The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-05-03

"Give upw shouted Billy. as he
overlook them. -.You- can't make It.
I've got you!" ...-...
A hand stretched out from the fig-
ure on the pillion. and emitted bark
ing fash Of fire. 1t dazzled Billy for
the moment. Something tipped
through his hair; automatically his
left hand tightened on the valve-lifter
and the Sphinx slowed, allowing the
other cycle to shoot ahead ~ SO 3
Billy madefa iuridT remark, and at
once increased speed again to close
with the fugitives. Right ahead the
lane forked on to the main road, and
thither the driver OF the other cycle
was obviously heading. But the lights
Of car were In sight approaching
rapidly on the road. The rider of the
cycle had evidently no ambition. to
meet it; at the last moment Ire
sweryed left and continued along thu
narrow lane.
Billy laughed aloud.
..The guys 'cornered himselfi" he
thcsght. Hes taken the blind alley.
Ne for himr - p" =
=. The isne was very rutty and uneven.
The cycle ahead had vanished round
q bend; Billy. shutting on his engine.
swung round 1t, Immediately after
ward. 3 Al ne did SO he heard a. crash.
The driver of the rother cycle, realiz-
ing too late that he was in q Guide
sac. had swerved. braked violently.
'andTcame' thoroughly to grief. -.
- Billy sprang from the Sphinx, let.
ting her fall ON her side with the
headlight still glowing. Ths other
cycle lay PROSTATE; small heap was
huddled beside 1t on the grass.
The taller man, the driver, was just
staggering to his feet when Billy ran
at him. The cyclist whipped out a
repeating pistol.
A gun, at night, and in the hands
Of a shaken man, is much less certain
than a fist with six feet of activity
behind it. Billy's left dashed the pis-
tol hand aside. the bullet spat i'm
potently into the air, and his right
the mans chin, lifting him on his feet
to fall inert.
As he came down, something
skipped and rolled away from him
along the grass, in the ray of the
Sphinx's headlight. With the swift
instinct for loot Billy pouhced upon
it-a sumptuous looking little case of
leather. with clasp. Billy thrust 1t
In his pocket and turned to the fallen
man, who lay with closed eyes and
his head moving faintiy from side to
side. 'A,si y y 4
mighty slow with a gun," said
Billy, STOPPING over him. '"Tm going
Over you FOR the rest OF thu goods,
tBud." 'ui .r'' 49, 90 SO b Vsssi
A moan from the other malefactor,
lying by the fallen cycle, interrupted
him. So pathetic and treble a moan
was it that Billy starred and jerked
himself upright, staring. g.sn HT''''lN :
"Lordyi" he agasped, with remorse
and concern. Its a womani"
The discovery was tiisconcerting
enough But thought shot through
his brain that nearly paralyzed Billy.
What woman was it? :.
He hurried to her side. She had
already raised herself on one hand
ana seemed trying feebly,to get up.
tRilly stopped over her. :. .
Much hurtr he ,a..' sta%mered- u,1os l.
At that moment the fallen driver
rec6vfssred and stiffed.4 BilIy tdfned
his head toward him, with .. quick
/. initinct-thso Danger iay closer 1t
Fhsytd nans " shn "a 4ast VI
The woman's hand was grasping .
ytodes. ahd, assss Bflly ttfAed, she
wrought hefsarm-found> wfth sweep,
swift as a striking fsnake. = The chunk