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Show BEAVER CITY PRESS i ne JoyoflLmini By Sidney Gowing lLOSE CALL, PARTNER- Illustrations ktal the.proe- viau u uw a mootn w aunt. k t Jervaulx abbey, and her L Alexander Lambe.' Aimee, fciou. daushter of the Vary S0PBIS.-EHll- of ' I. Copyright Viscount Bcroopa, wan-iin- to the park. ther encoun-- L Strang youth. Ha Uughintroduces himself aa "Billy." Wan. The two rtda on hla Vend arcycle. the "Flying Sphinx." part. With Gaorflna Bernere, Icouain. Aimee aaU out tor Jar-- k Sha decldea that Georgtna impersonate her at Jervaulx.U she goea on a hoUday. Geor, horrified proieei u my. Aimee again maeta tells her hie name ia Dpenwr, hera aa Amy onooaa, she fivea -nut of a lob." Billy L to take her Into partnership Jelling tha Sphinx. In a aplrtt idcap aaveniurw, muw v. two proceea va mm. ww , i. ,hoe, taking aeparai vy cottage. That night Aimee Georgtna and teama mat mm i.tiAn has not oeen aiacoverea. I compels Oeorglna to continue I subterfuge. On a trial apln, Billy, Aimee almoat ooUidea f n"'" a ifr ' In carriage whielt ax Jmt. Ucorgina uu escape unrecognixea. piiir rgina learns that Lord Bcroopa omlng to visit Laay Jtryuiea Is In hopeless bewilderment. Is secretly Tiniung JUT- - Aimee irzlna at Jervaulx, tha place Is iglsxized. Aimee escapes. Continued. reached the opett there t when I one to be seen," pursued the whose throat ached with the o make his mistress hear; to was, however, a dim light, a glow, in one or tne windows; i It 1, asking whose iidi window?" asked Mr. Lambe Jr. was" unable to say for am certain; her ludyshlp's or Miss Scroope's, is next to Perhaps, 11 we f it Ollt" . - I a r.rytnea immediately tea me Iiiniii.sii uiv iiuiii run au.c ere is a light full on In one of xmis now !" said Alexander. Is Aimee's room," said Lady ea. Like a tnunaercioua Bne t upstairs and beat upon the door iy r niece. iniee! Open the door. Why ls light onT -- I'm so frightened, aunt!" cried "I dare not be In MnMing voice. cam i aare not. cannot hear you 1" said Lady Ery- - Ellsworth Young IW by Sidney Cowls spector almost Joyously, as one wboJ seems hla theories confirmed. "Sergeant, get after them at once In the ear take Poison with you. As we oldnt meet them they must have taken the branch lane at the cross roads away with you, man quick 1" "I shall consider no reward too great, If my emeralds are recovered 1" exclaimed Lady Erythea, as the car drove away. "Do yon think your men will be successful Inspector? My butler allowed the malefactor to slip through his fingers In the most fatu-- . ous manner. Can you" "One moment 1" Interrupted the Inspector. "The thieves were seen then, by your ladyship's servants Was one of them a woman V Pe had to bawl the question Into Lady Erythea's which Alexander brought When she understood. Lady Erythea's eyes flashed fiercely. "Yesl" she exclaimed, "a young woman. You suspected a woman then before you came here?" "I do more than suspect my lady," said Inspector Panke grimly. "I know I" "Who was this woman. Inspector, and when do you propose to apprehend her? We have 'a piece of the creature's skirt 1" "Hah 1 let me see It at once 1" said the Inspector, his eyes lighting up. It was brought to him and Its capture ex plained. Inspector Panke examined the yard of cloth, tried Its strength. rubbed It held Hv up to the light, peered keenly at the torn edges. "Good!" he said undef bis breath, and turned upon Mr. Lambe so sharp ly that that gentleman jumped. "Your telephone, sir where is It?" "Who Is the abominable creature?" exclaimed Lady Erytbea. "And why ls she at large, a scourge upon the country, breaking Into" "She won't scourge It much longer,' said the Inspector grimly. "I'll very soon give your ladyship news of her I want the telephone, quick I" "This way," said Mr. Lambe, and led him to the call-rooInspector Panke remained at the Instrument a considerable time. He emerged tri 1 t, fcHAPTER VIM by However, there It is. And this bit of blue cloth, sir. concluded Inspector Panke, holding It up, "ls going to put Calamity Kate In my hands." He