The Tulsa star. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1913-1921, 1917-04-07

I
one Of her musical little laughs.
This Is a good time to laugh, Miss
Pat" the Sphinx remarked, as he turn
ed from the girl and abruptly ended
the conversation.
"lle is just as rude ms ever" Pat
said to herself MS she stood where Kel-
~ had 50 ungnllantly left her.
Pats eyes flashed with resolution.
She went to low French window that
looked out upon the Crosby grounds
and slgnalcd to see If the Apaches
were assembled and ready to take or
ders. The response quickly assured
her.
The Crosby guests were assembling
| round monster punch bowl, on n ta-
ble in the center of the drawing room.
| when Pat turned from the window.
/ As she started toward the table there
/ was an Omlnous crash, Of bursting
bomb, as It fell in the grounds near
| the mansion.
Women screamed with terror, and
the male guests rushed out upon the
| lawn, with excited shouts that an air
raid upon Paris was in progress. The
| guests surged in md out of doors.
/ rushing from one room to the other
while Pat waited patiently behind the
window pOrtieres for her chance to
act.
The Jewels had just been brought in
To the drawing room to he admired by
the guests when the crashing of the
bomb turned the scene into bedlam
and everyone began to rush aimleSsly
about. Even Kelly, usually cool and
uneXcitable, was thrown OF his guard.
lie rushed ont Of doors with the other
men and gazed wonderingly upward.
Far above them an airplanc circled
over head the whirr of its engine be-
ing plainly heard.
The time Kelly had consumed upon
the lawn was enough for Pat to ac-
complish. by quick action, what the
Sphinx had been hired to prevent. She
fled from her cover behind the por-
there's, ran to the punch bowl table Mt n
moment the drawing room was desert
ed and there, where she had but to
reach out her hand and take them.
cleaned the Crosby gems In plain
view.
Pat snatchcd the Jewels from the
box containing them, and quickly dis
appeared from the scene. She had
gone to another room, when the men
returned from watching the alrnlane.
Kelly ran straight TO the table-and
found only the empty Jewel box. As
he turned for moment to hastily sur
vey the room, the Sphinx saw trim
slight figure, dressed in Apache cos
tune, disappear through the low
French window.
Fat had gone into nm adjoining
room and hurrledly divested hersef of
the evening gown she had put on over
her Apache costume. Watching her
opportunity, she slipped through the
window and was fleeing toward her
automobile when Kelly bounded from
the Crosby mansion in hot pursuit.
Straight to the airplnne hangar Pat
was driven by her faithful chauffeur.
As close behind MS he could speed his
machine came Kelly in eager chase.
81 was going to give this package TO
you" Pat shouted as she reached the
.Lngar and was met by DE Saint, 'but
NJ too closely pursued to get away
myself So you'll have to take me
with you In the air and land me at a
safe place-then can make my way
home"
In the brief moment Pat had taken
I Ia hn
hangar and was hurrying into the
yard. DE Saint signuled to the Apaches
who were there to protect their lead
or. and the Sphinx was surprised by
the opposition that confronted and
quickly started to OverpOwer him while
he dashed toward Pat and De Saint
as they We're preparing TO go nloft in
the airplane.
There was sharp stifr fight, with
Kelly out-matched In strength by the
numbers who assalled him. Just as
the alrplane began Its short run on
the ground In preparation TO ascend.
one Of the Apachcs landed n stunning
blow on Kclly's chin, and he fell un-
conscious into the machines structure.
DE Saint and his fair passenger
started TO rise from the ground. The
machine was acting queer and De
Saint shouted to Pat that there was
something wrong. The girl turned in
her seat, by partly unloosening the
straps that bound her, and beheld a
sight that unnerved her for the mo-
ment, and fully explained the cause
Of the trouble.
The limp form of Il man rested on
one OF the nirplane's wings, and put
the machine out OF balance.
HGlf dazcd by terror, and almost
! paralyzed by the surprise Of her dis
covery, Pat managed to shout to Dc
! Saint that the cause OF his trouble
had been disclosed.
I "There Is man lying senseless on
/ one Of the WINGS" she screamed in De
Saints enr.
"Try and haul him in here" an
I swerod the aviator, recognizing tn,
I SphnN's body.