Evening star., 1924-07-21
RIPPING RUBY
A Thrilling Mystery Story
By J. S. FLETCHER
Continued from Yesterdays star)
By p Putnam Sons

NO confession" interrupted Pey-
ton. my notion about that man is
that he'll go TO the end without a
word as to the main business. He's
played his game and lost-and he'll
take his beating without grumble
No-he's something to tell. Like tc
know what 1t is, too. It'll be some
thing out of the common"
We settled that Peyton should &c
with me in the morning and wait in
the car until i had seen Macfarlane
walker drove us in, and at noon
stepped down at the prison door and
found Spiller waiting. Ten minutes
later l found myself alone in a drab-
coiored cell-like room. across the
middle of which was a double row
of bars. And presently, after a graf
ing of keys in locks and changing OF
warder at his side and another in
the cage between him and me.
l looked at him with feeling OF
intense curiosity. He was little
changed. There was something OF
the air of the trapped animal about
him. but he threw off all conscious
ness OF his surroundings and nodded d
to me as if we were meeting under
very commonplace circumstances.
Good morning, Mr.. Cranage," he
said. coming close to the bars. I'm
obliged to you for coming"
You have something to tell me?'
answered. Yes" he said. Then he
paused, looking at me steadily. A
question first. Do you know where
Lady Renardsmere is?"
No" / replied. Il do not"
I've kept count of days" he went
on, with a grim smile. Next We'd
nesday is Derby day. Shall you sec
Lady Renardsmere before wednes-
Il can't say" / answered. II hope
to-" i0pe
hut, at any rate, you can see Miss
Manson whenever you like?-within
an hour or two from now" he said.
almost eagerly. That's so. isn't it?''
That's certainly so.' l assented.
THIS very afternoon. if need be-
He nodded, as if with some salts
FACTION. and seemed to get closer to
the bars which he was clutching.
Il m tied up.' he said, with a sar-
donic laugh. This adventure ends
here: for the time being, anyway.
Lost-by good many lengths But
I've always been a sport, Cranage,
you can't get in immediate touch
with Lady Renardsmere you can with
MISS Manson. So, here's what |
wanted to tell you-as sport The
hllyS in danger
started back from my bars, in
sheer astonishment; I believe the
two WarderS. stolid-faced impassiye
fellows that they were, startled, too
L m certain, anyhow. that all three
OF US stared at Macfarlane: stared AS
If he'd offered US some unbelieva bic
news.
What" / exclaimed. Ripping
Ruby
"Rippling Ruby" he answered with
nod. Il tell you-in danger,
In danger of WHAT" 1 asked. In
terference?"
Interference thatu make il i'm
possible. for her to Win," he replied
coolly. And I'm held by the leg
here. and I'm a sport, and all the
rest of it's over. and the filly's the
finest bit of horse-hesh I ever saw
and damn it, I'm telling you. he
suddenly burst out Get to Miss
Manson, man, and tell her to watch
her charge herself. every minute
from now till they get her saddled
and off, Watch-watch'"
l found it difficult to get word
out after that. l stood tongue-tied
staring at him.
I'm telling you. Cranage" he re-
peated. Telling you
But, | stammered at last. "the
my been watched day and night
Tor weeks. There's a special guard
or private detectives
Damn the special guard of pri-
vate detectives" he interrupted ir-
r1tably. I'm telling you what I
know. Cranage. Get away at once
and tell Miss Manson. Let you. and
her. and that American fellow take
II IN turns to keep your own eyes
on tipping Ruby till she's literally
at the starting gate. or :"
He suddenly paused. and a queer
look came into his sinister eyes. And
Just as suddenly he laughed, and
"hen ne spoke again it was in a
cynical. sardonic fashion.
woman in my life. Grange. that | re-
member. he said. Been kicked and
cuf1ed about too much since boyhood
myself! Butt does me good. some
how. to think I'm doing a good turn
to-a pretty bit of horse flesh, That's
all, cranage. Be Off"
He turned swiftly away: the next
minute / was alone. And / went
swiftly away. too, out of that grim
and gloomy place, and back to Spiller
and to Peyton in the big
car at the gates
1nquisitiveness was written big all
over him. But this was my busi-
ness.
"All right, Spiller." / said. as 1
made straight into the car. I've seen
him. and heard what he had to say.
And-it's of strictly private ma
ture.- Good -morning,-get away out
of the town. Walkerr
We had cleared the outskirts of
the town before 1 said one word TO
Peyton. Then. a few miles out. at
an old-fashioned roadside inn. / made
Walker pull up, and bidding Peyton
get out, ! took him into private
room and over a crust of bread and
cheese and glass of ale, told him
everything.
What do you make of it?" l asked.