folded the torn fragment of cloth, put It In his pocket, and moved briskly to the door. "Ooodnlght, sir I Before very long IH show you the rest of this skirt and its owner I" CHAPTER X Action and Mora. Billy Spencer, sitting In his austere ly furnished bedroom, looked unusu ally thoughtful Th night was still young, but his candle was not lit The whole house, indeed, was In darkness. flfiP There War Five LIttI Visible. Shoe Prints He sat on the window sill and stared out Into the night At last he wandered back to the bedside, his hands thrust In his pockets. umphant 'The partner," be said pensively, now "If they get away well, may I never handle another case," he said "has got something on her mind. A to see ' fellow doesn't need any quietly to Mr. Lambe. "I can't an swer questions at present, sir; I've that." His Hps curled down at the corners. got to get busy. If I might suggest "I'd give s lot to know what it la that you Induce her ladyship to retire. I hate to seem Inquisitive. But Td and come round with me yourself hate a lot worse to have anything hapIt hampered me a bit that end we've got to be quick you pen to the partner. An' I can sure smell trouble coming. She doesn't can explain to her afterward." man or devlL But that isn't alfear Alexander was successful In perways go In' to help a girl There's suading his aunt to retire from the times when It's more useful to call up field, though she went' breathing a husky with big feet like me. threats of vengeance, and mourning sure be mad If she thought "She'd aloud for the emeralds. Inspector And she can get was I. interfering. Panke made a rapid examination of Gee I but she's mad the partner. wall the beneath Lady Ery the safe, dinkiest The thing that ever thea's window, and the ground out great! But like the way I don't happened. took a full description of side. He are framing." the missing Jewels, and briskly ques things He stood for a while, as If listen tioned the servants. then sighed and lay down on the Ing; beto time "I've only aay this, sir, dressed. In twenty seconds bed, fully fore I go," he said, turning to Mr. was he asleep, breathing regularly and of "I recognize the work Lambe. easily. Jack the Climber In this case, as plainIt was a doglike sleep, of which ly as if they'd left the name written on the wall I It was him and Calam- some men hold the faculty, and very was the manner In which Billy ity Kate. I thought for a moment It doglike roused himself some hours later. In was who Bender be Williams, might released- - from Portland, last month. a moment he was broad awake, and But it's undoubtedly Jack's Job. For swinging hts legs off the bed,' kat some months past a series of daring tenlng with cocked ears. He moved to the window and peered out burglaries have occurred at country swiftly was There nothing to be seen. Billy houses In various parts of England, he was for, some sec where remained to bound Fin say they've and, so far, beaten pi; no arrest has been made. onds, all his senses alert Then, with The methods of the thieves are so a gesture of decision, he snatched up similar In each case, that It ls clear bis cap, heaved himself out of the to an expert all these Jobs were done window, and climbed down the trellis. came silently under Aimee's H by the earn person or, rather, two persona, a man and a woman. The bedroom window, ..glanced up at the man, besides being aa smart a hand at open casement took a little nickel cracking a safe as ever lived, seems torch from his rest pocket and bent to have the training of a steeplejack down. Shading tha glow with his as welL He can climb anything that hand, he examined the soft soil bea fly could get a foothold on; in fact neath th window. There were five unmistakable neat llttl shoe-print-s he'a known as the Climber. mora Is visible; th first pair deep and point The woman, If anything, All that's Ing Inwards to th wall, th others man. than the dangerous known of them la that they'r prob- leading outwards. Billy at one ran noiselessly round ably foreigners soma say Americans when to th garden gat and peered up