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CDC v .THE GREAT ROttA? I n s> LOUIS JC Arove/izatton of the Ah Same Name Produced Film Service, Inc., (. , i fVbarton, Inc. THE CAST. MRS. VERNON CASTLE as Patria Channing. MILTON SILLS as Donald Parr. I WARNER OLAND as Baron Huroki. DOROTHY GREEN as Fanny Adair. EPISODE ONE The Last of the Fighting Channings. Down on the benches, whose gold broke the umber and slate nionotouy of rook-girt island shores, soft winds played. Hut here in the wooded uplands the air was moveless; against the brooding woodland hush the slightest alien noise attained sharp relief. <Jne such began as a remote vibration troubling the stillness, waxed apace in volume, became quickly recognizable as hoof-beats. A horse appeared, racing like a mad thing down a narrow bridle-path little bolter than a neglected trail. < >11 its hack, cross-saddle, sat a young woman. Of a sudden she chose to interrupt that headlong llight. Kicking tt stirrup free, the girl turned in her saddle and looked back. Presently, round the nearest bend, another horse pounded, hard ridden by a young man with a temper. At sight of his well-favored young face darkened by a sulky frown, the girl threw buek her head and laughed outright. "Why, there you are, Kodnoy !" she cried. "Where have you been all this time?" Wer banter only served to darken bis scowl. "No fair!" he protested, drawing rein. "You can't eaii that a raw! You shot away without u word ?if warning!" "Why," she said, with guilelessly widened eyes, "you yourself started ">V/'<>h^jnit yob did. You knew perwell I've put you on an allowr.:_: of two proposals per day?one after lunch, one after dinner. So when you begin the very tirst thin;* after breakfast"?her J#?'v??b?d v*"' " "nteh - ? ? 4' -? 9 f 1 - "* flashed looiueiitnrlly in the sunlight? "well, before noon, anyway?you as good us invite tne t<? run away from -foii us fast as ever 1 can/' , Me refused to be trilled with. Ho waft very young?almost as young us she?and took love seriously. '^Patrin V7* " ~ "^lie miiuicked provokingly his tone: "Rodney ?" "You're ordy playing with tne. It ? it isn't worthy of you, l'at. Surely you must know whether you lovo ine i?r iKilj^ ? ? " U declare I d "she replied, a tT&ee more serlousl>\ mnm '??? " "You don't know your own mlndV" "In the eyes of the law I'm a minor <md can't know my own mind-. That s why I must have h guardian to manage my ttltairs." "NoUsense. You'll be twenty-one tomorrow." "Hut the law is the law, even when it's mi ass. How can I know my own aiind about you when the law says 1 can't? Really, Mr. Wrenn," she teased, *you must be reasonable. Wait till tomorrow." "Vca mean," he interposed eagerly. "*you'll give me my answer then?" "Who knows? If you can't be pa tlent till I'm of age?a woman growi ?I'll have to refer you to Peter Rip toy. Vou might wire him?something like this: 'Vour ward, Ratria Chan aing, doesn't know her own mind Please advise immediately, at my ex pense.' " His ill-humor broke down complete ly. "I'atrla, you witch!" he cried, try lug to capture her hand. But she was prepared for tlpit, am too quick for him. A touch of he HB" jPIH^r She Never Could Quite Recall Wh Passed Between Them. i RIA<CE?f PREPAREDNESS : )5EPn VANCE n ouort I*icture Play of the ' jor the International K^i Jnder the Direction of Copyright S/sr heel nnd a lifted rein whirled Kitchener roend in his tracks. In n twlnkling he was dancing half a dozen feet away. Taken a second time by surprise, the hoy swore petulantly us he sawed! at the reins, llis coh resented this; and turned awkwardly. .The girl had , a long lead on the pursuit before it was well renewed. Even without that advantage the chase was hopeless. She had the bet-1 ter horse and the instinct of her sex to hoot. Little wonder, then, that in the pride of fearless and carefree youth she rode recklessly?who loved reck! less riding?the swing of a thoroughbred beneath her. the long rob of earth-spurning hoofs, the sweep of the wind iu her face! . . . Without warning, all this was changed?changed beyond repair. Thickest trees and underbrush masked impenetrably the next Lurn ahead. The horse took the curve like a sHrrel thunderbolt. A