The Winslow mail., 1923-03-16

you have done; it is fortunate for me
the emeralds fell into such good
hands. Let me say that was about
to offer a reward for information
leading to the recovery of the jewels;
reward Of" Lady Erythea hesi-
tated, and achieved an inward strug-
-gle-'one hundred pounds. But I
must really ask you to accept hun
'dred and fifty
Lady Erythea unlocked a desk, and
produced a check-book. Billy flushed
red
Madam" he said quietly. s'the serv-
ice | did you cost me nothing. I'm
gladsyou have your jewels back, I'm
man who earns his living, but l don't
accept gratuities. And people very
scarcely ever offer them to me-"
Lady Erythea turned somewhat
pink in her turn. She slid the check
book aside.
Il beg your pardon" she said, with
some embarrassment, mingled with re-
lief and a touch almost of annoyance.
'It was the least could do. You will
accept no recompense?"
"None, madam. Anyway not in
money"
"You are not English, are youy'
american. And a Westerner, at
that"
"Ah! You have done me great
service. Is there nothing l can do
for you?"
Before Billy could reply, Mr.. Tar.
beaux opened the door.
"M'lady, Inspector Panke-"
Mr.. Tarbeauxs gaze fell on the en-
eralds. He was very human, for a
butler, and it took him a fraction of
a second to recover himself.
Inspector Panke urgently desires
to see your ladyship at once"
"Show him in here" said Lady Fry
thea grimly.
Billy did not move an eyelid. 1t
seemed to him that Mr.. Lambe's sol
emn eyes were watching him rather
intently. Inspector Panke appeared.
1t was a great day in the Lambe en-
eralds' history. The Inspector was
intense emotion.
"Well have you caught the thieves"
inquired Lady Erythea, acidly
"No-nC, my lady" stammered In
spector Panke, gazing at the necklace.
Perhaps you had better enlist the
services of Mr.. Spencer" said her
ladyship, with wave of her hand
toward Billy. "This young man has
already found the emeralds and re-
stored them to me.'R
"Then," said Panke, with a search
ing glance at Billy, 81 should like
full account, at once, of how you came
by the jewels"
Sure" said Billy genially.
Mr.. Lambe set chairs for them both.
All four seated themselves Lady Fry
thea, with an avid determination to
keep abreast of affairs, held her ear
trumpet close to Billy and the police
man.
Billy repeated his tale with fuller
detail this time, and described, not
without a twinge Of embarrassment,
his downfall at the hands of Calamity
Kate Lady Erythea's lips frightened
grimly, the description did not sur
prise her. The inspector had his book
before him and made careful notes.
At the conclusion he regarded Billy
pensively, and with touch of envy.
"It's a pity you didn't hang on to
them, when you'd got them in hand"
DIt T,f IyT0nv
what Calamity Kate is."
"Who?' echoed Billy.
Panke described briefly the popular
names of the two thieves, and what
little was known about them.
"And now, Mr.. Spencer, have some
questions to put to you-fOr the in
formation of the police. This hap
pened between one and two o'clock.
1t is now seven What became of you
in the meantime?'
Billy turned to the light and al
lowed Panke to inspect the wound on
the side of his head, only partially
concealed by his hair.
"If you'd had that" said Billy, II
guess you'd be lyin' on the grass yon-
der now"
"a severe cut" said the inspector.
impressed.
"And you lay unconscious there till
daybreak?" exclaimed Lady Erythea,
with intense sympathy.
"It might have been a week, for all
1 knew when l woke up. When I'd
got my senses back, an made up my
mind what to do" said Billy calmly,
II came along here"
Didn't it occur to you," said Panke,
'that the right thing to do was to so
to the pollceT
"No. 1t occurred to me the first
thing to do was to get the stuff
straight back to its owner"
"And perfectly right, tool" said
Lady Erythea sharply.
"How did you know" persisted
Panke, "that the necklace belonged
here?"
Billy turned over the necklace and