THE BEE: OMAHA, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1916.
13
Vitagraph Company
From the -Popular Novel of the same name
by C. N. and A. M. Williamson
MR. EARLE WILLIAMS as CHRISTOPHER RACE
LILIAN TUCKER as ELOISE DAUVRAY
Next Week Another Story and New Picture
Copyright, 1916, by the Star Comaanv. All Foreign Rights reserved.
CHAPTER IV.
THE HIDDEN PRIXCE.
Christopher Race stared at the in
vitation, and Btared again. If it had
onnip tn htm in his nalmv. duvs he
micht not have heen thus blankly
amazed; but .at beat who was Christo
pher Race that he should be bidden to
a reception at the Foreign office to
meet royalty?
Of course. Christopher said to him
self, he would not go, Before the day
of the reception he would be away in
the .country with Scarlet Runner,
trailing a fat and vulvar Australian
millionaire, with his fat and vulgar
millionairess about rural England.
Hut there was another letter in this
morning's mail and he suddenly
changed his mind. It covered no more
than a page, and was signed "Eloise
Dauvray." ,
That name had wrung (n his ears,
mysterious and sweet as the music of
belle floating over the sea from a city
of mirage, since the masked ball,
where he had been lucky enough to
serve the fair southerner's purpose.
Now his heart gave a leap as he read
the summons whtch' called hlrn fcack
into her life. .
Her letter had no conventional be
ginning: "Since I have .been a grown
woman," she said, I have known
oniy two real men, and you are one
of those two. I want you to meet the
other. Something great may come of
the meeting, and this time you would
be with me in an adventure of which
neither of us need be ashamed. As
for me, I am in it deeply, heart and
soul. If you will throw in your for
tune with mine, come tomorrow night
tn
me f oreign onice reception, tor
whi
vitt
which I will-see that you have an In
vitation. Yours gratefully for the
past, hopefully for the future
"ELOISE dauvray:
No question-now as to whether he
would go or not go! He wanted to
see Eloise Dauvray; Jie wanted to
know, why and how she needed him:
he wanted to be in that adventure,
whatever it might prove, because she
would be in it; and though it was a
drawback that he was not the only
Real Man on her horizon, he wanted
to find oiit what the other one was
like.
Christopher stepped out of his car
into a blaze of light and color, and In
doors the luscious perfume of flowers,
mingled with the thought that he was
about to see Eloise Dauvray, went to
his head like some-rich Spanish wine.
"Mr. Race," murmured a voice that
no man who had heard It once could
forget; and, turning, he was face to
face with Eloise Dauvray an astonishingly-changed
Eloise Dauvray.
She had been beautiful before, but
she was doubly beautiful now, with
the radiant morning beauty of a girl
of eighteen. The, eyesf once clouded
with -mystery or tragedy, had been
turned into stars by some new happi
ness; and for a giddy second Christo
pher asked himself if it could be his
presence that
But tha thought broke before It fin
ished ; for. he saw. the Other Man, and,
seeing him, knew the secret of the
change in Eloise Dauvray. This man
was no jommon man, and suddenly
it was asi If Christopher saw his tall
figure framed In such another niche,
glowing with strange jewels, unloue
ousy in? Christopher's soul it must
have been burnt up like chaSf in the
brave fife of the' Other Man's eyes,
as they welcomed him. -.
"Mr. Ttaee," said Eloise Dauvray
again, "I wanted you to come and
meet Prince Mirko of Dalvania. I
have told him about you."
"I am here with my grandmother,"
said Miss Dauvray. "You have not
met her but she is arv old friend of
the foreign secretary's wife. Prince
Mirko and you and I must talk to
gether.' V
They found a quiet corner,' out of
the way of the crowd. "Now I am
going to-; tell you a secret," the girl
went on;,- "You see how I trust you
how weboth trust you? For it's a
secret that, if known, might spoil a
plan whtoae success means everything
to the prince everything, ' therefore,
to me."
"Whatever vou ask I will do," said
Christopher roshly. . He was in the
mood Xn be rash; not only for Miss
Dauvray's sake, but now for the sake
of the prince as well. There was
something of that extraordinary mag
nstlsm about the young man which
the house of Stuart had and made use
of in enlisting followers.
