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Show h... , Dramatized and Produced by the ' " VitagrapSi Company . t From the Popular Novel of the same name , I by C. N. and A. M. Williamson Everything You Read Here Today You Can See This Week I At Leading Motion Picture Theatres in Vivid Motion Pictures ' with MR. EARLE WILLIAMS as CHRISTOPHER RACE BILLIE BILLINGS as MISS CONSTANCE WARREN Next Week Another Story and New Pictures Copyright. 1916. by the Star Company. All Foreign Rights rosorved. ! tJELVPTER. VU I THE RED-WHISKERED MAX i ictTrrTIAT a queer placo for a rich man's I jU relatives to live!" thought Chrls- tophor, looking up In a puzzled way I at the tall, dilapidated houso In the Jewish I quarter of Amsterdam, In front of which ho itoppcd Scarlet Runner. Christopher, who by special arrangement und extra payment had brought tho motor across from England on tho night boat to the Hook of Holland, had spun along good clinker roads, bowling his car and his one passenger Into Amsterdam In tlmo for a late breakfast. That meal ho had taken at a hotel, whllo hiB employer (unknown to him a tew day3 before) had driven off in a cab to I tho house of a relative, who was expected to Join tho party for a week's run through Holland. Hol-land. Instructions woro that, after breakfast j -. ind a couple of hours' rest, Christopher was j to call at a certain address. Here ho was, then, In front of the house, 1j an ancient, secretive-looking building that nodded forward as If Its time to tumble into ruin might come at any moment; and a vague I suspicion of mystery in hiB errand suddenly i j Btolo Into Christopher's mind, j ' The young man who had engaged him and I Scarlet Runner the young man with tho i fcaturos, bearing, and manner of an Engllsh- i man, tho accent of Oxford, and the name of a !j i Dutchman, Van Cortland t had soemed frank- i j ncss Itself. He had insisted (as he was a Etrangcr to Christopher and the car was to bo taken out of England) upon paying fifty pounds In advance. He had bcon an agrce-iblo agrce-iblo companion during the run, showing himself him-self a cosmopolitan in knowledge of tho world, of literature, and of drama. Christopher Chris-topher was Inclined to like and admire his passenger, and fancied that the Dutch couBin to be visited in Amsterdam would turn out i merchant prince. Yet this was the cousin's houso ; the hour appointed had passed, and Koung Mr. van Cortlandt seemed In no hurry to appear with his relative. It was a house, Christopher told himself, I where things might happen ; and wasn't it, now ho came io think of it. a littlo odd that Van 'Cortlandt had asked him to wait without with-out sending In word or announcing his presence pres-ence In any way? "When ho had sat in front of the houso for a. quarter of an hour Christopher stopped tho motor: and it was just after ho had dono this that the door opened and a girl camo out. Sho woro a blue tissue veil draped over her hat. and tho long ends fluttered gracefully . behind her in tho slight breeze. Sho was li dressed in a neat, inconspicuous tailor suit i of dark grey, and carried In, her hand a roll ' i of music In a leather case. Perhaps it was ,j ! vanity on Christopher's part, but ho fancied that tho largo eyes glimmering alluringly through tho veil rested upon Scarlet Runner with Interest and oven curiosity. Ho , watched tho girl as sho walked to tho cor ner, and at tho end of the street saw her hail a cab. Immediately afterwards a man who had been staring aimlessly at tho bottle3 In a cheap halrdressor'8 shop on tho other side of the way became abruptly awaro that ho i had been wasting time. Ho hurried off I briskly In the direction tho girl had taken and also found a cab, so promptly as to sug-l sug-l I gest the Idea that it had been waiting hi3 I I orders. "Doesn't look like the sort of fellow who v could afford to drive," Christopher said to i himself faintly Interested, and jso forgetting ' ! his own affairs for the. Instant that it was a I surprise suddenly to see Mr. Ean van Cort-I Cort-I landt standing in the street. How he had got there Christopher was not ! sure, but one thing wa3 certain ; ho had not - ' come out of tho building In front of which ! Scarlet Runner had been waiting' for nearly i half an hour. Therewas a vaguo lmpres- , Blon In tho mind of Scarlet Runner's owner j that his employer had run down the steps of ! a house two doors farther on, but his j thoughts had been so occupied with tho do- ' ings of others at the ln3tant that he could not have sworn to this had it been to save his life or Van Cortlandt's. ! "Sorrv to havo kept you waiting, said the other. "It wa3 unavoidable," Ho paused ! for a moment, evidently having something more ho wanted to say and not knowing how I D0St to say it. "And I'm sorry