UN
THE BEE: OMAHA, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1916.
Vitagraph Company
From the Popular Novel of the same name
by C. N. and A. M. Williamson '
SUrs of Thil Episode
MR. EARLE WILLIAMS as CHRISTOPHER RACE
MISS BETTY HOWE as MRS. HORTENSE
Next Week Another Story and New Picture
Copyright, by the Star Company. All Foreign Bights rtasmd,
VI the mysterious motor
CAB, .
. Ths title til coming In, and the
five-mile stretch of beach was hard
and glistening;. Christopher could
hardly have chosen a better place for
apeed trial to test the success of a
new Invention, nor a better time than
the earliest hint of dawn. There had
been a storm yesterday and the green
rollers boomed upon the sand aa they
curled over and flung their white
foam towards the wheels of Bcarlet
Runner; but with the birth of day
the. wind had died. The car purred
rhythmically, and Christopher
hummed happily as he drove.
He was excited, for an exprelment
which had absorbed two weeks of his
time and many coins of his hard
earned money was proving a success.
He had felt certain that not only need
he not fear police traps if he exceeded
the legal limit In driving (and had
he not made the journey expressly to
exceed the legal limit?), but that
there would not be a single soul to
see and report Bcarlet Runner's law
breaking feats. Tet here, at half past
4 In the morning, on this desolate
beach, he was on the point of coming
plump upon half a dozen men, who
might almost have been waiting to
catch him.
For once his imagination failed.
For a moment he saw nothing sug
gestive In the grouping of half a dos
en eager men around some object,
half engulfed In water, .which they
were striving to drag out But, in
fact, Christopher had some excuse
for his temporary self absorption.
His latest client had finished a wed
ding trip en automobile, whereupon
Race had returned to London and
been thrown into the society of a fel
low enthusiast for motors-r- young
engineer who had designed a new In
vention. It was a very clever Invention,
for at a stroke It revolutionised all
existing systems of transmission anil
did away with gear ,iflx.-pinions ana
clutch. The engine worked a pump,
. whose business was to compress oil
and force It under high pressure to
two turbines on the back axle. These
turbines turned the wheels, "and there
you are," as the inventor explained,
exulting over his model. The system
was capable of infinite gradations of
speed by guiding this stream of oil
toward the center or toward the per
iphery of the turbines. Owing to the
henefielent nature of the transmitting
force the mechanism was smooth and
silent as the motor of a dream, and
a great proportion of the engine
power. was able td act directly on the
wheels.
Bcarlet Runner, thus regenerated;
had come out of a London workshop
only two days ago, her owner proud
that she should be the first car In
England to inaugurate a new era In
automoblltam. Such tests as could be
had been made In London streets and
had been triumphant, and now here
was Christopher with his scarlet darl
ing, heart and engine both beating In
the hope of a long, satisfactory trial,
with the sea and the rising sun as sole
witnesses. "
Within thirty vards of the group In
the water Race slackened speed and
would have turned, sacrificing the
last mile of the five, had not one of
the men seen him and begun to shout
and beckon. - At the same moment
several others broke away from the
group to hurry across the sand toward
the approaching motor, and Christo
pher saw, to .his extreme surprise,
that the thing they had surrounded
was a half submerged automobile.
In a second all desire to depart was
burnt up by a fire of curiosity. In
stead of retreating he drove nearer:
so near that, faint as was still the
light, he could see the make and color
of the drowning car.
Here was a mystery which made a
special appeal to the heart of a mo
torist i
"Halloa! What's happened here?"
exclaimed Christopher to the man who
met Scarlet Runner. 'This looks a
queer business."
"That It does, sir," answered a
brown old fisherman. "And as to
what happened we don t know no
more than you, or the babe unborn
for the matter of that But some
thing's happened, and, as you say,
something queer."
"Perhaps the gentleman himself can
give us Information," remarked a
young fellow; also a fisherman.
"We have sent for the police from
Tllton-on-Sea, air," said the elder man.
"My boy and I were the first to catch
sight of this 'ere, and we got together
some mates to help drag her out of
the water before the tide gets up.
But she's stood where she Is so long
her wheels have sunk into the sand
and we can't move her."
"I'll help with that work If some
of you will hitch a rope around her
front axle, Christopher volunteered.
"My car can tow her. But here
comes a policeman now."