"You had better wait and hear
first," Itfirko warned him. But at
this moment arrived an anxious look
jng gentleman, whose face cleared at
sight of the group of three. Bowing
courteously to Miss Douvray, at
whom he glanced quickly with Veiled
curiosity he announced in indifferent
French that he had been searching
everywhere for His Royal Highness in
the hope" of introducing him by spe
cial request to a very great per
sonage. "-.
Such aren,uest was a command, and
Eloise smiled permission to go.
"That- is the Datvanlan ambassa
dor," he murmured, as the tall,
youthful figure and the short, middle
aged one moved away together.
"He looks clever," said Christopher.
"He is clever." replied Eloise, "and
-we bftHeve he is on our side. Not
fr rt-.-r T don't mean that. I hope
and pray he knows nothing, and may
yv.vjtf nothing until too late to inter
fere. I mean something of more im
portance, to Dalvania than a love af
fair. Perhaps, after all, it's Just as
well that I can tell you what I have
to tell yu alone. First, I thank you
for coming, and isn't he glorious?"
"Yes, said Christopher. "If I
were a -Soldier I should like to fight
tor him."
"How'strange you should say that!"
half whispered the girl. "It iB ex
actly what I want you to do. Will
you be ai 'soldier of fortune and fight
for us both? But no;' it isn't fair to
ask you :thal. until you know the
whole stol"y." -i, . ' - .
8o she told him the story, briefly
she could, keeping down her own
excitement, which would grow with
the tale. Christopher knew little or
nothing of Da I van i an affairs, except
that the people of that turbulent
country had risen some years ago
against their king and kilted him; that
the queen and her children had been
saved only by flight; that a distant
relative of the dead man a person
favored by Turkey had been raised
to the throne; and that the Datvanians,
who ought to have been elated at tehir
success, had been more or less dis
satisfied ever since. 1
Now, Prince Mirko's errand in the
most Important island of the world
was to enlist sympathy for his cause
among those who would lend him
their money or their help in organiz
ing a secret raid; and the adventure,
so Eloise Dauvray eagerly explained
to Christopher Race, was not so hope
less as it might seem.
The Dalvanlan ambassador, who
had Just called the prince away, had
been put In his place by Turkey, like
all other Dalvanian diplomats of King
Alexander's day; nevertheless, he had
private reasons for , being at heart
Mirko's friend. Damiello Rudovtcs
knew what was Mirko's mission in
England; knew that he was trying to
get together a hundred thousand
pounds to buy arms and feed a small
army; knew that he was inviting ad
venturous or rich young Englishmen
'to join him secretly at the Montene
grin frontier of Dalvania, for a certain
purpose; yet Rudovics was giving no
hint to Turkey, his real employer, of
the business afoot "And that Is not
because of any personal love for the
prince,", finished the woman who
loved the prince above all, "but be-1
cause he wants Mirko to marry his
wife s daughter. If Mirko would take
her, Turkey would let him gain his
throne with no more than a mere
theatrical struggle."
"I see," said Christopher, "The plot
thickens. ; -
"It grows very thick indeed,"
answered Eloise, "for Mirko won't
think of the Lady Valda will think
of no one but me. Yet he must keep
Rudovics men dsn ip for the present.
That's why our engagement has to be
secret; and our marriage must be
secret, too. Only my grandmother
knows ana you. At least, that s what
I hope. I daren't dwell upon the
things that might happen to Mirko if
anyone who wished either of us evil
should find out.
"Yes," said Christopher. "I under
stand, and I'd give anything even
Scarlet Runner to help"
"We want you both you and Scar
let; Runner."
"What If It' carried a prince the
rightful ruler of his country?" smiled
Christopher. .
"Some such though was in my
mind' aaid Eloise. "It would create
a proiouna sensation, reopio wouia
think him a god In the car."
"There ought also to be a goddess
in the car," remarked Christopher,
thoughtfully.
"She need not be lacking if she
had an invitation," said- Miss Dauvray.
