Evening star., 1933-01-04
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#ksAr4N by NINA WILCOX PUTNAM d. ~
by NINA WILCOX PUTNAM

After st. Cloud the road was Clear,
silver stretch opening in perpetuity,
discovering a distance to which they
never caught up, under the powerful
spotlight. The closely set trees on
either hand merged their colonnades
as In a motion picture that is run too
fast, while above the dark fields full
moon struggled painfully behind the
clouds, casting a pale reflection OF its
efforts on the eastern horizon. The
only sound in all the world was the
surging of the heavy car through the
pools of water with which the earlier
downpour had carpeted the road in
places, and the steady hum of the
motor. But Spring was in the air, and
the scent of newly plowed earth, Once
in a little valley mighty chorus OF
young frogs arose to greet them, pierre
ing Shrill and sweet, and once pair of
rabbits dazed in the midst of a love
pursuit. stood transfixed in the head
lights for f1eeting moment. Otherwise
there was only the SOFT wet darkness
billowing away to the edge of the
world.
The car took a hilly stretch ahead
as If on wings, and over its crest
group of flickering lights came into
view at the bottom of the valley. Ar
mand reached a cautious hand for the
brake, ready for an emergency. The
lights were not stationary, but moving
about in a disorganiZed fashion. Lam
terms! Tiny speckS. still, but visibly
agitated. as if people we're running in
the darkness near a clump of woods.
Then a hundred yards further on, they
could see the roof of a building, sill
houetted against a flare which burst
suddenly upon the night. And in
another moment the cause of this was
apparent. Three cars were drawn up
along the roadside ahead, and one Of
them had been overturned. From the
lonely little Auberge. several people
we're running across the road toward
the accident and the two in the Europa
leaned forward breathlessly. but none
of the cars was the one they sought.
Whoever had stumbled upon misfortune
or perhaps death, it was not Santini
and his companion, that much was
plain as the Europa shot past.
They seem to have all the help they
need" said Armand, relievedly, and
we have not time to waste"
But for the moment Alacia did not
reply. AS they passed, a limp form
had been carried from the ditch and
under the headlights of one Of the
parked cars, Alacia had caught a
glimpse of the face. Somehow 1t
puzzled her by it's vague familiarity.
Who was that man, and where had she
seen him before? Even though the
glimpse had been fleeting. 1t had been
distinct, for the strong rays OF the spot
light gave the Unconscious face all the
vividness of a theatrical setting. But
it was not until an hour later when
Auxerre loomed ahead, medieval and
mysterious in the watery moonlight, that
- rryi1a tho hQd hpon
Then she clutched Armand's arm peril
ously as she cried the name aloud. The
unconscious face had been that Of Col.
Bradley, his American guardian!
Instinctively, Armand slowed the car
down as he heard the girl cry out the
familiar name.
Bradley" he exclaimed Are you
positive the injured man was Col.
Bradley"
"Positive!" she was emphatic about
it. II saw him plainly. And remember,
he was not at the hotel when called
him. trying to get in touch with you"
That's right" replied De Pas. He'd
gone off on one of those conscientious
sightseeing pilgrimages you Americans
love to make-to les Aundeleys, think.
Alacia, feel almost as if we ought to
turn back"
Fifty kilometers?" she questioned,
whatever happened, he's been looked
after by now and heaven alone knows
If we could even locate him! We might
search all night"
while Santini gains on us in
manner. most satisfactory - to himl"
Armand added reluctantly. IT suppose
al we can do Is to wire or telephone
in the morning. and find out for certain
what happened"
We'll wire Papa Piron!" she agreed
Hes sure to know Zizi, my. dear, it
must surely have been an ordinary
accident. Who would want to injure
the colonel?"
why should any one injure me, for
that matter?" he demanded grimly. "If
a week ago you had told me 1 would
tonight be on a manhunt in the hope
of clearing myself of charge Of theft,
I'd have called you mad. God only
knows but the same gang may have