The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1923-06-22
CHAPTER XIII
'Very Good, My Lady"

livery Good, My Lady"
do these interest you. madameY
said Billy simply.
Lady Erythea stared as though the
green gems hypnoized her. Then,
with little gasp Of JOY, she lifted
them from the case with trembling
fingers. 1t was one of the rare occa-
sions of her life when Lady Erythea
exhibited emotion.
She laid down the necklace and
looked at Billy as one might regard
materialized angel. Before she
could speak. however. Mr.. Alexander
Lambe entered the room.
1t has been said that Mr.. Lambe's
eyes were large. They expanded in
describably when he saw the Lambe
necklace lying on the table. He closed
the door softly behind him. and ap-
preached the table in an awestruck
manner.
He glanced from the emeralds to
Lady Erythea's face. and then, some
what sternly. at Billy.
How did you come by theseT' said
Lady Erythea, pointing to the en-
eralds. Suddenly she presented the
ear-trumpet at Billy. Explain"
The ear-trumpet startled Billy a
little. He felt-so he declared to
Aimee Afterwards II Lady Erythea
had the drop on him. But his face,
as he answered, was ingenious as a
baby's.
Il was passing by your park gates
early this morning, on my way to Sy-
derford. 1t was past one. an the
house was dark. When I got to the
place where the lane turns into the
road heard motorcycle coming up
behind, hi for-coming mighty
quick" said Billy, turning pink. ut
came right by me. pretty near out of
control. 1t hadn't any lights. there
was bend just ahead, an 1 heard
1t crash"
Billy delivered this with a beautiful
fluency into the ear-trumpet.
Il just ran in on Them" pursued
Billy. "for I didn't have to stop an
figure 1t out that an outfit travelling
that way with lights out at one in
the morning was up to any good. They
were just picking themselves up when
I arrived. and they went for me"
"Was It man and woman?" e1-
claimed Mr.. Lambe.
you've hit 1t, SIR"
"My dear auntI" cried Alexander,
"the inspector told me. after you re-
tired, that he suspected man and a
woman, on a motorcycle, Of being the
thieves! They can be no other than
those people who ran into us yester-
day on the Syderford road"
Hold your tongue, Alexander" in
terrupted Lady Erythea impatiently,
land allow this amazing young man
to continue!"
There was some scrap" said Billy
diffidently, maybe If there'd been two
men I'd have done better. but the lady
hampered me. and somehow I took the
count. They knocked me out, and
got away. But they left this behind
them" he pointed to the case of en-
eralds, land it looks like they never
knew they'd lost 1t. I don't know,
madam. If there was anything else
Of yours they got. If SO. I'm very
sorry didn't attach 1t, and rope the
two thieves for you as well. But, with
the pair Of them. 1t was rather a
roughhouse. l did my best"
There was flush Of admiration on
Lady Erythea's high cheek-bones.
Eyes, there were other Jewels sto-
len." she said. "but their value Is the
merest trifle compared to what yeu
have restored to me. These emeralds
are my most priceless family posses
sion They are historic-nothing
could have recompensed mo for the
loss Of them. Your eoaduet has been