"She has the Invitation now."
"Thank you! And you have an in
vitation to her wedding."
"When is it to be?" he asked, with
outward calmness.
"That Is the greatest secret of all.
It Is to be next week. I will let you
know the day, and should like you
to be there. So would Mirko. He
knows what you did for me. Already
you are to him more than other men,
for my sake. And if you would help
him if you would take us into Dal
vania "
"Not only will I do that, but I think,
if the prince still needs it, I can get
him money."
"He needs it desperately. But you
are not rich?"
"My Uncle James is."
"1 heard something of vour story
from but you can guess. I hate even
to speak his name, In these good and
happy days. Your uncle has disin
herited you."
"That s still on the knees of the
gods. It's partly a question of con
duct, partly the question of a girl.
I'm not sure he hasn't a sneaking
fondness for me. But there's on
thing he worships; a title."
. ' Eloise Dauvray's colour brightened.
"Prince Mirko would give him a
dukedom and the Order of the Red
Swan of Dalvania. Though it's a small
country; the Swan is famous as old
as Constantino the First, and has been
bestowed on few who were not kings
or princes. You may have noticed that
Mirko is wearing it tonight."
"I did notice and thought of my
Luncle. He would give ten years of
T his life for th Rwnn. nnd hundred
thuosand pounds for a dukedom, even
though Dalvanian or I don't know
him. You and Prince Mirko could In
duce him to do it, if you-would let me
take you both in Scarlet Runner to
Hyde Hampton, his place in Middle
sex, to pay an afternoon visit."
"We will go; I can promise for
Mirko," said Eloise.
He had not seen his relative for
months, nor had he communicated
with him since he had taken to earn
ing his own living with ScarMet Run
ner. Nevertheless, his long and elabo
rate wire the next day was promptly
answered by old James Revelstone
Race with a cordial invitation for any
day that suited His Royal Highness.
Old James Race was enchanted
with the prince, almost collapsing
with joy at Royalty's gracious praise
of his picturesque Jacobean house and
wonderful Dutch gardens. Such an
honour had never come his way be
fore; but, snob as the old man was at
heart, he genuinely admired Mirko,
and was fitd by the romance of the
young prince's situation. The confi
dence that Mirko reposed in him he
regarded as an overwhelming com
pliment, and hinted a suggestion of
help even before the quickly following
offer of the dukedom. That could not
be bestowed until Prince Mirko should
become King Mirko; but the Red
Swan of Dalvania, on fire with the
blaze of rubbles and small brilliants,
was transferred from Mirko's breast
to that of the dazzled old man.
On the way back to London, after
this triumphant visit, Eloise told
Christopher that the wedding would
take place on the following Saturday.
The banns of Theodore (one of
Mirko's, many names) Constantinus
and Eloise Dauvray had been read
three times in a quiet little church of
South Kensington a church where;
nobody would recognize either name; i
and all was now ready. Nor need I
rr? r -t rim
tew s .
"WHATEVER
there be further delay In starting for
Dalvania, since old Mr. Race's thou
sands added to those already sub
srlbed would put Uie prince In funds.
Unless Christopher heard to the
contrary, he was to call at the house
in Regent's Park at 12 o'clock on Sat
urday. His car was not to accompany
him, but he volunteered her services
and his to spin the bride and groom
as far as Southsea.
It was after 5 o'clock when he
Bome-what relucantly returned to
Chapel street; and nearly stumbled
against the lodging house maid-of-all-
work, carrying somebody b tea.
"Oh, sir, what a good thing you've
got.back!" she exclaimed. "The lady's
been wafting for you a good half hour.
Missus said I was to take her up this
to amuse her, as she was in such a
state at your not being at oma '
"A lady?" echoed Christopher.
Christopher put no more questions,
but ran up the two flights of stairsj
to the second floor, two steps at a
time.
As he opened the sitting room door
Eloise Dauvray sprang up. At last!"
she cried. "I've been praying for you
to come. You rS my one hope.
' "What has happened?" Christopher
asked abruptly.
"Mirko has disappeared,? Eloise
answered.