A blue clad man, hastily dressed at
a summons, was approaching, guided
by a boy. He stared gravely at the
automobile, murmured that it looked
like murder or suicide, and began
scribbling notes in a book produced
from his pocket, while the derelict
was being rescued. A young fisher
man volunteered to get a rope around
the car, and soon succeeded, though
It was a battle with the waves. The
rope was fixed to Bcarlet Runner, the
fisherman hauled on it and Race,
driving his motor up the beach, the
drowned automobile crawled, drip
lng, out of the sea. '
Christopher made a careful exami
nation of the derelict and announced
with certainty that it was a Hansard,
of a date about 4 years old, but elab
orately altered and modernised. He
peered into the gear box, saw that
the pinions were clean and new, and
said that the motor had apparently
not run many miles since being .re
paired. Another point to which he
drew attention of the constable was
that the number of the motor had
been carefully chiselled off. and that
the number plate of the car Itself
was- missing. This showed that its
abandonment had been an act of de
liberation, and the plate must have
been lately removed, as an automo
bile lacking such a mark could hardly
have passed through the streets of
the smallest village without attract
ing attention.
Christopher had made a night run,
as Bcarlet Runner was now fitted
with a fine searchlight which could
turn darkness Into day, therefore, he
had no abiding place in the neighbor
hood. Nevertheless, he had the curi
osity to remain for an hour or two
at Tilton-on-8ea after towing the
Hansard there, in the hope of some
elucidation of -the mystery. But no
unknown motorist had stayed at the
hotel there or at any other nearby
to which Inquiries were sent No such
car as the rescued Hansard had been
noticed by anyone, and at lost little
wiser than when he had first seen the
squat shape rising from a welter of
surf, Rocs drove off to London.
Leaving Bcarlet Runner In her ga
rage, he went to his club and picked
up the last edition or. nis lavorue pa
per. His eyes ran down column after
column of the pages on which such
news might be displayed, and finally
caught at a paragraph headed, "Mys
tery of a Motor Car."
"Here we are!" Christopher mut
tered, beginning to read with Interest
But to his disappointment the para
graph had nothing to do with the af
fair at Tilton-on-Sea.
"Yesterday morning," he rend, "an
empty motor car was discovered on
the Oxford-road. A party of liborers
going to work saw a new looking, blue
painted car of moderate else standing
by the roadside, with no one in it.
They lingered for some time, expect
ing the owner to arrive, but when no
one came they ransacked the wpods
In the neighborhood, suspecting iaui
play. The search proving vain, how
ever, the laborers gave Information
to the police of Aeedleham, the near
est town, and a horse was sent out to
tow the automobile to the police sta
tion. There It was recognised during
the morning as the property or a gen
tleman who had arrived at an hotel
the evening before, unaccompanied
by a chauffeur. This gentleman had
already left town, but as he had gone
by rail he was traced to Oxford, about
ten miles distant interviewed tnere
on' the subject of the lost car he
changed color, and appeared at first
somewhat agitated at learning where
It had been found. But he expressed
himself delighted to hear of Its re
covery, offered a reward to the men
who had given the Information and
returned by the next train to Needle-
ham, where he once more took charge
of his property. The gentleman's
name as it appeared in the visitors'
book of the Bell and Bush hotel of
Needleham was John Smith, London
He refused to lodge a complaint
against any person for the. theft of
his motor, though he aid not deny in
so many words that hs knew who had
taken it
It was while Christopher was read
lng the column under a somewhat
sensational heading, which the Dally
Reoorder gave to the mystery of Tll
ton-on-Sea, that the maid who
brought his breakfast brought witn
it a visiting card. Tha name was an
unfamiliar one. but the moglo words.
"Dally Recorder," were printed be
neath, aa a kind of "Open sesame" to
closed doors.
"Tell the gentleman to come up,"
said he to the little servant who had
brought him so many queer messages
and visitors of late.
In another moment a spruce look
ing young man appeared not an or
dinary reporter, it seemed, but a rep
resentative deputed to ask Mr. Race's
help In solving the mystery of the
blue motor car. The matter was to
be "taken up" by the Journal and a
reward was to be offered for infor
mation. - Mr. Race's name had been
popular with the public since he was
Instrumental in placing the young
King and Queen of Dalvanla on their
disputed throne. Besides, he was
known In the motor world, and alto
gether, If he would lend himself to
the scheme, It would be considered an
advantage to the paper.
