New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-07-05
year?" he said. by way Of working up

ycar?" he said, by way Of working up
to a point which he hoped to reach.
"Not many now, sir" his guide an
swered stolidly.
II say Il young lady looking out of
the window this morning. whom took
to be an artist" said Christopher, grow
Ing impatient. Every pretty. with yell
lowish-brown hair and dark eyes
might have been brown OF violet. l
think she had on a dark blue dress"
"You must have been mistaken, SIR"
replied the old woman. II didn't bring
any such young lady in this morning.
christopher asked no more Leading
questions, but meekly allowed himself
to be shown the usual things and told
the usual legends. Then he gave the
old woman the usual fee, with the
usual extra tip, and took his leave. But
turning to glance back ut the guardians
cottage, when the door was shut, he
saw his late guide at the window, peer
ing out. Behind her stood Il man, look
ing over the STOPPING shoulder; and as
away.
Dissatisfied with the result of his
quest, he resolved to return to the cas-
tie after dark, and linger about in the
hope that the girl might return under
cover of dusk-to demand her proper
ty and explain her strange Ii of
dispoSing of it.
When, after nightfall, he CROPPED his
way through Il thick mist toward the
castle ruins, he had still no clew which
might help him to find the lady of the
cigarette case.
Sauntering rs if aimlessly. along the
road dominated by the vast ruins,
Christopher began softly to whistle the
air from La Truviata which Scarlet
Runners new siren played.
Once in a while he paused, half ex-
Decting II call in answer; and ut last,
as he mounted the rising ground which
led to one wing of the castle, farthest
from the moat and the cottage, he
'il'AiSIit tIhl IN i'"'" - tIAA ~
among the dead grass and bracken.
Stopping to listen, the sound was
hu>led. Again he whistled the same
air, while he lighted Il cigarette which
should also have its special meaning
for the girl if she were near, as well as
giving her a hint of his whereabouts.
Yes, there was the sly rustling one
more. Perhaps she wanted a reassur-
ing glimpse of his face before speaking.
Well. she should have it. He held up
the lighted wax match to the cigarette
until its flame began to burn down.
Then. as it hared up before the end,
suddenly there came to his ear u hiss
sharp and wicked as a snakes, and ut
the same instant he was conscious Of q
singing pain in his left arm.
Away went match and cigarette,
their sparks drowned in the wet grass /;
and Christopher, surprised and pricked
to anger, realized that he had been
shot at with an airgun.
Search for his assailant proved
fruitlesS, so, choosing discretion as
has guide, Christopher returned to the
inn.
1t was after nine next morning when
he walked, and he was much annoyed
with himself for wasting time In bed,
when he might have been better EN-
ployed in playing detective. But when,
by his request, Il London newspaper
and breakfast We're brought to his
room, Il paragraph in the personal col
umn Of the Daily Recorder turned his
attention in an instant from people and
events at Stoke dEstcourt.
"T. V. b." stared at him in large
black capitals at the head of that IA
nous column. "WhOever can supply
information as to these letters and
those following, will be richly reward
cd if communicates Box POOL, Daily
Recorder Office" he read with a keen
stab of excitement.
Quick work :" Christopher said to
himself. For he did nOt doubt that he
was the person for whose benefit the
paragraph had been put in print.
He paid his bill at the inn and de-
parted with Scarlet Runner.
En- route to town he ~cOncOcted a tele-
gram which he got off from a small
town where he stopped to lunch.
SHOULD the advertiser wish to hear
more of Il. V. B., the only way of doing
so will be to call nine o'clock tonight
NTiday) on Christopher Race. who
may be able to give information but
will accept no reward"
He arrived at home late in the af-
.ternoOn, but found no letters.