ardentiy
that he as well as V. l.. II. knew the