human shape, small and brownish, dodged directly into his path. There was a shock, a shrill cry. a sickling thud. The horse I plunged furiously. I'naccounlnhly I'jttria lost control of him?felt the saddle slip from under her. dropped her crop, lost the reins, grasped wildfy at the air as she fell herself falling. SECRET SERVICE. "Lore I" The warning came from a distance ami was only to be expected iu view itf tlin fuel f 1? b t litil.'t! IniPiloinwl t tw* woodland. Donald 1'arr hoard 1ml paid 110 hood. But ho startod and stopped stock -till when a whitish sphere sped like a bullet within six inches ot his nose. For several seconds ho remained stationary, looking keenly about him. Then, well toward the edge of the woodland, a Muttering bit of white caught his eye and forthwith disappeared; and with a noncommittal grunt Parr moved toward it. Ten yards, and lie paused again? I 11,"K' behind a sizable tree. - , Immediately ahead a dense thicket blotted the fair pr?i>pect of the links, and behind ibis", "his hack to Parr, ' skulked an undersized person clothed in those amazingly ugly garments whbdi the motor-eyelist of today affects. lie was busily unknotting a handkerchief from the end of a stick. Now* ami again he peered stealthily over lit" top ot the tldcket. Beyond, on the links, four figures ' were visible. Of these, three remained In the background, two being caddies, ( the third a tall and slender gentleman in rakish white flannels. The fourth, ' u man of middle age, neither tall nor short, b_jl tolerably stout, and comtuolTy Well If not unsuitably dressed for the game, appearing sedulously to seareli for his lost golf hall, boldly left the links, and without further sulv , t orfiigo roMT?'i?.(| the thickets niulSlopped before the motor-cyclist, who grcelnl him \vtli\ u salute of deep re* spect. Parr's teeth tightened on his briar, By tbis alone did he betray surprise? if surprise it were. This closer view showed him that goltist ami cyclist alike were Japanese, the yclist jf the commonest easto, the other . . Well, it happened that Parr knew the other both by sight and ill1 repute. He called himself Baron lluroki. Hi? was the only son of a Samurai, si man of much influence in Tokio. and ^ *' ....... .......1,1, il . rit'to Hi! II > (IM U I'ii I I II, n iiurr rui ^ i i i ^ i i diplomatist hn<l frequent l.v 1 M'cn lemoiistl'utc(l in the course ??f a long r arct'C as Japanese ambassador to . various European capitals. The offspring of a marriage with an EngMsh. woman <?f title, the present Rnron lluroki had inherited all his father's wealth, together with much of bis cunning, his courage, nd his morals ?or lack thereof. Acknowledging the obeisance with r the most brusque of gestures the baroir silently held out his hand. As silently the motor-cyclist produced a folded slip of paper, and placed it in the expectant palm. Huron Hurok! unfolded and scanned what was written upon the paper, pocketed It whipped (?ut a notebook, rapidly pen ciled one of Its leaves, tore this ou! j and gave it to the other. Then, aftei a few curt words in Japanese, s( guardedly pitched that Parr couh make nothing more of them, he strod< I j iriskly hack to the links. | I Delaying only to fold and secret* | | the baron's message in die leather o | tils cap, the motor-cyclist trotted of | through the trfes. 1 After a brief moment of Indecision T Parr left cover ond darted after tli & Japanese. % The path debouched Into n shalloi k-. glade, crossing another. At this poir Ey the gods launched at the devoted .laj unese their holt In the shape of splendid sorrel saddle-horse with slim young unman on Its back. % THE HOKKY HRRi They came together squarely. In n trice the motor-cyclist was bowled over and stretched out unconscious. The sorrel went to his knees. His fair rider shot on, over his head. it came ui> just In time, and without other choice than to receive her lu his arms. The young woman stood before hint, trembling and out of breath, but obviously unharmed. So far, good; Parr wasted no more solicitude on her. His Japanese remained to be attended to. That one lay senseless, as he had fallen. On his knees beside the man, j a hasty examination persuaded