Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, December 4, 1916, Page 8

= THE BEE: OMAHA, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1916. W Scarler Runner Vitagraph From the Popular Novel of the same name| “od; said the marchese thrilling Company by C. N. and A. M. Williamson Stars of Thi MR. EARLE WILLIAMS MISS JEAN. STEWART is Episode as as ALEXA MURGIENEFF Next Week Another Story and New Picture Copyright, 1916, by the Star Company. CHAPTER VIIIL H THE GLOVE AND THE RING. “I ask nothing of life—except death,” said the Marchese Baria. “The one thing life cannot gl\'(‘."y answered Christopher Race. They were sitting together at Flo- rian’s, in Venice, at one of the out- of-doors tables. They had met for the first time that evening at 9, when the place had been crowded, and they had been forced to sit down at a table to- gether, if they would sit at all. Now it was 2 in the morning (for Florian's never closes) and they had talked ever since. Christopher knew that Baria had loved a lady, the most beautiful on earth—according to her lover; that they had been engaged, and that then he had lost some thousands of pounds and had received an adverse opinfon All Foreign Rights reserved. |'seconds of struggling confusion, and as soon as the clamor of pawing and | snorting ceased Christopher began scolding in French the invigible driver of the cart. “You deserve to be in the river,” he shouted, “or in jail, for not light- up! And on a road like this! What's the matter with you? Are you drunk or only asleep? Fellows like you would sleep while the last trump | sounded.” Still no answer. Nothing moved in the darkness under the big white hood, which arched over the cart. “Drunk, of course,” said Baria. “He's been across the frontier and taken his eggs to market; now he's | o his way home to Cuneo, trusting to his horses to find their way over the Col and through that awful tuunel. How like a peasant! They all do it in my country, forgetting that this is | the lantern light. CHRISTOPHER RACE | “Weil'toi it fighis out, benina e cal | You shall sit in it to steer and put on | the brake if necessary. | | you, | you're not | vas cover of the cart, “it may not be way of getting to the root of this queer business, my idea is—let us go on with the cart and see what hap- | pens.” the danger, His eyes sparkled in He did not want to fade away now. Indeed, he had for- gotten that he had ever wanted to “Good! But the car—" mystery, ahead. rt, 8o that it may make no noise. 'l lie low in the cart, ready for anything with my revolver. I'd give that part to for 1 know you'd like it, but guite strong enough yet for a4 job where both our lives may depend on' strength as well as quick- ness." Barla saw that it was Race's inten- tion to keep him screened and pro- tected in case of sudden assault, but he could not object. He could only regret, for a polgnant instant, that he had so busily wasted instead of husbanding his strength. As for Christopher, he saw Baria's silent dis- appointment and was sorry. “Keep these,” he said, handing his friend the glove and the ring. “We may be going into a den of thieves and assassins,” said Baria, cheering up as he prepared to change places with Race. “If s0,” said Christopher, trailing the ray of his lantern along the can- | to take the quickest and most likely | on the collar of a curiously-fashioned brown coat, appeared on the thres- hold “Whatever happens, don't let him be seen!’ in Italian. At this the woman ran ahead into the house, pushing the tall old man with her hands on his breast, then shutting the door he had opened, and bolting it. Even in this moment of extreme peril Christopher Race and the Mar- chese Baria, in the hands of their cap- tors, were stabbed with curiosity be- cause of the old man. He was beauti- ful, wonderful, with the face of a prophet. Who was he, that the young men of this strange house had cried with one accord, as if in fear, “Don’t let him be seen!” They were now all inside the lighted room, a big farm kitchen with white- washed walls, and only one other door, besides the door of exit. -That door the woman had bolted, and at a word from one of the men she flew to lock the other. . Christopher and Baria saw them- selves at the mercy of five young men, all tall and broad-shouldered beyond the common, and not one beyond the age of 30. They were fair-haired, having the look.of brothers, and their features were the hard, set features of the far north, their eyes gray and full of fire, but not the easily kindled fire of the south. Only the woman was of the south, if she might be judged by the soft brown oval of her young, frightened face and the dark velvet of the startled eyes, which seemed al- leng before we get there. Look! here's ready to see the vision of a double ried one of the men quickly | footsteps, and 1 have married an Ital- fan wife.” “Ask them if they know French,” suggested Christopher. They did, one and all, and began speaking it rapidly. Now