RED CLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF
COOOCOCC3COOOOOCOOOOQCOOOCOOOCO
THE
By Sidney Gowing
ifepsccocoscocccccccocccooccoscos
"PARTNER!"
SVNOI'SI.S.-I)lHllklnK tlio pros
pect of u mutitli'H visit to her aus
tere aunt, l.ady Hrythea luntia,
nt Jprvntilx abbey, ntul her cousin,
Alexander Lambe, Almee, vivacious
daughter of tliu Wry Itovcrcml
Vlmount Hcroopc, wanders Into tlio
pailc, there oncotinterliiK u strnnKu
youth. Ilu laiiRliliiKly Introduces
himself an ' Hilly," Ainurlrnn. Tlio
two tide on his motorcycle, the
"KlyliiK Sphinx," ntul part. Willi
OorRlmi Hcrners, her cousin, Altneo
nets out for JcrvmiW. Him derides
that (liorglua shall Impersonate
hor nt .lervnnlx, while sho roob on
ii holiday. UcorKlna's horrified pro
test Is unavailing. Alincn nKaln
meets "Hilly." Ho tills her his
nniiio Is Spencer, unit she given hers
ns Amy Snookcs, at present "out
of a Job " Hilly offers to tnlto her
Into partnership In sellltitf the
Sphinx. In u spirit of madcap ml
venture, she acceptH. The two pro
ceed to the town of Stanhoe, taking
scpatnto IoiIkIiiks In Ivy cottnRo.
Thru ulKlit Atinec visits CleorKlna
mill Icarus that the ileccpllon has
dot been dlscoveied. Sho compels
(icorKlna to continue tlio suhtcr
fiiKc. On n trial spin, with Hilly,
Mmeo almoHt collides with u car
tIiiku In which aio her mint, Ocor
i;lua nud Alexander. The pair ex
tape unrecognized. (leorKlna learns
Mint l.onl Scroopo Is coming to
Halt 1-idy Hrythcn and Is In hope
less bewilderment. While Aimed Is
Mccretly visit Iiik tieotglnn ut Jcr
Mxtilx, tliu place Is burglarized.
Almvu escapes. I'ollco decide the
thieves are "Jack the Climber" anil
"Calamity Kate," who travel on u
motorcycle. Hilly, who has shad
owed Almee to Jervaulx, follows
the thieves. Me Is knocked out, but
llnds ho has some cosily emeralds.
UcullzinK they must be part of tlio
loot from Jervnulx, ho starts for tlio
abbey. He meets Almcc, with the
police In pursuit.
CHAPTER XI Continued.
5
"Close call, partner," lie observed.
"I thought It must be they," said
Almee breathlessly. "I wonder they
haven't culled out tlu military us well.
All the countryside seems to be chas
ing me! Hilly 1" she said, with a sus
picious tremble In her voice, "you'll
ielp me, won't you? I'll tell you about
It. I I've kept it from you, but I
won't any longer. 1 "
Hilly laid a hand on liar arm.
"Amy," he said quietly, "Just repeat
this piece to yourself. Say: 'I'm safe,
my partner's lookln nfter me.' Got
that? I'll see you through; you've
nothln' to worry for at all. Hut we
can't till I: here. We've got to bjat It."
He picked up the Sphinx.
"Follow close after me, an' keep
quiet."
lie wheeled the machine along the
Held path at a run, passed through
another gate, crossed n stretch or
heathery common-land, ami made for
a small copse at the foot of the slope.
Almee trotted behind silently, with an
odd sense of relief and security. Billy
would see It through. He had said so.
Ho halted by the copse, and looked
round to make sure of his bearings.
"It ought to be close bandy her?,"
be said. "Yes I've got It."
lie pushed on to a small bosky dell
which led Into a series of old crag
pits, masked with brambles. Almee
wondered how lu could llnd his way
vo conlldently In the dark; she had
hot the remotest Idea where she was.
"Walt here a minute. I'll come
ouck for you," said Hilly.
He wheel jd the Sphinx away along
n scarcely visible path, and presently
let u mod without it.
"I was fooling mound here on nn
oil' day, llrst tlmu I came to Stanhoe,"
he said, "an' I lit on something that's
goln' to be mighty useful. The old
Sphinx lias got to disappear for a bit,
an' you'll soon understand why. Fol
low behind; there's only room for one
at a time."
