| Show r l i i w ws' ws s' s sY Y a Wt i e f f j. j 1 I II 1 t tj i j T i I r i f r M CHAPTER IX Y s t Tilt rug ooin S C. Christopher Race naco Motorist London IlS scrawled In pencil a and r d in an un un- i hand liand on en a common envelope at t and nothing more yet ct the tho powers pones pon rs b hit jit t bo he In the had t sent bent It to p 0 him without ul rich This was a albut tribute to his fame but It was s not en en- en lightening In An tho common envelope elope was a half half- heet of or thick and cream creamy parchment aper with n a monogram In 1 palo blue ind ad silver sll a pretty mono monogram ram but PO o consisting as ns It did ll of oC three thre letters otters etten as to be bo almost almost- Impossible almost ImposIble Corn for Cor ji p uninitiated person to decipher On OnIs Is half hal sheet written In a firm and url original hand which might te e that of a mar man or a woman were wo wo sentences e I and anti part of another l' P Dear Sir I 1 I have havo heard of oC you OH and your our our car Clr and anel yaw caw photo photographs of b both th know that y you u are a gen gentleman leman ann m itati 11 be IH trusted I hope vr very much that ou on u nr are arc l free and can come here b by t If IC po possible carl early In the a as It Is a matter m of life liCe and d th c. to me one to pet cot et awa away I- I Hero Here th the letter broke off oft Riving given no nolue nolue lue clue to the e a of or the errand or to toj I j he the whereabouts of oC the nam nameless leos But Christopher was ablo able to toul Y lake ul nut out the postmark The scrawled envelope n had hall been sent out from Stoke Stole in Warwickshire The he handbook told him that Stoke Estcourt l was seas a small but hut Interesting S hamlet amlet situated about three miles from rom a n railway station The church chu-ch as celebrated for Its Ihl bra brasses ses and a n forman orman font The Tr-e sixteenth century Inn nn still unspoiled attracted artists 1 There h re we l 11 flee fine n old oM houses In to Inic he ic village and on the outskirts also number of oC picturesque cottages and tJ wore were advised ad to visit the ruins if f t a castle in Irl the thc neighborhood This description encouraged Christopher Christo i pher her in the somewhat hat wild Idea that b bj by oln oin to Rt Stoke l e and making makin h ho he might bo be able ablo to find out b had sent Jont him tho the unfinished letter r. IliA j Journey was smooth and uni un uneventful un- un i eventful and and it was v still rl o early In the url evening In when the tho blazing I rays mays S 'S Sl of l' l his lamps Illuminated the quaint front of oC the tho old Inn of ot which he had feed In the guide tool took i f. f The first thing lie he did was to tuC conspicuously t td the tho ho postoffice re he inquired I If there were any letters ctt for Mr tr Christopher Race But nothing of oC Interest was forwarded and ly olo ol ly at Stoke had taken this this means of oC communicating for Cor the ond time with the owner of ot Scarlet tunnel K U De Deyon you yon e over er r get letters here for Anyone anyone with tlc the Initials V. V L L. II H. he to ask of oC th thc tho postmistress v h x ho hi was v too pretty prett and coquettish to toa nub a polite and man web cn If 1 o e put eccentric questions lu I 1 KG Xe CI so f far fai as the young oun woman could remember none Hone of her rc regular ul I peelo pee pee- lo had hall E Initials As 6 for the tho transit nl folk she could not pretend to o o say a as If he had been en the villain vil- vil 11 lain Q of the e Christopher went out 01 Df the tine po with only one card cud cardIn left In the he game to play pIa lie Ile deter deter- robed to drive c Scarlet Runner temptingly through cr c every street of oC tho the ge and past the gates gate of tho great houses housea and even farms of the surroundIng surround surround- ing Ingo Ing country weaving tho the car through from road tf to road as his map made poe poe- Uble ilbe C Her i and there h ho C caused his siren to discourse snatches from the tho opera of ot ofa La a Tra lata but hut when he lie came In sight l i if r the tIte castle castlo he forgot lt to pla play his own accompaniment nt even en forgot for a few moments foments the tho business which had bought brou ht him to Stoke f It really was a a. cr very fine tine and Ins ng g ruin Christopher drove c very er slowly slow- slow ly 11 to take In its full Cull magnificence and finally stopped Scarlet Runner In the of the dark towering lowering walls though he lie did not stop atop her engine K t Looking up from hl his hla seat scat In the genty gent gent- y purring car the huge Norman n keep leep f loomed above e him From this point of oC the ma massive she sin shape ie of the castle bowed no appearance of oC decay and as Christopher's lively imagination plc- plc thred moving mo figures In quaint co cosand cos- cos ulnes and gleaming armor sudden suddenly was framed in a a. small ivy ivy- draped rapEd window face a as lovely lo as any or r which a knight of oC old ever did bat- bat Ir r to rC t A girl was gazing down at him him him-a a girl eirl whose yellow brown hair was bright gold sold gold a back background round of oC darkness Ch Christopher had Just time timeto tto to 0 catch an ail impression of oC a beautiful luce face ace white