The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-03-02

"They are making great prepare
tons for big time, boss" said the de-
tective. II learn they are going to |
crown some woman Queen of the I'm
derworld'"
"Such being the case, we must bespres- |
ent at the coronation" said Kelly. And |
the Sphinx, with several gendarmes,
was watching from every place the
men could hide themselves along the
street that led to Cafe Chat Nor, just
as soon as dusk fell and the under
world began to start upon it's nightly
pilgrimage of crime and debauchery.
In the sewers that formed net
work underground there were other
| gendarmes ready to pounce upon the
! unwary at kelly's prearranged signal.
Men and women slngly, in couples
and in groups, came down the street,
singing and chattering in utter disre-
gard of the amount of disturbance they
created.
AS the evening wore along the crowd
within and without Cafe Chat Noir
grew more numerous and accordingly
more bolsterous.
1t was near the midnight hour, when
Kelly's sentinels passed the sign along
that something unusual was on the
way. Down the street dashed cab
at reckless speed and halted abruptly
at the entrance Of the Chat Noir.
Kelly's quick eyes saw slight fig
ure descend from the cab. The form
was dressed jauntily in high boots and
| tights, that encased limb so shapely
that Kelly was certain that the new ar
rival was not man. Over the Shout
ders of the figure swung cape that
was caught In front by dainty white
hands-and across the top Of the face
a mask of purple silk.
"The Queen of the Underworld"
Kelly exclaimed under his breath. 1--WE
shall be In at the coronation" With
out hating to speak to anyone, the
! figure in the long cloak and purple
mask entered the cafe.
. Immediately the clatter and tumult
was hushed. For an instant perfect
} silence reigned within the cafe, and
then great shout, as though the dense
, throng Of Apaches were acclaiming In
one voice, turned the cafe into q bed
lam Of rejoicing.
Hail Queen of the Underworld"
they shouted.
Suddenly at the main entrance
Sphinx Kelly appeared backed by q
group of fellow detectives and gen
darmes.
Hands upl Everybody" was his
loud-shouted command.
The sound of his voice had not pene
trated far into the jangle of noise, blu
on the instant the lights went out an(
Cafe Chat Noir was so dark that tn,
keenest eyes could only discern tn,
| outline Of scurrying forms.
i There was creaking noise as, a
II the back of the cafe, door swun
n open and in rushing, strugglin
H streams the Apaches began to pou
Il through In speedy exit from the cafe
II Kelly knew full well that this wa
II what the crowd would do. He urge
Il his men along in pursuit.
II The Apaches knew the dark pas
II sages almost as well as they knew tn
II streets far above their heads. Alon
II the sides of the sewers ran planked 0
II concrete runways over which work
H men passed in keeping the sewer sys
II TEN of the great city in perfect order
H There were cross sections Of thes
II streets where sewer led into sewer
II in a perfect labyrinth Of grimy an
II slippery passages.
II Kelly ran with his best speed to &c
III | al 30 !,
y possibly could. He caught sight of
~ cloaked figure running like a vii
deer.
He was sure he could not be mi.
e. taken In his IMAM" He kept the fle,
lie ing figure in sight, and began, fna
ly, to overtake the person he believe
er he had seen descend from the cab {
ut the door of the Chat Noir. One {
b. the gendarmes, just ahead of tn
Id Sphinx, made squirt as If to captur
d, the cloaked figure, but a shout frol
Kelly made him alter his purpose.
IL Kelly wanted this person for his ow
lie captive, and putting on still MOI
~ speed, soon arrived within arms lengt
es of the fleeing form. In another il
Of slant he had caught the flowing cap
Of and pinned the figure helpless In h
is strong arms.
tn Holding tight to his charge, Kel
e. shouted orders to his men. Most
is the Apaches had escaped capture, b.
eff there were enough within sight
e. Kelly to put up strong fight, in the
as attempt to rescue the cloaked figure.
After short but tremendously q
OF tive period of fighting and scuffiin
IS. tie gendarmes captured most Of Il
It, Apaches, while others fled, leaviI
to- Kelly in possession of his prey. 0
IS, dering his men to proceed to Jail wi
their own prisoners, Kelly started
/ make his way from the sewer with II
lie cloaked figure across his shoulder.
ne In the chase through the sew
Kelly's assistants had been separat'
ut from their leader, and they were see
SIS ed in his apartments when he reach'
go home with his human load still sa
in his grasp. He threw the cloak
N figure into chair, and ordered one