Parr that lie had suffered no really serious hurt. His cap had dropped off iu the collision. Parr deftly extracted the; folded paper from its leather, rose, I and turned hack to find the young; woman, whose life he might reasonably be credited with having saved, regarding him with a look in which considerable amusement was mixed with as much chagrin. "If you will permit me," said he, offering his hands with fingers interlaced. She hesitated. Amusement glimmered again in her eyes. The corners of her mouth twitched adorably. But with no more than a conventional, "Thank you so much!" she coolly lodged the toe of a small boot in his hands, and sprang into the saddle. : Before be could move back, a second horse galloped into the glade and pulled up smartly. A voice of amazement sainted him. "Donald Pnrrl Well, I'll be jiggered !" Captain Parr swung about. Tindney!" he exclaimed, pleased; and striding over, warmly shook the newcomer's hand. Behind his hark the girl's voice rang <?ut in sharp warning. Followed the sound of plunging hoofs. Hi* wheeled, ii'.sti,icti\ely whipping an automatic from his pocket. lie saw her spurring full-tilt at the Japane.se That one, it seemed, had quietly regained his senses and got. to his feet, simultaneously producing a pistol of his own. But he had no chance to use it; the lmrse was upon imin loo ipneuiy. hi another breath the man had tripped and half fallen? half thrown v himself hodily hack through a mask of undergrowth. He disappeared instantly. Without hesitation, Parr pursued through the hindering tangle. On its far side he paused and listened. The Japanese had vanished. His eagerness to inform himself concerning Baron Iluroki's message wotdd brook no more delay. Quickly he unfolded and smoothed out the pa"?robe the private affairs of Peter Ripley, trustee for Channings estate, for reasons for persistent discrimination against Mexican contracts." By no means as puzzled as his frown might have hoe# taken to indirate. Parr thoughtfully refolded the paper, put it away in his card case and plowed hack through the undergrowth to the glade. The girl was still there, with Rodney Wrenn. *T>on!" he cried as Parr rejoined them, "you're a wonder! If it hadn't been for von?" ?i?i "Pure accident !" Parr interrupted, lifting a deprecatory hand. "That doesn't make it any the less true; you saved me a nasty fall," the girl iftsfsted cordially. "Well, . . Parr admitted with a significant look to Rodney. ; "oh : ' ! The Imikt hastened to remedy his ove'rViiJii. nl*ormit hie, Patria. to iuttiaUlee my friend. Captain ! Parts pen. ilds Is Miss Clmnning." vl'he girl leaned forward, giving cool lingers transiently to his grasp. "Captain Parr, did you sayV" "of the regular army!" Rodney added. "I'm so glad," Patria said warmly; "doubly glad to meet a soldier, Captutu I *:i rr All till' men of mv. family have Itoon soldiers, patriots, all tlie way hack to Revolutionary days. They used to call us 'the Fighting Channings.' "Iiut that's all ended now. I'm the last of the <'bantlings?and a girl can't tight." J'arr Imsitntcd a little. "T mustn't sail under false colors," he faltered "The truth is?I resigned my commis sion last month." "The deuce you did !" Rodney com mented. "Then I'll go bail I know why." Tallin turned curiously to him. "I am always had a genius for de teclive work, and ariny ?* rvice offer: ? man mighty little opportunity t< 1 exercise anything like that." Ilodne; 1 delihcrafely ignored Parr's tuovemen 1 1 ___________ ilpTfT" r \ I ttMp.wvX'V. . -A 5 : \ : , ....,.?.. y a -i? ? : "' ' "' i The Gasolii H.D. CONWAY. 8. 0 of protest. "If Donald Parr is out of ? the army. It's a pipe he did it solely a to outer the secret service ire.d become | his country's fuithful sleuth! Eh, s Don?what?" t "If so, wouldn't it be highly hulls- , h creet of me to admit it?" ;s "Whether or no," Patrla came to his j b rescue?"can anything prevent your j? coming to tea this afternoon? The j * Channing cottage?you know?near j * the Cliff walk? I do want to ^ know you better, Captain Parr?hut | we're already in danger of being lute for lunch.' v t CODE MESSAGES, v t Parr pondered the adventure soberly over u lonely lunch in an incon- * spicuons corner of the Casino. c U'Ul.ln l.!u .V*-- t m i i 1111 a uin i UUIU9 ui > i.