too." Mr. van Cortlandt wont on. "that all my plans are changed. My cousin, who was to havo gono with ,mo on this motor trip, can't go family affliction. something quite sudden; and that being the case, I feel It would bo hard-hearted, as well as gloomy, to make the tour without him. t However you shan't suffer In any way by the change, Mr. Race, for matters between us ! Bhall stand exactly as If I'd been using your cac, for the noxt week, as arranged ; but I vo made up my mind to turn round and go back j to England today, after all." Christopher was surprised, but ho 6howod i no astonishment. Ho merely regretted, clvll- ly, that there was trouble In Mr. van Cort- landt's family and disappointment for Mr. H ! van Cortlandt himself. H Nothing could have been plcasantcr or H ' moro friendly than the manner of the two H ! young men In discussing the situation; nevcr- H i theloss. Christopher had a strong, If lne:c- plicable, conviction that, In some way and 1 I for some reason thus far incomprehensible, H he had been a tool In tho hands of tho other ; H that no 3udden j.ffiTctlon had befallen tho H Amsterdam rolatlves of Mr. van Cortlandt; ; H and that Mr. van Cortlandt had never really H intended to tako tho trip he-j professed to Hj abandon' with so much reluctance. I "Wo will go back now to your hotel, and HI 1 pick up the sult-caso which I asked you to leave there until my plans wore settled," n said Van Cortlandt. "There ought to bo tlmo for lunch, too ; but as. we have to ar- m ratoge for tho shipping of tho car tonight I don't want any contretemps, and I think we'd better order plenty of food and drlik to tako 1 on board tho car, xmd eat by the way when-ever, when-ever, we feel inclined." Christopher turned tho proposal over In his head, but could make nothing mysterious j of It; nor had. ho got hold of any further . cluo by the tlmo Scarlet Runner had landed i them at tho door of tho olll-fashloned Bible l Hotel. , When they had arrived there, he expected his passenger to go In and nee to tho fetching I of the suit-case, Avhlch, from tho first, Chrls- topher had ventured to think rather scanty m. provision for a week's tour. But van Cort- i landt had a different idea. Ho suggested that, a3 Rage had arranged for the disposal of the luggage, he had bettor bo the one to ask for it now; otherwise there might be a misunderstanding. Also ho was to order something to oat and drink on tho journey. Christopher ngreed, wondering, half humorously, humor-ously, half anxiously, if tho plot consisted in making off with Scarlet Runner during his absence. During ono of the moments when Christopher's Chris-topher's attention was dlvortod from his best-loved best-loved possession, Mr. van Cortlandt loft his scat and began examining the car with frank Interest His back was turned to tho door of tho hotel, where Chrlstophor stood guard, but when tho owner of tho car camo hurrlod-ly hurrlod-ly out, accompanied by a portor with tho suit-case and a waiter with a neat parcel, tho passenger was peorlng Into tho petrol tank. "You'ro sure thoro Isn't rather a queer smell?" he inquired. "I thought as we camo thero was bad carburation, or something. Chrlstophor, quick In defence of his darling, dar-ling, denied tho bad carburation, and ox-plalned ox-plalned to the amateur that, evon If It had existed, tho petrol In the tank could havo nothing to do with It. Thoy had an uneventful drive to the Hook. Chrlstophor, who lntondod as a matter of courso to guard tho car on board tho boat, expected that his passengor would take a cabin and rest during the passage which promised to bo disagrceablo owing to tho steamy, unseasonable heat of tho weathor. But Van Cortlandt would not hear of leaving his chauffeur to get through the night alono. That would not bo "sporting," said he; and tho two spent tho seven hours of the voyago together, never for a second out of sight of Scarlet Runnor. It was the grey, misty dawn of a mid-August mid-August day when the boat slowed into harbor. har-bor. Tho passengers looked shadowy and anxious as ghosts who had just been ferried across tho Styx. Chrlstophor and his companion com-panion had not seen any of tholr fellow-suf-forers during tho night, as thoy had got on board earlier than the others, on account of tho car. As they woro somowhat out of tho way of tho passing crowd, and could not leave tho ship until every ono else had gone, they would In all probability have got off as they had got on, without meeting a soul, had not a young woman, with a modest air of wishing to escape observation, flitted out of tho way of the passengers pressing up from tho cabins. Sho woro a neat dark grey tailor suit ; hor hat was draped with a bluo tissue veil which fell over and covered her face ; and she carried car-ried In her hand a