The Dolores star., 1923-06-15

o"c 'ooSSu ~ ~ me When | vss ~
ing up. Lucky for me she h.a.i
just now. Some girll.
He heaved himself to hls a..
steadily. made for ditch
there was a glitter o. wa,s, a.
bathed thu tender side OF NJ.
The water revived him; savs :,
cut under his hair. no serious A..
was dohe, though the blow -
easily have cracked weaker ,l--
II don't see that l shine much !
this job" said Billy despons.,s 4
they sure handed 1t to me, %,
under my guard. Never thourb, =
woman sharing in hold.up: an :.
guess It's been done before"
He picked up the pistol, was Al.
to pocket 1t, but altered his nina !.
flung 1t In the ditch. The Other
matte was nowhere to be seen =
walked towards the Sphinx. tho ~
lamp Of which was now In ds,t,
His hand swung against a large ~
projecting from the slds Of hi, =,
He halted and dragged out the ls,,,'
case. Billy had forgotten Its ~
ence.
"Why. here's something saved a.
the wreck" hs exclaimed. N
couldn't have seen me get it~
He dropped on one knee. opepsa,3
case. and switched the little ,Is-.s
torch over 1t.
Billy gave a stlfled gasp. on,s
of cream silk velvet reposed A IA.
lace Of amethysts. ending in h.
of nine superb emeralds tina, ,S,
with changing green fires under !
torch's glow. Billy was not an on,
in gems. but he guessed that "A,
were such as prince might be p,n
to own.
This Is the darnedest game | M
was up against" he said dazedly
turning the case carefully to N.
pocket.
He made rapid examination Oh
Sphinx. and at once became au,
of Calamity Rates handlwork.
spite Of the best intentions, hovsr
that enterprlsing lady had overs
mated the vulnerabllity both Of BIZ
skull and his motorcycle. She
done some damage, but had nlv
the more vital parts OF the Sph.
After ten minutes work Blllys
-pable hands restored the machlns
fair running order. and he rode an
down the lane. Both lamps were I
of action.
Any further pursuit OF the thls.
he put aside MS useless propOs!a-
He had vague idea that they
gone hours ago; In fact, howeys,
had not been unconscious more y
n few minutes.
There's only one thing to do."x
Billy. IAN that's"
A disconcerting thought Gas.
through his mind. The humping
the jewel-case against his side q
gested 1t.
"Geei" he murmured, I'm Id
Boy Blue, all right. But II l was
run against the cops now, I'D ID
heap Of explanation before i,
slugged me. My story'd look pr.
thin. Jewel-case-motorblke-lt q
wants one item to complete the y
fitl"
He turned on to the high road, n
Idly resolving on a plan OF aetlCa
he rode. 1t was good plan, but
few moments later It was hopeleS
upset again. He was. as It happss
nearer to Stanhoe than to JeTir
abbey. and as he turned in the div
tiOn Of the latter Billy became ayr +
of someone running toward him iE
the road-a dark figure, with a.
culiar moving CLEAN of whlsea
about 1t. He stopped the Sphinx
medlataly and thrust out his fee. /
steady himself.
The dark figure checked Ii =
stride, hesltated. and seemed az
to bolt back again.
"Partnerw cried Billy in anp
ment. rs that your"
The reply was wild gasp. Ans
breathless. muddy. with an opp
cfable breadth OF white cambria as
ing at the base of her skirt, russ
up to him and seized his arm.
"Bllly! oh, I'm so glad-rn
gladw she painted. "Billy, I'm /:
IN awful mess! Tho absolute llnf
Howl Why?"
II was In a house-and
burgl ed"-gulped Aimee, struH'
for breath they thought 1t was n
and l cooted-they're chasing me
1t was not a wildly lucid eIp''
ton. But Billy's intelligence dee
ment connected with 1t at once
supplied the missing factors. be
he could answer. pair OF W
flashed into view far down the
approaching ut speed. "A
Carl" exclaimed Aimee, and
a note Of panlc-"Billy. suppose
pollcel II SO. they'll be LOOKING &
mew She made u dash for the
lion Of the Sphinx. "Get me 0u
this, Bllly-start her quick"
"Not on your lifel" said Billy ~