and and that they as a motorcycle down th Una No on visible. He on th Job. they'r Is returned quickly, got a rake from th "Briefly, what happened her shed, 'and carefully raked over the Lady In through this: Th man got marks footprints; also thos beneath his own th There's window. Erythea's Then he made for th gat. of him on th walL D might bav window. next one, and, after a moment's thought un th still easier In by got went locked th ahed wher th flying whert) th veranda la. But n Ha wheeled tha Sphinx reposed. bedroom." her ladyship's In through th out cycle engine, and tip of th freeing met thos Mr. Lambe's eyes toed softly down tha path with It passed aam thought th Inspector; Not till ba was clear of th Ian between them J whatever might b and wall out on th high road did Billy charmoral Climbers tb said of Jsck th Sphinx, and then only at a start acter, b was a braf man, and very pace. At an easy seven gentle anteroom, her to And so, miles an hour he ambled along tha her waking without safe th opened beading for Jervaulx abbey. of course, she's pretty deaf. Tb bur road, II would bar surprised Aim dldnt go till b'd don It; glar-alarconsiderably bad she guessed and for that matter all the precau- Scroop for on moment how far Billy was ara "Imply her of ladyship's tions abreast 'of affairs. Tha carefree, Inbunco j th hous Is aa easy Job for souciant Billy, who seemed to lire for a cracksman. Jack got away by th but tb Sphinx, was Infinitely nothing thing th only earn road h cam, and to mora wideawake than people gar had Kat U ma why that pusiles him credit for. The cool blue eyes bolt for It downstair. It isnl usual missed very little; th brain behind w all at bona In b th for ber to her partner them was able to connect facta to bllT ber Job ta helping gether shrewdly. outside, and X-ra- lave they the thlevesP med the voice tragically. faught them?" snorted Lady Ery- shaking the doorhandle. "Is It 14 f , MMtimi ra Was No On to Be sued tha Butler. I 8n,". Pur-- mob of mental deficient anybody? Nol" Thank heaven I" said Jly could cn Oeorglna with I wpiomve gasp. " MJy Erytbea started. Uht you talklnf about! " jou open the door or not I" 'I'm frightened, anntt I T 1" forglna's voice rose to a ahrffl whoop. are f,fr! CHAPTER IX it iy ... . marveiOUS- l- icwuni, lucre wcjo, I'wau. enough hysterica la the house f'd.v. Evidently nothing was to be rrom he, bark to your bed and dont be tyo t ' l MOre la IM tanM ..r.n4 f ny Erythea, Tha aharn wdlrr ist a - .- 'tor on the driva and 'rliH'n. jnirg. car drew 1 Ma. m t,... . uu a conatabta ejaxrtea Punk a c,..v rr A-- .... w. tnree ponct-n- ; . hi. bulk, with ybrows and a singularly L. "pressloo, II a ran nn tha f?T. but h... nis ""s rouia open Z.. on(. . Jonnon. energy for Lady Erytbea L lit .J, a mr naoy It' forestalled him. tlng your time her I cn o inotorcycl nnnuiea ago ny tut m np watch-keepin- g than a list with six feet or activity behind it Billy's left dashed the pistol hand aside, the bullet spat into the air, and his right came with a terrific upper-c- ut beneath the man's ehln, lifting him off his feet ta fall inert as he came Aimee hsd not th faintest suspicion that anybody at Ivy cottage knew she had made an unconventional exit by the window the night before. Billy, however, was perfectly well aware of the fact Early that same morning, before setting off for Syderford, he had observed the footprints beneath her window, which, to a keen eye, told plainly that Aimee had dropped from the trellis, and later on had regained her room by the same path. Clearly tha partner had made a midnight excursion for a very definite object ; people do not roam the country-aid- e In the small hours for nothing. The Incident of the carriage on the Stanhoe road puzzled Billy; h had mentioned the carriage casually to Mrs. Sunning saying nothing about the collision and learned that It could belong to none other than Lady Erythea of Jervaulx abbey. He was told a good deal about that establishment It was easier to start Mrs. Sunning talking than to stop her. Obviously, Amy hsd something to fear from