leather-cased roll of music. "By Jove!" muttered Van Cortlandt under his breath; and Instantly It was clear to Christopher that ho was not alono In recognising recog-nising tho pretty, girlish figure. Race kept silence; but the other started forward for-ward and, without Joining tho girl, approached ap-proached near enough to call her in a low voice without being heard by any of tho moro distant passengors. Watching Intently, Intent-ly, Christopher saw her start peer anxiously through tho bluo cloud of her veil (which sho did not lift), and then flit quickly up to Van Cortlandt Evidently It was as great a surprise sur-prise for her to see him as it was for him to find her on board. But thoy talked together to-gether In whispers, speaking with intenso earnestness, tho girl's back turned to tho groups of passengers who stood or moved' about on deck. Among these, however. wa3 an olderly, spectacled man, with old-fashioned side-whiskers, side-whiskers, turning grey from sandy red, .whllo shaggy brows and lank hair matched In color tho grizzled, reddfsh bunches on his thin cheeks. He wore a soft felt hat, which looked as If ho had Blopt in it. and an overcoat over-coat so much too heavy for the heat of tiro weather that ho must havo suffered from its weight. Separating himself from the lino of passengers forming- to leavo tho ship, ho strolled towards tho retired spot where Van Cortlandt and tho girl in tho bluo veil wcro talking . together. Then suddenly his cyo3 behind his spectacles lighted upon Van Cortland's Cort-land's face and lingered for an Instant, his expression changing, v It waG at this moment that Christopher became awaro of tho man's existence. Ho saw him glanco at Van Cortlandt and turn away with 'some slight suggestion 'of haste ; but evidently Van Cortlandt had recognized in him another acquaintance. Tho face of his employer was turned from Chrl3tophci but tho quick start forward ho made told its own talo. "Jacobs, Is It possible?" Christopher heard Van Cortlandt ask. The other man hesitated as If unwilling to answer, and .Van Cortlandt spoke again sharply. "Surely you recognize me? Suroly you know who I am?" , supposo bo," tho stranger admitted at last. "Then In Heaven's name, tell me in the name of all the demons why you, too, aro on board this boat, when you .ought " But Raco caught no moro. Tho sandy-whiskorod sandy-whiskorod man moved closer to Van Cortlandt. Cort-landt. and tho two fell Into earnest conversation, conver-sation, to which tho girl listened without joining In. By this tlmo tho boat was moored and the pcoplo beginning to go off. Presently no one was left savo Scarlet Runner's owner, her lato passenger, and that passenger's two now-formed acquaintances. As tho last group crowded tho gangway Van Cortlandt came to Raco, leaving tho girl and tho elderly eld-erly man standing together. "I supposo you won't mind carrying throo of us instead of ono?" ho said. "A young lady I know has unexpectedly turnod up, and a man with whom I've had some buslncs3 dealings. I had no idea thoy woro on board with us until I saw them this morning. In fact. It's only by a series of accidents that they aro not somowhero elso. But being here, and both bound for London. If you don't object ob-ject I would llite to take them on tho car. They havo nothing with them except hand luggage." . Christopher answered that Scarlet Runner would not fool tho difference between two passengors and four; and as soon as tho car was on dry land nnd ready to start tho newly arranged party boarded her. Formerly Van Cortlandt had sat besldo the driver, and such luggage as the two young men carried was In tho tonneau. But now tho old man was placed In front with Christopher and Van Cortlandt was tho girl's companion In the tonneau. tho big kit-bag and sult-caso being put on tho roof. Neither of the new occupants of tho car was properly prepared for motoring. As for tho girl, her hat was low and broad, and bo-foro bo-foro starting sho took oft hor veil and made a scarf of It, which she tlod over her head and undor her chin. Thus Christopher's wlBh was gratified, and he saw that sho was very pretty, evon prettlor than ho had dared to picture her, after that tantalizing gllmpso of big, dark eyes. Sho was distinctly of tho gypsy type, with a dusky color coming and going under tho brown of her peach-smooth cheeks. Deep dimples sprang Into life ns sho laughed; hor groat black eyes woro exceedingly brilliant and full of expression, whllo every littlo ges-turo ges-turo had an Individual graco and eloquence which spoko of a singularly vivid personality There was no doubt that sho was a lady ; and tho first words that Christopher heard her speak told him that she was an American. In spite of the tiresome Journey and tho heal of the day, the girl was sparkling