The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1923-02-16
~ Sidney G0win&O

woman. You suspected woman then
before you came hereT
81 do more than suspect, my lady,
said INSPECTOR Panke grimly. ~
known
"Who was this woman, Inspector,
and when do you propose to appre-
bend herf We have a piece Of the
creatures skirt"
"Hah! let me see 1t at once!" said
the inspector, his eyes lighting up. 1t
was brought to him and Its capture ex-
planned. Inspector Panke examined
the yard of cloth, tried Its strength,
rubbed 1t, held 1t up to the light,
peered keenly at the torn edges.
"Goodi" he said under his breath,
and turned upon Mr.. Lambe SO sharp
ly that that gentleman jumped. "Your
telephone, sir-where is it?"
"Who is the abominable creatureY'
exclaimed Lady Erythea. "And why
is she at large, a scourge upon the
country, breaking into"
"She won't scourge 1t much longer"
said the inspector grimly. "Pll very
soon give your ladyship news Of her
] want the telephone, quick"
"This way" said Mr.. Lambe, and
led him to the call-room. Inspector
Panke remained at the instrument a
considerable time. He emerged tri-
umphant.
IF they get away now-well, may
I never handle another case" he said
| quietly to Mr.. Lambe. ~ can't an
swer questions at present, sir; I've
| got to get busy. If l might suggest
that you induce her ladyship to retire,
and come round with me yourself
1t hampered me q bit, that ear-trum-
pet, and we've got to be Quick-you
can explain to her afterward."
Alexander was successful In per-
suading his aunt to retire from the
field, though she went breathing
threats of vengeance, and mourning
aloud for the emeralds. Inspector
Panke made a rapid examination of
the safe, the wall beneath Lady Fry
thea's window, and the ground out
side He took q full description of
the missing jewels, and briskly ques-
toned the servants.
1--WE only time to say this, sir, be-
fore / CO." he said, turning to Mr..
Lambe. II recognize the work of
Jack the Climber in this case, as plain
ly as II they'd left the name written
on the wall 1t was him and Calam-
ity Kate l thought for moment 1t
might be Bender Williams, who was
released from Portland last month.
But it's undoubtedly Jacks job. For
some months past series of daring
burglaries have occurred at country
houses In various parts of England,
and, so far, I'm bound to say they've
beaten us; no arrest has been made.
The methods of the thieves are 80
similar in each case. that 1t Is clear
to an expert all these jobs were done
by the same person-or, rather, two
persons. il man and woman. The
man, besides being as smart hand al
cracking a safe as ever lived, seems
to have the training Of steepleJack
as well. He can climb anything that
a fly could get a foothold on; In fact,
he's known as the Climber.
'"The woman, if anything, Is more
dangerous than the man. All tnat 5
| known of them Is that they're prob
ably foreigners-some say Americans
and that they use motorcycle when
/ they're on the job.
Briefly, what happened here Is
this: The man got In through Lady
Erythea's window. There's the marks
of him on the wall He might nave
got In still easier by the next one
where the veranda Is. But he went
In through her ladyship's bedroom.
Mr.. Lambe's eyes met those OF the
Inspector; the same thought passed
between them; whatever might Do
said Of Jack the Climbers moral CHAR
acter, he was q brave man.
| And 80 to her anteroom, and
opened the safe without waking her
of course, she's pretty deaf. The bur-
glar-alarm didn't 60 till he'd done 1t {;
and for that matter all these precau-
tons Of her ladyship's are simply
bunco; the house IL an easy Job Tor
craftsman. Jack got away by the
same road he came, and the only thing
that puzzles me is why Kate had to
bolt for 1t downstairs. It Isn't usual
for her to be In the house at alive
believe her Job is helping her partner
up and watch-keeping outside.
However, there 1t IL. And this bit
Of blue cloth, SIR" concluded Inspector
Panke, holding 1t up, us going to put
Calamity Kate in my hands
He folded the torn fragment OF
cloth, put 1t in his pocket, and moved
br.skly to the door. Goodnight. Sir
Before very long I'll show you the
~ Of this skirt-and its ownerr
| N.lAn-En