"Mr. Race, what do you thfnk has
become of him? Has Turkey got wind
of the plot for the raid, and has he
been murdered, like his rather.'
"Don't think of such a thing," said
Christopher. "They wouldn't go so
far as that at worst. A dozen things
may have happened none of them
tragic. He may have been motoring
with Wenden or some other friends,
and have got en panne miles from a
telegraph office.
"I thought of that; but he had no
plan of motoring today or he would
have told me. And I feel that some
thing is wrong desperately wrong."
"Shall I go to his house and find
out what I can from his .servants?"
asked Christopher.'
"Oh, if you would!" she sighed. "It
was one thing I wanted you to do."
"I'll start at once," he said. "I can
be back in half on hour."
He was back in less; but he had
very little that was satisfactory to
tell. He had asked for Prince Mirko,
alleging an engagement with him, only
to hear from the stately hall porter
that His Highness had walked out
alone about 9 o'clock In the morning
saying nothing of his intentions, and
had not come in since. Even his valet
had no idea where he had gone, nor
wnen he intended to return.
On hearing this, Christopher, know
ing that the-valet was move or less
in his royal master's confidence, asked
to speak with him. The man was
brought, and Christopher saw him
alone, behind doors, in a small ante
room off the hall. All the valet could
tell him, however, was that the prince
had appeared somewhat dlstrubed
when reading some leters which came
by the first post. One of these he
had placed under a paperweight, and
had put it In an inner pocket of his
coat immediately after dressing, which
he did more quickly and earlier than
usual. This-letter the valet believed to
be one which he had noticed because
it was addressed in Prince Peter's
hand, and post marked Paris. An
other letter His Royal Higness had
read carefully, two or three times
over; and then, ordering the fire al
ready laid in the grate to be lighted
had burned it, watching till the paper
and envelope were both entirely con
sumed,
Christopher declared that if he were
to help Eloise Dauvray, he could be
gin In no better way than by learning
wnat manner or man was the Dal
vanian Ambassador to the Court of
St. James.
He had no friends in the diplomatic
service . living In England, for Max
LInd was far away, but old Major
Norburn, an ancient crony of James
Race, had a nephew who was a clerk
in the foreign office. Christopher went
at once to the club where his uncle's
friend spent his afternoons; and by
a stroke of luck the budding diplo
matist had called to keep an appoint
ment with his relative. The two were
oh the eve of starting out, but had
a fftw moments to spare, and young
Norburn was boyish enough to be flat
tered by Christopher's questions,
wheih implied inside knowledge on
his pari. He perhaps did not know all
he affected to know; but he described
Rudovics as inordinately vain, end
lessly ambitious, subtle and proud oi
his subtlety, not bad at heart though
sufficiently unscrupulous. "His pait
is a bit above his capacity," said the
young man from the foreign office,
"and he'd have had.no chance of it
except through his wife. His marriage
was brought about to serve the con
venience of the powers that be in
Turkey; but the woman who's half
Irish has been- a beauty in her day.
and all poor old Rudovics' honours
have been given him for her sake.
Those who are ln the .know' say he
despises King Alexander,- and if he
weren't afraid of his Turkish master
YOU ASK, I WILL DO," SAID CHRISTOPHER, RASHLY.
would be in the thick of all the plot
tings. Of course, If that romantic
looking chap, Mirko, would take a
fancy to the stepdaughter, who is na
turally a favoured protegee of Tur
key, things might get uncomfortable
for Alexander In Dalvania.",
"What sort of girl Is she?" asked
Christopher.
"They say beautiful, and quite a
woman, though only seventeen. The
mother's Catholic, and follows Euro
pean customs when In Europe; the
girl, Valda, has been brought up in a
Paris convent. Lately they've had her
in London, no doubt, for Mirko's In
spection; but nobody seems to know
whether the affair marches or not."
Christopher would glady have
learned more, but the source of in
formation was pumped dry, and he
apologized for having kept the two
Norburns so long from their engage
ment. "Rudovics is surely In this," Chris
topher said to himself; and suddenly
an Idea of what he would do in Rudo
vics' place sprang Into the young
man's mind. If Rudovics had done
that well tt would make things dif
ficult. ' But perhaps, after all, by
this time Mirko had some home, with
a simple explanation to the mystery.