^umi n vir seated both persons, aside from hhu- < self, involved in the as yet obscure u intrigue, and with them some others. < Not far away, deep in confabulation i with the white-flannelcd gentleman who had been his companion ot the t links that morning, was Huron liu- * roki. A discreet inquiry elicited from i Captain Parr's waiter the information that the ha roll's friend was one Senor < Juan <ie Lima, a wealthy Mexican. < "Probe the private affairs of Peter t Ripley for reasons tor persistent discrimination against Mexican contracts!" * This Senor de Lima, then was a fourth party to the intrigue. If any more proof of that were l needed, it was furnished by lluroki, 1 who, upon the arrival of Miss Chan- * uing and her party, covertly designated her to I>e Lima, muttering some- 1 thing which Parr would have given t much to overhear, and which seemed to exert a rather incendiary elYect * upon inliatnmahle Mexican emotions. > Patria was hardly seated when a page called Baron lluroki ti? the tele- s phone. Intuition whispered to the understanding of Captain Parr. lie was entertained by a mental vision of an unhappy and exeited little Japanese ' in the dress of a motoreyelist stammering the story of a purloined message into a telephone receiver. When Baron lluroki returned wear- 1 ing a countenance whoso racial serenity was perceptibly ruflled, Captain Parr smiled grimly into his demitasse. Shortly after this he got up. strolled unobtrusively out of the Casino and found the nearest telegraph office, where he concocted a lengthy code message 10 oue rwiwaru w. uyiey in Now York. . . . The answer was delivered as Captain Parr dressed for dinner, and caused a considerable interruption of that ceremony. "Itipley doesn't know Huroki, but says private advices persuade him Japan conspires to embroil United States with Mexico. As patriot and trustee for C'hanaings, Ripley has repeatedly refused of late to accept arms and ammunition contracts for delivery in ( Mexico. Declares his life mysteriously threatened. Is worried about Patrla Chanuing,' who, on tomorrow, takes over sole ownership of Cluuinlug, Inc." J r' LONG DISTANCE. Without the least warning, on impulse of exasperation. Rodney Wrcnn all but lifted Pntriu otT her feet, swinging her bodily from the fhrouged ballroom ti'-or to the -vmiseelusion of a deep window ret masked with p?li it s. ? "No?wait !" he insisted witit peremptory gesture when, mustering her surprise, Patria drew herself tip to the full dignity of her incites and made as if to pass him. "You don't get off so easily?not until you've explained what's come over you tonight to make you treat nte like this!" "Hilt I think it's for you to explain hv what right you make a fool of me before toy guests!" "i can't help it. I'm sorry, but? you're driving me crazy. You don't wear my orchids?you ignore the note I sent with them?you've even got tink other man's roses at your waist? I Parr's, I daresay!" He paused; and Patria was motnenk tnrily discountenanced. Her glance winced, and the hoy pounced furiously upon 11 icit betrayal. "They are Parr's?curse him! , The fellow's bewitched you?that's the ^ whole trouble. You've lost your head ?vou're clean head over heels In io? : ? "I'odney !" s, Pntrln fought with herself to deny , hor linger. But suddenly with a tfesv lure liulf of despair, half of rutfe, Bodt nev spared her further effort?turned MME* '-2ZL 2iiij?SSiw?? mm? mmvimmmmm^mmmfm?rnmmmm^3SSSS!S!^^^?^^m^mmmmm ie Tank Exploded. % nd toft her, plunging blindly back j cross the crowded floor. Promptly Patrla forgave him. Glad he had been spared the regret sure o follow hard upon any exhibition of ter temper, glad of a little time alone, he stepped quietly back through the ong window opeuing on the vernuda >f her home; and immediately paused n disappointment, not tlnding there he privacy she had hoped for. Near her window two men stood alking. One faced her, a substantial rigure in evening dress, the otl^r, rlth back to her, a little man of fur- j ive presence, oddly like the Japanese , vhoiu Kitchener hud bowled over in he woods that morning. She