Omaha daily bee., 1916-11-27

ing. Also he was to order something
to eat and drink on the journey.
Christopher agreed, wondering. half
humorously. half anxiously. II the plot
consisted in making of with Scarlet
Runner during his absence.
During one OF the moments when
Chistopher's attention was diverted
from his bestowed possession. Mr..
van Cortlandt left his seat and began
examining the car with frank interest.
His back was turned to the door OF
the hotel, where Christopher stood
guard. but when the owner Of the car
came hurriedly out, accompanied by
porter with the suit case and a walter
with a neat parcel. the passenger was
peering into the petrol tank. You're
sure there isn't rather a queer smell?"
he inquired. Il thought as we came
there was bad carburetlon, or some
thing"
Christopher, quick In defense of his
darling, denied the bad carburetion,
and explained to the amateus that,
even II II had existed, the petrol in
the tank could have nothing to do
with II.
They had an uneventful drive to the
Hook. Christopher, who intended as
a matter Of course to guard the car
on board the boat. expected that his
passenger would take cabin and rest
during the passage, which promised
to be disagreeable owing to the
steamy, unreasonable heat Of the
weather. But Van Cortlandt would not
hear Of leaving his chauffeur to get
through the night alone. That would
not be sporting" said he: and the
two spent the seven hours of the voy-
g.
of sight Of Scarlet Runner.
1t was the gray, misty dawn of mid
August day when the boat slowed into
harbor. The passengers looked shad-
owy and anxious as ghosts who hat
Just been ferried across the Styx.
Christopher and his companion had
not seen any of their fellow-sufferers
during the night, as they had got on
board earlier than the others, on ac-
count Of the car. Az they were some
what out of the way of the passln"
crowd, and could not leave the ship
until every one else had gone. they
would in all probability have got off
as they had got on, without meeting
a soul, had not young woman, with
a modest air Of wishing to escape OBJ
servatlon. fitted out Of the way OF the
passengers pressing up from the cab
ms,
She wore neat. dark gray tailor
suit; her hat was drapped with blue
tissue veil which fell over and COW
cred her face; and she carried in her
hand leather-cased roll Of music.
by Jove!" muttered Van Cort-
landt under his breath; and instantly
II wao clear to Christopher that he was
not alone In recognizing the pretty,
girlish figure.
Race kept silence; but the other
started forward. and without Joining
the girl. approached near enough to
call her In low voice without being
heard by any OF the more distant pas
sensers. Watching intently, Christie
pher saw her start, peer anxlously
Through the blue cloud Of her veil
(Which she did not lift, and then fit
quickly UP to Van Cortlandt. Evil
IDENTIFY II was as great a surprise for
her to see him as 1t was for him to
find her on board. But they talked
together in whispers, speaking with
intense earnestness. the girls back
turned to the groups Of passengers
who stood or moved about on deck.
Among these. however, was an eld-
erly. specialized man. with old-fash-
Toned side-whiskers, turning gray from
sandy red. while shaggy brows and
lank hair matched in color the griz-
zled, reddish punches on his thin
cheeks. He wore soft felt hat, which
looked as II he had slept in II. and
an overcoat so much too heavy for
the heat Of the weather that he must
have suffered from Its weight. Sep
arating himself from the line OF pas
sengers forming to leave the ship, he
strolled towards the retired spot where
Van Cortlandt and the girl In the blue
veil were talking together. Then sud
denly his eyes behind his spectacles
lighted upon Van Cortlandts face and
fingered for an instant, his expression
changing.
II was at this moment that Christo-
pher became aware OF the mans en-
istencc He saw him glance at Van
Cortlandt and turn away with some
slight suggestion Of haste; but evil
IDENTIFY Van Cortlandt had recognized
In him another acquaintance. The
face OF his employer was turned from
Christopher. but the quick start for
ward he made told It's own tale.
Jacobs. is 1t possible?" Christopher
heard Van Cortlandt ask.
The other man hesitated as IL I'M
willing to answer, and Van Cortlandt
spoke again sharply. Surely you
recognize me? Surely you know who
ann"
'I-suppose So" the stranger ad-
mitted at last.
Then in Heavens name, tell me
In the name Of all the demons-why
you. too, are on board this boat, when
you ought"
But Race caught no more. The
sandy-whiskered man moved closer
to Van Cortlandt, and the two fell into
earnest conversation, to which the girl
listened without joining in.
BY this time tie boat was moored and
the people beginning to go off. Pres
entity no one was left save Scarlet
Runners owner. her late passenger,
and that passengers two new formed
acquaintances, AS the last group
crowded the gangway Van Cortlandt
came to Race, leaving the girl and the
elderly man standing together.
Il suppose you won't mind carrying
three of us instead of one?" he said.
"A young lady l know has unexpect-
eddy turned up. and a man with whom
I've had some business dealings, /
had no idea they were on board with
us until ! saw them this morning. In
fact, It's only by series Of accidents
that they are not somewhere else,
But being here, and both bound for
London. II you don't object l would
like to take them on the car. They
have nothing with them except hand
luggage"
Christopher answered that Scarlet
Runner would not feel the difference
between two passengers and four: and
as soon as the car was on dry land
and ready to start the newly arranged
party boarded her, Formerly Van
Cortlandt had sat beside the driver,
and such luggage as the two young
men carried was In the tonneau. Bul
now the old man was placed in front
with Christopher and Van Cortlandt
uruQ fha pirlsa ron, M pta,. L.