Before seeing Eloise again he decided
to call for the second time at Lord
Dendon's house to make Inquiries.
"Has His Royal Highness Prince
Mirko come back?" he asked of the
hall porter.
"No, sir; but His Royal Highness
Prince Peter has arrived from Paris,
was the answer.
Christopher thought for a moment
and then scrlbbed a- few lines on a
card for Prince Peter, whom he had
never seen. Presently he was invited
to enter ithe library, where he had
once been received by Mirko, and
there stood the younger brother, a
surprising likeness of the elder.
Such a face as Peter's could be
trusted for loyalty, if not for pru
dence, and Eloise had said that the
boy knew of the engagement. Now
Christopher, claiming friendship with
Mirko and Miss Dauvray, spoke with
partial frankness of his suspicions.
"I believe," he said, "that somehow
the Dalvanian ambassador has got
wind of the prince's engagement, and
has tricked him, by means 'of a letter
which your brother received this
morning, into calling at the embassy.
There he'll keep him, If my Idea Is
right, until after the appointed wed
ding day, perhaps indefinitely, to
separate him from Miss Dauvray, and
if possible to bring about a' marriage
with his stepdaughter.
"Great heavens, sir!" The day that
by brother marries Valda will be the
day of my death," exclaimed Peter.
I love her she loves me. But Mirko
doesn't know. He might take her
without dreaming- that he wronged
me; and Valda is so young that she
would not dare thwart her stepfather.
I have been With Mirko often at the
embassy and the first moment I saw
Valda I loved her as It was with my
brother and Miss Dauvray. 1 knew
I had nothing to fear from his rivalry,
so I kept my secret, though I knew
his; for there seemed no hope of mar
riage for me until my brother's rise
in fortune should give me something
to offer and I feared he would dis
approve, as we are both so young.
Mirko sent me to Paris some days
ago with a letter to a friend of his
who Is enlisting recruits, and raising
money. But yesterday came a tele-
gram from Valda, forwarded to me
from his house (I don t know who
could have helped her, unless her
maid) begging me to come back, as
she foresaw trouble. I wrote my
brother I must return, wound up his
affalra as well as I could, and here
I am, only to find that trouble hart
come Indeed. What shall I do? Shall
1 demund Mirko at the embuaay?"
"Certainly not," said Christopher.
"But I'll tell you what you might do
elope with Mile. Valda. That would
be a valuable move. If her maid
helps her to send off secret telegrams,
she will help smuggle you into the
house. Do you know her name?"
"Anastasia," replied Peter.
"Disguise yourself as a man of 'her
own class, and ask for her at the
servant's door. If you can get Mile.
Valda out of the embassy before the
day fixed for Prince Mirko's wedding
with Miss Dauvray your brothers
nappiness as well as your own will he
assured. Take the young lady to
Scotland with her maid for chaperon,
and marry her quickly; afterwards
you can do things again in proper
form. If her stepfather or her mother
knowa nothing of your love, neither of
you will be watched or suspected ;
you ought not to have great difficul
ties; and I'll lend you my motor car
for the elopement."
"What! The Scarlet Runner, of
which my brother wrote? Bin that
will bring me luck."
"I hope so, for everyone concerned,"
said Christopher. "I can't take you
myself, for I shall have business in
London; but I'll get you a good
chauffeur."
"Your business will be to release
my brother?" Prince Peter guessed.
"That's easier said than done,"
Christopher answered gravely. "If he's
In the embassy. Its his own em hussy,
you see; there's no other power to
appeal to. Turkey would defend Rudo
vIcb' action, If he declared that It was
the only way to save , a royal prince
from a marriage with an untitled, de
signing woman. Rudovics has nothing
to fear in any case. And if we can
learn that Prince Mirko is his pris
oner, evert If we can release him, still,
goodbye to his happiness."
"What do you mean?" exclaimed
Peter, horrified.
