New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-06-28

NhTtIieSe IuTld. lie WDulu wear 1T
o%vercOat, and insisted upon sitting in
front beside Christopher. Each night
he expected to be i'll but he had in
stead an enormous appetite, and slept
as he had not slept since the marriage
Of his faithless lady.
They drove through Padua anG
Verona, and on to Alessandria sc
across the plain of LOmbardy tC
Cuneo, all by easy stages; and when
the sur shone on them again Baria nc
longer cOughed.
Now Scarlet Runner was set to clint
the mighty barrier of the Alps which
shuts off Piedmont from the Mediter.
ranean. and darkness had fallen for
the third time since her start, when
she had passed through the long tun,
mel of the Col di Tcnda, and had be-
gun to descend past San DalmazZO,
into the valley of the Roya.
Christopher would have stopped at
Tenda while it was still dusk, for,
great as was his faith In the healing
power of fresh air, he knew it would
be cold in that narrow pass among the
mountains, perhaps dangerously cold
for the patient he was secretly doctor
ing. But the Marchese wished to 20
on.
Scarlet Runners lamps and search
light threw a binding glare ahead as
the car picked It's way, round sharp
curve after sharp curve Of rock, down
the slippery road.
They had met no vehicle since pass
ing the gloomy barracks far away up
the Col. and no pedestrian since San
Dalmazzo; nevertheless Christopher
was prudent, and caused his siren to
send out Il melancholy wall of warming
at each turn Of the narrow road. Yet
suddenly, taking IL quick curve, the car
all but dashed into the leader of three
horses drawing n market-cart.
Instantly Christopher put on the
brake and stopped the motor, just in
time to save disaster, but not in time
to avoid frightening the horses. The
leader swerved, and would have
plunged over the precipice, dragging
the other two horses and the great
covered cart with him, had not Baria
sprung out of the car and seized him
by the rein.
1t was admirably done, not the act
of Il world-weary invalid, but of alert
youth. quick to think and do, because
full of interest in life. Christopher be-
gar .scolding in French the invisible
driver of the cart.
"iou deserve to be In the river" he
shouted, "or in Jail, for not lighting
up! And On Il road like this What's
the matter with you? Are you drunk
or only asleep?"
Still no answer. Nothing moved In
the darkness under the big white hood
which arched over the cart. AS Baria
held the head Of the. gray leader, who
seemed anxious to get on, Christopher
peered under the cover of the cart.
For u moment he vas silent then he
an exclamation.
There's nobody to be seen in the
Yet something holds the reins.
It's so dark l can't see what"
He hurried back to Scarlet Runner
and got out the electric lantern. He
its white ray into the dark tun-
under the canvas roof. Empty egg
boxes were piled and tumbled in con-
fusion. On the broken heap lay a
woman's cloak of blue cloth, torn from
collar to hem; and half-hidden under
folds of this garment-which had
been made to cover the shoulders
Df a carter's wife-a handsome though
small traveling-bag Of alligator skin
capped wide and empty as If it had been
open in mad haste or fury.
And on the back of the drivers seat
A little gray, gauntleted glove held the
and was itself kept in place by
4 knife which pinned fast both the
~ielicate kid and heavy leather.
The glove seemed so clearly to re- |
ain the shape Of the fingers it had
,nce protected that at first glance it |
vas as if a woInan's hand. cut from
he arm. were nailed to the wood by
hat dagger-like knife, and u dark,
'meared stain on the back of the glove
added al ugly realism to the illusion.
Christopher climbed on the step of
he cart, and was peering within. ut
$ blood on the glove" he said "a light
'lnear of it, dry or almost dry. What
Yer has happened here must have
happened an hour or more ago. And
here's something in one of the fingers
small and hard"
With an effort. he wrenched out the
,nife which stabbed glove and reins
md wood. The dainty bit of gauntleted
ray suede was released.
ITS a ring" he exclaimed. "A queer
ing with a shield of red enamel and
raised black and gold crest on it,"
he spoke he gathered the reins into
lis own control, and clambered on to
he seat.
At once the horses knew that they
under guidance. The leader
eased to start and tremble, but stood
till. Baria let go the animals head.
nd, as keenly alert with curiosity as
{ he had never lost interest in the
hings of this world. be ran to see what
e had heard described.
"She was a gentlewoman-young
nd beautiful. perhaps" he said, star
1g at ring and glove, "Santa Maria