He led the way through tlio bram
bles and, pressing ahead,, turned on
the light of his pocket torch cau
tiously. Almee, close at Ills luols,
presently found herself In the en
trance of a sandy cae with u cry
Huiall mouth, screened by rough
creeper and brush.
"Thers's seeral of these around
here," said Hilly, "hut this Is one you
don't llnd unless ou hunt for It wlih
a sounding pole. It's a heap quieter
spot than the high roads tonight. Sup
pose we sit down."
They seated themselves on the
powdered crag In i cave's mouth.
"It's time to show down our hands,
partner," mi Id Hilly. "Do you mind
putting me wise? Don't leave any
thing out. I want the facts."
Almee was silent some moments.
She found It dllllcult to begin.
"It was like this, Hilly."
She plunged Into the tale, and went
through It from beginning to end
leaving out nothing. It took some
time. She could hardly seo Hilly In
the gloom. He made no comments;
ha was so silent that sometimes she
wondered If lie was there. Hilly was,
for a time, too flabbergasted to speak.
At the finish, she heard n stifled,
grunting noise, u sense of something
shaking. It seemed to touch a spring
In Almee. She bowed her head on
tier knees and laughed till her checks
were wet.
"Haven't I torn it!" sha moaned.
VUxd I downed Cousin Alexander
JOY OF LIVING
Copyright 1923 by Sidney Cowing
and the butler's got yards of my
sklrtrl".
Hilly wiped his eyes with his sleeves.
"An' you can laugh," he said, with
Intense delight, "after all that I tJce,
hut you're the stuff 1 Sand right
through. You're all right. As long
as you can laugh, the Itoil Cods'lt
stand by you 1 An' so will I. I'm one
of 'em."
"Hilly! There's nothing but you
between me and thos! beastly police.
Hut I'll bet It's enough, What's to be
-done?"
"Hear my side of It 1" said Hilly,
dropping on his knees and producing
tlie Jewel cafe. "Here's tha llrst
Hem!"
He opened the case ond shone the
torch upon it. Almee gave a little
cry. Hilly explained briefly how he
bad come by the gems. He said little
Almee Gave a Little Cry.
about the struggle; that point was ns
sore as the side of bis head. The best
of us have our pride.
"One of them knocked mo out for a
spell, and like n fool I let 'em got
away," he said. "I guess I didn't get
all the goods, but this looks like an
ace flush to ma."
"How splendid you are!" cried Al
mee, a catch In her voice. "Why,
those will be the I.nmbe emeralds.
I've heard of them everybody has.
They belong to my Aunt Erythea !"
"Then I shouldn't wonder If they
scooped the Jack-pot. Hut there's
some high cards out against us. See
here. We had' to run for It. Here's
the police prancln' over the country
after a man and a woman on a motor
cyclefor I guess they must be wise
to It. Here's me with the stuff In my
pocket, and you with a dress sample
In the bauds of the sleuth-hounds,
lieen the slaljon-houso for ours, If
they'd got us Just now an' there'd
he loo much explaining to do. We'd
have hit the cells for the night, sure.
No place for you, partner. And all
the newspapers spreading themselves
over It."
"I know. It's f-fearful!"
"Not a bit !" cried Hilly. "For now
j ou can get In ahead of the cops.
Don't you see? I'm your folks wise
to It lay down all your cards. You're
Lord Scroope's duughter you ain't a
burglar. (Jive It them straight. I'M
stand by an' see jou through."
"Hut I can't, Hilly! It'll all have
to come out, then. Every bit of It,"
said Almee with a gasp.
"Why, of course It will! It was
bound to come out anyway, soon or
late. You didn't think ,ou could keep
up this .Jervaulx racket? I don't see
any way you could do that. Hut you
can keep It In the family. You've got
to face the music."
There was a long pause.
"I can't," said Almee, scarcely
audibly.
Hilly was amazed. If It had not
been so dark and an Incredible sup
position In any case he would have
supposed from her voice that she was
crying.
"You aren't afraid?" he said won
derlngly. "Of a row? No! It Isn't that."
Hilly sat down beside her.
"What Is It then, partner?" he said
gently.
"I never thought ef It till fJeorgie
told me," said Almee In stilled tones.
"Told you what?" be answered qui
etly. "What's the trouble?"
"About staying there. I Ivy cot
tage!" Hilly moved slightly.