"Something would certainly happen
to Miss Dauvray. Their engagement
known, those two would never be al
lowed to come together again. In
some way -who knows how? they
would be separated forever. To res
cue your brother from the embassy
taking It for granted he's there
means the breaking of his engage
ment" "Then, the breaking of his heart
Have you no plan to save ham?" '
"I have a plan," said Christopher,
"Dut it s a queer one."
"Can I help?" asked Peter.
"By seeing Anastasia, finding ou the
gossip of the servants' hall, If any,
concerning your brother, and running
off with , Rudovics' stepdaughter as
quickly as you can."
When Prince Peter of Dalvania and
Christopher Race had sketched out
something which faintly resembled a
plan, and had made arrangements
concerning Scarlet Runner, Christo
pher kept his promise by going to
Regent's Park and telling Eloise all
that was In his mind.
"You are right," she said, when she
had heard him to the end. "That let
ter the valot told you Mirko burnt
must have been from Rudovics. No
doubt he asked to have It d stroyed,
so that Mirko could not be traced.
He would have spoken of important
news from Dalvania, and hinted at
mysterious reasons why Mirko should
let no one know he had been hidden
tn such haste to the embassy. While
they have him there I may be safe
enough; but once he escapes, and they
know it, I will tell you what they
could do. They would have such hor
rible things published about me in the
Dalvanian papers that, for Mirko's
own sake, 1 could never consent to he
his wife. The things need not all be
true, but they would be believed; and
even if Mirko would give his people a
queen they could not respect, I would
not let him do It. Fitzgerald alon,
might try something of the sort, but
I don't believe that unassisted he'd
have Influence to get such Muff pub
lished; and if only I could appear first
in Dalvania as Mirko's bride, the peo
ple would love me and be loyal."
"I've thought of all that," said
Christopher. "It's exactly whut Rudo
vics and Fitzgerald would do; if they
did nothing worse. But once married
to vou, and the little Valda in Scot
land with Peter, Rudovics' hands
would be tied. It would do him more
harm than good to hurt you then."
"Ah, yes; if once we were married!"
sighed Eloise.
Please be ready at the time already
fixed for the wedding," said Chris
topher, quietly. "And have everybody
else concerned ift the ceremony ready,
too."
"What are you planning?" cried
Eloise, the rose of hope blushing in
her cheek.
"I can't tell you yet," he answered.
"A good deal depends on Prince Pe
ter and Scarlet Runner, and a good
deal on my uncle and a house-agent.
I'll write you what I'm doing and
what you must do the moment 1 have
anything definite to 8ay.
iOlolse was bewildered, but she was
a woman of tact, and knew when it
wus wiKei to be silent.
Half ail hour later Christopher dln
nerless, but too excited for hunger
was racing towards Hyde Hampton
with Scarlet Kunner. Ten minutes
at his uncle's was enough, for old
James Usee was henrt and soul for
Princ-e Mirko and Eloise now. Chris
topher flew back Londonward with
a signed check in his pocket; and,
calling at Lord Wendon's in the car
found Prince Peter Jubilant, Just back
from the Dalvanian embassy. He haxl
gone there In his valet's clothes and
Insisted on seeing Anastasia, whose
cousin he pretended to be, The maid
had permission from Mme. Itudovlcs
to go out on Friday evening; Valda
would pretend some slight indisposi
tion, keep her room all day, and leave
the house, well veiled, In Anostosla's
hat and cloak. Afterwards the woman
would do her best to follow unob
served, and a rendezvous would be
made somewhere in the neighborhood
after dark, with Scarlet Kunner in
waiting. Then It was not likely that
Valda's absence would be discovered
till morning, and by that time she and
her lover would be far on their way
to Scotland.
As for Mirko's presence in the house
Anastasia had been able to say nothing
definitely, but she did know that since
morning one of the rooms had been
closed, on the plea that part of the
ceiling had fnllen, and no one was
to go in until Workmen should have
mine to repair the damaKO. On hear
ing this lolcr ha J bton thoughtful
ennr.,,h to iuiiuiiv tlu- ininhion of the
locked room, ': U-ui learned it was
at the I'.neK '' tti" houao on the sec
ond Hour, fin-.", tn t Ho right of the
corridor wild ! rut down the middle
of ihn tlivv; iiojuv stories.