Christopher reflected and soon
reached a practical conclusion. He
had no engagement for Bcarlet Run
ner, having been obliged to sacrifice
one or two on the altar of the new
.Improvements.
He agreed to the proposal, and
promised to begin Investigations at
once, the Dally Reoorder giving him
carte blanche as to his proceedings,
and asking only for a telegraphlo re
port of progress each evening in time
to go to press with his news or lack
of newa -
The first thing that Christopher did
was to proceed In Bcarlet Runner to
Needleham, a pretty little town which
had Just outgrown villagehood. At the
best hotel he obtained a description
of Mr. John Smith, of London, and
was favored by a glimpse of a signa
ture In the visitors' book. Mr. Smith
was apparently a gentleman, well
dressed, so far as the landlord and
the servants of the Inn had noticed.
He was tall, rather fair, but sun
burned, and wore a beard cut like
that of a naval officer; Indeed, now
one came to recall him, he had some
what the air of a sailor. He might
have been anywhere between the age
of 10 and ii. No further informa
tion concerning Mr. Smith could be
obtained. '
So far Christopher had not accom
plished much, and his pride was at
stake. He determined to tsavel from
Needleham to Tllton-on-Sea by short
stages, making researches here and
there. Starting at the time he calcu
lated Mr. Bmith must have started,
he paused to put questions at towns
where a motorist might have stopped
for repairs and to buy oil and petrol.
He could learn nothing of the blue
motor or its driver, however, until at
about o'clock In the evening he
reached Helmsford.
Between Helmsford and Tilton-on-Sea
Christopher could learn nothing.
The Journey had been made by the
blue car after dark, and nobody could
be found -who had seen It, even
though Christopher refrained from
continuing his own Journey till day
light for fear of missing the trail.
At last he arrived once more at Tllton-on-Sea,
three days after leaving
it The Hansard was still In charge
of the police at the little seaside town,
which was now stirred to Its depths by
the sensational surmises of the Lon
don press. Christopher went to pay
the car a visit and in looking over It
carefully lest some detail might have
escaped his attention, an Idea sud
denly occurred to him.
As he had stated at first carelessly,
the automobile had been newly
painted. Now he asked himself if
the change of paint were not In It
self an attempt at a disguise calcu
lated to entangle the meshes of mys
tery in a way still more complicated.
He scraped off a bit of the bright
ly varnished paint on the back of the
seat and brought to light a patch of
color red saa. blood.
No other tint could have been
more conspicuous than this crimson
which had been lately covered with
blue. It was of a shade even more
noticeable than that of Scarlet Run
ner, and this discovery gave Christo
pher food for thought A man might
have his car repainted for reasons
other than because it had become
shabby.
Christopher remained all day at
Tllton-on-Sea, having gathered no ex
citing new material for his evening
telegram to the paper; but as the soft
opal twilight of September fell he
went out once more on the sands for
a spin with Scarlet Runner. He had
little hope of making" any discovery,
but his work during the day had been
nervous work, and at -worst a run
over the old ground to the scene of
the 'mystery could do no harm.
This way must the blue motor car
have come, since a great arch of
rock closed In the beach at the end
of the splendid five-mile stretch.
Other rocks there were, too, strangely
formed, grotesque, striding out across
"OH, YOU DARLING BOY: IF YOU
the sand here and there, though leav
ing room for a roadway on the safe
side of the highest tides; and this eve
ning as Christopher drove Scarlet
Runner smoothly, thoughtfully along
the level sands, tha sun's last rays
reddened a great block of stone called
the Turk's Head.
The rock had, .Indeed, a vague re
semblance to the head of a giant
wrapped in a turban, neck .and shoul
ders rising above the beach. The
enormous face appeared to be ever
staring out to sea, the half-shaped
eyes wide open, the great slit which
was the mouth parted tn, a grin as
fierce aa It was grotesque, when seen
by a person of Imaginative mind.
Christopher had always been fascin
ated by these rocks, the Turk's Head
especially, but to his mind it bore a
likeness to the Sphinx.
"Qh, Sphinx, would that you'd tell
me the secret of this beach!" he said,
aa he slowed down within sight of the
gigantic bust Then, looking up, it
seemed to him that the shape of the
mouth had changed. It looked less
wide than usual.
