Show I F J j CHAPTER X filE HIE LOST 1111 pher wa was wall lie He had B to do an Impossible thing thinK or orP P Impossible with a car lens sympathetic v than h Scarlet Sd Runner but hut he he believed that he e e Van going to do o it He lie ha had a D. tingling rush down own a n along long Iong straight stretch of road when slowing i. i u little as might be for a turning bo Jie shot through a A. wooded mon com common i tod sed d ran upon something something- In Interesting In- In tere tereN tI ng nl Mech Mechanically h he hl came to a stop P. so 50 sov v tIM t Scarlet let Runner Runner her her armour armour ar- ar mour off orr for speed speed waltzed waltzed In yesterdays yesterday's yester- yester days day's put her bonnet honnel where her should have been j Above head hend and ond Christopher's a aI charming b was poIsed Its ite anchor ancor an- an I chor cor attaching attach Jt It to earth In an a adjacent ad- ad I j jacent cent leaning OV over r the edgo of or it car at a hel height ht of oC thirty L-thirty feet teet latr t air a young man drank cup of ot t te l and ard looked down upon the motor he hc In the sky ok replied plied he on tho the earth Thal W whit you OU call c slip side Isn't fill 1 I Or Oi 01 It Its cousin grumbled Chi ChrIs ChrIs- IB- IB angry himself and nd ruffled with the stranger slips slip's something we C never nc get set ald ld th the youn r man In tho the balloon i I lw ic-lw the motorist right his carI car I Or Or tire tiro trouble trouble or or- or We dont don't tine hive to say a a our prayers every ery time we Want we-Want J to stop said uld Christopher r. r Good bye be Hope you'll et somewhere i Im In no h hurry lurry to grot got anywhere answered the other Tm rm out for tor fun tun farent arent aren't your ou r JuNo J- J No uNo for tor busl business Good bye bc again L. L Dont go iO unfed ged the balloonist Nice Ice red assa l ou e got got only only a abit abit bit old t Old fashioned echoed Christopher she's the latest thing thins out She's Excuse me I Ion Ionly on meant old-fash- old f ned In comparison with Jh m my ray Little Stranger n An automobiles automobile's the thE vehicle of ot yesterday e a t b balloon the carriage of tomorrow J j Well Yel eli they'll thel both hh b b bo cut CU of date ote the theda da day after ater b saId l T Christopher and andI andl I smiled J led l for tor Her after fl all there wa was something something some some- ome thing hing engaging bout fh young oun man manIn manthe In In the sky sk k t S I 1 dont don't know here where YOU ou a want ant lo to go but I be bet T I c could get you yon on th there e Quicker Qu than you 01 c can n get yourself lf 4 i What Could ou gO from J London ondon to Torquay In even enn hours houis That's what Im I'm 11 tr trying to do do E. E 1 1 have ha e to tr try Shall I take oU T. T r Car tar nd all all 1 Come cone lu Ixu IU serious Put your our red crab b up at nt the village lage which I can cnn see nOt far off oft though In your our worm 1 worm like worm lice P position s ton on earth carth you OU cant can't get a glimpse of It I. I Shouldn't wonder If It J Spheres Sphere's theres there's a garage oil of sor sori There was vas a microbe In In Christopher i Races Race's blood which hl h w went nt mad when It came camo camo In contact with wih th the microbe of suggested adventure Ills his Ils errand Hrand from Crom Ln London on to Torquay was WIS an errand of a as he had hinted and though Jie lC h had personally conducted conduced two short tours tous anI and made matte a little mono money since he had set tin Up as aa n gentleman chauffeur he could not hot afford to missan miss any an any promising chance chanco An anent n r 0 his hail had boon been answered yesterday yesterday yes- yes b by a M Mr Brown of Hall hail near Torquay lug InG him to r hl his car on a f visit of Inspection and be engaged engage for a months month's trip If I satisfactory It t I would ouli surprise Mr r. r Brown Bron Jf jt the the advertising nd chauffeur in on him in a balloon banool say un an hour hout e earlier riler than expected In a acar 0 motor motor co car 1 and arid e explained that th that that that-that- that t- t but bother explanations u say explanations say that owins ow- ow lag ns to unforeseen circumstance cli Scarlet Scarlet Scar Scar- let Jet let Runner would appear laterI later I accept with lh pleasure your our kind invitation for tor tea and nd a canter Christopher Chris Chris- said old aloud Win WI you ou o call cal for tor fora forme torme a me me or do I ca call 1 for von xou Well l make a 0 rendezvous replied the tile other a a little lower down or 0 what hat t youre you're Ol still accustomed tom d at re cl to con con- II uon nen you 01 ve put t up your crawler you Ol might JUt iut bring along an nn bodied able yokel or two ho to Kelp elp unhitch me from th the star tara tan oh eli IX I dont don't want to lo let myself down a as 1 I 1 cant can't spare ga ca ga gaThe The Th now 8 of tho tim tree free show provided pro pro- vided for tor or the thi t neighborhood spread prat m mysteriously mys mR and by b- the tho time and hi his attendants w were wee re out of ot the lie village halt half hl the bodied able Inhabitants were at their heI heels A growing rowIng crowd watched the slow hauling down clown of at the balloon and ten l