Christo- pher could enter intelligently into the conversation, and presently they were conversing like friends. There was a secret, evidently, and that secret none of those who were in It intended to reveal to those who were not, but they admitted that one of themselves —the second brother of six—had gone to Ventimiglia ostensibly with a load of eggs to dispose of, but really upon a different errand. He had got rid of . EAb viainroved By rihe| o He and Barfa had sauntered up s essfl"flh ‘; P Th h’ hag | &lone. The four had the air of being emgptiness of the boxes. en he B4 oyt for a late walk after a hot day, picked up a passenger—a woman. She was the daughter of an old friend, to whom the family had been deeply in- debted in years gone by—indebted, in fact, for their escape from Russia in a time of terrible danger. Nothing that the Ravellis could have done for could possibly follow. Doesn’t it oc cur to you that a yacht would suit | their purpose better than anything else?" Michael half sprung up in his seat | beside Christopher, who was driving. “A yacht!” he echoed. “You are right They would have a yacht. It would be the one plan of all others. And there are men who would gladly lend their yachts for this scheme.” | “The yacht would lie in Mentone | harbor,” said Christopher thought- | fully. | "It is as if you spoke on inspira- tion!” cried Michael. Scarlet Runner flew and made straight for the harbor. Out of season as it was, there were two | yachts in port—one small one and a | fine, large craft which had got up | steam and was ready to go out. At | sight of its lights in the distance Christopher slowed down Scarlet Run- ner and stopped the engine. not anxious to advertise the presence | of his car. “What yacht is that?” he asked the harbor master, whom he sought when e had left his automobile in charge of the youngest of the Ravelli broth- and where would a breeze be found astir if not down by the port? Christopher put his question as if in the curiosity of idleness and the harbor master, who was sleepy and would rather have been in bed than where he was, answered carelessly: “Nadege, belong to a Russian prince. Been here for a week.” Christopher did not inquire the name of its owner. It was enough for him that it was Russian and that it was about to leave. “What's it waiting for?" he seemed to reflect alound. “Been waiting for an automobile which it's to take on board,” sald the harbor master. “It's come now and they're going jo ship it from a pon- toon."” $ The motor car was drawn up near a crane close to the edge of the quay and late though it was a knot of three into Mentone He was stoi!" " cried Bari “But I thought he was in Siberia.” “All the world thinks so, and Rus- sia does not contradict the world. But he escaped after incredible difficulties and hardships. It was arranged by his friends that he should come to us if he could. We are his relatives, though distant, and have always cor- responded with him. The book which he was writing when he was arrested would have been confiscated, but his daughter contrived to hide it, and pa- pers, in cipher, which would compro- mise many persons in high places, yet which must, for the good cause of liberty, be preserved. The daughter, being so young, and still at school when her father was sent to Siberia, was not suspected until after his es- cape, when she disappeared. Twice she was all but taken, yet we hoped the last plan would succeed, it had been made so well and so secretly. But we were mistaken. She was tracked. If they could have kept her, they | would have had her father between | their fingers. He might have died of the shock at seeing her glove blood- stained and pinned with a knife to the reins of the cart. They would have been glad of that, for dead he would cease to trouble the enemies of freedom. If he had not died they would by and by, when it suited them, have let him know that Alexa wasdin their hands; that they would torture her if he did not go back to Rus- sia, and he would have gone back, old and weak as he is. Now, knowing who they are, do you still wish to be- friend them?” “‘More than ever,” Baria answered. ‘“Prince Alexander Murgieneff is no anarchist, but a prophet—a friend of said Ravelli. ‘4There is no oné more important, for he has connections of | the highest. We can do nothing to | show you our gratitude, for, as we told | you, our father fled in time of trouble | from persecution, and we are poor farmers in our adopted country. Yet you will have our_ blessings forever, peace as he is of liberty, and some day his country will learn to value him."” ) “It values him now—as a prisoner, concerning his health from an emi- | nent doctor. The lady admired strong | men and threw Barla over to take one | whose lungs and whose bank account | were both more satisfactory than his, | She was now the wife of this person, | who happened to be a prince, and the | Marchese Baria wished to forget her as soon as possible. The only way in the day of