The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-08-01
SEVENTH EPISODE
The Elusive Pearls.

The Elusive Pearls.
I'VE meet again." said Kelly, his
steel-cold gaze directed with piercing
look into Patricia's great blue eyes.
The girl permitted one of her most be-
witching smiles to play like glints Of
sunshine over her pretty face.
ave do meet quite often, 1t seems"
was her reply. spoken in sarcastic
tones that brought a quick flush Of an
ger to Kelly's cheeks.
The Sphinx made q step toward the
girl extended her own dainty hand to
meet the detectives advance. instead
Of taking 1t, he slipped one Of a pnir OF
handouts over her wrist and said:
II must decorate you for stealing the
kings necklace" Then he snapped the
second hnndcuff over the girls left
wrist and she was helpless.
''K you mean the peoples necklace"
said Pat, denantly, ut will do you no
good to take me now. The Peoples
League has the money and my work in
Dufrane is accomplished" Her smile
Of triumph was not lost on the great
detective.
The kine. who had been . spectator
10 the proceedings, motioned to Kelly.
directing him to go. with his prisoner:
Into an adjoining room. When the king
was alone Duke Hestor entered and
said:
II come from the people. who would
acclaim you for your good deed in CIV
ing them the funds raised BY selling
the queens Jewels"
Let them enter" said the king.
And then, while the king accepted
their homage. peasants to the number
Of q dozen or more, representing the
Peoples League, acclaimed him as
their benefactor in speeches expressing
their gratitude.
Shouts Of the populace, surrounding
the palace, added to the noisy greeting
that was being personally extended to
the king. Phil Kelly and his prisoner.
in the room adjoining the kings recep-
ton room, heard the shouts and real
lied that they were nothing less than
intruders, now that the king and his
people were reconciled.
"we will see II the king you worked
for will help you now that you may
need him." was Pats haunting remark
to the great detective.
HE will help me and you. too, or /
shall know the reason" Phil replied.
And then the detective called one Of
his assistants to watch over the girl
while he returned to the presence Of
the king.
Pat took the measure Of the man
whom Kelly had left to watch over her,
and began Mt once to ply her winsome
arts upon the near-detective.
She chatted with Kelly's assistant
and soon had him engaged In friendly
conversation.
"These handouts are hurting my
wrists-won't you unlock them, like n
good fellow? The girl spoke in her
most engaging tones. You are a big,
strong man. capable of watching me
without having me chained helpless"
1t did not require much urging from
Pat to make the man forget his instruc-
tions. It'll take them of. II you prom
Use not to try to escape" he finally
said. as he suited the action to the
words.
Barely had the near-detective re-
moved the handouts from Pats wrists
when Duke Hestor entered the room
with \ few men from the Peoples
League delegation TINT he had quietly
called from the presence Of the king,
and before Kelly's assistant realized
What was going on he found himself
hsndcuffed to the chair where Pat had
inst been sitting. He was alone in the
room.
Kelly. meanwhile, was before the
ting expressing himself in no uncer-
tain terms. Tho Sphinx was thor
oughly aroused BY the turn Of events.
IF had known when you sent for
me that you wanted me to rob these
poor people Of what was justly theirs
would never have taken the commits.
sion," said Kelly. But when got
here II was too late"
"You forget that you are addressing
The king" s~H his majesty. as he made