"There's something Inside it" he
exclaimed, half aloud, and stojpped
Bcarlet Runner.
He silenced the motor, Jumped out
of the car, and glad for the moment
that he had this part of the beach to
himself, though he could see figures
afar off rbegan to climb up the Turk's
shoulder. There was handhold on the
rough, protruding chin, then kneehold:
then handhold above, on the huge fat
cheek; which reached gave good foot
hold on the chin. Hanging on by a
spike of rock which might have been
a mole on the giant Turk's face, Chris
topher peered into the mouth.
He had not been mistaken. Within
was a dark bundle, pushed far back
and while Christopher supported him
self by one hand with the other .he
reached Into the aperture and drag
ged out the parcel. Then he could
have exclaimed In triumph, for his
treasure-trove was a motoring coat
of the most approved fashion wrapped
around a cap a combination between
the cap of a motorist and a yachts
man's. , .
So forcibly had the coat been Jam
med Into Its place that in pulling It
out the cloth caught a projection of
rock and tore. The cap rolled to the
front bounded out of the hole and fell
on the sand twenty feet below.
Christopher's account of his discov
ery In the Turk's mouth, on the sands
near Tlltonron-Bea was made the most
of In the Dally Recorder's columns,
and he was complimented by the edi
tor. Nevertheless days passed with
out his helng able to follow his first
sensational coup with another. The
man who had hidden the coat and
cap and driven the blue Hansard Into
the sea might himself have vanished
under the waves, so far as any trace
of him could be found either by the
police or their amateur rival. The
mystery threatened to share the fate
of other nine-day wonders, notwith
standing the reward offered by the
London papers and the money It lav
ished on Its "Motor Detective."
Public Interest was languishing, and
Christopher was' growing restless
when, one evening nearly a fortnight
after the finding of the derelict he
was dining at m country innn the
London side of Rochester.
Christopher sat at a small table op
posite ths door, and looked up as It
opened; but he would not have re
marked the newcomer with particu
larity If the newcomer had not ap
peared disconcerted at sight -of him.
He, was a tall, good-looking man of
32 or thereabouts, clean-shaven,
brown-faced, and evidently fresh from
ablutions, for his short-cut light
brown hair was wet and crinkly.
Christopher had never to his knowl
edge seen this person before, but as
the eyes of the two men met across
the room the newcomer stopped with
his hand on the door, his face freesing
Into an expression of blank dismay.
For a second he stood still; then, in
stead of advancing Into the room, he
turned abruptly round and went out
closing the door behind him.
Instantly Christopher sprang up.
"It's the man himself!" were the
words that flashed-into his head.
He thought of the photographs of
himself taken with Scarlet -Runner
which had so often appeared In the
Dally Recorder. A man t&rined by
habit or necessity to quick observa
tion might readily recognize him from
these reproductions; and what man,
save one, thus recognizing him need
wish to get out of his way unseen?
Christopher darted to the door and,
flinging it open, dashed into the cor
ridor. The front door of the inn was
closed, but Christopher could hear the
sound of a motor being started, and at
the same Instant he saw the man who
had made so hasty an exit from the
dining room. His back was turned to
Christopher, but having started the
motor he was looking up the street as
if expecting some one. Christopher
would have flung the door open, but
ARE GOING TO CANADA, TAKE
an obsequious waiter stepped forward
to perform that Service, and between
the two the business was bungled.
"Mr. John Smith!" Christopher yelled
through the glass, his hand and the
waiter's both on the old-fashioned
latch.
He hoped to make- the stranger
turn, and if he did so, at the sound of
that name, It would be practically cer
tain that his sudden departure was no
coincidence. But instead of turning,
the man sprang Into the driver's seat
of the fine, large car, which he had
already started, and flashed away from
the hotel. 1
Dinner was but half over and Chris
topher was still hungry, yet there was
only one thought In his mind to fol
low the yellow motor car. He turned
to hand money to a staring waiter and
say, "Don't mind the change," as Mr.
John Smith had done before on a pre
vious emergency, when a leather-clad
chauffeur came running up, a dazed
look on his face.
"Well, I never!" this youth exclaim
ed Inelegantly, as the automobile dis
appeared round the corner. "Is he out
of his wits?"
"Is tha your car?" asked Christo
pher. "Tes,"'answered the chauffeur; "ifs
gone off without me. But I suppose
It will be coming back. I was told to
get my supper, and, as I'm paying my
own bill this trip, I went down the
street to a cheap place."