"ir ed;" exclaimed Christopher. "I
thouM they'll put hl.n there, for
knuL ktn;; en the v;' would uo no
i;ood If lu tried ii. There' ;.n empty
house on the ri;ht, you Um w. The
unc i. n t!u left's occupicu. I can
iiniu,ino old Kudovies inviting the
prime Into the room, as IT for a secret
meetinr with hi. me ein:: m: v frem Dal
.uiia, then quirky tnvnl:' the key.
eiather wmu- t idea thru al-i ut the
fallen ceiHm;. And an the ro m's at
the biielt, ;.n1 the eid-f'jshioned wood
tn i'.r.uie.-n ( whii h all the houses in
Ou'M'w ..r.i ''s tWrt'.; h ive) are prob
ably ir.-i'c'j f.:t, yr.ur poor brother's
;m m.o-h a in'.M ncr ;:s If he were at
Portland."
N.t morning at 10 o'clock Chrfs
K.pher Rm c wis at the dnt.r of Messrs.
f.-i nard tit Steele, p-slrtto and house
Hfventn. at the moment when It opened
for huHtnoHS. He informed the man
ager that he had been empowered by
Mr. James Race of Hyde Hampton
to take No. 36 Queen Anne's Hardens
for three years Uhe shortest term
permissible), if Immediate possession
could be given.
The agent thought there would be
little dltllculty about this, and became
certain qf it when there was no at
tempt at cutting down the high rent
asked for the old house, unlet for sev
eral years. A telephone message was
sent to the owner, papers were signed,
a check in advance for a quarter's rent
was paid; and presently Christopher
found himself tn possession or tne Keys
of 36 Queen Anne's Gardens, the house
adjoining the Dalvanian embassy on
the right-hand side.
About 10 o'clock that night, having
given all necessary instructions con
cerning Scarlet Runner to the chauf
feur he trusted, Christopher unlocked
the front door of his uncle's newly
acquired town house and walked in.
He had with him, in a golfer's bag, a
pick-ax, one or two other handy tools
and an electric lantern. To begin
work, he choose the back room on the
second floor, which, according to his
calculations, was separated from
Prince Mirko's prison only by the
house wall. With a small hammer he
tapped lightly once, twice, without re
ceiving an answer. Then he was re
joiced by a responsive rapping on the
other side. At first the knocks seemed
to him desultory and Irregular, but In
a moment he realized that words were
belg formed by taps and spaces, long
and short, according to the Morse code
of telegraphy. t
Long ago Christopher had learned It
at Eton, when Ihe and another boy
had sought means of Secret commu
nication. Evidently the occupant of
the room beyond the Walt had learned
it, too. . ' .
In ten minutes the two men, thus
divided by bricks and mortar, were
able to come to an understanding.
Christopher was assured that he was
talking with the prince. Mirko was
informed that he was talking with
Christopher Race. Also Christopher
was able roughly to communicate his
plan to the prisoner, and learned to his
delight that there was a good pros
pect of success. Mirko Indicated the
position of a large wardrobe which
stood In his room against the dividing
wall, and suggested that Christopher's
boring operations shouLd be conducted
behind it. When the bricks should
be loosened Mirko would pull nut the
wardrobe and be ready to push It
back into place in case of danger.
All night long Christopher worked,
refreshed with bread and wine from
his bag; and by early dawn he had
dug a hole through which he could
speak to the prince. Until this mo
ment he had outlined his plan out
vaguely; and what Mirko heard now
amazed him.
While London slept, and the rid
houses In QUeen Anne's Gardens kept
their wooden eyelids closed, four uer-
Bons, who had stepped out of a closed
carriage round the corner, walked
quietly to the door of No. 86. There
were three men and one woman, and,
having pushed the long-unused elec
Michael
5TI
f-4
p :j 'A ?('3 1 ;
His opponent has held the office for five years,
and a great many are of the opinion that a change
would be beneficial and that the office should be
passed around.