automobiles.” “I'll stir up the idiot," sald Chris- | topher, | He and Baria had carefully led the horses past the great silent, lighted | shape of Scarlet Runner, so that the | market-cart had the width of the road | to itself, standing back to back with| the motor car. Now as Baria held | or four idle onlookers had collected to watch the sailors. Christopher and Baria joined the group. A chauffeur stood by the bonnet, absorbed in the preparations to sling the automobile. As the Russians did not dream that pursuers from the Roya valley could possibly arrive before their departure, they were off guard for the moment if you can save this lady and her father.” “I would do it even withou blessings,” replied the marchese. They reached the farm without ac- cident or sign of pursuit, and this time Christopher and Baria entered the house as trusted friends. By the ministration of Michael Ravelli's the which he felt himself able to do this was by death, and at present he was engaged in shortening the short lease of life given him by his dactor by tak- ing\too much alcohol. He found this recipe disagreeable, as he disliked wine ‘and spirits. But, unfortunately, he had promised his English mother on her deathbed that never, in any circumstances, would he follow the| " FHe hurried back to Scarlet Runner | tomobile, half sitting, half lying, they|the car 2: his English friend. And, i examplegset by one or two of his fa-|and got out the electric lantern. | could make out the slender figure of | if necessdry, Alexa should pass as the q ther's hot-blooded ancestors and com- | Flashing its white ray into the dark | a woman, who appeared to be sleep-|flancee of the marchese. But it i mit suicide. Noxious microbes had refused to infect him. He could not take typhoid fever, or any other dis- ease warranted to carry off a delicate patient. But he had hopes of pneu- monia. That was why he had chosen to sit out of doors on an unseasonably chill, cold, rainy night, clad in the lightest of garments. “Is it murder to annihilate a per- son whose one wish is to die?” the marchese asked. ) “Im inclined to think the law would regard it so. But"—and Chris- topher spoke slowly, as if on mature the head of the grey leader, who seemed anxious to get on, Christopher peered under the cover of the cart. For a moment he was silent; then he gave an exclamation. What's wrong?" asked the mar- chese. “I can't make out yet, but it's very queer,” answered Christopher. as If he had swept a black curtain away from a strange and ominously- suggestive picture, There was in it no human figure, yet it did not lack dramatic elements, Empty egg boxes were piled and tum- bled in confusion. On the broken heap lay a woman's cloak of blue cloth, torn from collar to hem, and half-hidden under #the folds of this garment—which had not been made to cover the shoulders of a carter's wife—a handsome though small trav- tunnel under the canvas roof, it was | weling bag of alligator skin gaped wide | and there was nothing to prevent Christopher and Baria from going close to the car. They peered into the dark depths, while the two Ra- vellis engaged the weary harbor mas- ter in conversation, lest he should chance to follow with his eyes the movements of his late questioners. In the covered tonneau of the au- ing. This, after the statement of the douanier, was what they had ex- pected to see, and they had_Jaid their plans accordingly, hoping against hope for just such a chance—just such a clear moment—as Fate offered them. now. Softly Baria opened the door of the car and out came a strong whiff of chloroform, which was a relief to to drug the dead. Reaching in, Christopher took the limp form in his strong arms and in his joy would have forgotten the last whispered words of their fears—since it is not necessaryPected to do, young wife the girl was revived, and she and her father were told of the plan that had been hastily made for them;, | The old man did not hesitate, but decided for himself and his daugh- | ter, while she was still unable to de- | cide for herself. They would go to Venice with’ the Marchese Baria in seemed improbable that the car could be traced by the enemy farther than Milan, where there were many motors going in different directions. And the Russian pursuers could not possibly know the name_of the Marchese Baria in connection with the rescue at the Ravelli farm. Instead of sleeping quietly at Men~ tone or Monte carlo, as they had e: the two young men spent the night on the driver's seat of Scarlet Runner, while the father and daughter sat together inside. Never stopping, they drove back deliberation—“I'll tell you what I can | and empty as if it had been wrenched . Michael Ravelli: “Remember to look | 2ver the Col di Tenda, and on through ' do. You say youre irying 4 course|open in mad haste ot fury. Among| \yyAT HE SAW WAS CHRISTOPHER, STANDING UP. HIS REVOLVER COCKED AND AIMED, |for a bag or a bundle of papers,” if| the dirk hours and into the morn: 2 5 ST : v ) 