with thg Joy of youth and life, and was childishly de-lightod de-lightod with tho prospect of sevoral hours' spin in a flno automobile. Possibly, too, Van Cortlandt's prcsonco had something to do with her pleasure; in any caso it was plain thataho was an object of deep interest to tho young man, who could scarcely tako his eye3 from hor face. Tho man on tho front seat was apparently far from being as well satisfied with his situation sit-uation as the others. "He pulled hi3 hat as far down as possible to keep tho dust out of his eyes, turned up tho collar of his overcoat, over-coat, then norvously unbuttoned the great coat and throw It back, sighing with relief. "What kind of a person was It who followed fol-lowed you, Jacobs?" the young man in tho tonneau leaned forward to ask, after a long conversation with tho girl who sat besldo him. Jacobs swallowed heavily, and Christopher saw his hand tighten on tho bnck of tho scat as ho turnod to answer "Don't you think, Blr, that I that we that it might be wlsor not to " Van Cortlandt laughed. "Oh, I see, you think I'm Incautious in talking business before be-fore outsiders? That's like your prudonco, which my uncle described to mo when ho showed me your photograph tho other day, and told me what sort of man I must expect to And. But, as a matter of fact, we can speak as among friends here now that our errand has been done and wo'ro close to homo again. This young lady, Miss Warroh, has bcon on tho same mission that you and I have boon on." Tho man on the front scat gavo a Jump. "She, sir! And you, too, tho samo orrand as mlnel" 'Tes," 3ald Van Cortlandt. "You probably guessed when you wero introduced to mo, over thero, that you weren't tho only ono Bent" "I no reason was given mo to think that thero wero others," stammered Jacobs. "I supposed that mine was was the only message." mes-sage." " 'Message' is rather a good word ffor a The dlsgulttcd conspirators bold up the mesnengwa. cautious man like you." laughed Van Cort-" Cort-" landt "You'ro quite right, thcro's only one real 'mcssago,' as you call it; but thero aro three of sorts, and each of us is carrying one. Even I don't know which is which. It is a strange thing that all three should have been brought together In this car, when only ono should have como this way, another by Flushing, another by Rotterdam, as an additional ad-ditional precaution in caso of 'followers.'" "It is strango Indeed," said Jacobs, glancing glanc-ing stealthily at Christopher. "Oh, Mr. Race isn't In this, except that he's taking us all to London as fast as he can got us there three passongers instead of ono he'd engaged to transport As for Miss Warren, War-ren, she's rather a celebrity, too. If you wero an American Instead of what do you call yourself, Jacobs? you would probably know something about Miss Constance War-ron, War-ron, who writes for the papers. When this day's work la over, she will be privileged to mako of it what sho would call a 'story.' I got my uncle to employ hor, so that oho might get a littlo kudos out of tho thing after It was well over, and tho socrec could be allowed to come out But you haven't told mo yet what sort of person followed you, and caused you to think it would bo wiser to como this way Instead of going by Flushing as arranged." "It was a fat Jewish-looking man, sir." replied Jacobs, becoming glib at last. "I could hardly doscrlbe him beyond that ho had a hooked nose, a largo black beard, and was well dressed. Ho kept pressing against mo In the railway station, and looked at mo with such particular Interest that, when I got a chanco to escape in a sudden proso of tho crowd a lot of emigrants pouring into tho station I got away, and hastily docided to come by the Hook, I hopo you think I did right?" "Oh, quite, if you folt sure that your imagination im-agination wasn't playing games with you. Miss Warren's oxperienco was even moro trying than yours. Because of a person who apparently chased her in a cab from tho flrst, and who climbed into her railway carriage car-riage at tho last minute, 3ho Jumped out after tho train began to move, risking trou-blo trou-blo with Dutch ofllclals, to say nothing of brokon bones. Sho is a brave girl. But I knew that boforohand." And Ean van Cortlandt Cort-landt gavo Miss Warren a look which, If ho ' " The diamond la delivered to Peter Marlta. haa wished to hide his feelings for her, would have boon, to say tho least, lmprudont "I was qulto auro Imagination had nothing to do with it," Jacobs Insisted, anxious to oxonorato himself. "Of course, tho man may havo boon only an ordinary plckpockot But do I look llko a man whoso pockot would bo worth picking? This is tho watch I carry about with mo." And, somewhat ostentatiously, ostenta-tiously, ho pulled out a plain old gun-metal