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

missing lover.
Then 1 badc the girl good-by and
hurried down the road again. | had
| gone but Il short distance when "A stone
| thudded to my feet with a quiet hcavl-
ness quito unlike the skipping sound
II falling stone is likely to make. 1t
was wrapped in heavy paper. | took
| this off and in Jimmy'S wcll-known
writing | found this message: "'Phonc
! Martin. Tell him to look III the we'll"
looked up. and there OH tho face OF
/ the cliff was my friend the peddlcr. He
waved Il friendly hand and hurried of.
/ Now. how had Jimmy Barton man
aged TO discover suspicious circuu-
/ stances in connection with All innocent
! stonc-curbcd we'll?
| On his way to tho cottage he had
/ stumbled over something lying in the
/ grass near the we'll. He stopped ami
| discovered Il shotgun on the stock o.
/ which the initials 80. H." were carved.
| Those initials at once suggested tho
! missing clinton Harding. The iruddcn
| grass all about the well added to Jim
my's suspicious.
When Dane badc him beEonc he lin
gcrcd. waiting for my departure. Tie
! was sure once the master OF the house
| thought the coast clear. some evidence
which fitted in with the finding of the
would bctray itself. And lie was right.
| Directly had gone. Dane pecred about
| carefully to assure himself that he
| WAS not observed. then crossed over
| To the wcll-curbinE. climbed over ii.
| seized upon the rope and so disap-
! pcared.
The peddlcr cafnc from his place in
| hiding, smiled with satisfaction and
| then hurried down the road and across
| lots to the top of tho cliff, where he
| waylaid me with the thudding stone
| and it's message that I should phone
| Martin.
| In the corridor of the rickcty hotel
found that little instrument that
| travels to the very outposts of civili
| zation--a telephone III few min
utes I had New York. and was talk
! ing to the United states Revenue Ser
vice with John Martin OH the wire.
| Good. Miss Fairfax" said he. Jim
my Barton doesn't lead me OH many
wild goose chascs. I'll start directly
ana drive down. We ought to make
| II inside OF an hour. Tell Jimmy we're
coming. and that we count OH him TO
| hold the fort until we get there
| / hurried out to the road again TO
| look for Jimmy, but he seemed to have
disappeared. To myself cmilingly re-
marked. We'll Beatrice. Smith Har-
| Dor seems TO nave bad effect on
| young men. Your Jimmy must have
! gone to Join Dorothy'a Clinton" And
! then ] bluShcd al my own thoughts. |
| had never used even Il mental posses
sive pronoun, before in connection with
| Mr.. Barton.
When half an hour passed, and there
we're still no signs OF Jimmy. I began
| to think tho situation not entirely
| humorous. / hurried In and discussed
! the matter with the landlord of the
| tumbledown hotel. They bcant mawth-
In to frot yourself about Boys will be
| boys. Reckon these here two be UP
! TO little mischief of their own. They'll
! turn up all right. Don't you worry.
"Lawzce, Miss!' said he between
/ gyrations OF = jaw which seemed more
occupied with tobacco than the Eng
| lish language, there questioning of
It's Inhabitants melted me-"
slowly the moments and the hands
| OF my watch crept around together.
In ten more minutes John Martin. OF
! the United Revenue Service, WAS due
| 10 arrive. hurried out TO the porch
and remained in waiting for his com :
| Ing.
In the meantime what had become OF
Clinton Harding: When he recovered
| his senses he found himself bound hand
and foot and lying in damp darkness.
| Recollection of the events which had
| led to this situation returned to him
but he had no way OF estimating how
| much time had elapsed since they oc-
| CURED.
! Whether II was morning or evening
| he could not tell. All about him was
| blacknes&-the grim, damp dark OF a
| sea cave. Whether his captors had left
him there to perish of cold and hunger.
| or whether they would return to dis
| pose or him after more summary fashion
he could not tell. All boys read tales OF
smugglers. And now his literature re-
turned t. haunt Clinton even as Doro-
Somehow the thought that Martin
might suspect him of disloyalty wor-
RED Harding almost more than his per-
sonal terrors AS to his own fate.
But what his fate was to be did not
| remain long in doubt.
The cave in which Harding was inn
prisoned remained in black darkness.
for long hours
After long hours of weary waiting a
flicker Of light appeared in the dark
ness. Donald Dane had come 10 visit
his prisoner
We'll. Harding. you're a slick boy
but you're dealing with slicker." he
began, with a heavy effort at facetious-
ness. We've got you hand and foot
bound and helpless. You can sec that
for yourself You're not much good to
the United States Revenue Service
where you are, and you're not likely to
get where YOU can be much use TO them
ever. DO you get me-"
II get YOU" said Harding quietly
Well. then. guess you're where
| you'll listen to q little common sense
aren't YOU: We could use clever
youngster like you who has friends in
high places. Here's the proposition
that Is. il you're interested in hear
| Ing H."
Go ahead" said Harding quietly.
Dane studied him thoughtfuliy for IA
| moment. He thought he knew exactly
what apDcal 10 make
We'll. ! think YOU like my niece
! Dorothy. ! don't want her to marry n
poor man. and smart young fellow
like YOU needn't be poor man ii he
| has sense enough TO keep in right with
the Revenue Service and the hoys who
are DuckinG IT. Heres my proposition:
| We unite you and let you go. You go
back and report 20 Mratin that there's
nothing doing.
Account for your day OF silence by
saying YOU thought that il you broke all
connections with New York and laid low
you'd be likely TO gct on to all the
secrets of the place. Tell him there are