The Washington times., 1916-11-04
Cast for Photoplay

Perhaps not mysteriousiy." suggested
Christopher. You mentioned having
| engaged new servants. One Of them
may be an expert thief"
1 or course, that was our first idea"
| said the girl But IL would be impossi-
BILE for the most expert thier. even a
conJurer. to pull ladies' rings from their
collars, take OF brooches and bracelets
| or belts with gold buckles. and remove
studs from shirt fronts or sleeve links
from cuffs. without the knowledge OF
''yes. that would be impossible.
| Christopher admitted.
well. that is VIII t happens at Wood
House every dgy. and has been nappen-
ing for the last fortni- I, People sit at
the table. and apparently everythins
goes on in the most orderly way: yet at
the end OF the meal their valuables arc
gone. want you to watcn. to set your
| wits 20 work to find out the mystery.
bies in care Of the landlord here. You'll
motor over this evening. won't you. and
say you wish to have a room7"
With pleasure" said Christopher.
And I'll do my beet to help"
I'll go now. shall just be able to ride
home In time for dinner"
And the thefts always occur at
meals?" asked Christopher.
could Awfys SrnnsI at %sS, onIE and ,tss
said Sidney Chester; the big dining
hail and two small rooms which we've
set apart as private sitting rooms
Sometimes those who stay with us
IKE to eat ,nr there Il they come ne. IN par
hall Is the most beautiful room In the
house. and peoples admire It so much
that they often prefer 1t to any other
"somethihg will have to be done"
| said Christopher-puzzled. but anxious
| to be encouraging. Have you no guest
| who has been with you several weeks"
one" the girl returned. half reluct-
putting this question. "it's-s man"
"A young manT"
Yes. q young man."
! How long has he been In the house7"
Several weeks. He's painting a pio-
ture, using the Kings room. as we
call It, for a background--the room
Charles II had when an ancestor OF
ours was hiding HIM. and would dart
down into secret place underneath
whenever a dangerous visitor arrived"
Not q professional. He"
Cant you remember how long he
has been with your
Between three weeks and a fort
night" The girl blushed, her white
face lovely in its sudden flush of coll
or. IT see what's in your mind. But
, there's nothing in that, assure you.
The merest coincidence. You don't look
as II you were ready to believe me,
Sir Walter Raven. the man I'm en-
gagged to marry"
"since the mystery began I've some
times been there to watch and supertn-
Motley ssoa ana or Ss Sn' wife II And IN the dnnF
hall Sir Walter Raven Is kind enough
to keep an eye on what goes on, while
appearing to be engaged with his
Yet the robberies take place Just the
same under your very eyes7"
Yes. That Ia the mysterious part.
The whole thing is like dream. But
you will see for yourself. Only. as
about you which They-whoever, what
ever They are-can steal"
As he ate chops and drank a glass OF
ale. christopher considered what ne
had heard OF the mystery. and did not
| The road from the Sandboy and Owl,
| through Ringhurst and on to Wood
| House, was beautiful. Christopher
had passed over 1t before. and, coming
he sought, he remembered having re-
marked both, though he had not then
known the name of the estate.
He steered Scarlet Runner between
lions supporting Shields acknowledged
a salutation from an elderly man at the
! door of the old black and white lodge,
and drove up a winding avenue under
| beeches and oaks.
Suddenly, rounding a turn, he came
I In sight of the house, standing In the
i midst of lawn cleared of trees. In a
| forest-like park.
1t was a long. low building Of irregu-
lar shape. the many windows, with tiny
| lozenge panes brightly lit behind their
| curtains. In the moonlight the project
ing upper stories with gabled roofs and
| ivy-draped chimneys, the walls
| checkered in black and white, with