The Dolores star., 1923-06-15

didn't meet them they must have
taken the branch lane at the cross
roads-away with you, man-quick !.
81 shall consider no reward too
great. II my cmeralds are recovered! y
exclaimed Lady Erythea, as the car
drove away. DO you think your men
will be successful. Inspector? My but
Ter allowed the malefactor to slip
through his fingers In the most fatu-
Gus manner. Can you"
zone moment" interrupted the in
spector. "The thieves were seen then.
by your ladyship's servants Was one
of them q woman
He hst to bawl the question into
Lady Eiythea's ear-trumpet, which
AlrIasder brought. When she under
stood, Lady Erythea's eyes flashed
terCely.
"Yes" she exclaimed. "a young
woman. You suspected woman then
before you came here?"
~ do more than suspect, my lady,"
said Inspector Panke grimly. 81
KNOW
W llb WIS lllAN N'llliAlt lllNl'fA iva =
and when do you propose to appre-
bend her? We have a piece Of the
creatures skirt"
"Huh! let me see It at OnCrl" said
the inspector, his eyes lighting up. It
was brought to him and It's capture cX-
planned, Inspector Panke examined
the yard Of cloth, tried its strength,
rubbed It. held 1t up to the light,
peered keenly at the torn edges.
Good, :" he said under his breath,
and turned upon Mr.. Lambe so sharp
~ that that gentleman jumped. "Your
telephone. slr-where is it?'
"Who is the abominabIe creatureT'
exclaimed Lady Erythea. And why
is she at large, a scourge upon the
country, breaking into"
"She won't sCourge 1t much longer"
said the inspector grimly. "I'll very
soon give your ladyshlp news of her
want the telephone, quick :"
This way" said Mr.. Lambe, and
led him to the Call-rOom. Inspector
Panke remained ut the instrument
considerable time. He emerged trl-
umphant.
IF they get away now-well, may
I never handle another case" he said
quietly to Mr.. Lambe. ~ can't an
swer questions at present, sir: I've
got to get busy. If | might suggest
that you induce her ladyship to retire,
and come round with me yourself
ha al
pet. and we've got 10 be quick-you
can explain to her sfterward"
Alexander was successful in per-
suading his aunt to retire from the
field, though she went breathing
threats Of vengeance, and mourning
aloud for the emeralds. Inspector
Panke made rapid examination of
the safe, the wall beneath Lady Fry
thea's window, and the ground out
side. He took a full description Of
the missing jewels. and briskly ques-
toned the servants.
I've only time to say this, sir be-
fore l 60" he said, turning to Mr..
Lambe. ~ recognize the work of
Jack the Climber in this case, as plain
ly as If they'd left the name written
on the wall 1t was him and Calam.
ity Kate. / thought for moment ii
might be Bender Williams, who was
released from Portland last month
But its undoubtedly Jacks Job. For
some months past a series of daring
burglarles have occurred at country
houses in various parts of England
and so far, I'm bound to say they've
beaten US; no arrest has been made
The methods of the thieves are so
similar In each case, that it Is clear
to an expert all these jobs were done
by the same persOn-Or, rather. two
persons, a man and n woman. The
| man, besides being as smart hand nj
cracking safe as ever lived, seems
to have the training of a steeplejack
as well. He can climb anything that
a fly could get fOOthold on; in fact,
he's known as the Climber.
"The woman, If anything, Is more
dangerous than the man. All that's
known Of them Is that they're prob
| ably foreigners-sOme say Americans
and that they use a motorcycle when
they're on the job.
Briefly, what happened here is
this: The man got in through Lady
Erytheas window. There's the marks
of him on the wall. He might have
got In still easier by the next one,
where the yeranda is. But he went
In through her ladyshIp's bedroom"
Mr.. Lambe's eyes met those of the
Inspector; the same thought passed
between them; whatever might be
said Of Jack the Climbers moral char
acter, he was brave man.
And so to her anteroom. and
opened the safe without waking her
Of course, she's pretty deaf. The bur
glar'alarm didn't 90 till he'd done 1t
and for that matter all these precau-
tons Of her Iadyshlp's are simply
bunco; the house Is ian easy job for
craftsman. Jack got away by the
same road he came, and the only thing
thlt mi fc tryh,