"Perhaps I'm going his way," said
Christopher. "If so, you con go on
with me, if you like, In my car. I'm
starting at once. What's your employ
er's name?"
"Fortescue," replied the chauffeur.
"I don't know much about him. I only
got the Job yesterday. Heo-ehipplng
his car forty-horsepower Ressler
from Dover to Calais by cargo boat to
night Car's new only delivered a
day or' two ago, I believe, after delay.
Much obliged for your offer, sir. Are
you going that way?"
"I am," said Christopher.
Five minutes later Scarlet Runner
was off, and flying taster than the
law allows; but accidents can happen
with the best regulated motor cars.
Things so seldom happened to Scarlet
Runner that Race had got out of the
habit of expecting them; but if any
thing unpleasant did occur, it was
usually when least convenient Of all
nights, Christopher Race would have
prayed for a good run tonight; yet It
was now that Scarlet Runner, with the
perverseness of the best automobiles,
chose to puncture a tire. Even with
the strange chauffeur's help there was
nearly half an hour's delay; and hard
ly was tha car on the road again when
the tire on the other driving-wheel
went down. Another half hour was
wasted; nevertheless, when Scarlet
Runner rushed through Dover towards
the quay, It passed a yellow car stand
ing In the open doorway of a garage.
"That's it! I'd swear It!" cried the
chauffeur; and Christopher stopped in
triumph. "We've done the trick!" he
aid to himself.
But though they had tracked the
car, they had lost the man. The Res
sler, it appeared, had also had an ac
cident It had broken its change-speed
lever not far from the garage where
Christopher had found It bland lng, and
its owner had paid some men to help
him push it into Its present position.
He wished to catch the night boat he
explained, for Calais, and would leave
money for the car's keep and repairs.
Later he would wire an address and
Instructions.
On hearing this news from the em
ployes of the garage the chauffeur's
face fell. His master had. Indeed, In
tended to take the night boat and he
was to have followed with the car on
the cargo boat; but Mr. Fortescue had
seemed to value the new automobile
highly, and it was extraordinary that
he should rush off like this leaving
his property in the hands of strang
ers. "What time does the boat start?"
asked Christopher.
""She's started, sir," replied the care
taker of the garage.
"Then I must send a wire before It
reaches Calais." exclaimed Race.
"She'll be at Calais before a'wire
could reach there," returned the man
of Dover. "She'll be landing its pas
sengers ten minutes from now?"
Without another word Christopher
started the throbbing Scarlet Runner
orr towards the station, where, after
hurried explanations to the station-
master, he got Into telephonic com
munication with the Daily Recorder.
and received instructions to follow the
escaping criminal across the channel
at the newspapers' expense, instantly,
ana at any cost
There was a small tug which could
be hired, and Christopher chartered
it with little trouble or delay. He was
an hour and a half on the water,
reached Calais before daylight and
went straight to the railway station to
learn, If he could, whether the man
he sought had been among the pas-
ME WITH, YOU."
sengers In the boat-train for Paris.
But there had been a crowd of Eng
lishmen and Americans, several of
whom answered well enough to the
description given, so far as French
porters and ticket-takers could re
member. Christopher had brought the chauf
feur across with him, thinking he
might be useful, and now he decided
to leave the man in Calais, to. look
about for his absconding master and
to wire to him (Christopher) at the
Hotel Continental, Paris', if Fortescue
were seen. The chauffeur, peeved at
the treatment he had received, agreed
to accept the payment offered for this
service; and Christopher, bereft of
Scarlet Runner, and unwilling to wait
some nours for the next train, routed
out the Bleeping proprietor of a
garage, nirea a powerful sixty-horsepower
motor car, and dashed off in
the early dawn for Paris.
The next move In the game was to
sek the aid of a private detective, since
the French police would only interest
themselves in such a quest when ap
plied to by their brothers on the
other side. That application would
come; but meanwhile Christopher in
tended to leave no stone unturned;
and it was not until he had done all
that couid be done by way of inter
views and telegrams that he went to
bed at the Continental, where he had
taken a small suite of rooms.
