The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-07-19

ia give me life to get him out of
- out hes done, and he'll know
they've got me. It'll be hi for him
My manv '
AN unreasoning flood of tears came
N'o Aihnees eyes. She looked once
more towards the group. The police
were spreading out across the pits
moving in her direction.
My mani" sobbed Kate.
You love himi" said Aimee half.
ingly. ~ "a'''
Hes my husband!" said the wom-
an. She flung herself face down.
wards on the sand, and wept
suddenly Aimee stopped and caught
her by the shoulder.
Sohe with meP she said swiftly,
and' turning, crept in through the
screen of brambles, into the cave.
hate looked up comprehendingly
linen, with the instinct of the hunted
shimal She dived through the bushes
aho went to ground. The girls found
themselves together In the cool gloom
Of the cave.
Kate stared at Aimee with wondar.
ing eyes.
"I'm sorry for your said Aimee
unsteadily.
never thought" said Kate, ITO
nnd any woman sorry for me-"
She glanced round the walls of thel
cave.
They'll find me here-just the
same"
They may not" Aimee, very pale,
looked at the fugitive. Don't you
think" she said, that If you got clear
this time, you might-drop 1t all? Try
something different?"
Il might" said Kate slowly. But
they'll get me-"
She caught sight OF the Flying
Sphinx, standing in the dim light at
the caves end.
WHAT'S thatT' she exclaimed, and
moved swiftly to the machine. Aimee
watched her.
You couldn't ride it," said Aimee,
not even if the way was clear"
I can ride anything with an engine
to it," said kate desperately. There
was CLEAN Of hope in the hunted
eyes; already her hands were busy
with the levers; searching, examining.
But she stopped, baffied. The controls
or the Sphinx were too much for her.
The next moment Aimee was besidel
her.
"Thats the throttle!" said Aimeel
swiftly. Here's the starter - this
changes the gear-you have to be
careful with the intake. On the sec
ond speed she goes over the roughestl
ground like bird-on the level road
she'll do eighty. If you could get her,
out clear of the bushes-but you'd
never get away with it"
The woman turned to her, gasping.
"Will you let me try" she e1-l
claimed
1t was then that shock Of revul-
sion came over Aimee This was the
female rattlesnake who had nearly
killed Billy, and caused all the trouble.
Why should Aimee feel pity? The
broken man in the hands of the po-
lice
A rustic among the bushes at the
caves mouth made the two women
turn quickly. De Jussac, stepping in
side, halted and stared blankly at
them both.
"Ten thousand devilsl" exclaimed!
Bertrand, momentarily startled out Of
politeness.
you needn't be frightened for me-"
said Aimee quickly "She'll do me no
HARM"
Bertrand's active brain took in the
situation briefly.
"No harm" he said. Name of a
namel If the police found you here
with thatl"
Aimee turned very white. That as
pect of the case had not even occurred
to her. In the stress of new emotions,
the realization of danger to herself
had been crowded out. If she had to
explain to the police
"Yes," said Aimee quietly. "If they
come here-Tm done for
The strident voice of Inspector Ark
wright was heard, very close at hand.
Monsieur de Jussac pushed his way
out through the brambles and re-
gained the open air. The three police
men together were converging towards
the spot.
"Another cave there!" cried Inspec-
tor Arlwright. 81 thought so. This
way. Pankei"
De Jussac halted before the en-
trance, and, selecting a cigarette from
his case, lit 1t deliberately.
"You may save yourself the trouble,
Inspector" he said amiably. "There
Is nothing here"
Arkwright hesitated.
"Are you certaln?" he said, coming
forward again.
"I have proved It," said Bertrand,
"at much expense to my skin. Curse
these briarsl'
"All right" said Arkwright, turning
away; "push on and search the other
end, Panke. No use wasting time
here. I think we're on a fools errand
after ALL"
Atnao ,oItnn pocsod out nf etpht