The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-04-04
CHAPTER XXI-Continued.

He passed along the wider lane in
the direction of %Jervaulx, his eyes
scanning the ground and the ditch. A
little distance short of the gate
through which Billy had wheeled the
Sphinx when lodging the police, he
stopped quickly and picked up a scrap
OF metal. 1t was the broken end of an
exhaust silencer.
II was right" CALCULATED Billy.
Here they crashed again-or the en-
CINE gave out for good. And they
came the very way l did myself. And
one of the two was lame-dead lame.
One sure thing-they couldn't have got
far that night. And If they weren't able
to ride the thing. what did they do
with it,"
He hurried to the far end of the
field, where the last of the tracks had
failed. He hesitated, and glanced to-
wards the distant crag-pits.
"What should I have done myself
II 1 hadn't known the %ground?" he
thought. 'rll try here first"
Less than a hundred yards to the
right was a clump of brushwood,
growing alone, a little oasis on the
bare field.
The bushes masked a narrow clay
pit, twenty feet deep, that had been
delved in times past to bring up the
heavy mari subsoil and spread it over
the sandy field. 1t vas now complete
ly cloaked with brambles. Billy pulled
sham onort and COW Cnmnthinu Dlpam-
ing dimly at the bottom of the pit.
1t was the buckled frame of a big
twin Indian motorcycle.
With a whoop Of triumph Billy
clambered down the steep side of the
pit and disappeared through the bram-
bles. He remained below some time.
When at last he emerged and stood
on the brink, Billy's face was rather
pale, and his eyes troubled.
"Great Caesars ghost!" he said.
"Who'd have expected this? Now-if
I can pick up the other track, I'll have
the game in my hands"
He hurried in the direction of the
distant crag-pits, then suddenly pulled
up short and glanced at his wrist
watch.
"Aimee! ~ he exclaimed.
He had an appointment with Aimee
at five, and an urgent one. 1t was al
ready past the hour. Billy set off at
a run, and in ten minutes reached the
rendezvous. Aimee was there already,
in a rough serge walking-cloak and a
Shocks hat trimmed with calico vio-
lets. In spite of the costume she
looked WILDLY lovely.
"N1r. Chauffeur" said Aimee, severe
ly, 81 don't know if you think I want
to waste my afternoon off like this.
You're late"
I'm sorry" painted Billy. Game as
quick as l could"
what are you looking excited
about?" she said, cycling him suspi-
cionsly.
"Ol-lust seeing you" blurted Billy.
That isn't true. I've never seen you
look excited before. You've found out
something. What is it?"
Billy paused.
"It's true. | have found u some
thing he said quietly, "but there's
more to do, and haven't quite all the
cards in my hands. It's the most amaz-
ing stunt yet. I'll tell you about it
the moment I've got it set"
Aimee looked at him wistfully.
Il don't think you ought to have any
secrets from Your partner" she said.
~ always tell you everything"
"Give me till tonight" pleaded Billy.
81 hate to talk about it now. It's ugly.
BY tonight we shall have either won or
lost-but we'll win! VIII you trust
mel"
Aimee seated herself on the turf be-
meath the s~weetbriars.
"All right them she said happily.
Lets forget our troubles for a bit.
Sit down-you look so tall, towering
up there, that l can hardly see you
and I'll tell my news. It's much more
interesting than yours. Do you know