New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-05-17

lady had forgotten to show her fathei
being as well worth his attention al
any of the Anterior things, he hardly
listened, but hurried the ladies on
Of the Office"
"Was nothing else said about TIT
watch?" asked Christopher.
"Mr. Collingwood promised to have
n look ut it later"
Race waited for no more, but goi
out of the Office as quickly as he
could with decency, and dashed Off In
the direction he had been told to take
He had little difficulty in finding the
place.
Christopher took Scarlet Runner in
past the lodge, where there was still
no sign of life. and up a slightly as
cending avenue that turned and
twisted under a tunnel-like arch of
branches.
Still the avenue wound on, but hall
a mile, perhaps, beyond the stone
gate-pOsts and the dark lodge a turn
in the drive brought the tunnel of
trees to an end. With a sudden bump
Scarlet Runners front tires struck
some tense yet curiously yielding OBJ
stacle.
The obstruction, whatever 1t might
be, was mysteriOusly invisible, but In
Il moment Christopher had stumbled
over a thick wire tightly stretched
across the drive at a height of twelve
or fifteen inches above the ground.
"There's something very queer
here" he said in a low voice. swat
Il bit and I'll reconnoltre."
The chauffeur kept his place, and
Christopher took the electric torch
from under the front seat. Armed
with this he stepped over the wire,
and discovered in the fresh mud clear
traces of a motOr-car's p~neumatics.
They passed beyond the obstacle and
disappeared behind a curtain Of dark
ness, making it evident that the wire
had been stretched since the COlling-
woods had gone by-either driving to
the house or leaving it..
Telling the chauffeur to stand by
Scarlet Runner, unless called, Chris
topher began to climb a slight emf
nence, the wind and rain in his
face, as his feet squashed through
the soaked, spongy grass. Mounting
to the top, he came into full sight of
the house, above the %shrubbery and
some lOw-growing trees. At the eX-
IRENE western end was a row of three
lighted, diamond-paned windows on
the ground floor. The room within
was hidden by semi-transparent green
curtains; but Christopher guessed
that it was the dining-room, and that
the family were still lingering at the
dinner-table. Then, he saw in a win
dow at the east end of the house a
light suddenly flash up, disappear,
and flash again. All the other win
dows in that wing were black us this
one had been a moment ago.
Instantly Race extinguished his
electric torch and, abandoning his
quest of the front door, ran towards
the window. AS Christopher noise
lessly approached the lighted panes
he suddenly aw, as in a vision, what
was passing on the other side.
A man, with a small, why figure,
and a half-mask of Grape or some
black material hiding the upper part
of his face, was tiptOeing, catlike,
about the room, guiding his nov
ments by means of a dark lantern. He
placed on the floor by the dressing
table a partly-flled bag of plumber,
already secured, before moving to-
wards the door leading out to the
corridor. Here he suffered a disap-
pOintment. Flashing his lantern up
and down the oak, he found no bolt,
hesitated; but there was a litter of
jeweled gold brushes and bottles.
Having flashed a ray Of light over
the tempting display on the table,
he advanced to the window and softly
opened it, that his way Of escape
might be ready if needed.
"Ill let him gather up the spoil and
then, as he out, I'll nab him
and yell to my chauffeur" thought
Christopher.
For u brief moment he had forgot
ten the Nuremberg watch, and all the
interests %entangled round
but as the long beam of light once
more lit up the dressing-table he had
the best of reasons for remembering
again. There it lay, plainly visible,
as the dark, moving arm advanced to
push the crOwding gold toilet things
aside. The lean hand grabbed it up,
and as it withdrew into shadow the
unlocked door suddenly opened.
Framed in a square of dim light from
the corridor stood Nora COllingwOod,
a Pickering candle in her hand.
With a shrek of fear and surprise
she started back, then, recovering her.
self, bravely rushed forward to save
her treasures. Out went the light of
the dark lantern, and with one spring
the burglar made for the window,
swOOping swiftly as he went, to pick
up the bag at his feet.
Then the lean figure dashed through
he window into C~hristopher's arms.
In the shock of surprise the escaping
thief recoiled, snatching out a re-
and Christopher, Selling him
a bulldog grip by coat-collar
md leather belt, caught him off his
'eet and cast him away like a parcel.
rhe revolver exploded in the air as
he man fell; and as he touched earth
here followed a terrific defamation.