watch. Chrlstophor heard this talk with interest, and confessed to himself that, though it wasn't "his affair," he would llko to know the nature of tho message to which tho man bosido him had so cautiously referred. Before them now rose tho spires and the clustorod roofs of a village, and as thoy on-tored on-tored it Jacobs, who had boon silent after putting away his watch, turned again to speak to Van Cortlandt. "It would bo a great favor," ho said, "If you would bo willing to make a short stop here, sir, only long enough for mo to send a telegram. I don't know If your uncle mentioned men-tioned to you that my wife is ill and worrying worry-ing about this trip of mine?" Van Cortlandt consonted to tho slight delay, de-lay, and Chrlstophor stopped tho car in front of tho village postoffice. Jacobs scrambled lightly down, llko a younger man than ho appeared to bo ; and Christopher happened to notlco that his hands looked strong and muscular. As he hurried Into the postoffice Van Cortlandt strolled after him, buying a few stamps and standing near enough to take a glanco at tho address on tho tolcgram. This was not becauso ho distrusted Jacobs, but because he had much at stikc in this venture, and could not afford to take chances. The cipher message was unreadable, but tho nam of Jacobs stood out plainly at the top, and Van Cortlandt was satisfied, as he had expected ex-pected to be. At last they wero off again, but they had not gono far when Jacobs cried out that his handkerchief had Just blown away. It was ono ho valued ; his wife had embroidered his initials on it Really, ho thought ho saw it caught In a bush a little way behind. By Van Cortlandt's consent, Chrlstophor reversed the car and went back for half a mile ; but tho handkerchlof was not found, though Jacobs got out and thoroughly ransacked a group of bushes to look for It being gono somo time. Returning, he rojolnod tho road ahead of Scarlet Runner, which stood throbbing throb-bing lnVpatlent to bo off; and Christopher thought, as ho advanced towards tho car. shaking his head and bemoaning his loss, that he scattered something by the way. Starting on again, with tho nervous old man hardlV settled in his place, thore came a sharpV oxploslon, and Scarlet Runner had burst a tire. The sudQon sound gavo Jacobs a shock, which caused him to grip tho seat norvously and cry out. Ho had never been in a motor before, ho exclaimed, and thought that somo ono mu3t havo shot at tho car. Somo curious conjectures passed through tho mind of Raco as he did his work of repairing, re-pairing, with his three passengers sitting, or walking up and down, by tho roadside. What ho thought ho kept to himsolf, as It would havo been tho height of impropriety to accuse, ac-cuse, on the vaguest suspicion, tho trusted employe of his own employer, Nevertheless, when the tiro was changed and Scarlet Runner Run-ner on tho way onco more, ho threw an occasional oc-casional keen glanco at the whiskered faco under tho shadow of tho dusty hat-brim. Tho day grow moro and more sultry, and the air was- so heavy that even In driving thoro was no freshness. Tho thick dust also was very cllsagreeable, especially for the two new members of tho party, who wore unprepared unpre-pared for motoring; and-Chrstopher was not surprised when, after about two-thirds of the run to London, Jacobs complained of headache and vertigo. It waB. ho supposed, in an apologetic murmur, his Inexperience In motoring, as well as having been somewhat upset at Boa, which caused him to suffer now; but Christopher suggested that it was far moro likely to bo tho weight of his big overcoat, -and advlsod him to tako it off. There were no pockets on the outside, but thoro might well bo seyeral capacious hidden ones. And though Jacobs seemed so certain that the contonts of such pockots must bo safe, when ho had taken off the overcoat ho not onlv sat upon, but leaned both shoulders against It as It draped tho back of the scat Still, ho felt no better, and on coming in sight of an old-fashioned roadsldo inn not far outside tho dark fringe of London suburbs, he begged that tho car might pause at tho door long enough for him to get a glass of brandy. "Hadn't you bettor wait a bit till wo get farther on?" asked Van Cortlandt, not un-sympathotically. un-sympathotically. "Tho stuff's sure to bo bad here." "Oh, sir, if you knew how faint and queer I feel " faltered Jacobs ; and Christopher hastily slowed down in front of tho inn, 'where a small, uncovered automobile was already al-ready standing, covered with fresh dust. The whiskered face was grey with dust, thcreforo it was impossible to seo tho natural stato of tho sufferer's complexion; but ho Bat with eyes half closed and head bowed forward, for-ward, as If on the verge of unconsciousness, and Van