listened d open mouthed to ti the th Instructions delivered ered b by the aero uro nut As Al for tor or him despite the surging au slice he ho was ns as ns calm caln as the weather lher which In the lull of after leI storm enabled his hi directions to be o obeyed oel without hitch bitch ills His Ils basket car CIT touched earth light as a a n swallow dropping from flight Each of or Christopher's assistant tant half a crown eron for tor the work he would e been enchanted 1 to do to for noth noth- lug Ins and and while all an three c lk village O yoUths cuc clung grinning to the tho baskets basket's edge tho the Invited guest climbed over 01 0 It Into a al l luxurious nest stored with wih rU rugs 9 book books maps map food toad a I tea basket ta nn and a few tew bott bottles of or wine wlM When I SQ say sa Let et go go do It I all 01 to to to- ether gether ordered the balloons balloon's owner jai aa a. ho io o pulled In hil anchor and nd deftly tC the rope around the tho ear car Anyone p Anyone who vho hangs hinga on may mn get trans trans- laed id to another nother Farewell for fever ever er Now Now row Jot let go gor gory 0 y v And the they did let go with wih sacred pre- pre cislon LetH Lets be happy as af birds telling ouch each Bother our names names- e and Impressions of ot thIngs thinGs In general Im I'm Im rn Paul 1 West Vest VestI I. I ern nI n- n I might hav h gue guessed sed that cut In S. S Christopher Youre U tho the Western estern ellern of nt course winner otho big balloon rac raCA lost last hut week Delighted d to meet rOl you As Asfor s for tor mo mc me the tho only rac I have hoo to 0 my raY Is I my nal name name Christopher o Christopher Raco ce ceO ce they ther used to call mo inc mf at TO 1 my college It t had been the tho lie Ace Aco of 0 Dla- Dla bonds 1 I 1 suppose Ace C of oC Hearts would woul have o ha f jilted the case better beter I Never Xe was In love lo c In 0 my life sail said ht lb rl Though one has fancies course Were about said Westa West West- cst n a n. n but bul Ill I'll Il run hor her up higher anle and ando o e If we wc cant can't catch cotch that breeze He began emptying sand out of a n aI ni i fig g but bul so 80 far tar as af Christopher could til II I nothing happened except pt that tho the I range sank ank out of sight Ight and t nl hers herl even wilder camo Into view Iso 10 the air all seemed eemer fresher though not tensely cold The Th sun had set behind leaden clou clouds s Irca as one says tas across the ChanI CanI Chan Chan- Can Can- pi I It I made night and far tar belo below tile tho they LW clustering lights shining Ik like a on purple velvet cu cushions though tilt tl they could fc foAl l no wind as a the they tOUgh Fiat nt over O the the edge of the basket the in tho the world beneath appeared to 10 oit t rapidly past as If borne b by an nn tide Sometimes the they were lidden b by black ra rags s of oC cloud but at ath h at these rags were fringed with wih learning silver The h moon was cornI comun com com- If In ln I un 1 1 UI lb V n n. n n obedience to her hen hell command the wind I Was vas still tho the lights In the purple J depths no longer moved mO on a lark dark tide but Lut a n river of oC silver swallowed up tho thu yellow renow sparks and flooded the tho purple alc valleys Good skId said Western Now Xo we can descend Wo We 0 shall shah have hac an Illumination tion for our landing and thou though h were we're coming do down don n Into Inlo a mist mist mist-a a a sea mist I should Judge b by the s salt 1 tang of it It- It shall know whether Its It's Ils so thin that we e earth water ater er ci were we're dropping on or Have you OU an any Id Idea where v we wc e are arc asked Christopher CrIstopher who had long a ago o abandoned hope of Torquay or Its Is neighborhood If If ho had ever really had hl but like liko true sportsman was but Iko a revelling re In the I adventure Might be bo Hampshire vaguely Or well Or well might be Western estern estern wel Or coast coat Its It's hard anywhere near anywhere near the thc Is I's to en iy e to lo thirty mie miles or so o the thea a way we weh h have bc n racing He lIe h had pulled the valve cord cort and m the they steadily descended Now ow they swam swain In a sea sen of 01 creamy mist laced I with the moons moon's silver 1 Tin Th They know knew earth rth but hut the that tho they must be near neal gleam gleaming InK sea sea fog fOK shrouded all detail Suddenly howe tr however they became conscious Conscious conscIous con con- of a luminous gliding gilding of the Oust mist mill close cloe to the falling balloon an and at t the e same came Instant nt th tl the tar ear bumped and awl swayed hounding bounding like some wild l creature creature caught b by the thc lie foot toot In a a. trap swishing of foliage c or There was a 11 no needles and a crackling of oC small branches TIle The They were entangled In a at t tree trec re c Why h were we're clo close e to a house h herald ad to ester Western whose hose back was turned to towards to to- wards wants him as he worked B Bv this lm time Western c tern had stopped chopping bul branches hes to glance Ianco over o er his lila shoulder B By J Jose Jo 0 c. c we wo are clo close e he ex ex- ex claimed I 1 cnn can touch the stone ledge Just round the Ul cOn corner r of the house wall Its wet wet