He had left directions that he was
to be waked if a caller or even a tele
gram should come; but the clock- on
his mantelpiece pointed to noon and
he still slept on. Not many minutes
later, however, his telephone bell rang
violently. A clerk In the bureau of
the hotel wished to advise monsieur
of the fact that there was an ineuiry
for him, from the Ritz. A lady stop
ping there was telephoning to know if
Monsieur Christopher Race were in,
and, If so, whether he would receive
her If she called on urgent business.
Madame did not care to announce her
name, but she had a communication
to make concerning the affair which
had brought Monsieur Race to Paris.
Seldom did a man bathe and dress
in a shorter space of time: but when
his visitor was announced Christopher
was ready to receive here.
He expected a Frenchwoman, but
tne laay wno was ushered Into his lit
tle salon had the air of an English
women or an American. 8he could
not be more than 28 at most, and
might be younger. Her hair, under
its neat toque, was the color of a ripe
and burnished chestnut, her features
were piquant and dainty, her com
plexion of the wild-rose order. But
her eyes were her most remarkable
feature. They were large and soft,
deeply violet and their first half
frightened, half-appealing look at
Christopher disconcerted and disarm
ed him. This lovely creature could be
no female detective. Yet, If not j what
oould she be? How had she found
him out and what could she wSnt of
htm?
"Mr. Race?" she faltered.
"An American," thought Christo
pher. "No, a Canadian," as aloud he
claimed ownership of the name she
mentioned.
"You'll hardly believe It," she went
on. "but I've travelled all the way
from Montreal to talk to you, Mr.
Race. I arrived at Cherbourg yes
terday afternoon, came on to Paris,
where I slept, as I was very tired after
a rough voyage, and meant to leave
for London today: but I saw in tne
foreign edition of the Daily Recorder
that you d arrived In Paris, and would
be at this hotel, so I waited, and now
I ve come to see you here.
"It was the articles in the Daily
Recorder which brought me aoross the
ocean." his beautiful visitor went on,
before he had time to speak, "and so
I made up my mind from what I read
that you would be the man for me to
appeal to. But of course, you can't
understand what I'm talking about I
wouldn't send my name by telephone,
but I am Mrs. Fortescue. When I was
17 and my husband was 23, I married
on Englishman who came to Canada,
In the diplomatic service. We fell in
love at first sight and married against
my people's wish, when we'd known
each other only a month. He had to
promise that we'd live In my mother's
house, otherwise she wouldn't have
consented at all, and things didn't
go well with us. I was a child. He
was scarcely more than a boy. We
both had plenty of money. I had
been spoiled, and he had a strong will.
I suppose, too, we had hot tempers,
and I see now, ten years after, that
as my people never liked him, be
cause they wanted me to marry a Ca
nadian, they weren t exactly tactful.
We quarrelled; I was encouraged to
thwart him. When he wanted me to
leave homeland go with him to Eng
land I refused. Then we quarrelled a
good deal more and, to make a long
story short, we separated.
"After that I spent all my time In
trying to think I'd been wise, until I
saw the articles in the Daily Recorder
(which I'd begun to take in, for Lon
don news) about the mystery of the
motor car. Mr. Race, that Hansard
car was my husband s car, I m sure.
That's why I've flown over to this side
again. I m afraid oh, horribly afraid
something dreadful has happened
to hfm. le'd Just bought a red Han
sard car, - exactly answering the de
scription of the blue one you found
in the sea, at the time he was beg
ging me to be his wife again. He came
In It to see me and wanted me to go
out with him, as he was very keen on
motoring. A friend had sold the car
to him a man I met at the same din
ner I told. you of. I didn't like the
creature. I I think he rather admir
ed me and -would have been glad to
flirt although my husband had told
him our story. I believe that my hus
band may have as- he threatened
to do lost all Interest In life and com
mitted suicide. Or else some other
awful thing has happened. I can't
help feeling as if, in either case, I may
be to blame, so 1 had to come. 1
couldn't rest Oh, if only he could be
found, how I -would try to make up to
him for the past! I hoped you might
have solved the mystery by this time,
or. If not that I could help you. So
now you understand why I'm here,
and why, In a way, I have a right
to beg that you'll tell me everything
you've been doing, everything you
know. Do you believe my husband
has killed himself, or been mur
dered?" Christopher hesitated. He did be
lieve that the man had been mur
dered; but how could he strike this
lovely. Impulsive woman a terrible
blow and tell her what was In hlr
mind while still he might be - mis
taken? She saw his hesitation and guessed
its meaning, however. "With a cry she
covered her face with her hands and
burst Into tears. "Oh, I 'have gone
through so much!" she sobbed. "How
can I bear this how can I bear it!
