Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1923-03-23

Inc dark inquire checked In Its
stride, hesitated, and seemed about
to bolt back again.
"Partner!" cried Billy in amaze
ment. rs that you?"
The reply was a wild gasp. Aimee,
breathless, muddy, with an appre-
ciable breadth of white cambria show
ing at the base of her skirt, rushed
up to him and seized his arm.
BILLY! Oh, I'm so glad-T'm so
glad" she painted. "Billy, Pm in
an awful mess! The absolute limit 7"
"HowI Why?'
81 was in a house-and it was
burglad"-gulped Aimee, struggling
for breath they thought 1t was me-
and l scooted-they're chasing me-"
1t was not a wildly lucid explana-
ton. But Billy's intelligence depart
mem connected with it at once; 1t
supplied the missing factors. Before
he could answer, a pair of lights
flashed into view far down the road,
approaching at speed.
"Carp' exclaimed Aimee, and with
a note of panic-"Billy. suppose it's
police? If so, they'll be looking for
mel" She made a dash for the pill
lion of the Sphinx. Get me out of
this, BiIly-start her quick!"
"Not on your life" said Billy swift
ly. That's the last thing on earth
for you now. Come with me-"
He ran back fifty yards along the
road to a field gate. In a few mo-
ments he had it open, thrust the
Sphinx through, let her fall behind
the hedge, and dragged Aimee with
him into the ditch. They had hardly
gained that cover when the car swept
by with a roar, showing a glimpse of
police helmets scudding past the low
rampant of thorn fence. The majesty
of law and order, sweeping inexorably
through the night. A rattle, a boot,
and it was gone.
In the ditch there was painful ST.
lence. Billy mechanically felt his
bulging pocket, glanced for a moment
at the Sphinx, and then stared blankly
at Aimee.
"Close call, partner" he observed.
81 thought it must be they" said
Aimee breathlessly. Il wonder they
haven't called out the military as well.
All the countryside seems to be chas
ing me! Billy !" she said, with a sus-
picious tremble in her voice, you'll
help me, won't you? I'll tell you about
it. 1--we kept it from you, but l
won't any longer. L"
Billy laid a hand OF her arm.
amy he said quietly, "just repeat
this piece to yourself. Say: I'm safe,
m partners lookin' after me- Got
that? I'll see you through; you've
nothin' to worry for at all. But we
can't talk here. We've got to beat it."
He picked up the Sphinx.
"Follow close after me, an keep
quiet"
He wheeled the machine along the
field path at a run, passed through
another gate, crossed a stretch OF
heathery common-land, and made Tor
a small copse at the foot of the slope.
Aimee trotted behind silently, with an
odd sense of relief and security. Billy
would see it through. He had said so.
He halted by the copse, and looked
round to make sure of his bearings.
st ought to be close handy here"
he said. "Yes-I've got it."
He pushed on to a small bosky dell
which led into a series of old crag-
pits, masked with brambles. Aimee
wondered how he could find his way
so confidently in the dark; she had
not the remotest idea where she was.
"Wait here a minute. III come
back for you" said Billy.
He wheeled the Sphinx away along
a scarcely visible path, and presently
returned without it.
81 was fooling around here on an
off day, first time | came to Stanhoe,"
he said, IAN l lit on something that's
goin' to be mighty useful. The old
Sphinx has got to disappear for a bit,
an you'll soon understand why. Fol
low behind; there's only room for M
at a time"
He led the way through the BRAN
bles and, pressing ahead, turned on
the light of his pocket torch eau
tiously. Aimee, close at his heels,
presently found herself in the en-
trance of a sandy cave with a very
small mouth, screened by rough
creeper and brush.
"There's several of these around
here" said Billy, but this is one you
don't find unless you hunt for it with
a sounding pole. It's a heap quieter
spot than the high roads tonight. Sup
pose we sit down."
They seated themselves on the
powdered crag in the caves mouth.
Its time to show down our hands,
partner" said Billy. do you mind
putting me wise? Don't leave any
thing out. 1 want the facts
Aimee was silent some moments.
She found it difficult to begin.
eft was like this, Billy"