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

Confession.
It was very dark and very quiet at
che lanes end when Billy at last
stirred, and, after an interval of
slowly returning consciousness, man.
aged to raise himself dlzzily to a sit
ting position.
He pressed his hands to the side
Of his head and remained for awhile
Motionless, conscious of a damp
warmth under his left palm. His eyes
awelt on a white, chalky stone, as
big as a doubled fist, that lay on the
grass beside him. Events began to
%reconnect themselves In a brain that
etill buZZed family.
"A granite SKULL" murmured Billy.
not without a tOucn % PRIDE, isn't
altogether a disadvantage in an argu-
ment."
He looked about him thoughtfully.
Not far away something cleaned in a
rut-a small repeating pistol. His
late opponents had evidently left in
too much of a hurry to take an in
ventory of their effects.
"She must nave dropped that when
the machine crashed" thought Billy.
"She loosad 1t at me when l was rid
ing up. Lucky for me she hadn't 1t
just now. Some girl !"
He heaved himself to his feet I'M
steadily, made for q ditch where
there was a glitter OF water, and
bathed the tender side of his head.
The water revived him; save for a
cut under his hair, no serious damage
was done, though the blow might
easily have cracked a weaker skull.
II don't see hat l shine much, over
this job" said Billy despondently;
"they sure handed it to me. Got right
under my guard. Never thought of a
woman sharing in a hold-up; an yet l
guess it's been done before"
He picked mp the pistol, was about
to pocket it, but altered his mind and
flung 1t in the ditch. The other auto
matte was nowhere TO be seen. Billy
walked towards the Sphinx, the head
lamp of which was now in darkness.
His hand swung against a large lump
projecting from the side of his coat.
He halted and dragged out the leather
case. Billy had forgotten it's exist
ence.
"Why, here's something saved from
the wreck 7" he exclaimed. "They
couldn't have seen me get it,"
He dropped on one knee, opened the
case, and switched the little electric
torch over it.
Billy gave a stifed gasp. On a bed
of cream silk velvet reposed q neck
lace of amethysts, ending in a loop
of nine superb ameralds that shone
with changing green fires under the
torch's glow. Billy was not an expert
in gems, but he guessed that these
were such as a prince might be proud
to OWE.
"This is the darnedest game 1 yer
was up against" he said dazedly, re-
turning the a S carefully to his
pocket.
He made a rapid examination of the
Sphinx, and at once became aware
of Calamity Kate's handiwork. In
spite of the best intentions, however,
that enterprising lady had overesti-
mated the vulnerability both of Billy's
skull and his motorcycle. She had
done some damage, but had missed
the more vital parts of the Sphinx.
After ten minutes work Billy's ca
pable hands restored the machine to
fair running order. and he rode away
down the lane. Both lamps were out
of action.
Any further pursuit of the thieves
he put aside as a useless proposition.
He had a vague idea that they had
gone hours ago; in fact, however, he
had not been unconscious more than
a few minutes.
There's only one thing to do" said
Billy, IAN that's"
A disconcerting thought flashed
through his mind. The humping of
the jewel-case against his side sug-
gested 1t.
"Geel' he murmured, SIN Little
Boy Blue, all right. But If / was to
run against the cops now, it'd taxa
a heap of explanation before they
slugged me. My story'd look pretty
thin. Observation-Disclosures only