New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-05-10

he replied, hat in hand for her ant
for Lord Thanet, who had only tn
ghost Of a smile, with no emphasizing
dimples. II was sent" he added, "by
gentleman who not long ago left u let
ter to await your arrival"
Lord Thanet's eyes flashed surprise
$40 you mean that his majesty ha'
asked YOU"
"To take him back his letter. IL
has changed his mind, 1t seems, ant
will write another"
Lord Thanet's proud old face flushed
family. "Give me the letter, Ivy" HI
said. 81 must see him if he is here:
Christopher took the letter and car
ried it out to his passenger, who al
but snatched it in his eugerness
Good" exclaimed the mysterious one
'N0w let u get away"
"But, sir" said Christopher, Lore
Thanet has come and
The gentleman in the tonneau hast
lily examined the envelope. ut is
still unopened" he muttered.
Lord Thanet has not yet had time
To read the letter. He wishes to know
if he may have the honor of coming
out to"
NO" said his majesty imperatively
Then, with les; a~bruptness: go back,
give Lord Thanet my compliments,
and say that l regret not having the
time to speak with him this evening,
AS l have m important engagement,
for which / am already in danger of
being late"
He did not doubt that the 'import-
ant engagement for which his fare
had declared himself "in danger of be-
ing late" was Il continuation of the
unfortunate dinner party at Desmond
House; therefore the order which
anne from the tonneau gave him a
double surprise
"The Wood, No T%horOughfare Street,
Hammersmith." The words struck
sharply on ChristOpher's ears.
His majesty vas not going back to
the dinner party. He was going to the
house of Max Lind the elder-Max
Lind, the long-ago banished Socialist.
Max senior was away from home
and out of England. Christopher Race
had read only a few days ago in the
paper that the famous Socialist had
gone to America on Il lecturing tour.
And young Max, SO far as Christopher
knew, was somewhere in the East, on
q diplomatic mission for his own for
country.
Nothing could be more u%nprOmising
% visitors than the aspect of The Wood
when the red ar stopped before the
tall iron gates. The house was set
back from the road Il distance of nc
more than forty feet; but so screened
vas it with huge old oaks and beeches
hat by night, unless the windows were
lighted, it was invisible to passers-
~.
There was no drive leading up to
he house, and Scarlet Runner must
wait at the curbstone in the deserted
appropriately named "No Thor
Christopher got down to
'pen the gates, half expecting to find
hem locked; but they swung apart
With a rusty creek, and his majesty
vas instantly swallowed up in shadow.
Christopher did not go back to the
but paced the pavement. 1t was
and he was restless.
1t was we'll enough to argue that the
flair was not his affair, and that,
whatever happened, he must not mix
himself in 1t. But there was no get
ing round the fact that his majesty,
Who was famed for reckless daring,
night have been lured to this desolate
lace for some evil purpose.
The Linds. father and son, were
bove suspicion Of treachery but Max
enior was, or had been, notorious for
is a%nti-royalist ideas, and some fire.
rand friend might have taken base
dvantage of his absence.
What if the man had gone into a
rap and should never come out alive?
Christopher could bear inactiOn no
Leaving Scarlet Runner to
,ok after herself, he slipped through
he gates and tiptoed up the path to-
ard the hidden house.
Treading on grass to avoid gravel,
e skirted the path round the house
, the right. and was somewhat re-
eyed to e a sprinkling of light IN
frosted lawn. 1t was thrown from
long French window, which opened
the ground, and as the easements
ere ajar. the heavy green curtains
alf drawn back, Christopher could
into the room beyond.
His majesty stood with his back
alf turned to the window, and facing
i'm was young Max Lind, in travelling
ress, his white face like carved stone,
IS eyes dark with tragedy. The WIS.,
or held out to his host a small re-
Diver, and Max was taking it.
ut is the best thing you can do"
IS majesty said, and through the open
indow the words reached ears for
hich they were not meant. "The only
ling left for you to do in honor"
"very WELL" Max answered DULY.
nd he looked at the weapon. But
thrilled as he felt that it
as not the revolver which those
agic eyes really saw. she sees Ivy"
VS. cousin said to himself. |.
"You will do it,"
II will do it. But"
'There is a 'but'?" |
"My God! Yes, sir, there is a but
more than one. There is my father.
e was sc happy and proud. He be-
,ved that I should succeed-that
be able to satisfy you. And
ere is-you know we'll, sir, there is