IF ELECTED ' '
Michael L. Clark
WILL BE ALWAYS ON THE JOB
A Vote for Him is a Vote for Efficiency
1
tric bell, they were almost immediately
admitted into the dark, unfurnished
house.
"Is all well so far?" asked Eloise
Dauvray, whispering, in the dim corridor.
All is well so far," answered
Christopher Race.
It was not until after 10 o'clock
in the morning that the absence of
little Lady Valda and her maio was
discovered by Mme. Rudovics, for she
:'s a late -riser by habit, and the girl
had posed as an invalid the day be
fore. Under Valda's pillow a note
had been slipped. "I have gone away
to marry Prince Peter of Dalvania.
We love each other." And that news
had sent the ambassador in haste to
the door of the closed room, where no
work had ift been begun upon the
"fallen ceiling,"
He unlocked the door, and knocked
by way of courtesy, two men tall
Dulvanians both, in his own private
service standing on guard as usual
lest the prisoner should attempt an
escape. Each time since Mirko's cap
ture Rudovics had himself brought
the prince's meals In this fashion,
twice within twelve hours, bearing
also a hundred apologies for his
"necessary but regrettable harshness."
Not once before had the Indignant
Mirko answered the knock, but now
his voice responded with a. cheerful
"Come in."
"Congratulate me," he continued, as
Rudovics fell back upon the threshold,,
aghast at what he saw, "And let me
introduce you to my dear wife, the
Princess Eloise. We thought a wed
ding at the embassy an excellent plan,
and have been married for an hour.'
A thousand thoughts raced each
other through the ambassador's head
as he stood staring first at the pale,
smiling girl, the two priests, the regis
trar and the hole in tne wait oy wmcn
Ley and Christophor had entered. He
thought of his daughter, and was
forced to hope in the circumstances
that she was the younger brother's
wife by this time. He thought of his
own chances of advancement tn Dal
vania under a new king. He thought
of Turkey's probable attitude towards
a struggle In which Valda's husband
would be engaged as well as his
brother; and he thought of nine hun
dred and ninety-seven other things, all
In the space of one long moment
Then he bowed and said slowly: -"Graciously
allow your host to be the
first who offers your royal highness
and his bride all possible good wishes."
Allies' Aeroplanes Kill
Many Belgian Civilians;
(CnrrMpondimca of The AMOclatd Prem.) ,
Berlin, Sept. 23. French and Bel
gian civilians killed behind the west
ern front in August by artillery or
aeroplanes of the allies total seventy
five killed, including thirty-one men,
twenty-seven women and seventeen
children. There were; also 181
wounded. For the entire year,, ended
August 31, the number of killed
reached 1,963.
THE "COME-BACK"
. '.'.
Tha "Com.-b.ck" nan wu rallr nvr
down-and-out. HI. wwkanid oondltlon be
am., of ' overwork, Lelc ot exerclie. Im
proper eatlnf and llvlna. demande etfmala
tion to lattifr tha err (or a health-a-tvlng
appetite and the rofre.hlnt ileep essential to
strength. GOLD MEDAL Haarlem Oil Cap
sules, the National Remedy of Holland, will
do the work. Th.r are wond.rtull Three o(
these capsules each dar will put a man on
hla feet before ha knows it; whither his
trouble eomes from urlo aeld poisoning, the
kldneya, (ravel or stone In the bladder, etom
ach derangement or other atlmenta that be
fall the over-sealous Amsrloan. Don't .wait
until yon are entirely down-and-out, but
take them today. Your drugglat will gladly
refund your money If they do not help you.
tie, toe and 11.00 per box. Aoeept ko sub
stitutes. Look for the name GOLD MEDAL
on every box. They are the pure, original,
imported Haarlem Oil Capsules.
Bee Want Ads Produce Results.
L. Clark
Republican
Nominee v
for
Sheriff
of
Douglas County
Promises
the people that if he is
elected he will devote
his entire time to the
duties of the office
and will have no
other interests to pre
vent him giving his
best endeavors to
serving the people.