and large laigo e eyed ed with frith terror ter- ter tor or some other emotion strange e for fori fort i t peaceful English morning and then thenan fn tin an thing happened Tho The Urge large eyes met his In lu appeal the lips III's opened opened without speaking a hand and arm were thrust through the aperture and 11 something small that glittered ns CIS jt it Et fell was thrown to him L t Tile The thinS thinS' thin thing whatever It was Wa was flun lung with a 0 womans woman's aim and instead l-f l f reaching Its intended destination blinded landed noiselessly In a clump of ot dead dall Brasses and nettles by the thu roadside f- f Instantly Christopher was out of ot the car c r Without minding the nettles nettles' lUng he thrust hl his hand and arm deep mong rough stems sterns and prickly leaves lea coming almost Immediately upon the object o of his Ills which his touch told him must be e a metal card caso case or case Before DeCoro his eyes ces had hall a Chance to Inform him further r. r a low Inarticulate er cry from the window made him Mm still stooping over the bed of or net net- iles lift lIrt his head to ty look up once more Tho Iho girl 1111 silent after aCter tho the one faint found which had drawn Ills hils eyes tyes to her aln Rain wa was eh signing to tu him eager eagerly to und and ride awn away t i Astonished but ready to obey oller a ladys lady's Command no matter how strange strause sprang pran Into the quivering ear and taking off the the- brakes put on peed which sent ent Scarlet Runner flyn fly fly- In n h. h along tho the road like a 1 red led arrow r It was as not until the first turn when the castle towers were vere hidden from sight by hy an Intervening Inter hill that Race slackened tho cars car's pace and looked at atthe atthe atthe the thing timing which the girl had had thrown to him Then ho he saw that It was a very handsome though small case made rather rathor flat to avoid bul bulging ln out the pocket which held hold it and ornamented ornamented ornamented orna orna- with the letters M I. I N X In diamonds There was one peculiarity which caused Christopher to Jump at atthe atthe atthe the conclusion that tho the thing had hall been made mad b by special order and for a lad lady The Inner part of oC the tho case was entirely covered ered on one side with a a. mirror or set Into the gold and surrounded b by a aframe aframe frame of oC tin tiny brilliants thus leaving lea place for on tho the opposite side aide Ideon on only The fall had cracked tho the gla glass across and the loose bits would have e fallen Cullen out if IC Christopher had not closed up the case rose fastening fastening- It with with a clasp clasp He lie then put the dainty little affair into his pocket and drove alon along his intended intend Intond- ed route Ira Ip In almost hopeless quest of V Y L L. L H. H Christopher was Inclined to believe that her het act whatever Its m meaning aning had hall been heen one of oC sheer desperation that she had chosen a n course because she could see sec no other Sho was so beautiful so 80 altogether Interesting that Christopher would gladly J have havo seized 1 upon uron the theor theory that she was V L L. U. U IL because If that were so she must Lave have known of ot him and summoned him But common commons commonsense s sense sense sense-if if common sense had nn any place her her did did not support tho the theory VL V y VL L L. II H. who had wished to make u use e of ot Scarlet Runner for Cor a matter of oC life or death would hardly have sent Scarlet Scarlet Scar Scar- let Runner Hunner Instantly a away a out of ot her sight In the circumstances Christopher felt Celt constrained for the sake of oC V. V I. I L L. IL to carry out his original Intentions But Buthe Buthe he lie made his round of the roads and re returned returned rO- rO turned to tho the village by a different wa way as he had planned and no one had come forward to claim his services to tosa sa say It was I 1 who wrote to you ou I 1 Iam Iam am glad that you jou OU are hero Nevertheless Nc erthe less les Christopher had no thought of or leaving lea the thc neighborhood There were two mysteries Instead of ot one to be he puzzled puzzled puzzled Into clearness now lie He had l kept ept on his room at the Inn and when he had put a away Scarlet Runner he shut hut himself up for Cor another look at the cigarette case Opening it the broken pieces of glass fell out t and u. u he ne saw what no ne had nau not guessed at ai no- no fore tore The Tito mirror concealed a false back baek to the case case and hidden there thero ho found a a. photograph of a young oun man lie was an exceedingly looking good young oun man with a n strong c clever e er face faco softened softened soft sort ened b by the dreamy dream arch of oC tho the eye oe eyebrows brows over tine fine dark oyes And be between between between be- be tween the photograph and the thin strip of or gold which held It In place was 4 slip of oC paper on which were written clo close c to together and all In capitals the letters YA Y A 1 le key to a cipher perhaps Christopher Christopher Christopher Chris Chris- said to himself Was ras he intended intend Intend- ed to pluck out its secret and profit b by what it taught him lie could not toll tell He Be decided as the person from whom when