The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1923-04-13
Copyright I9az By Sidney Co~ins
Continued from last week.
CHAPTER XIV

as she had ever been yet when, after
overhearing from her coign Of van
tage In the second floor window the
questions Of the police, she saw them
start for the crag pits.
The only bright feature Of the stu
alton, though not dazzlingly bright,
was that de Jussac was already on
his way, in the same direction. She
had seen him go, and guessed his
ally.
"Td rather they got me than Billy ~
she said with little sob.
The one obvious and reasonable
thing for Aimee to do, was to remain
where she was. To lie low, like Brer
ing crisis. AS a natural consequence,
It was precisely the thing which her
mind refused to entertain. If Billy
was going to meet trouble, she deter
mined to be on the spot. There was
no knowing to what lengths he might
70, in his passion for self-sacrifice.
Ten minutes later Aimee was in the
bushy dip of ground leading into the
crag pits. The police were well ahead
Of her, converging round the far end.
Aimee had taken some trouble to avoid
being seen by them. At the moment
she could not see them at all, and
took 1t for granted they could not see
her either.
Bending low and running between
the bushes, Aimee made for the en-
trance of the SphinXs cave. 1t
seemed to her that must be where
Billy had gone. On arriving at the
mouth, however, she discovered her
mistake. Through a gap in the brush
wood she caught sight of Billy con-
siderable distance farther along the
pits. And with him was de Jussac.
The police arrived almost immedi-
ately afterward. Aimee, crouching be-
hind the bushes, watched the meeting.
Her throat felt dry and hot, her
hands opened and shut nervously.
She hesitated, uncertain what to do.
Would Billy "get away with itF A
CLEAN of hope and confidence re-
turned Billy had wonderful knack
of getting away with things.
She saw the party disappear into
the cave nearest them; she witnessed
the emergence Of Billy, and was aware
Of a certain relief of tension when
the police returned and spoke with
him. Finally, wondering as she
watched, Aimee observed the arrival
Of the gate-saw the PROSTATE body
of Jake carried into the open The
distance was considerable. But the
significance Of that pathetic figure on
the gate came home to her. Aimee
was not slow of comprehension. She
began to realize the meaning of it all.
The police had what they wanted.
The captive could be no other than
Jack the Climber himself. Billy had
"got away with it" with a vengeance.
Aimee was staring dumbly at the
group, when she heard faint ANIMAL
like noise close beside her. She turned
sharply, to find that she. was not
alone.
A woman, in stained and ragged
dust-cloak, was crouching behind the
screen Of brambles few yards away.
She was young, and not Unlocking,
save for the deathly pallor of her face
and the disorder of her hair. Indeed, |
there was a wild gipsyish beauty |
about her, that survived even the |
hunted expression in her eyes.
She was staring through the bushes
1T the distant group.
"They got him I" she said In q
'trangled whisper. She huddled her
elf together trembling.
AN they'll get me, too. Let EN-.
So good my runnin' for It.
e Il dunno who you arel" she NUT.
cred. what you dom heret Ard
'ou goin' to gimme awayf"
Aimee did not move. Her heart
'eat fast But there was no menace
q the woman's eyes; only an express
ion so broken and piteous that some
low q lump came into Aimse's throat. ,
The had not the faintest doubt who
his hunted woman was.
'"You INV VINO 1 am" the woman
aid thickly; 81 can see 1t In your
zee" She came step nearer. Are
GU goin' to call outr
Aimee did not answer that question
"Is he much hurtY' she said quietly,
boxing towards the distant group
oqpd the man on the gate.
.HurtY' said Calamity Kate. he
mashed himself days ago, 1t was.
he had subsidized on the sand, and
,,hracad her knees with her arms
taring before her with unseeins EYES
I got him down here. Tried 70 neiP
i'm along-couldn't walk. linen
ad to carry him.
"Youl" said Aimee, looking WONDER
nely at the girls slight figure: