The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-07-12

couldn't drive it, Enyine done ny.
What would <hey do with III Hide !,
so nobody would know they diunl se
clear away. You'll Ind the machins.
twin Indian. over in the old clay PIT.
under some brushwood.
what did the TWO of them do Them
You can see by the tracks in the teid
that one OF their was dead lame So
lame that he had to be carried or
dragged. half of the way 1t must
have taken quite while. They
couldn't be far off, and. to cut it short.
l searched tbe pits through and found
Jake where he is. l didn't get wise
to 1t till now. He's got leg so badly
sprained that compound fracture
wouldn't nave laid him up much more
thoroughly. And here you are, In
| spector, just in the nick of time, as
the story-books say. Of course"
added Billy. you'd have found it out
| yourself as soon as you got to work.
1 happened to be on the spot, that's
all. And i shall be obliged if you'll
say nothing about my share in it, at
headquarters. Thief-catching isn't
really in my line-I'm motor-engi-
neer, and it might do me harm to
have 1t known 1 was wasting time on
things that aren't my business"
Inspector Arkwright gazed at Billy
dumbly. Arkwright was not man of
ungenerOus instincts.
Il call that very remarkable
| piece Of work for an amateur" he
said ungrudgingly
Il suppose I've set your mind at
rest, that I'd nothing to do with the
burglary myself? You're not aching
to haul me Off to the station house
any more? Or are your"
Inspector Arkwright regarded Billy
thoughtfully.
are one or two points that have to be
cleared up yet"
Billy took some papers from a pock-
etbook and handed them to Ark
wright.
"If you want information as to my
identity" he said. "you might look
through those"
The inspector did so. His usually
immobile face gave a twitch of sur
| prise.
"Thank you. I'll keep these for the
present." he said, with a change of
manner. II will have a word with
you at the abbey, Mr.. Spencer, when
this business is off my hands,"
"Ill be there" said Billy, with an
inward twinge of anxiety.
Panke and the constable arrived
carrying a gate between them, which
was taken into the cave. The pros
trate Jake was lifted onto 1t, and
borne out into the open.
"Waiti Set him down." said Ark
wright suddenly. Hes safe. any
how We've got TO get the other one
He turned to Billy. you've seen
nothing of her-the womanY'
Billy gave him a stare of undis-
guised amazement.
"The woman?" he exclaimed.
cigarette
"Yes-Calamity Katei" said Ark
wright impatiently. Good Lord, man,
can't you see she must be somewhere
here. too? She's been bringing him
food and water, and tending his leg
how else could he have lived there six
days when he can't mover
Great Christopher" said Billy. 81
suppose you're right"
"The prisoner refuses any informa-
tion. But I'll have the pair Of them"
said Arkwright grtmly. "T-"
II suggest" broke in Panke, who
was chaflng at being thrust into a sub
ordinate part, that we get this
man away as soon as possible, and
that two Of rs wait in the cave. The
woman probably visits 1t only at night,
and the next time she comes with sup
plies, we shall get her."
1.-THE weak point about that" re-
piled Arkwright patronizlngly, "is that
it's not certain she only comes at
night; this is lonely place. and 1t
won't surprise me If she is close by.
She may have observed us already.
Wen search these pits thoroughly
first. There are half dozen Of these
caves, and we'll go through them all.
Mr.. Spencer, I'll trouble you to remain
by the prisoner. Panke, you and the
constable try that cave opposite, and
I'll take this side"
Inspector Arkwright ST. ,de forward
with stern determination
''The bag is not complete" he said
grimly, It'll I've got that womanr,
| ITO be Continued)
IL AL L