Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-23

hc waited, with the child until thcr,
was oTousht 10 him 4 young America
railroad engineer, Judson Whitney"
lhefe was thrill at the mention o
the name. as all crowded closer. drink.
! inG in the strange tale
ieaNe you to guess" continued the
1 Hrahd Duke. whether there were ul.
terior motives in tho mind of the I'm
pe'or as he thought over the prophec.
! thnt the baby would one dav he tn,
most beautiful woman in the world
AZ least. 1 know this. that the agree.
mcnt was signed by Judson whitney
FOL ced by the Emperor:
| l. Juoson Whitney. an America n
IN cohsic Grafton Of railroad contracts
from the Emperor. pledge myself a.
take care OF one infant child. delivered
! 10 me this day. and hereby agree ia
surrender her on ner eighteenth birth
"tsigned) 'JuDsoN WHITNEY.
rh.n'' raced on the Grand Duke
| the Emperor told me that he took a
piece of blackened paper. On il he
paced the two hands OF the baby COW
erins the palms with The black Then
on a perfectly white sheet OF paper he
iaio the little hands. leaving on the
@ paper the hand prints. which
never chanse throughout life.
Next. lie took two packets OF metal
in each OF which was a curious lie
preston in the side. The Emperor
AIS" had Two Jewel-studGed iockstS.
The Secret Lecl~t.
The Grand Duke fingered that abou,
the neck of Doris. who drew back.
10 me then he showed that tn.
iocNet pressed into the depression on
inc race OF the packet would open IT,
he had torn the sheet IF payer. he
said. in half, and in each pace, lie
had placed one hand print-in one the
risht' IN the other the left hand print
oil the baby. Then me had closed the
packets One locket he placed abou.
me neck of the baby as he handed her
~ tucson whitney and bade him take
her TO America
AS the Emperor told me OF what
he had done SO long ago reached
iot the packet He drew ii bac,, in
( alarm. Wait. he cried; that is an
eAptosive packet If YOU press The
spring IN this case YOU VIII be blown
apart, II can be opened only with the
I secret locker. which fits into tho side.
WIN IT'S seven jewels. each in its right
place.
Il drew back frightened continued
the Grand Duke, but the emperor
opened the packet with the :ocket.
sure enough. there was the hand print
He closed it and handed it to me-
Never had dreamed of such well
come mission. 1t was nothing else than
10 so 10 America, TO find tho girl
with the locket that would open this
now correspond with those of the baby
hand.
III produce her-my daughter
on her eighteenth birthday. and the
prediction does not come true he the
emperor himself. has given me his
word that he will execute Rascon as a
charlatan and liar for his wicked
prophecy
The old man was nearly overcome
excitement "a hn oil
cital. Doris fingered the locke, now AL
most fearfully. Was it all true? Her
rather had never-she stopped. Who
was her father? Who was she? She
glanced at her nance. His face was
sim arerted. Flatt moved over. Grass
ly. and examined the lockct.
Evidently the strength OF the Duke
vas ebbing. for he was seized with
Mt OF coughing as he resumed. weak
ly.
Ramsay Accsxed.
To might called on Judson Whit
nev. ! was ushcred in here by the but
Ter MIR. Whitney was alone AS
began 10 tell him he grew more and
more angry. Just then there entered
his secretary. Mr.. Whitney had scarce
~ begun talking TO him, when this
young man saw the explosive case in
my hand. He tried to seize it, kept
hold OF it. struggling and throwing
him of. Angry as MIR. Whitney had
been at me. he was furious at the
secretary.
the young man leaped back. drew 4
revolver with the thing you Americans
call silencer, and fired. Mr.. Whit
ney fell. !eaped at the man. but he
fred al me. It is the last / remember
until l revived here"
10 L.
looking Inenacinsly at Ramsay while
Doris swayed and would have tainted
had not Uncle Abner caught her. The
Grand Duke. weak from his coughing
fits. begged Off her hand, for some
expression OF filial love. but Doris
knew not what 10 do or say
Get up" demanded Tlatt approach
ina Ramsay.
Silently Ramsay obeyed as the de-
,ective hustled him toward the divan
rs this the MANI" shot out Flat.
"feS-yes." cried the Grand Duke
almost in frenzy now.
He reached into his breast as il to
find the explosive case. and cry cs-
capped him. It was gone!
"You-thief." he cried. staggering
forward. Give it back"
The Grand Duke iurched forward
tottered and fell-dead at the feet Of
the young secretary.
Discrepancy.
For the first time now DR.. Scarley
seeing that his services as medical
man were needed again, turned from
the fireplace. hurried examination
told only too plainly that the man was
dead.
AS Scarley rose. Doris ciun. to him
i. too. wish to tell what 1 know" she
cried in tremulous voice. II saw
him here"
Fiat seized Ramsay roughly. Come,
now-you may as well tell"
Ecggin your pardon. SIR inter.
fupted James. the butler. lit was me
ana Jane here as followed Mr. Ramsay
himself into the library. sir. directly
AFTER Miss Doris screamed. How could
TIC nave been in and got out SO soon.
sir There must be some mistake"
Arrest him. snarled Abner. cutting
the maids story short, too.
res he shall 60 TO the chair for
thlS added Scarley
Scarley caught Ransay's ewes Gxoa