The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-02-21

mee's tracks.
Just then he observed a light flash
out in one of the abbey windows.
Faint, tintinnabulatory sounds were
borne TO him upon the night breeze
the changing of a bell.
He watched the house with alert
and thoughtful eyes. In q few mo-
ments two dim figures became visible.
moving swiftly. An imaginative on
locker might have thought them to be
COLLINS, %gamboling across the sward.
But they kept an uncommonly straight
line, crossing the park and heading
for a point a few hundred yards to
Billy's right. Two people-running
swiftly.
Billy followed them with his eyes.
The foremost was long-limbed, scud-
ding along with giant strides. The
other, close behind, moved no less
swiftly, but 1t was a figure of vague
outlines. apparently wearing a cloak
or dust-coat. They vanished from
sight against the park fence where
the lane turned.
IF that amt a hold-up," said Billy.
starting away from the fence. there
never was one yet"
He heard the cough and splutter of
a starting motorcycle under tall trees
far up the lane. For one moment he
listened. then made a dash for the
Sphinx.
"a getaway" said Billy. my job :"
He threw his leg over the Sphinx
and whirred off round the corner. He
lifted his chin and gave a joyous
laugh, like the bay of a hound. The
lust of the hunter was in his blood.
The rider ahead, already aware that
he was being chased, let out his ma
chine at b~reakneck speed. The ray
from Billy's lamp showed him a man
crouching low between the handle
bars. his arms spread like the wings
of a bat. On the pillion behind
crouched a small. muffied figure.
"Give up!" shouted Billy, as he
overlook them. "You can't make it.
I've got youi"
A hand stretched out from the fig
ure on the pillion, and emitted a bark
ing flash of fire. 1t dazzled Billy for
the moment. Something tipped
through his hair; automatically his
left hand frightened on the ~valve-lifter
and the Sphinx slowed, allowing the
other cycle to shoot ahead.
Billy made a lurid remark, and at
once increased speed again to close
with the fugitives. Right ahead the
lane forked on to the main road, and
thither the driver of the other cycle
was obviously heading. But the lights
of a car were in sight, approaching
rapidly on the road. The rider of the
| cycle hadlevidenfly no ambition to
meet it: at the last he
swerved left and continued along the
narrow lane.
Billy laughed aloud.
1.-THE guys cornered himself" he
thought. He's taken the blind alley.
Me for him !"
The lane was very rutty and uneven.
The cycle ahead had vanished round
a bend; Billy, shutting off his enPine,
swung round 1t Immediately after
ward. AS he did so he heard a crash.
The driver of the other cycle, realiz-
ing too late that he was in a Guide
sac, had swerved, braked violently,
and came thoroughly to grief.
Billy sprang from the Sphinx, let
ting her fall on her side with the
headlight still glowing. The other
cycle lay PROSTATE; a small heap was
huddled beside it on the grass.
The taller man, the driver, was just
staggering to his feet when Billy ran
at him. The cyclist whipped u a
repeating pistol.
A gun, at night, and in the hands
of a shaken man, is much less certain
than a fist with six feet of activity
behind 1t. Billy's left dashed the PTS
toll hand aside, the bullet spat i'm
potently into the air, and his right
came with a terrific upper-cut beneath
the mans chin, lifting him off his feet
to fall inert.
As he came down, something
skipped and rolled away from him
along the grass, in the ray of the
Sphinx's headlight. With the swift
instinct for loot Billy bounced upon
it-a sumptuous looking little case of
leather, with a clasp. Billy thrust 1t
In his pocket and turned to the fallen
man. who lay with closed eyes and
his head moving family from side to
side.
mighty slow with a gum said
Billy, STOPPING over him. I'm going
over you for the rest of the goods,
Bud"
A moan from the other malefactor,
lying by the fallen cycle. interrupted
him. So pathetic and treble a moan
was 1t that Billy started and jerked
himself upright, staring.
"Lordy - he gasped, with remorse
and concern. ITS a womanl'
The discovery vas disconcerting
enough. But a thought shot through
his brain that nearly p~aralyzed Billy.
What woman was it?
He hurried to her side. She had
already raised herself on one hand
and seemed trying feebly to get up.
Billy stopped over her.
Much hurt?" he stammered,
Here
At that moment the fallen driver
recovered and stirred. Billy turned
his head toward him, with a quick
instinet-the danger lay closer at
hand.