"Don't, I beg of you. He may be
safe; he " Christopher had begun
to stammer, when there came an lm
perative knock at the door.
Mrs. Fortescue, trembling, checked
her sobs. "I mustn t be seen like this,
she faltered.. "Who can it be?"
"Probably a detective I have em
ployed," said Christopher.
- "Oh, then," she Implored, "let me
stop till he is cone. Let me wait be
hind that tall screen In front of the
fireplace." -
Without waiting for permission, she
ran across the room and hid herself.
At the some -moment the knock was
repeated, and, rather than seem to
delay, with, the lady In ths room,
Christopher called, "Come In.
Again he was surprised. Instead of
the little French detective, he saw the
man he had pursued to Paris.
The man. rather pale but composed,
walked quickly Into the room and
closed the door.
"1 saw in the Dally Recorder that
you would be here, so Instead of wait
ing for you to run me down, I thought
it would be better to beard you in
your den, Mr. Christopher Race," said
tne newcomer. ,
For an instant Christopher did not
answer. The chauffeur had given his
master's name as Fortescue. But was
this man really Fortescue or the mur
derer of Fortescue, who had stolen
his. victim's identity for some purpose
ornisownr Tne aouot was gruesome,
since Fortescue's wife was tn the room.
Christopher glanced Involuntarily to
wards the screen, and thought that it
quivered.
"Well?" he questioned.
"This chase has lasted long enough.'
went on the other. "I've been a dou
ble-dyed idiot not to end It in this
way long ago; -but I hoped, until to
day, that I should be able to slip out
or tne suiy mess without notoriety.
Now, rather than have the French
police on my back I've sought you out,
to Dfi trans: witn you, as one gentle
man can be frank with another."
"You mean you've come to er
explain the mystery? said Christo
pher diplomatically.
"There is no mystery; there never
was any mystery, except what the
uany Kecorder made. I was an
that's all."
"I'm glad to hear that's all," re
torted 'Christopher, i , .
"I suoDose vou take me for a mur
derer? Certainly I've iven you a
good deal of trouble, though I've
made myself more. It was amusing
at first; Indeed I'm not sure It wasn't
more amusing than otherwise till I
met you face to face last night, and
er put myself to some inconvenience
to get out of your way, and prevent
the world in general and one woman
in particular from knowing me as an
ass. I'm quite aware that, unless
you're movei to compassion by my
story and h'it upon some means of
getting me out of the scrape, I shall
probably be called for the rest of my
days The Blue Motor-Car Idiot,' or
something of the sort. If I have a
remnant of hope left with a woman I
love desperately, that would kill it
for already she's put thousands of
miles between us for fear of making
herself ridiculous." ,
Again the screen shook.
"A woman you love desperately,"
echoed Christopher.
"She happens to be mv wife or
she was once. I want her to be
again; but if you don't get me otrt
of this she never will be."
."I am at a loss " began Christo
pher, but his visitor cut him short
"Just wait till I tell you the story,
and you won't be at a loss. It isn't
exciting; it's only silly; too silly to
be true. I bought a Hansard car, second-handed
of an alleged friend, and
I was too much of an amateur to
dream he was palming off a regular
'back number' on me. Once I got to
know something of motors, aa I soon
did, I wasn't satisfied to go about the
world with a thing like that I'd Just
sold my last toy a yacht with
which I'd worked hard at amusing
myself for several years, and I
wanted a car that was worth having.
So I ordered a forty-horse-power
Ressler and tried to sell the Hansard.
But it was so old-fashioned I couldn't
get buyers at any price, though I had
her painted up, new gearing put in
and gave her new tires. I got tired
of paying garage i for a car I never
UBed and never meant to use, so the
next thing I tried was to give the car
away. Not a soul would have her!