0 & a farm matters, ell, this is June, but It's| straw were tossed varlous articles of FOR NOW THERE SEEMED LITTLE HOPE FOR EXPLANATIONS. the unconsciots ‘sirka. fegt ‘hid Mot eor food, and ws.termflfin; th:ycai;olt)g:g more like October weather, and I can give you a long, strong dose of cold air in my motor. What about coming on with me until you pick up pneumo- nia, or, if not that, a viol®at attack of inflammation of the lungs or even pleurisy, as you may do if it doesn't | soon stop raining? a woman's wardrobe; a silk blouse, handerchiefs, a long fichu of rich lace. And on the back of the driv- er's seat a ljttle grey, gauntleted glove held the reins and was itself kept in place by a knife which pinned fast both the delicate kid and heavy leather, the name of the owner—or alleged owner—Ravelli; Valegio. Valegio's that village, you remember, whose lights we saw twinkling far above us about half an hour ago as we came down the pass. Some road branching oft 'near here must lead to it. If it murder. She stood before the door she had just locked, pale and trem- bling. “Are you going to kill them?” she asked. “We are going to execute them,” an- swered the oldest of the five men, that friend and for his daughter would have been too much; yet—she was gone, her belongings ransacked, her bloodstained glove pinned to the reins. The sole comfort was that, if she were dead, Loris Ravelli must have died in trying to save her. He would not have dragged against a leather dispatch case on the floor. Baria snatched it out on the instant and shut the door as, noisely as he had opened it. Then each of the young men supported the girl, taking her between them, and the darkness of the night, intensified by the blaze of the car’s lamps ahead, 6n to Milan, where they rested in comparative safety. But the rest was only for a few hours, and by hard going, the next night they reached Venice. By that time both young men would gladly have given their lives for the b ) '[ old Russian and his brave, beautiful . “ " " o _| does, the gray horse will take it, and | whose age could not have been much | failed to do his utmost, and—he, t0o, | as well as the preoccupation of every o = < Fl-\‘l‘:.u 9:;": ‘,::m::?o:é ::cc)l\:lnml:g ria. /0 GaTies s T SuIE B —perhaps Signor Ravelll wlil have a|beyond 30. “What else? They are had disappeared. other person concerned—or mnot con- ?;:g}‘;:r‘sca%h;!}t{'::"r, r;;kc;l‘ tl:emg i our first words 1 felt you wouldbe a| ‘There Is no carter,” Race an-|Surprise.” B spllee:.datr}lld Magee, Then, "huvmrz nu;\; :gr( t::eseillov:él;fl‘l;ec:hecorr:glsc‘;‘; ce:ned—fa\'ored their quickly carried | gagement by wmmg‘fn“see“g‘: tetns i k) . Out went the light of the lantern.|quieted the girl—his young wife, pers ) out maneuver. - e | ou repiled Chrlstopher, | ireor,and cried out to his friend 6| o lamps of the car were already [haps—in her hative tongue, he had (@ Kind of horrible mockery, it had| At any instant the chauffeur, who goes installed in the Palamo Baria, “The pity is, our friendship's likely to | lantern light showed. dark. Christopher, lying among the | begun to speak again in his own lan-|been put there for a purpose, the|had been left on guard, might dis-|gith o Reighboring cousin, Thqere = be so short.” “It sounds like murder—the murder | é8& boxes, the reins held loosely in his | guage to brothers, when Baria inter-|young men said gloomily to each|cover his loss and raise an alarm|;; news e n il theretol’“ 5 “8till, we shall be together till the | of a woman,” answered the marchese, [ hand, his revoiver veady, letithe grey r“l’;"d' in Lalan. K first e taow e{lsathfec:r':gl: ’;}l":g footat B ée]:f"w}f"“p““"“' Their | when all was settled peacetally, Chriss 4 W “ > | leader go at his own pace and in his “You ha etter make sure firs t 3 ootsteps an e hammering of their & 4 e ATt GhAlb P e the step|OWR way. The car trailed behind | that we are spies. My friend can| had Yaileg, and through whom. it/had | hearts toud ih thelt oo care G, topher had no longer an excuse for R topher, “Scarlet Runner and 1 are|of the cart and was peering within, | nolselessly, invisible to anyone in|speak only French and English. He | failed. pher Race and the Marchese Baria|pyt they were epoch-making dnim. ;:i at your service for the experiment. “It 1s blood on the glove,” he sald; “a front. Thus the horses, steady enough is an Englishman, from London; I, “Let us go, then, and find them and walked as fast as they dared| support- 3 o rimrs " he was not surprised to receive a long 2 T've got rid of m engors; I'vi t . What- | now, plodded up the pass down which | half English, half Italian. His name punish them before it is too late,” | ing and hiding as well as they could o seen \'Vflnlce, 1 mfl.