The Winslow mail., 1923-03-09


ing up. Lucky for me she hadn't it
just now. Some girl y
He heaved himself to his feet un-
steadily, made for a ditch where
there was a glitter OF water, and
bathed the tender side of his head.
The water revived him; save for a
cut under his hair, no serious damage
was done, though the blow might
easily have cracked a weaker skull.
Il don't see that | shine much, over
this job" said Billy despondently
| they sure handed it to me. Got right
under my guard. Never thought of a
woman sharing in hold-up an yet
| guess it's been done before
He picked up the pistol, was about
to pocket it, but altered his mind and
flung it in the ditch. The other auto
| matte was nowhere to be seen. Billy
walked towards the Sphinx, the head
lamp of which was now in darkness.
His hand swung against large lump
projecting from the side of his coat.
He halted and dragged out the leather
case. Billy had forgotten it's exist.
| ence
"Why, here's something saved from
| the wreck" he exclaimed. They
couldn't have seen me get It'll"
He dropped on one knee, openel the
case, and switched the little electric
torch over it.
Billy gave stified gasp. On ted
of cream silk velvet reposed a neck
lace of amethysts, ending in a loop
of nine superb ameralds that shone
with changing green fires under the
torch's glow. Billy was not an expert
in gems but he guessed that these
were such as a prince might be proud
| to own.
''This is the darnedest game l ever
was up against" he said dazedly, re-
turning the case carefully to his
| pocket.
He made rapid examination of the
Sphinx, and at once became aware
of Calamity Kate's handiwork. In
spite of the best intentions, however,
that enterprising lady had overesti-
mated the vulnerability both of Billys
| skull and his motorcycle. She had
done some damage, but had missed
the more vital parts of the Sphinx.
After ten minutes work Billys ca
pable hands restored the machine to
fair running order, and he rode away
down the lane. Both lamps were out
of action
Any further pursuit of the thieves
he put aside as useless proposition.
He had vague idea that they had
gone hours ago; in fact, however, he
| had not been unconscious more than
few minutes.
There's only one thing to do" said
Billy, IAN that's"
A disconcerting thought flashed
through his mind. The humping OF
the jewel-case against his side sug-
gested it.
"Geer he murmured, "Pm Little
Boy Blue, all right. But if / was to
run against the cops now, it'd taxa
a heap of explanation before they
slugged me. My story'd look pretty
thin. -motorbike-it only
wants one item to complete the out
fit!"
He turned on to the high road, rap
idly resolving on a plan of action as
he rode. 1t was a good plan, but a
| few moments later it was hOpelessly
upset again. He was, as it happened,
nearer to Stanhoe than to Jervaulx
abbey, and as he turned in the tfirec-
| tion of the latter Billy became aware,
of someone running toward him along
| the road-a dark figure, with a pc
| culiar moving CLEAN of whiteness
about it. He stopped the Sphinx i'm
mediataly and thrust out his feet to-
steady himself.
The dark figure checked in It's
stride, hesitated, and seemed about
to bolt back again.
"Partner" cried Billy in amaze
ment. "Is that your"
The reply was wild gasp. Aimee,
breathless, muddy, with an appre.
ciable breadth of white cambric show
ing at the base of her skirt, rushed
up to him and seized his arm.
Billy! Oh, I'm so glad-Pm -,
gIad!' she painted. BILLY, I-Pm IN
an awful mess The absolute limit p
"How! Why?"
II was in a house-and It was
rgled"-gulped Aimee, struggling
for breath ''they thought it was me
and l scooted-they're chasing me-"
It was not wildly lucid explana-
tion. But Billy's intelligence depart
ment connected with it at once; 1t
supplied the missing factors. Before
he could answer, a pair Of lights
flashed into view far down the road,
approaching at speed.
Carp exclaimed Aimee, and with
note of panic-"Billy. suppose it's
police? If so, they'll be looking for
mep She made a dash for the pill
lion of the Sphinx "Get me out of
this, Billy-start her quick y
"Not on your life!" said Billy swift