The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1923-02-09
CHAPTER VIII
The Plot Thckens.

BY sheer force OF arrested impetus
Aimee and the butler spun round each
other at arms length like skaters on
q rink; something ripped loudly, the
buffer, shooting off at tangent, col
lided with suit Of armor pedestaled
near the wall. The ensuing crash sug-
gestef an instruction in a hardware
shop.
Aimee skidded against the wall and,
recovering, leaped wildly over the two
PROSTATE relics Of feudaifsm-the but
Ter and the coat Of maitland dashed
for the double doors that stood open
before her. There was curious flash
ing effect as she ran-a CLEAN, as 1t
were, of whiteness. The next mo-
ment she had vanished into the night.
Alexander rushed to the open doors
and stared out into the darkness. He
heard the sound of the hunt some
where beyond the fir-trees For a
moment he thought of joining it. But
the stariit gloom gave faint encOur-
agement-pursuit seemed very use
less. With a sudden impulse Alexan-
der ran back through the hall, turned
on the hight, and pulled open the door
of the telephone call room. He
snatchetf the receiver from the hook.
"StanhOe police station = put me
through quick l' cried Alexander.
Lady Erythea descended the stairs,
q superb model for Boadicea among
the wreck of the Roman legions. Her
eyes flashed fire, her lips were COM
pressed In thin, tight line, her hand
gripped the brass shovel She glared
at the disgruntled butler.
"Tarbeaux she cried sharply.
|'Tarbeaux
Mr.. Tarbeaux came forward, limp
ing. One hand pressed crimsoned
handkerchief to his nose, which had
impacted rather violently upon the
good. knights bresstplate. His other
hand, grasped yard of torn blue
cloth. which he waved before him.
Did you stop that woman cried
Lady Erythea.
Mr. Tarbeaux' inaEticulate answer
was in the negative.
why not, idiot!" said his mistress.
"A houseful OF useless membranes
unable to stop q single" The en-
purpled handkerchief caught her eye.
"Why, what is the matter, man? Are
you woundedT
"Proud-shed M blood-ladyship'
ssrvice!" snuffied Mr.. Tarbeaux.
Couldn't help skirt tearin', M lady"
What"
Mr.. Tarbeaux. with silent but
splendid gesture. laid the piece OF
torn skirt upon the hall bench.
GLUE, M lady," he said. with the
air Of a bankrupt making the most OF
his assets. with this 1t should not
be difficult to- trace the thief"
"Trace herw snorted Lady Erythea.
"If YOU had held on to her there would
would have been no need to trace any
thing!"
Mr.. Lambe Joined them; his mild
eye at once apprehended the signin-
canoe of the piece Of serge.
II cannot see that Tarbeaux u to
blame" he said in his aunt's ear; he
did his best, and after all 1t is unim-
portant."
"Unimportant! The Infamous crea-
ture has got clear away!"
my dear aunt! That stupid girl
cannot have been the thief. You do
not really suppose this burglary was
committed by a woman"
Most certainly l dor cried Lady
Erythea. 81 can believe anything OF
the modern woman-anything She
hid when the alarm sounded. and
made q desperate dash for escape
when discovered her. 1t is as clear
as daylight to anybody but fool!
1t is certain she had my emeralds
upon her at the time, and 1t Is lucky
none of you are killed-though 1t
would be very little loss. Tarbeaux,
did you recognize the creature whom
you allowed so egregiously to escape?"
mo, my lady. 1t was too dark.
And the incident was somewhat sud-
den," said Mr.. Tarbeaux APOLOGIZE
callY.- 1T was a young person. am