The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-11-07
Chapter A
AT THE PRIoRY

AT THE PRIORY '---.-~ A BOUT ten minutes later Jim sud A denly clutched Caroline and said, "Hush!" The front door of Happicot had opened and someone was coming out. The door shut again.
 Jim spoke under his breath.
 "It's Tom"
 The light O the street lamp showed overalls, leather cap, and goggles.
 She's sending Tom" said Jim.
 They saw him go round the house into the shadow.
 Suppose it's blind," said Caro- line.
 Jim's hand frightened on her wrist He said:
 Look"
 Out of the shadow beside the house came the figure in overalls. pushing Toms motor-bike.
 "It isn't Tom-that's Nesta Get ready to start as soon as she's mak- ing enough noise not to notice us What can you dol"
 Fifty" said Caroline.
 The chug-chugging of the motor cycle filled the luiet road. A corner of the blind above was lifted. Some one was watching Nesta start. Jim thought Tom would probably hear all about that later on.
 Caroline kept about thirty yards behind. There was very little traf- fic on the road, and it was now prac tically dark. They ran for five miles. and then the tail-light disappeared
 Where's she gone?" said Jim in puzzled voice.
 Sandy Lane." said Caroline.
 Is it drivable?"
 They've made parking-ground in field about quarter of mile along to the left. The roads all right as far as that. but can get the car a good bit nearer the ruins. Do you think she's going there?"
 They turned off, and saw the red spark again. Caroline switched off her lights and crawled forward over a horribly rough surface. The red spark drew away and then suddenly went out.
 Jim whispered, Has she turned off"
 Stopped, think. We must too. can't turn here-we shall have to back"
 He opened the door and jumped out.
 "Caroline-will you do just what l say? Back down to the parking. place and turn, then stay there till I come. Get as much out of the way as you can."
 He did not wait for an answer, but made off up the ane. He tried to fix in his mind the exact spot at which the red light had vanished. He must be getting near it now.
 And then all of a sudden there was the motorcycle, jammed up against the hedge. A bare yard far ther on he came on the wicket gate. The ruin of St. Leonard's Priory is one of the sights of the county. It cannot be said to be easy of access, but in summer weather it is much in favor with school treats. sketching. parties, and lovers.
 Jim followed the path until he could see the dark mass of the tow CT loom up between him and a sky which was not quite so dark, At in. tervals he stopped to listen. And then all at once he didn't hear, he saw.
 LIE WAS about a dozen yards II from the tower, which was real ly only a shell, the hollow side to- wards him. The winding stair. which had once led to the top. had long since fallen, but the slits which had lighted it remained, piercing the ', outer wall at regular intervals. What Jim saw was the lowest of these sits, and he saw it because on the other side of the tower wall some one had struck match.
 As he approached the slit, he heard the murmur of voices. He laid . hand on the rough, damp wall of the tower, stopped to the slit, and from the other side of 1t heard Nesta say:
 T want to see them"
 He listened eagerly for the mans voice. All that he knew of him up to the present was the feel of his agile twisting body and the sharpness of his teeth. He had not the slightest doubt that 1t was his burglar to whom Nesta was speaking. : The voice was as familiar to him