Cortlandt jumped quickly out to order tho brandy. Miss Warren sprang down from tho car also, coming round to tho front 1 v for an anxious look a"t the nick man's face, and to ask If sho could do anything. Sho had hor leather-cased music roll in her hand, and Chrlstophor saw tho dullod eyea of Jacobs glance at it. from undor drooping lids. Thon,' Just as Van Cortlandt would havo entered the inn, out bur3t threo policemen. "Wo arrest you all on a warrant, chargod with theft." called out one. "and it will bo bettor for you not to resist." But Van Cortlandt did resist, and violently. Not for himsolf alone, but. for the girl. Ho hurled off tho man who grasped him by tho shouldor, and, springing to the aid of Miss Warron, dashed aside the big fellow In bluo whp would havo seized hor by the arm. Instantly Jacobs had waked from his dazed stato Into vivid alertness. The third policeman, police-man, who attempted to catch Van Cortlandt round tho waist, was sent reeling by a backhanded back-handed blow from a strong fist In deadly earnest; and, seeing this violence, seeing also the little crowd which quickly gathered at Van Cortlandt's cry of "Help!" Jacobs slipped out of tho car, lltho as a snake. "Don't resist 3afer not to resist, sir!" he cried ; and, while apparently wishing to aid his patron, so stumbled against him as to fling him into the arms of the .tallest policeman. police-man. Seeing himself trapped, Van Cortlandt cried to Race, "Ninety-nine Park Lane!" and at the samo instant something was tossed into tho tonneau. Quick as light. Chrlstophor took his cue and dashed off at speed. Jacobs and ono of the policeman tearing after him. "Ninety-nine Park Lane! Ninety-nine Park Lane!" Ho scorned to hear Van Cortlandt's voice still calling tho direction In his ears. At flrst the number had no spoclal meaning mean-ing for him, but as his flrst hot excitement cooled ho realized that 99 Park Lano had somo association of Importance In his mind. "By Jove, It's Marltz's houso!" he exclaimed. ex-claimed. And tho mystery of his tour and tho experiences attending It appeared suddenly sud-denly to 'flash with rainbow colors, clear and bright For Maritz was (and Is) a'South African Afri-can millionaire, president of the Bluo Slnbad Diamond Mines, Limited. A rumor had boon flitting about that ho had bought from tho company that great diamond latoly found In their own fields, named the New Koh-l-Noor. and that, with tho view of currying favor In high circles and perhaps securing a title, ho Intended to present it to tho trown. What If Van Cortlandt had journeyed to Amsterdam on business concerning the New Koh-l-Noor? The cutting of the diamond must have been dono there, and If the young man were a nephew of Peter Maritz (Jacobs had talked about "your uncle"), what moro natural that ho should be trusted to bring It back safe, despite all attempts likely to bo mado upon It en route If the sccrcf of the errand had leaked out? With these thoughts running through his head, Christopher slowed down just enough to make It safe to turn hjs head and give a quick glance behind, to seo what thing had been thrown Into the tonneau at the moment of his flight It was Miss Warron's music roll, and sho must havo contrived to toss It thero on learning learn-ing from Van Cortlandt's order that the car was to make a break for freedom. In hl3 haste to aid his omployer, or to mingle in tho tussle in somo way, Jacobs had Jumped out, leaving his precious overcoat; thorefore It was not strange that he had run screaming after Scarlet Runner. "From tho flrst I thought he was disguised and anxious to sreon his faco from tho light." Christopher thought. "That cipher telegram he sent! He'd just learned from Van Cortlandt that there were three messengers mes-sengers instead of one, and all, by a queor chance, in this car. Could ho have wired to bring thoso follows out? What if they're not ' policemen?" As tho last word formed Itself In his mind It was as though it had boon a magic summons sum-mons to call up othor men In bluo coats; for before Scarlet Runner had got her speed again throe uniformed figures leaped from behind a clump of trees to lino up across tho road. Christopher's first thought was to blame himself for slowing dowp to glanco behind, and to atone by making a dash, scattering tho men, who might be conspirators In the same plot But, even at a distance, his clear- ' sjghted eyes recognized a face ho had seen ' before. Ono of these" policemen was a well-known well-known "motor trapper," with whom Christopher Chris-topher had come into friendly contact moro than once. Whatover tho men at the Inn a mile back might bo, these were genuino servants serv-ants of tho law; and a brilliant Idea danced Into Race's mind. With the view of making it useful, he slowed down Instantly. "You've done the measured distance at a speed of llfty and a half miles an hour," said tho inspector of police, whom Christopher re- momberod, his stop-watch in his hand.' "Where's your license?" "Here It Is, and hero's my card." answered Race. "Don't you know me, Inspector In spite of the dust? And don't you know Scarlet Scar-let Runner?" 