Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1923-05-03

It's Sdlu AillCC QuACllys IL tlCI
come here-T'm 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 therel" cried Inspec-
tor Arkwright. ~ thought so. This
way, Panke!"
De Jussac halted before the en-
trance, and, selecting a cigarette from
his case, lit it deliberately.
"You may save yourself the trouble,
Inspector" he said amiably. "There
is nothing here"
Arkwright hesitated.
"Are you certain2" he said, coming
forward again.
81 have proved It." said Bertrand,
Eat much expense to my skin. Curse
these briarst"
"All right" said Arkwright, turning
away; 'push on and search the other
end, Panke. No use wasting time
here. 1 think we're on a FOOLS errand
after ALL"
The three police passed out of sight
round the bend of the pits. There
was a long pause. Aimee's face peered
cautiously through the branmbles.
"What a fearful liar o are, vi
comte p she said with mingled re-
morse and admiration.
Bertrand,l without turning bowed
gravely.
st do my best" he murmured, "in
defense of a lady with such a genius
for getting into difficulties. But let
me beg Of you to remain where you
are"
"Are the police out Of sightT' said
Aimee eagerly.
"For the present, yes. They are
away round the corner-all three. But
they may come back"
A moments silence followed the
warning. Then the brambles parted,
and the Flying Sphinx came thrusting
through. Kate was beside it, her
hands gripping the bars, her face
white and strained, her teeth tight set.
She gave a swift glance to either side,
and began to run the machine down
the slope.
De Jussac, with an amazed excla-
nation, turned to intercept her. He
found a hand OBTAINING him; Aimee
had gripped him by the arm.
LET her go!" said Aimee breath
iessly. Let her go!"
"Name of a name !" said Bertrand
blankly. But he obeyed. There was
little choice. Already Calamity Kate
was we'll down the slope, running be-
side the free-wheellng Sphinx that gath
cred more and more impetus by its own
weight. The dizziness with whjch
the woman steered it between the
ciumps of bushes was astounding.
"She hasn't a dogs chance" said
Aimee with a gulp, "but what chance
there is-let her take it,"
ga nation of SportSmen quoiJ"
murmured Bertrand with a paraiyzed
air. He glanced to the left, where
the police had disappeared round the
shoulder of the bluff. There vas still
no sign of them. Kate, reaching the
trodden path at the bottom, turned
sharp to the right and swung herself
into the saddle.
at is ones duty to stop her." said
Bertrand, twisting his mustache in
p%erpleXity. "But-One does not hunt
q woman
"She'll never get started on that
ground" said Aimee.
The engine fired, stopped, fired
again-the wheels threw up spirits Of
sand, then getting onto harder ground
the machine ran swiftly ahead with
the faint puIsing whirr that was the
Sphinx's o of triumphant progress.
She shot forward much too fast, and
was only just controlled in time.
No other cycle than the Sphinx
could have made good over such
ground; no other could have sailed
so efficiently and nOiselossly up the
steep path through the gap towards
the higher ground at the far end. 1t
was a wonderful exhibition of riding.
AS the fugitive sped by, Billy, stand
ing on guard beside the captive Jake,
turned and stared in petrified amaze
ment.
Jake raised himself to a sitting po-
sition on the gate, and stared. too.
He uttered a hoarse cry-almost a
cheer.
The Sphinx and it's rider breasted
the crest of the rise, staggered, and
sailed away out of view.
CHAPTER XIV