(yunk“'e ‘hl:'nr home l‘\’ehr' ;r::a;;;(vel;:dlm':mm;:u" )?:‘fe Scarlet Runner had swept but a half [is Christopher Race; I am Lorenzo |said Christopher. the unconscious form which hung in gfigi‘;:mm‘g:ena;‘; h“fihr;;s&ed h?: 2 in time for another engagement, u,z happened an hour or more ago. And hour ago. Arnese, Marchese Baria, of Venice. It seemed that hours must have|their arms. As they neared the spot faithtul car: “in front beside Christopher, 1 shall be delighted to have a com- panion,” I“For as long as I last?” said Ba- ria, “For as long as you last”” echoed Race. They started next morning, the marchese having wound up his more pressing affalrs in case of a sudden e end, and giving all necessary instruc- - tions to the servants who looked after lace on the Grand canal. Their way led through southern country, where the days should have been summer days; but the weather was abnormal. There were cold winds and bursts of rain, which delighted the Marchese Barla. He would wear no overcoat, and insisted upon sitting Each night he expected to be ill, but he had instead an enormous appetite and there's something in -one of the fin- gers—samething small and hard.” He was supporting himself with one hand and had freed the other by set- ting the lantern on the straw-strewn seat. Now, with an effort, he wrenched out the knife which stabbed glove and reins and wood. The dainty bit gauntleted gray suede was re- leased. “It's & ring!” he exclaimed. '"A queer ring with a shield of red enamel and a ralsed black and gold crest on it” As he spoke he gathered the reins into his own control and clamb- ered onto the seat. At once the horses knew that they were under guidance. The leader ceased to start and tremble, but stood still, as if relieved to find life resum- ing its normal routine. Baria let go the animal's head and as keenly alert There was not a word, scarce the rustle of a footfall, nor was there a light anywhere. But in the thick blue dusk” Christopher had heard for ah instant a man's breathing. Suddenly there broke Into the still- ness of the night one deep, baying note from the throat of a dog—a bloodhound, Race judged by the rich bell-tone, different. from the bark of other dogs. Next moment there were scufflings, as if someone were holding the animal in check, and Christopher’s heart began to pound against his side. Soon the bulk of a house loomed a blacker mass against the blackness of the sky. The man who guided the gray horse swung him round a cor- ner; a half-open. door let a flood of vellow light flow out into a stone- paved courtyard, and huddled in the doorway Race could see several fig- We came here as avengers, not as spies. 1f you miss any friends of yours from the cart you had better question us. Then, if we see reason to think you as innocent as we are, we will answer. And, meanwhile, if you doubt our identity, we have papers as well as an automobile to prove .it.” His impudence was impressive. The men consulted together, asked a few questions and got dramatic answers, with a description of the meeting of cart and car on the road, and what had, been found under the canvas covér. As he finished Baria showed the glove and ring and at the sight of them the tide of angry suspicion turned against him and his friend again, until Christopher whipped out the knife which had held the reins ast. “Tell them where we found it n.nci - passed since Scarlet Runner and the driverless cart had so nearly come into collision, but it was not an hour yet, when the door of the kitchen was unbarred and three out of the five Ravellis accompanied their guests— late prisoners—to Christopher Race's motor car. Two stayed behind, mak- ing no ‘explanation, but they had looked at each other, glancing with meaning towards the other locked deor and they had exchanged a few hurried words with the young woman. Though nothing had been said, Christopher and Baria both knew that those who remained were on guard, watching over a life that was more to them than their own. “Don't let him be seen!” they had exclaimed. That no harm might reach him, enough men to protect him were staying at the farm, the harbor master had stood, the Ra- vellis joined them and helped conceal the presence of the girl. The door of. Christopher's car stood open. They flung the dispatch box in and Baria, with Michael Ravelli, got the limp form on to one of the seats while Christopher started the engine. Baria sat in the car with the girl's head upon his shoulder, while with his arm round her body he kept her steady as Scarlet Runner flew on. Mi- chael Ravelli was oufgide with Chris- topher, but the two ofhers were in the covered tonneau, anxiously engaged in breaking open the dispatch box. For the_ papers the brothers so eagerly sought Baria cared nothing, but for a man who hated life and women be- cause one woman was false he showed a singular interest in the delicate pro- file outlined like a pale cameo against ‘‘Best of friends, I canuot wait to tell you that I am really engaged to her. She is adorable. There is no other woman. There never was, ex- cept in my sick imagination. You saved my life, you gave me health and love and love gives me love of life. We shall be married as soon as possible. She