Who wants to be saddled with an
antediluvian? I grew desperate, and
determined to abandon the beastly
nuisance somewhere. Needleham was
the place I selected. Well, you know
what happened. I had to pretend
that I was delighted to get the brute
back. I began to see that if I wasn't
foxy, she would always be returning
on my hands in ti.s same way, so
being an Impulsive, impatient sort
of chap I said to myself, 'I'll shave
off my beard, destroy the number on
my car, with all other means of trac
ing the owner, and send the Hansard
to Davy Jones' locker.' This seemed
to me a good Joke, and I quite looked
forward to seeing in the papers that
a lonely automobile had been found
putting out to sea. After I had driven
on the beach you knew where as
near the water as I could get at that
state of the tide. It occurred to me
that it would be awkward walking
a long distance and then traveling by
train in a motor coat and cap. I hid
mine where I thought they wouldn't
be discovered and make any bother,
and went off as fast as I could in the
night, wearing another sort of cap
which I found in the overcoat pocket
"Naturally I never thought there'd
be such a fuss. My idea wa that a
few people in the neighborhood would
wonder a little, and there might be
a paragraph in a local paper. But I
forgot the Daily Recorder. When the
row did begin I determined to let it
burn itselfout, for I didn't want to
be conspicuous, and If only my Ress
ler had been ready when It was prom
ised, I should have been safely out of
England taking a tour I'd planned In
France. A? it was, I wrote to some
chaps I'd tried to sell and give away
the car to, and asked them to keep
mum. They were good fellows, so
they did.
"I thought everything was coming
out right till last night when I stum
bled across you at that inn and recog
nized you as the bloodhound on my
track. That's why I whirled away to
Dover and caught the boat across.
But this morning when I learned In
the paper that I hadn't shaken you off,
I saw the game was up. Now, as a
fellow motorist haven't you some
sympathy for me, and won't you help
me to disappear?"
"I might call my dogs off for a bit
and give you time to sail for Canada,"
said Christopher.
Fortescue started. "Why do you
suggest Canada?"
"Because " But the screen did not
give Christopher time to finish. It
fell with a crash, and a beautiful
young woman ran out from behind it
"Oh, you darling boy!" she ex
claimed, "if jrou are going to Canada,
take me with you!"
That Is the reason why the blue
motor car has been a mystery until
now; why the editor and readers of
the Daily Recorder do not now think
as highly of the detective ability of
Ohi-latnThai. Toa ,1. J i j . a i
, ..... u, .11 -TJ ulU HI Unit,
Muse huu nragnincenc
yellow Ressler was sold at Dover at
a marvolcuia bargain.
Ijooked Suspicions.
As Widow Watts bent Industriously over
nor washtub, she waa treated to polite
convention by a mala friend, who pres
ently turned the conversation on matri
mony, winding up with a proposal of mar
riage. "Are ye aura ya lova me?" signed the
buxom widow, pausing in her, wringing.
And the man vowed he did.
For a few minutes there was a silence
as the widow continued her labor. Then
suddenly she raised her head and asked
him. ausptcioualy i
"You ain't lost yer Job, 'ava yer?" Chi
cago News.
-621
residents of Ne
braska registered
at Hotel Astor
during the past
year.
Single Room, without bath;
12.60 and 13.00
Double - 33.60 and 14.00
Single Rooms, with bath,
13.61) to lt.00
Double - 4.50'to (7.00
Parlor, Bedroom and bath
110.00 to 314.00 .
TIMES SQUARB
At Broadway, 44th to 45th Streets'
the center of Ntw York social anal .
Dullness activities. In dose proximity ss
all railway terminals,
HOW POLICEMAN SOLVES
PROBLEM OF FOOT EASE
Policemen. street car men, mall carriers
and all others who are on their feet ran.
stantly, will be Interested In the wcceaaful
opor,innni oi a nicano policeman who has
solved the question of having comfortable
feet This policeman stands at the Intersec
tion Of two busy streets, directing traffic all
day. By night his feet used to torment him.
Ho couldn't sleep for the pains and ache
they gave him. Then he hesird nt w.-m.-t.
and now he suffers no more. Two or three
of these tablets In a bowl of hot water, a few
minuiM Biining, ana an tne soreness is
gone, his feet cool, comfortable, easy and
happy. You can use Wa-Ne-Ta with delight
ful effect In vour hnd w h 1 1 ? ... ut, i-
soft and antlseptically clean. You can get
Wa-Ne-Ta from your druggist. It only coMts
36 cents. If your druggist hasn't It, we will
gladly send you a sample package If you will
send us 10 cents to cover cost of packing and
mailing to your addi-ess. JU C. Landon Co,
South Bend, Ind.
t
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