'Why, yes, Mr. Raco, I recognlzo you now," said the policoman. "I'm sorry to say, however, how-ever, as you wero going at such n speed " "First offense, Isn't it?" laughed Christopher. Chris-topher. "And when you've heard a word or two, I think oven you will say I was justified justi-fied in exceeding tho legal limit Summon me if you think right; but go back now to tho next public-house and rescue my passengers, pas-sengers, one of whom Is, I believe, a nephew of tho millionaire, Peter Maritz." Tho inspector waited to hear no moro. All his professional pride was on fire. "Go on, Mr. Race," ho broke in ; "we'll ovorlook your furious driving this time. And have no fear 1 for your friends." Never had Christopher driven so fast through traffic, oxcept on the day when ho followed tho automobilo with the Nuremberg Nurem-berg watch and at the last moment. an 1 he drove through bronzo gates Into tho mil- ! llonalro's famous courtyard, ho Just escaped being crashed Into by a passing motor omnibus. omni-bus. Tho gates had bcon opened, perhaps, for an electric brougham which stood before tho 1 door to pass out, and the servants in livery glared daggers at the reckless chauffeur who v t ( dashed in, risking a collision. But Chri Hl topher stooped Scarlet Runnor at a f?afo jii li tance, and called out that ho wished to rl MP. Mr. Maritz on urgont business. t At tho sound of that namo a gontUm w wit' looked from tho window of tho brougham fflll and his faco had been made familiar by t?1 mit samo methods which immortalized hlo rni ' if slon. n" "I como from Mr. van Cortlandt," added Christopher, thi3 tlmo addressing hlmceH ar-dlrectly ar-dlrectly to tho millionaire. Ho expected to ' 3? see a look of enlightenment dawn on thn 8r clover, somewhat hard, features. But to hla 3E& surprise, for an Instant Peter Maritz an. uSe peared puzzled, "Mr. van Cortlandt?' he re. uSl pcatod qucstionlngly. Then, with a sllrht uBT oxclamation and a change of expression, ha opened the door of the brougham before hla ' am alort servants had time to touch it "You havo a message for me from Mr. van! i Cortlandt7" he asked. H jflf "Not exactly a message," answerod Chris af tophor. "But I have news of Importance," Kt r "Como Indoors with mo and tell It, then,'' art r said Peter Maritz, who had tho mannorB ota' MP gentleman as well as the wealth of a mil, k &- lionalre. 1 ! v Christopher looked doubtful. "I'm not sura & about leaving tho car," ho replied in a lower ' j ?f voice. "I may bo carrying somothlng of ar '' l considerable value." Maritz nskod no furthor questions and ' ? made no new suggestions, but mounted to tha C ' $ seat besldo Christopher which Jacobs had last occupied, giving at the same time a ' , glanco at his servants -which sent them to a K distance. Race did not begin his story at tho be : K ginning, but very near tho ond, slurring over B what had happened until ho reached the K episode at the Inn. When Maritz heard that ! W Van Cortlandt and Miss Warren had been seized by men in tho dress of policemen, hla w dark face suddenly paled. fj 1- "But my nephew told you to drive on, to li 1 como hore?" ho demanded tersely. l! "Yes. And I camo as fast as I could, after ; Bending back threo genuino policemen to the fc rescue." k; "Thon where Is that which my nepher i trusted you to bring to mo?" m "He trusted mo with nothing except the fj Donse to understand his meaning. But Miss t Warren tossed her-muale roll into the car I as I shot away from the Inn." "That was clever of her, and showed that , ' Bho is tho right kind of girl. But, though j ; she thought sho was carrying something of ' Importance, as a matter of fact she wasn't. , Sho was a kind of decoy duck." "The man Jacobs, who I venture to be- ', llcvo is a fraud, disguised to look like some ; one else, left hi3 overcoat behind, very much against his will." "No doubt It was against his will, If he had ' nut a little nareel ha ouirht to have had Into i : ono of its pockets. But there's nothing In 1 that overcoat which can Interest me. And for " j the moment I'm not Interested In this spurious Jacobs, who was probably furious at being : scon by Ean on tho boat What 1 want is tho t thing which my nephew, whom you know .13 x Mr. van Cortlandt, must havo given you to 1 bring me, or he would certainly not havo sent you away from him with your car." "I tell you ho gave me nothing." persisted Christopher, beginning to resent the piercing glanco of tho millionaire. "If