loves me. I am per- fectly happy, and hope not to die un« til I am a hundred and she niaety-one, “Yours until then, BARIA.” Christopher sent as a wedding pres. ent a little model of Scarlet Runner, done in red enamel and gold. slept a8 he had not slept since the|With curlosity as It he had never lost | ures looking out—peering, listening. | why we came here,” he said to Baria,| There had been & few moments| the dark gray of his coat. / e marriage of his faithless lady. This| interest In the things of this world, |Then the horse stopped. Still Chris- | for, though he could understand, he | When Christopher had hardly expected | “gsne Wasating dnd veryibeautifule M W annoyed and puzzled him, but he was|he ran to sec what he had heard de- | topher lay ~without moving. He|could speak no more than enough|to smell the night air again, or to|he could sec as much as that. He| (G} 0 somewhat comforted by Crhistopher's | scribed. wanted to know, if possible, what|Italian for servants, an inn or a ga-|see the car that he loved. It was good | could imagine a great deal more and W\ N suggestion that the seeming improve-|, “She was a gentlewoman—young | these people expected to find. rage. g now to sit ‘on the driver's seat of|he knew that she had been brave S % ment might be a mere flash of life be- | and beautifuf, perhaps,” he said, star-| The man who had guided the leader | The men, still guarding their pris-| Scarlet Runner, to hear the comfort-| witness her strange journey, her cloak ) ; fore the end. ing at ring and glove. “What can the | came towards the carte asking a ques- | oners, but no longer wholly antago- ing thrum-thrum of its engine, to feel | {orn jn a struggle, the ring in the /""‘J 2 They drave through Padua and Ve- tion as he approached, but he spoke | nistic, looked at the knife, touching|its steering wheel under his hand and rona to Milan and on to Alessandria; 80 across the plain of Lombardy to Cuneo, all by easy stages, and when the sun shone on them again Barla longer coughed, except when it oc- curred to him as the duty of a jilted lover. 3 . Now Bcarlet Runner was set ta climb the mighty barrier of the Alps which shuts off Pledmont from the Mediterranean, and darkness had fall- en for the third time since its start, when it had passed through the long tunnel of the Col di Tenda and had begun to descend past S8an Dalmazzo mystery be? cart—alone ?" *‘I,doubt she was alone," said Chris- topher. ‘“There's a knitted scarf of worsted under the seat, such as peas- ant men wear.” ““The ‘driver?’ exclaimed Baria. “You think he killed her and stgle what valuables she had—knowfng they were worth his having?" “It, seems the most probable the- ory,” sald Christopher. ‘‘She-—who- ever she was—had engaged. him to drive her. There must have been a strong motive for trusting him, if he were a stranger.” Why was she in this neither in Italian nor FKrench, nor any language which Christopher Race had ever heard before.” When on an- swer followed he repeated the same words anxiously, then sprang toward to look into the cart. 4 What he saw was Christopher, sit- ting up—his revolver cocked and ailmed—for now there seemed little hope of explanations, and it was nec- essary to be ready on the instant for reprisals. The thing which any normal man would do on suddenly seeing a re- volver aimed at his head at such close it and examining the blade and han- dle with care. N “It is Russian,” commented the eld- est in a low voice to his comrades. Then he turned to Baria. “You may both show the papers you spoke of, to prove your identity,” he said. That one word “Russian,” spoken in Italian, was a clue instantly seized by both Race and Baria. The lan- guage which they had not been able to comprehend was Russian. These men’s features were Russian—their high cheek bones, their narrow gray eyes and short noses. to see its lights drinking up the dark- ness. It was life, after a cold dream of death. The Ravellis had an idea where to go. “They” would be anxious to get away with, “her,” were she living or dead, and the papers they must have found in the opened bag. “She" was called Alexa—so. much they soon learned, for the name was spoken over and over again by the brothers. So the brothers talked, speaking of Loris as if he were dead, and of Alexa as if, perhaps, it would be better to glove wrenched from a resisting hand Scarlet Runner had swept like a tornado along the deserted road and reached the Italian frontier. The de- lay was short, since Christopher's pa- pers were in order, yet it seemed an eternity to Baria, turning his head always to see if the Russian car with its wicked searchlight had rounded the last corner, He scarcely heard the exclamations of joy drawn from the Ravellis by the discovery that all they hoped to find was in the dispatch box. He thought only of the girl and of a plan that perhaps would not have -621 residents of Ne- braska registered at Hotel Astor during the past year. Single Room, without bath, $2.60 and $3.00 