had hardly appeared hy the j vindow when the man in evening ; Ircss nodded iUeasantly, as if ternii- j lating a casual conversation, and the ! itlier steppeu; instantly yet without ' ippureut haste, down to the lawn and ' luiekly disappeared amid the sliad?ws of shrubbery. Tht? incident made little impression lpon her, l?ut she was relieved to <ce uie remaining guesi luril 1111(1 leislrely saunter away. As lu? rounded the further corner >f the house, a shaft of light from unDlher window identified ids profile, jninistakahly as Huron lluroki's. > A light footstep sounded behind her; die roused in dismay, striving to culm i heart i-n panic. "Mees Chmining?" Patria all but giggled with the roueion from her fear lesi Captain Pan tad found her there, in a mood nil toe liolting. "Is it you, Senor de Lima? How fortunate! 1 haven't bad a real ehance fo speak to you tonight, but now?' I'atria was startled to find I >e Lima o elose beside her; his breath fanned ter check. "Mees dimming Patria? I low roil!" "All, but pletise?!" "No?listen t<> roe. I beg you will natty me. 1 am mad about you ?" "Volt are mad indeed, Senor de Minn, to imagine I'd ever marry nuyuie l ut mi Ameriean !" "Vou will forget that?in my arms!" Patria uttered a slight cry. lie hum bad taken unto himself one of ter hands and was covering it with visses. As if in answer to that cry, she tea ml De Lima's half smothered e? lumation of annoyance, l'elt her hand ihruptly released, and discovered Captain l'arr standing almost hetweeil Item. "Pardon, Miss dimming, but tills is n.v dance, isn't it?" She laiiglted a little, almost hystercully: "Is it, Captain Parr? Why, yes, ?f course it is! How stupid of me! You will forgive me. Senor do Lima?' The Mexican recovered admirably, stopping back with a bow. The music ceased; their flying feet svere stilled; Putrid awoke as from a Iream. A faint suggestion of applause made her appreciate that they had had the lloor practically to themsel ves. Her embarrassment was such that ?he never kne\Y just what it was she said to Captain 1'arr as they hastily, by way of another window, sought the refuse of the veranda. She never, Indeed, could quite recall what passed between them in the . our.se of the next few minutes. A footman found them with the In'ovmalion that Patria was wanted on he telephone; Ijong distance calling from New York. A little dazed by the conflict of her senses, she responded mechanically. A moment later she was in the library?quite by Jierself?with a receiver to her ear. Then a voice faltered through the night, a voice most clear, yet strangely faint, iterating her name?"Patria"?over and over. She managed to make the speaker understand that she was I'utria. "Peter Itipley speaking?your guardian. The nation's welfare rests with you. And 1 tun dying?" On the echo of that last word the report of a pistol shot reverberated over I lie wire, so loudly and soeminglj so near at band that it. might hsivt been tired in tlie room adjoining thai wherein Patria stood. Almost instantly it was echoed bt rtii'M iin 1 rjM/i ii Thereafter?silence . SHORT CIRCUIT. | She found herself hack on the ver anda, almost Incoherently babbling t Donald Purr. "I tried my best to get. the Conner tion re-established. Long distance sal there was no answer from the othe end?said Mr. Ripley wouldn't answc repeated rings. Something drendfi i has liappened to ldm, I know. I inu* get to New York somehow tonight. I He nodded sympathetically. "A right. That's settled. I've got a spec launch at anchor in the harbor. Tin might turn the trick for us." i I k*. <lw>nlr 1>AI1 I Wlllf ft\T ino". * *11# lllillin k?I?U If HIV ?V i Patria pointed?"over there?hulf wt down the drive." "A8 you wish." "Thank you?" | She darted swiftly into the hou? [ Parr hod Just brought the rondst \ to a standstill at the point indicat!j by Patrla when another ear, a llmo iji sine, swept at reckless speed dov l\ the drive toward the gates. As it passed, Parr caught a glimp ; of a passenger who, leaning from t window, was shouting some indisti I' guishable instructions to the ehai 2! feur. That man was Union Iluroki hi self. - g K-.w what culled hint away In such mad haste? No opportunity was given the coptain to puzzle out that riddle. For once In u way a man was unable to complain that u young and beautiful woman kept lilni waiting overlong while she changed her clothes. The bnrotrs limousine was barely outside the grounds when Patria stood beside the roadster. She was In her scat by the time Parr had re-collected astound.