thero is anything any-thing of his on board It must be in his luggage." lug-gage." ' :t "Very well; we'll have the luggago down," said Maritz, ".and I will look through it hero and now, sitting by your side. Johnson" and he raised his tono imperatively "shut ' the gates." Tho bronzo gates closed, and the court- ' j'ard became as private a3 if It had been a vast room. Tho next order was for Van Cortlandt'3 ' i suit-caso to como down from tho roof of tho car, whero It had been placed when the now members Joined the party. A strange-looking, thin little key on tho millionaire's watch- , ; chain opened tho case as though it had been j mado for the lock ; and the absent man's clothing, neatly folded as If by a valet, lay j I exposed to view. Peter .Maritz lifted every- ,' thing out, shook each garment, and ran : -sacked each corner of tho handsomely fitted pieco of luggage, but the thing ho searched for was not there. Ho was looking very stern and anxious now. . "I am as suro as I am of my own life that ? my nephew would not have voluntarily re- i ? mnlned in the hands of thieves, sending you and your motor on. If ho had had on his 5 person tho thing I trusted him to bring back to me." said Maritz. with grim confidence. ;' "He himself did not know whether ho. MI33 Warren, or my old servant Jacobs was carry- i ing back tho real thing or an imitation; 1 nevertheless, as he know the chances wcro ; i ono in threo that he had the right one. ho . ' would havo died rather than risk breaking ; faith with mo." ' "I can give you no explanation of the i ; mystery." said Christopher. "Now that you are here, in my courtyard, there Is no reason why I shouldn't confirm ' t your suspicions," replied Maritz, In a moro conciliatory tone. "You ought to have wltn ' i you tho New Koh-l-Noor, of which you must havo heard. You see I havo cause for anxiety, and havo had causo enough over since tho truth about my purchase of tho ; i finest diamond found in a hundred years un- fortunately leaked out. I was certain that a well-known gang of diamond thieves would 1 be on tho lookout for tho stone on its way ) bacjc from ' Amsterdam, and I did my best toguard it. It was my nephew's idea to em- ; ploy you nd your car; and knowing your - namo and tho reputation you made in Dal-vanla, Dal-vanla, I approved tho notion. As for giving 1 i you a false name, ho did nothing of the sort 1 ' His middle namo Is Van Cortlandt his last 1 Is the samo as mine ; though he has lived ' much abroad, and. luckily for my project, la , scarcely known hero, as yet. You can see ' why ho did not wlsh'to give his own name, j Maritz, on account of tho association. It was better for you to know nothing, and you need have no resentment if ho was not entirely entire-ly frank. Tho mission was not his own, but mine, though if he succeeded ho was to bo i made my private secretary, with such a salary sal-ary as to keep himself and a wife, if ' chose to tako ono Miss Warren, for instance 1 in luxury. Now you understand what hung upon success, for him, and you must seo t that ho would not easily fall me. If you aro hiding anything becauso you think you jj haven't boon treated fairly " Christopher broke In with a protest; but tho position was now becoming worso than uncomfortable Ho was at his wits' end, ' and In his desperation would havo told tho millionaire to send for the pollco and have ' him searched, if he chose, when a loud clang: : at tho gate bell cut him short. "Keep everybody out'" cried Maritz. ' "What If It is your nephew himself!" exclaimed ex-claimed Christopher. "Thon let him in," amended tho master of the house; and an instant later the small gate at tho sldo of the great ones was opened i to admit Van Cortlandt-Marltz, with Mis3 Warren. "Hurrah, uncle 1" cried tho young man. "Wo hired a motor and came on like lightning light-ning after the rescue. Poor old Jacobs was drugged on his way to get tho diamond, it soems ; and who but tho notorious Tom Aslley did the trick and disguised himsolf so woll I think evon you wouldn't have detected de-tected tho fraud so well ho was exactly like Jacobs' photograph which you showed mc and got tho parcel. But he's caught, and nla three, confederates ; and the diamond's In his ; ovorcoat This girl Is tho trump I told you sho would jbe. and hor packet she threw into j tho car, as Mr. Raco must have told you. "But yours yours, Ean; that Is what I want," almost panted tho millionaire. ' "I stuffed it Into tho petrol tank just room to squooze it in," said the young man. calmly.- Then, turning to tho girl, ho catight hor hand. Won't you havo a 'story to , write?" ho cried. "And it will havo to end with our wedding." "Forgive me for everything, Mr. Race, nald Peter Maritz. "You must como to that wedding." (A'cw Adventure Next Week) V ill |