Double - $3.50 and $4.00 Single_Rooms, with bath, " know 5 : sprung, full-fledged, into his head had into the valley of the Roya. “But if he were not a stranger— | quarters is to start back mechani- “Why did you come to us?’ the|Know that she were dead, too. But v = ; $3.50 to $6.00 Christopher had entered Ttaly with|and decelved her?" Ber—/ Oy, but this man was difterent, WIth | last. speaker asked, in Ttajian, and |there was no doubt in their minds | vy, 'bOn,mis Shoulder been less beau- Patior. Bedrosaan his late passengers by way of Mount| “Ah, then—Yet why the glove|® roar of rage he risked death and|Raria, prompted now and then by|that the way to take was to go|goiden HORDE RS S0 $10.00 to $14.00 Cenis and the valley of the Roya was | nailed to the seat?” leaped at the stranger as a tiger|(hristopher, explained with perfect utra}ight and quickly to Ventimiglia. As Scarlet Runner Shot aeay t 2 Lo strange to him. He knew it bnly| “Unless it were for a signal, Santa|leaps, and—Christopher did not firc. | frankness. “We wanted to know who| = The car rushed on towards Ven-| o customs house and - still ' no| ~TIMES SQUARE - through study of maps and gulde.| Maria! We must get to the bottom| In an instant the courtyard was|had plotted the murder—if murder | timiglia, obedient to the brothers' idea | seurchlight had flashed upon her f no 2 baoks, but he had no fear of losing|of this. Shall we go on in your car, | ¢choing with cries and footfalls. The|has been done—and we thought the that Ventimiglia was the center for|hahing, Baria SSokE ‘m t“hpo‘“;(m‘f:m‘:”“ Broadway, 44th to 4sth Streets==" the way and hoped to reach Mentone by midnight. There, though It was out of reason, one or two hotels would be as we were going, and trace the mys- tery, step by step, along the road by which this cart has come?" door was flung wide open and three or four young men and & woman had thrown themselves, like living shad- quickest way to find out.was to travel with the cart. But it seems that you suspect us, as we suspected you.” the quest to begin. i “We don’t wish to know your se- crets, but tell us one thing,"” said “They—whoever they are—will know where to look for this woman, Tio doubt,” he said softly, as if fear- At ¢he center of .Ner Ydork’l social and activities. In close proximity se all railway terminals. open. “What! and let the cart go on|OWS among the shadows of the stone-| “If there has been murder, there is Christopher. “Is this woman a per- ing to disturb her. Scarlet Runner's lamps and search- | alone?" paved square. Baria, fearless and ex- | not one of us who would not die to|Sen politically important or merely of | &y Q5% Nard with us before they | HIHIIIIIIIE2II03010EE HEHTHT ] light threw a blinding glare ahead| “No, that would not do. Ona of us|cited, had dashed odut of the car and|ayenge it” said the eldest of the|importance to private interests?” Il Sled i S b A = — as the car picked its way, round sharp | might stop with it until the other|run forward at the sound of the first| young men. “She is of great importance politi- P curve after sharp curve of rock, down the slippery road. On one side rose on tife always a wall of mountain; other was a precipice, in the trough |darmerie.” \ wrenched his weapon away. The | with you?" trouble, then, and a large expendi-|naped a young countrywoman of of which roared the River Roya. “I think we'd better not separate,”|&roup struggled together, and Baria “It has this to do with us—that we ture of money to people in high posi-| theirs. TI've been thinking that she There was no reason that anyone|said Christopher. “We may be wrong|dared not fire lest he should kill the|, oS8 100 NG (e king, and our | H1O0 to get her back to--that coun-|oughtn't to stay at your farm—not ahead should be surprised at sight of Scarlet Runner, yet suddenly, taking|Which way we should take. There|Someone selzed his arms from behind | 5ol BVRRE NO00oh |came to Christopher's lips, but hc|anyone she loves, that one also—ought a quick curve, the car all but dashed|are twenty or thirty tracks in the|and snatched his revolver as he dis- | %" 4 A pressed it back. to go on somewhere else."” into the leader of three horses draw-| mud, made by just such market-carts|charged it inadvertently in the air, If they have injured her, they shall “Yes,” Michael admitted. “Much “There is one she loves. You have ing a market-cart. Instantly Christopher put on the rein. 1t was admirably done, not the act of a world-weary invalid, but of aler! youth, quick to think and do, because There was full of interest in life. Just time for admiration and some. the brake and stopped the motor, just in time to save disaster, but not in time to avold frightening the horses. The leader, whose pale gray color gleamed ghostlike fn the fierce light of the acetylene lamps, reared back upon its fellows, 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 could return with the motor, having found out the truth—or, at worst, hav- ing