wet-there's there a said Christopher J there et pool pooh of of- of Water was the word on his hlf tongue but as ho he pulled hack back his hand and looked at al It in iu the yellow elow haze of lamplight lamplight lamp lamp- light which mingled with wih the moons moon's rays h he drew In his breath quickly hats the matter mater asked Western e Look Christopher answered In an odd voice olce holding out his hand Fingers and md palm were dyed dred red a wet red that glistened Their Iv lively I tones tone were hushed now Involuntarily the they whispered d. d Pooh I 1 Ino know what you ou mean but ut utIl It Il cant can't b hs h A II window Why hy tn should such should such things dont don't happen All ll 1 the saB same annie Im I'm Im going to hang hang hangout out from rom the car and tr LI try to twist roun round the tho corner far Ca al' al enough to see see- eo Walt ait alt till til I hang hanh on to you ou or you'll get a tumble Christopher leaned out with wih one knee on the edge of tha thio trapped car one hand plunged Into and grasping the thick stemmed iv Ivy y Hanging thus h he h could see TC tC the window whence came caine tho the 1 light hl and aud a as he lie looked peering through 1 tho thin ml mist t a slight breeze sprang up and blew bleW a 0 fold of the while veil ell vei aw away Ho could see tuns eu round the corner and anc Into the l lighted ht d window but on unIv 1 a faint Impression Im ira- 10 of what he lie IR saw there re remained ye- ye with wih him him-a a in a vague ague picture of oC an uld ull pan oak oak panelled paneled oak room with lh a I great grent many hooks books and a lon long mirror opposite the lie window for or for It I was as something In th window Itself which caught and held hel IsIs his gaze Gaze H Hit ha Hp saw it I and sn saw It I repeated In the mirror mirror mir mir- or rather saw naw there what he ho could see seE in no other way war A man mant t bod body hung over o the window windowsill sill s1 inert Iner and lifeless IJ lie le had hall fallen backward and lay lar half hal out out his head hea and shoulders shoulder protruding over the this tone stone ledge which Christopher had touched the feet face upturned upturned and white In Inthe Inthe inthe the mingling light of vf lamp and moon There Ther was a red stain on tho the forehead forehead fore tore head and the hair which wa was wal dark and long clung cunK wet and matted mated over tho the brows The This lips ware wre twisted Into a terrible three three-corI rd smile and Christopher started back from It with witha a o err era I What ht did you rou see ee naked asked Yc Western I Christopher told him i For heavens heaven's eta stake ke lets let's get out of ot Western stammered AN As AJ he ho exclaimed something moved near nea by hr and n a figure figure- which had been hid hiding InK among the tho battlements sprang prang up up and ran the lie swaying batI bal bat I I loon oo n Highly wrought a as the thc thoy were at St first tho the tw two young oung men were ere truck struck with wih horror an al If I beholding n a spirit but bul as s th tho clear conr moonlight fell fel upon the tho form common senNo o came back hack and the they knew H t. t this wae was no ghostly vision A girl In a n white dress was ns hurIn hurrying hur hurry hur- In lag ing 1041 the lie flat roof root her arms out out- stretch In a detaining gc gesture Same Sa Save me nic she he faltered altered her hel voIce broken b by fear or Whether hether or not It was as part partly the ef effect ef- ef feet teet of the moonlight the lie to Christopher and Western tho thu most beautiful creature they had ever scon sen She had hal hair hall which the moon burnIshed burnished bur bur- to copper 1 mill I II It fell eU In two long thick ropes or braids over o slim shim shoulders and young oung bosom Tho The radiance which had pierced the thc blowing mist shone hono Into her eyes makIn making mak rank In lag ing them largo large and lark dark and wonderful wonderful wonder wonder- ful UI as wells cUs that mirror stars stare In black depths Oh save avo me me take me mo with wih you you you- whoever you ou arc wherever are cr wherever you ou go go- go anywhere awn away from Crom this this' thIs awful house she beg begged ed of the strangers as ashe she he car came flying across the dark flat Cat expanse behind th the battlements And eagerly Christopher Raco flaco and Paul Western put out their arms to reach and draw her Into the tho car cat But nut fate Cate came between them and tile the girl gIrl A new puff putt of wind caught the tho balloon again humping bumping the tho basket against the battlements so that both hoth men staggered and ani fell Cel upon their knees So great grent nn and PO so 10 sudden was I the strain that the lie branch which for a moment had arrested them broke roke with been in It i. i added Christopher Then that house must stand close to tho the Western estern said Ul ro ro being blown n hlo out to sea arent aren't wo ivo W finished Christopher 11 afraid wo We are aru the Uw other ad- ad nt r reat at Scot ot I wouldn't have ha had this happen for Cor nl anything IE Is I It SO t otis ous 1 Jiang danger I 1 wasn't thinking of or myself or or or you ou fit Ithiel her I was thinking I of or th the girl that girl that beautiful that thiat divine 11 girl |