New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-07-05

The first thing he did In the morning
was to open the Daily Recorder and
cast his eyes down the personal col
unn. "T. V. b." was conspicuous only
in absence; but toward the end of the
column appeared something else which
caught C~hristOpher's attention at a
glance.
~. l.. H. Is earnestly implored to
communicate Immediately with one
who hoped to meet on Thursday at ad-
| dress v. l.. II. knows. Great anxiety
Can't bear suspense"
So, Christopher Race was not the
only person who had been given reason
to count upon meeting V. l.. H.. on
Thursday!
Christopher wished very ardently
that he as well as V. L. II. knew the
address of the anxious advertiser; but
as he did not, and could think of nc
means of finding it out, he could nc
nothing to match the pieces of the puz-
| zle together. When the four O'Clock
post brought him the offer of an i'm
mediate engagement for Scarlet Run
ner, therefore, he was inclined to ac-
cept. A Mr.. Warren Lockwood wrote
from the Laurels, Pleasant avenue,
Barnet, saying that friends had recon-
mended Mr.. Race and his car. He-Mr.
Lockwood-had been suffering from
bronchitis, and his doctor advised him
not only to escape London fogs as soon
as might be, but toescape in a motor.
Would Mr.. Race be SO excessively kind
as to drive Mis- Scarlet Runnec out to
the Luurels, arriving as near eight
| O'Clock as he could make convenient !
Starting from Scarlet Runners garage
at seven, he found the fog so densely
| thickened that he doubted If he could
find the way.
Suddenly, at what seemed to be a
corner of the wide country road not far
outside Barnet, q voice cried to him.
"Scarlet Runner?" it shouted; and
Race, astonished, answered before he
had stopped to think Yes"
Next instant a black figure was sill
houetted strangely in the pale haze OF
the a lamps and three short sharp
reports barked dryly in the night.
Someone had fired a revolver at his
driving-wheel tires and two shots had
taken effect. Hot with fury at the out
rage, Race leaped from his seat to the
roadway. AS he touched the ground
something thick and soft was thrown
over his head from behind and twisted
tightly round his neck.
Tearing at the hood with n hand,
and striking out fiercely, If wildly, with
the other, Christopher knew that he
had got in q blow somewhere. In an
other second he was free of the NUT
fling hood but the mar he had flung
off did not walt to be attacked. He
fled, swallowed up in the fog. Painting
from the struggle. Christopher assured
himself with some sense of triumph
that the cigarette case was still safe
in his waistcoat pocket.
What an innocent he had been not
to suspect the letter from Barnet as
part of a plot!
BY the time the car was ready to
go on again he had made up his mind
not to pay the call alone, but to take
for Il companion Il member of the local
police.
The Laurels was surrounded by
grounds of considerable size, and the
gate, admitting to a graveled drive,
stood open. Christopher saw no lights
as he turned in but as Scarlet Runner
purred an announcement of her ar
rival the front door was partially
opened, throwing out a narrow stream
Of light which sought to focus on the
motor. Already, however, the police
man had slipped from his place, and
Christopher descended, sheltered be-
hind him, moving on step for step with
his leader, whose broad shoulders
screened his STOPPING figure from sight.
Then, suddenly, and unexpectedly to
the man who held the light inside the
half-open door, Race pushed his way
In, the policeman following close.
The person behind the door evidently
had no wish to prevent Christopher
from entering. He gave way readily.
but at sight of the other man, who sud-
denly appeared like a Jack-in-the- box.
he uttered an oath and dashed the lamp
he held on the floor. Out went the
light, as the glass crashed In a hun
dred pieces; but instantly the police
mans dark lantern flashed into the
darkness.
"No use, Tommy, I've spotted that
mug of yours" said the plain-clothes