given an alarm at the nearest gen- in our theories. And we can't tell as this, going towards France or re- turning into 1taly. If there's any dif- ference between this and others, it's too dark for us to tell. How can we be sure which one of many small branch roads between here and Ben- timiglio is the road we ought to fol- low?" “Have you no plan, then?" asked the marchese impatiently. “We must do something.” “I've a thought—not a plan. Did you notice anything peculiar about the leader?" “Only that he's an unusually good t| horse to draw a market-cart. He's got blood in him.” “That's what 1 meant. - a8 mysterious as He's almost everything else hing of surprise to flash through|about the cart, more like a riding Christopher's mind as he also jumped | horse than a cart horse—somebody's down and ran to help his friend with | favorite- Well, he'll lead the others ~the horses. _ Between the two they had the ani mals _un«r control after a few wild|body is waiting for him. —and the cart—back to where he - |eame from——back to where that some- 1f we want 1 cry, waving a revolver. .But he could| not fire, for three tall men had torn| Christopher Race out of the cart and| one he would save. Then, suddenly, and at the same moment a woman's voice shreiked in Italian: “An auto- mobile—&n automobile!" Other voices, all voices of men, par- leyed passionately together in that strange language of which Baria could understand no more than Christopher. | It might, perhaps, be German, thought | Baria, who knew only English and Italian, with enough French to read and travel, and the poorest smattering of German, remembered vaguely from his school days. Therefore, he called up some words of that tongue and strove to protest furiously, as he and Christopher were dragged towards the house, unarmed now and welj-nigh helpless, in the grasp of four or five strong men. No one ungderstood or would seem to understand and they were at the open door, surrounded and powerless, when some inner door opened, and for an instant a tall and magnificent “We should like to be with you in that,” said Baria. “But why, if it has nothing to do blood grows hot against those who, pay for it,” exclaimed another of the young men, in Ttalian. “They shall pay, sooner or later.” ‘Say to them that, with our motor, we might help them to pay sooner,” cut in Christopher. Baria said it. And the men's faces, | flercely set a few moments ago, soft- ened to a ffiendliness that was almost guileless. You are brave men. We are sorry that we threatened you,” he said to Baria. “Who is called Ravelli here, if you are of Russian parentage?” Baria in- quired. “We are known as the brothers Ra- velli, Our father marricd an Ttalian woman of that name when our mother died, soon after we came to_ Italy, and this place—now a-farm, tholigh it was once a chateau—was her property. My father took her name and became a old man, with long white hair falling ! ~ farmer. We bave followed in his \ \, W cally—not here, but in another coun- try,” answered Michael Ravelli. “It would be worth“a good deal of try?” “Russia” was the word which money must have been spent already in tracking her with the most skilled detectives at the disposal of her ene- mies, otherwise they would never have succeeded® as they have in spite of all our precautions.” “You think, then, that they would have preferred to let her live?” “l think they wished us for the time to believe her dead, a time long enough for them to go far away with her. But they would hope to gain much by questioning her, when they had her safely back again in that land where anything may be done in the name of the law.” “Then I don’t believe they will risk traveling by train,” said Christopher. “By motor for a short distance, per haps, but not far. You see, they would be anxious to get her out of Italy and France before you could do anything to,stop them. Knowing noth- ing of us and our car, they might cal- culate on & few hours before you “But if they are distinguished and powerful persons they could get the help of their consul and say you'd kid- even for an hour. She—and if there's done so much for us all tonight—you and your friend—that I'll tell you we are hiding her father. But where else could they go?" XA plan which has been growing in my mind is this. My friend and | could take them both, father and daughter, back to my palazzo in Ven- ice. 1 am well known there and my people have always had influence, at Milan and Padua, too, in case we were caught before reaching Venice. She might, if she would, and if her father would permit in such a case, pass as my fiancee. What Russian could touch either of the two, if the woman were known as the future bride of the Marchese Baria?" “The plan is good and you are good,” said Sergius Ravelll. “But it is right you should know who you are offering to protect. They are Prince Alexander Murgieneff and his daugh- ter, Alexa.” BAZAAR of the Churches Dec. 4-16 BEE Building *That noble man, the ‘militant Tol-