Tombstone epitaph. (Tombstone, Ariz.) 1887-current, 1918-07-21
COPrRiChI.
SIXTH EPISODE
The Mysterious Motor Car.


glistening. Christopher Race could
hardly have chosen better place for
q speed trial. to test the success of u
new invention. nor better time than
the earliest hint of dawn.
He was excited. for an experiment
which had absorbed two weeks OF his
time. and many coins of his hard
earned money, was proving a success.
50 excited and self-absorbed was he
that. when Scarlet Runner had de-
voured four sandy miles out of the
delicious fivemile course. only annoy
anCe. unmixed with curiosity. was
aroused in his breast at sight of
knot of men standing at a distance,
knee-deep in the sea. II they were
fishermen. their present occupation
had apparently nothing to do with
their calling. For moment he saw
nothing suggestive In the grouping OF
half a dozen eager men round some OBJ
icct half enCulfed in water. which they
were striving to drag out. But, in fact,
Christopher had some excuse for his
temporary self-absOrption.
His latest client had finished wed
ding trip zen automobile" whereupon
Race had returned 10 London and been
thrown into the society of fellow-en-
thusiast for motorS-a young engineer
who had designed a new invention. II
was very clever invention. for al a
stroke ii revolutionized all existing
systems of transmission. and did away
with gear-box, linions, and clutch.
The idea had instantly caught
Races fancy; and in the hour he de-
cided upon adopting the proposed
plan. Scarlet Runner. thus rogenerat-
ed. had come out OF a London work
shop only two days ago, ard now here
was Christopher with his scarlet darl-
Ing. heart and engine both beating in
the hope of q long. satisfactory trial,
with the sea and the rising sun as sole
witnesses
Within thirty yards OF the group IN
the water Race slackened speed, and
would have turned, sacrificing the last
mile Of the five. had not one OF the
Iren seen him and begun TO shout and
beckon. AZ the same moment several
others broke away from the group 10
hurry across the sand towards the
approaching motor; and Christopher
saw. TO his extreme surprise, that the
thing they had surrounded was a half
submerged automobile.
She was, to the eye of an expert In
such matters. Enthusiastically Hansard,
o. pattern now superseded.
Here was a mystery which made
special appeal 10 the heart of motor
ist.
"Halloa, What's happened hereT
exclaimed Christopher to the man who
met Scarlet Runner. This looks a
queer business"
That it does. sir" answered q
brown old fisherman. And as to
what's happened. We don't know no
more than you"
Better send for the police before
trying any amateur detective work"
ave have sent for the police from
Tilton-on-S Sea, sir" said the elder man.
MY boy and I were the first 10 catch
sight Of this ere. and we got together
some mates TO help drag her out Of
the water before the tide gets up. But
she's stood where she is so long. her
wheels have sunk into the sand. and
We can't move her"
"Ill help with that work. if some
OF you will hitch rope round her
front ankle" Christopher volunteered.
My car can tow her. But here comes
O policeman now"
A bl,s-4ad man. hastily dressed at
summons, was approaching. guided
by boy. He stared gravely at the
automobile. murmured that 1t looked
like murder or suicide, and began
scribbling notes in a book produced
from his pocket. while the derelict was
being rescued.
Evidently the man read other than
local papers, for he glanced up with
Interest when Christopher Race gave
bis name aid address.
At his request Christopher made q
careful examination of the derelict
and announced with certainty that II
was a Hansard, of a Cate about four
years old, but deliberately altered and
modernized. He peered into the geer.
lox. saw that the piniOns were clean
nnd new. and said that the motto: had
apparenfly not run many miles since
being repaired. Another point TO which
he drew the attention Of the constab.;
was that the number OF the motor hal
been carefully chiselled OF. and tha
the number-2ia OF the car itself wa,
missing. This showed that its abah
donment had been an act Of delibera
ton.
Christopher had the curiosity to re
main for ar hour or two at Tilton-on
Sea, after towing the Hanssrd there
,n the hope Of some elucidation Of tn
mystery. But no unknown mOtorts
had stayed at the hotel there. or O
any other near by to which inquire
we're sen.. No such car as the rescue'
ITnass.: had been noticed by anyone
end &. last. little wiser ,han when b
had first seen the <-ual shape risin