Jervaulx; something that bound her to secrecy, and led her to run risks. It annoyed Billy that she should have anything to fear what ever. "Sometimes," said Billy to himself, as the lodge gates of Jervaulx came In sight "a broncho filly with the spring blood In her will get doln' stunts an' galloping among the gopher holes. When they do that they're liable to fall an' break a cannon-bone- . It's the same with her. If she doesn't want me, why she doesn't But If she does, Fm going to be right there." He dismounted some little distance short of the park entrance. The dark pile of the abbey was risible, a quar ter of a mile across the grasslands. The Billy paused andreflected. Journey could be nothing more than a scouting expedition. He wished very much that he had been closer on Al mee's tracks. Just then be observed a light flash out in one of the abbey windows. Faint, tintlnnabulatory sounds were borne to him upon the night breeze the clanging of a bell He watched the house with alert and thoughtful eyes. In a few moments two dim Azures became visible. An Imaginative on moving swiftly. looker might have, thought them to be goblins, gamboling across the sward. But they kept an uncommonly straight One, crossing the park and heading for a point a few hundred yards to Billy's tight Two people running swiftly. Billy followed them with his eyes. scud The foremost was ding along with giant strides. The other, close behind, moved no less swiftly, but It was a figure of tague outlines, apparently wearing a cloak or dust-coThey vanished from the park fence where sight against the lane turned. said Billy, "If that ain't a hold-up,- " starting away from the fence, "there never was one yet I" He heard the cough and splutter of a starting motorcycle under tall trees far up tha lanf. For one moment he listened, then made a dash for the Sphinx. y I" said Billy. "My Job P "A He threw his leg over the Sphinx and.wblrred off round th corner. He lifted his chin and gave a Joyous laugh, Ilk the bay of a bound. The lust of the hunter was in his blood. Ths rider ahead, already aware that he was being chased, let out his ma chine at breakneck speed. The ray from Billy's lamp showed him a man crouching low between the handlebars, his arms spread like the wings On th of a bat. pillion behind crouched a small muffled figure. "Give opt" shouted Billy, ss he overtook them. "You can't make It , .., . I've got you A hand stretched out from the fig ure on the pillion, and emitted a bark' ing flash of lire. It dazzled Billy for tha moment Something sipped through bis hair; automatically his left hand tightened on tha valve-lifte- r and the Sphinx slowed, allowing the other cycle to shoot ahead. BUIy made a lurid remark, and at once increased speed again to closa with tha fugitives. Right ahead the lane forked, on to th main road, and thither tha driver of the other cycle wu obviously heading. But tha lights of a car were in sight approaching rapidly on the road. The rider of the cycle had evidently no ambition to meet it : at tb last moment he. swerved left and continued along tht narrow Una. Billy Uughed aloud. Tha guy's cornered himself P he thought "He's tsken tha blind alley. M for him P . Th lan was very rutty and ontren. Tha cycle ahead had vanished round a bend ; Billy, shutting off his engine, swung round it immediately after ward. As ha did so ha heard a crash. The driver of the otbir cycle, realising too Uta that ha was in a cul-dsac, bad swerved, - braked violently and cam thoroughly to grief. Billy sprang from tha Sphinx, let ting ber fall on her aide with the headlight still glowing. Th other cycle lay prostrate; a small heap was huddled beside it on th grass. Tb taller man, th driver, was Just staggering to hts feet when Billy ran at him. Th cyclist whipped out a 1 rep a ting pistol A gun, at night and In tha hands of shaken man, U much leu certain long-limbe- get-awa- down, something skipped and rolled away from him along tha grass, in the ray of the Sphinx's headlight With the swift Instinct for loot Billy pounced upon It a sumptuous looking