<1 wits. Almost noiselessly, with silken pur?,< the roadster stole away. Five nilnutca^, of nni**g through the broad, tree-IIneo* avenues and threading the narrow streets of the ancient seaport, and Parr brought the car to a standstill 011 the waterfront of the inner harbor. ^ Abandoning the machine 'needlessly, the two ran out upon a yi ehl clubdock, tumbled from this to r. landing float and thence into a small rowbout ?whose boat, Parr never learned. lie bent his hack with a will to the Oars. His power boat was moored well out, on the farther fringe of that I The Report of a Pistol Shot Reverberated Over the Wire. flotilla of pleasure eraft which dolled the inner harbor with a hundred si en- I ler, wraithlike shapes of silver. The night was clear, culm, and very still. Sounds traveled far over its ' burnished waters. lOven above the dip and slither of his own oars, I'an* could hear, as he pulled, the creak of liter oar-locks; and as he laid alongside his speed launch and stood up to help J'atria hoard it, he distinctly heard somewhere near by the drum of two other motors start up almost simultaneously, i Was one IIurokTs? Parr wondered. V\'? u t it o t o/itll loiiWt ti'o linot If ilotm i?t !?* ? HUM ^riiuviUHll n m | III 1 I Ul *T from tli** ('banning cottage but a include to n mad dash with an aim like unto 111< ir own? ltunmng forward, lie cast off the mooring, then came aft again and, j preparatory to starting the engine, shot i lioine the ignition switch. i i Instantly with niuflled detonation am) ' | orilliant flash, the gasoline tank in the I bows exploded. I lllinded, half stunned, Patriu reeled ] back into the captain's arms, and for j i moment remained there, while both struggled to recover from the shock. Hut Parr was less aware of her In that (intimate position than might have been expected, even the bewildering ircuinstances considered. For there was hut one thought coherent in the l urmoil of his mind : The electric wiring must have been ( purposely diverted to the tank In order to cause this explosion when the switch was closed. An enemy had done this thing. . . . Dully he heard a voice shouting r I "Mces ('banning! Mees I'atria 1 ThMU 'way?I save you!" %' i Patrin disengaged from Parr's arms; he rubbed his eyes, looked, and saw another power boat standing along1 side. In it, fishing with a hoathook ' for the side of tlie launch, stood Senor ^ Juan de Lima. L | With much excuse Parr thought this j rescue oddly opportune. Then the j ! DoaiuooK cuugnr urn minwiiic; rue iw> ; small craft swung nearer together. De Lima leaned perilously out, offering Patrla a hand. She caught it. .Jumped, landed safely. Parr climbed up on the side and prepared to follow. But while posing for the leap, he saw the 0 water swiftly widen between him safety. W rb? Limn was not waiting for him. cj Very much to the contrary, the Mexl, can was deliberately pushing off. ,r Parr cursed hiin liberally, finding in jj this sufficient jiroof that the explosion ,t had been no mere accident?even as there bad been nothing adventitious jj about the timely coming of lie Lima's , boat. Pntria was wanted; be, Donald Parr, was not?was to be left to burn and drown. That he purposed doing . neither was beside the point. But the Mexican's strata gem failed iy In its upshot. Parr laughed aloud, to see De Lima turn back to re-enter the cockpit of his vessel and find himself nose to nose with a small hut decidie* edly wicked-looking pistol in Patria's i el. hand. With a scream of mingled fright t'fli "r" surprise the Mexican dropped the boaiv * hook find toppled backward1. The harbor took him to Its bosom. Great and ^ greatly satisfying was the splash thereof. |M* Putting up her pistol, Putrin seized l1^" the boat hook and with It bridged the yawning gap. Parr Jumped, and fell nl" In a heap at her feet. He wasted 110 precious moments In