The Washington times., 1917-11-21
EPISODE I.
"Ths Gauntlet Of Death"


"Ths Gauntlet Of Death"
Copyright, 1917, star Company.
THE Grand Duke again paused
In his recital Doris listened,
petrined at the tale. Could
It be true? Was not Judson Whit
ney her own father? Was her
father really this stranger?
Abner, on his part, was listen.
ing with growing aEidity. 1t was
easy TO see what passed In his
mind. Az for DR.. Scarley, he still
listened, but with his face averted
and hard set. Verda was startled,
Ramsay impassive.
The voice Of the Grand Duke
again recalled the oFerwrought
listeners to themselves.
After nearly eighteen years Of
exile" he resumed, the Emperor
sent for me secretly. did not
know what to expect. Perhaps 1
was to be executed, though for
what l did not know. did not
care. / had lost all.
As entered the throne room
the Emperor extended his hand
Onreconcfled, refused to touch II
To my utter surprise, he drew
back almost in trfght-of met
Quickly he dismissed his at
tendants. Then he came close to
me and whispered. could scarce
ly believe what / heard.
Your daughter is alive. did
not kin the baby
The words rang in my ears.
Gould Il be true? -.
"Come with me- ordered the
Emperor.
'He lead the way from the
throne room, and / followed In q
dAze. not knowing where l was
going until suddenly / realized
that / was In his inner strong
room, bomb-proof, lined with steel.
He closed and bolted the steel
door.
BE seated he continued. an
he pulled open locked door on
the wall, disclosing a sort of
cabinet
Then he related to me- the
strange tale-how eighteen years
before, when l had been dismissed
into exile, he had left the throne
room with -Rascon, how he had dis
missed the Mad Monk at the door
Of this very room, promising to
make away with the baby. In this
room he waited with the child until
there was brought TO him q young
American railroad engineer, Jud-
son Whitney"
There was a thrill at the men
ton OF the name, as all crowded
closer, drinking in the strange
tale.
Il leave you to guess" continued
the Grand Duke, whether there
we're Interior motives in the mind
Of the Emperor as he thought over
the prophecy that the baby would
one day be the most beautiful
woman in the world. At least, l
know this, that the agreement was
signed by Judson Whitney, forced
by the Emperor:
Ell Judson Whitney. an Amer
ican. In consideration Of railroad
contracts from the Emperor, pledge
myself to take care Of one infant
child. delivered 10 me this day,
and hereby agree to surrender her
on her eighteenth birthday.
."'Csignedl JUDsoN WHITNEY
Then" raced on the Grand
Duke, "the Emperor told me that
he took a piece Of blackened paper.
On It he placed the two hands of
the baby. covering the palms with
the black. Then on a perfectly
white sheet OF paper he laid the
little hands. leaving on the white
paper the hand prints. which never
change throughout lie.
Next. he took two packets OF
metal. in each Of which was q
curious depression In the side. The
Emperor also had two tewel-Stud-
ded lockets."
The Secret Locket.
The Grand Duke fingered that
about the neck Of Doris. who drew
back.
ITO me then he showed that the
Iocket pressed into the depression
Oh the face Of the packet would
open IT. He had torn the sheet Of
paper, he said. In half. and In each
packet he had placed one hand
print-in one the right, In the
other the left hand print Of the
baby. Then he had closed the
packets. One locket he placed
about the neck Of the baby as he
handed her TO Judson Whitney and
bade him take her to America.
As the Emperor told ne Vt what