little casi of leather, with a clasp. Billy thrust It In his pocket and turned to the fallen man, who Uy with closed eyes and his head moving faintly from side to side. "Mighty slow with a gun," said Billy, stooping over him. "Fm going over you tor the rest of tha goods, Bud." A moan from tha other malefactor, lying by the fallen cycle. Interrupted htm.' So pathetic and treble a moan was it that Billy started and Jerked himself upright staring. "LordyP ha gaspsd, with remorse and concern. "It's a woman P Tha discovery was disconcerting enough. But a thought shot through his brain that nearly paralyzed Billy. What woman was It? He hurried to ber side. Sha had already raised herself on one band and seamed trying feebly to get up. Billy stooped over ber. "Much hurtP ba stammered. "Here " At that moment the fallen driver recovered and stirred. Billy turned his head toward him, with a quick Instinct tht danger Uy closer at hand. The woman's band was grasping a stone, and, as Billy turned, she brought her arm round with a sweep, swift as a striking snake. The chunk pocket He mad a rapid examination of tha of rock crashed full on the side of Billy's head. He fell as an ox falls, Sphinx, and at one became awara of Calamity Kate's handiwork. Ia and lay still The woman staggered to ber faet spite of the best intentions, however and ran to her prostrate companion. that enterprising lady had overesth "He's got hlsl" aha panted. "You mated the vulnerability both of Billy's skull and his motorcycle, Sha had ' hurt, Jaker Sha helped th man to rise. He dona soma damage, but had missed stood dazedly for a moment; the spl the more vital parts of ths Sphinx, nndar the After ten minutes work Billy's .canal jar from a knock-ou- t point of the chin Is terrific, but evan pable hands restored the machine ta fair running order, and ha rod awa escent "Look lively an' beat it!" gasped dbwn the lane. Both lamps were out the woman, hauling the motorcycle of action. Any furthar pursuit of the. thieve upright with surprising ease. "See if the bulgtnell run we'll have tha cops na put aside as a useless proposition, Ha had a vague idea that they had here nextl" "Got to settle with hlmP said the gone hours ago; in fact, however, ha man thickly, glancing at tha prostrate bad not been unconscious mora than .' a few minutes.. Billy. "There's only on thing to do," said "He's all in, I tell you. Get her Billy, "an' going P Tha man wrenched ths motorcycle - A disconcerting thought flashed round, and fumbled at tha feed and through hla mind. Tha bumping of controls with nervous fingers. While tba Jewel-cas-e against his side sughe did so tha woman snatched up an gested It "OeeP he murmured, Tm Littla other stone, and, running to the Sphinx, hammered on the engine and Boy Blue, all right But if I was ta the levers. She had dealt three or run 5 against tha cops now, It'd taki four lusty strokes when the other a heap of explanation before they motorcycle came spitting and wob- slugged me. My story'd look pretty motorbike It only bling past her. The woman ran to thin. Jewel-cas- e It and swung hersalf up deftly behind. wants one Item to complete the outj fit I" "Let her out We'll clear yet I" He turned on to the high road, rap-Idl- y The motorcycle, coughing and miss resolving on a plan of action aa ing fire badly, trundled back down the lane the way It had come. Jack the he rode. It was a good plan, but a few momenta In tor If i hnnal ! upset again. He was, as it happened, nearer to Stanhoe than to Jervaulx. abbey, and as ha turned In tha direction of the latter Billy became awara of someone running toward him along tha road a dark figure, with a peculiar moving gleam of whiteness about It . Ha stopped tha Sphinx Immediately and .thrust out hla feet ta steady himself. Tha dark figure checked In lta stride, hesitated, and seemed about to bolt back sgaln, "Partner P cried BUIy In amaze. that'" ment "Is that your Tha reply waa a wild gagp Aim, breathless, muddy, with an appra luiuiv uihuui ui nun, i niiii ir iimw ing at th base of her skirt, rushed up to him and seized hts arm, Tm ,e. Tilllvl Oh. Tm an she rm ia I panted. "Billy, gladP an awful mess I Tha absolute limit P "Howl Wbyr "I was in a bouse and it was burgled" gulped Aimee- ,- struggling for breath "they thought it waa me and I scooted they're chasing me." It was not a vividly lucid explanation.