the girl wished to conceal the cigarette case might have hao seen a a. fleeing motor I Icar car ear that It would be well for tor her sake sake to appear appeal on the scene Reene next net time In tho the guise ulse of an ordinary tourist Ho He therefore therefore there there- fore tore exchanged his chauffeurs chauffeur's cap for forone forone forone one of tweed which matched his clothes and went nent out on tot foot without his motor coat In half an hour he had reached tho the castle castlo and was knocking at the door of ofa ofa ofa a cottage built up against one of oC the half fallen walls This was the dwelling dwelling ling of oC the caretaker whose business in life lite It was to guard the tho ruins from vandals and to show visitors about lIe Ho was obliged to lift the tho knocker two or nr three times before anyone answered answered an an- thou though h there there- was a faint stirring stirring stir stir- ring inside the house and ho he fancied that he lie hoard suppressed voices Presently Presently Pres Pres- the tho door opened and an old woman woman woman wom wom- an appeared appealed She Rhe was small and bont bent though strong strong- locking with hard features fea- fea tures and anti singularly singular bright c eyes es that is u of or yellow network network network net net- glittered r l nde niH out a work of oC wrinkles lie hp had r r sold civilly that come lIlIIe to visit thu tho castle canlle and hoped that he had hall not cho chosen cn tin un hour when it was not to bo be seen IJ by the public The old woman who vile seemed scorned somewhat agitated ed though these requests mu must t hn hate ha f punctuated the hours of oC her dally daily life liCe for years year replied that the guardian her husband had had an accident and was wu ti In ho hospital but taut that sho would take talc the gentleman round She Sho then unhooked an enormous key from a nailon nail nailon on the wall and led the wa way out of oC doors door To enter entel the ruins one ono passed panned l undera under a n p portcullis and so on up a gentle elope slope between thick broken n walls 11 s At the end of oC this passage e an nn ugly modern door had replaced the old ohl one long ago aJo destroyed and following his Ills guide Christopher found himself In the castle castle cas cas- tle They went from room to room man many of lf which w were ro open to the sky with more stony suggestions of or what tho the upper stories had been lint hut but as Christopher had been led by his lato I adventure to expect the keep was war In a better bettel state of preservation preservation atlon than tho the rest He asked no questions but going which would ui up a n. steep sleep stone atone stairway lead he knew to a c certain window his hish h heart art began to beat rather moro more quickly quick quick- Iv ly than usual lIe He hoped and mere than half haft believed lIelie that he would find tine a beautiful girl waiting wafting for tor him at the theton top ton of or th the steps steps' but ho he found stone found atone wall wails and emptiness a silent place where nothing moved mO save the wanderIng wandering wander wander- In Ing sprays of ot 1 Ivy which peered and beckoned at the window where she enc had been Deeply disappointed Christopher walked about pretending to be lie interested Interested Inter Inter- t ested sted in the thickness of the the- walls The Theold Theold old woman steal still watching him as ashe ashe ashe he went to the window and looked out Turning quickly rJ he caught au ht or fancied that he lie cau caught lt a 1 cynical expression on the dried dried apple apple face Cace I 1 saw a young lady ilY looking out of ot the tho window this morning whom I took cock to tu bo be an artist said laid Christopher growing Impatient impatient- Very Very en pretty prellY with yellowish brown hair hall alu and dark eyes eyes- ml might ht have la been bren brown or violet I think she had hod on a dark arle blue dress g. g You must have ha been een mistaken sir replied the ol old woman I I didn't bring bringan bring an 11 such sueh young la lady In this morn morning ng Christopher asked no m more mere re lea questions hut hilt meekly meekly- allowed himself to be shown the usual things and told th the usual le legends Then h he gave Ju the theold theold old woman the usual fee tee with tho the usual 1 extra tip and look took hi his lea leave But Dut turnIng turnIng turn- turn Ing lug to glance back ack at thu tho guardians guardian's s n rt i yr 49 Mi Mis L i I s I I II ti 3 I t e r h y f c cj s x j 4 r n e ti f Yi 1 t tL L r f t t J i. i t z 4 6 t r 1 dt E k 6 et i f v 7 I I V J rl l r if i 1 i 4 I t r r. r J 1 I i y r. r t e II 1111 n plan plOD 1 Is 18 dc le lecotta cotta cottage when the d door was shut he he I saw aw his his lato late guide at th the thc e window peering peer peer- In ing out Behind her stood a moan man lokIn lookIng look look- peer peer-I In lug Ing over o the stooping shoulder and though a as Christopher's eyes eres met his he moved mo away and was gone gono In an In Instant In- In stant slant Race caught a clear enough h impression Im Impression Impression Im- Im to feel that he would the face again It was that of a aman aman man passing beyond boond middle age The Thee i e eyes es and skin I II were singularly dark darl In contrast |
