The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-04-26
hontrose Press.

/ Montrose Press.
shop.
Aimee skidded against the wall and
recovering, leaped wildly over the two
PROSTATE relics of feudalism-the but
Ter and the coat of maitland dashed
for the double doors that stood open
before her There was curious flash
ing effect as she ran-a CLEAN, as II
were, of whiteness. The next mo-
ment she had vanished into the night.
Alexander rushed to the open doors
and stared out into the darkness. He
heard the sound of the hunt some
where beyond the fir-trees For a
moment he thought of joining 1t. But
the starlit gloom gave faint encour-
agement-pursuit seemed very use
less. With a sudden impulse Alexan-
der ran back through the hall. turned
on the light. and pulled open the door
Of the telephone call room. He
snatched the receiver from the hook.
"Stanhoe police station u put me
! through quick i'' cried Alexander.
Lady Erythea descended the stairs,
superb model for Boadicea among
the wreck Of the Roman legi0ns. Her
| eyes flashed FIRE, her lips were com.
pressed in thin, tight line, her hand
gripped the brass shovel. She glared
at the disgruntled butler.
"Tarbeaux she cried sharply.
"Tarbeaux!'
Mr.. Tarbeaux came forward, limp
ing. One hand pressed crimsoned
handkerchief to his nose, which had
impacted rather violently upon the
good knights breastplate. His other
hand grasped . yard Of torn blue
cloth, which he waved before him.
ibid you stop that womanY' cried
Lady Erythea.
Mr.. Tarbeau1' inarticulate answer
was in the negative.
"Why not, idiot p said his mistress.
"A houseful of useless membranes
unable to stop a single" The en-
purpled handkerchief caught her eye.
"Why, what is the matter, man? Are
you wounded?"
"Proud-shed m blood-ladyship's
service!' snuffied Mr.. Tarbeaux.
Couldn't help skirt tearin', M lady"
"Whatl"
/ Mr.. Tarbeaux, with a silent but
splendid gesture. laid the piece of
torn skirt upon the hall bench.
"Clue, M lady," he said,. with the
air of bankrupt making the most Of
his assets. with this it should not
be difficult to trace the thief"
Trace her!" snorted Lady Erythea.
If you had held on to her there would
would have been no need to trace any
thingl"
Mr.. Lambe Joined them; his mild
eye at once apprehended the signifi-
canoe of the piece Of serge.
II cannot see that Tarbeaux Is to
blame" he said in his aunts ear; ''he
did his best, and after all 1t Is unim-
portant."
"Unimportantl The Infamous crea-
ture has got clear awayl"
my dear aunt That stupid girl
cannot have been the thief. You do
not really suppose this burglary was
committed by a womanp
Most certainly l dol" cried Lady
Erythea. 81 can believe anything Of
the modern woman-anythingl She
hid when the alarm sounded, and
made q desperate dash for escape
when I discovered her. It 10 as clear
a. daylight to anybody but a fool!
1t Is certain she had my emeralds
upon her at the time, and It 10 lucky
none Of you are killed-though 1t
would be very little loss. Tarbeaux,
did you recognize the creature whom
ysu allowed so egregiously to escapeY'
mo. my lady. It was too dark.
And the incident was somewhat sud-
dsn," said Mr.. Tarbeaux apologeti-
cally. ut was a young person-I am
unable to say more. But l am sure
she was not one Of our household"
II have telephoned the police at
Stanhoe," said Mr.. Lambe; ''they
are coming Immediately by car"
"A CLEAN Of intelligence at last
Thank you, Alexander-and forgive
mel am overwrought. My censure
does not apply to you. The whole af-
fair is appalling said Lady Erythea,
clenching her hands. my pc, Is, the
diamond chaplet-these comparatively
are trifies-but the emeralds are gone.
The Lambe emeraldsi"
The audience shrank before her
wrath.
ut is Incredible! Twelve years ago
the abbey was broken intO-this Is the
second case. / had taken every pos
sible precaution, under skilled advice.
My safe is modern; 1 considered had
made the house itself impregnable at