- But Billy's Intelligence department connected with It at once; It supplied the missing factors, Before ha could answer, a pair of lights flashed into view far down tha road, " r : e- the machine eraahed," thought ElUy. "She loosfd it at ma when 1 was riding up. Lucky for ma aha badat It Just now. Some girl P He heaved himself to his feet on steadily, made for a ditch whera there-- was a glitter of water, and bathed tha tender side of his head, Th water revived him; save for a cut under his hair, no aerlous damaga was done, though tha blow might easily have cracked a weaker skull I dont see that I shine much, orsr this Job," said Billy despondently; "they sura handed it to me. Got right under my guard. Never thought of a , woman sharing in a hold-up-; an' yet I guess it's been dona before," Us picked up tha pistol was about to pocket It but altered his mind and flung It in the ditch, Tha other auto matic was nowhere to be seen, Billy, walked towards tha Sphinx, tha head Ump of which waa now in darkness. Hla hand swung against a large lump projecting from tha sld of his coat Ha halted and dragged out th leather case. Billy had forgotten its exlsb. enca. Why, here's something saved from tha wreck P ba exclaimed. "They, couldn't have seen ma get UP Ha dropped on one knee, opened tha case, and switched tha little alctrl torch over It Billy gave a stifled gasp. On a bed ' . of cream silk velvet reposed a nck lac of amethysts, ending in a loop of nine superb ameralds that shona with changing green fires under tha wiuis siuw, duij w uui ia nyvn in gems, but he guessed that thee were such as a prince might ba proud to own. "This ts ths darnedest game I ever was up against" he said dazedly, returning the case carefully to hla . He Fell aa an Ox Falls. . Climber leaned, to tha handls-barCalamity Kate, her arms tight round him, settled herself on tha pillion. Together they whirred away Into the darkness. a. CHAPTER XI approaching at speed. "Carl" exclaimed Aimee, and with a note oi ptajc uiuy, suppose It a police? If so, they'll ba looking for map Sha made a dash for tha pillion of tha Sphinx. "Get me out of this, Billy start her quick P "Not on your lifeP said Billy swift-l"That's tha last thing on earth for you now. Coma with me," Ha ran back fifty yards along tha road to a field gate. In a few moments he had it open, thrust tha Sphinx through, let bar fell behind tha hedge, and dragged Aimee with hint Into tha ditch. They bad hardly gained that cover when the car swept by with a roar, showing a glimpse of police helmets scudding past the low rampart of thorn f snce. The majesty of law and order, sweeping Inexorably through tha night A rattle, a boot, and It was gone. In the ditch there was painful alBUIy mechanically felt his ienee, bulging pocket,' glanced for a moment at the Sphinx, and then stsrtd blankly at Aimee. y. Confession. It was very dark and rsry quiet at the lane's and when Billy at last stirred, and, after an- - Interval of slowly returning consciousness, mang aged to raise himself dizzily to a ait-tin- position, Ha pressed hla hands to the aide of hts head and r amain ed for awhile motionless, conscious of a damp warmth under his left palm. HU eyes dwelt on a white, chalky stone, as big as a doubled fist, that Uy on tha grass beside him. EvenU began to reconnect themselves In a brain that still buzzed faintly. "A granite skull" murmured Billy, not without a touch of pride, "isnl altogether a disadvantage in an argu- ment" . He looked about him thoughtfully. Not far away something gleamed In a rut a small repeating pistol HU Uta opponents bad evidently left In too much of a hurry to take aa inventory of their effects. "Sha must bar dropped that when The Aimee, acter." Idea le, eonttnued "that IV lost my char- (TO BS CONTINUED.. |