"I I don't quite get you," he said.
"I can't tell Dad I" Almee put her
hands over her eyes and burst Into
tears. "I daren't I Hilly, what am I
to do!"
CHAPTER XII
A Gambler's Chance.
Hilly stared straight before him,
When at last ho found Ids voice, It
had so dazed a tone that Almee hardly
Illustrations
recognized It. Hcinld a bund on her
shoulder.
"This thing's got me guessing," said
Hilly slowly. "I I don't know what"
"Of course, you never thought twice
about It. And no more did It" said
Almee. "I didn't care! And I don't
care now! or I wouldn't if it wasn't
for Dud. Hut people it's all this mis
erable sentiment that's what's
wrong."
'"Yes?" said Hilly dlsully. "Well"
"And now why, the police nro look
'ng for n man and woman on u motor
cycle, and thci'll And out we were
at Ivy cottage. They'll got my de
scription. And even when they And
out who I really am"
Hilly drew In Ids breath sharply.
"Cleorgle told me It was my finish
even before this silly burglary hap
pened," continued Almee gloomily.
"fJeorgie knows about these sort of
things. It Isn't the burglary that mat
ters. I could get over that. It's this
this other thing."
Hilly was silent.
"The Idea is," continued Almee, with
the same remarkable calm, "thnt I'e
lost my character; like n luAisemald
that's been stealing, or n groom
caught selling tho corn. Only I
hnven't been caught yet.
"Hut If Dad knew! You don't
know my father, Hilly. I couldn't ex
plain him to you. Dad Is just nbout
the dearest thing that ever lived In
his way. Hut he belongs to n time
about two hundred years bnck. Mother
would understand ; but not Dad. It's
his creed that a girl mustn't be oven
suspected. It was only tonight Cieor
glim told me this tiling would well,
It would break- bis heart. And I know
him; I see she's right. If you and
I"
"Stop!" said Hilly hoarsely. "Don't
sny any more. I I've got to think
this thing out."
Almee found that ho hnd suddenly
left her. Presently she became aware
of the outlines of his big flgure, stand
ing motionless Just outside the cave
He wns there quite a long time. Al
mee sat where she was, twisting her
handkerchief between her Angers. She
felt very much calmer. The trouble
and the stress were now with Billy.
He came back, and stood over her.
"I'm n coyote," lie said quietly.
"What I need Is a quirt luld across
me. I've been a fool."
"Not u bit!" said Aimeo quickly.
"How should you know?"
"It was my business to know!
There Isn't any excuse. Hut things
are so different, where I come from.
And I don't know anything ubout
women. We think a lot of women,
down my way, but we don't talk about
them much. Partner, this thing I've
let you In for through my foolish
nessIt's broken me all up."
"Hecause I'm Lord Scroope's daugh
ter?" "No!" said Hilly shortly. "He the
same If you were his housemaid. Hut
It's up to me to see you clear you
and him, too. And I'll do It."
Ills voice wns so confident thnt
Almee's trouble fell away from her,
ns a sun-ripened chestnut sheds Its
prickly husk.
"What uro we to do then, Hilly?"
"It seems to me," said Hilly gently,
"that the simplest way Is the best
way. Let's you an' me go to Hip old
man. No use talkln' nbout It hero.
I'll put It straight for you, partner."
"No !"
"I hope I can make him see sense
even If he's two hundred years old,
ns you say. It's all my fault. It Isn't
yours not one scrap of It. I won't
say much hut come right nlnng with
mo to your father now an' leave the
talking to me."
Almee rose.
"Never! I won't hnvo It, Hilly!"
she said desperately. "I don't know
I don't know what you might say. If
It comes out I'm done for anyhow;
I'm going to take the chance thnt It
won't ! There must bo a way to stop
It there must be some wny.
"It's my trouble mine! And I
won't have It given away."
Hilly drew a quick breath and
straightened himself.
"It!ght!" ho said. "Those are the
orders. I accept them. I s'pose a
man can't give away a girl's secret,
If she wants It kept. I know that
much."
"Why, of course," said Almee sim
ply. "Hut will you please understand,
Hilly, that I'm not going to drag you
Into tills. The best thing you can do
Is to get away out of It all. I shall
mimiige till right. I don't want to"
"Cut that out," said Hilly very qui
etly. "It don't go." There was a
pause. "I did think, for a while, it
might be best for you. Hut that's
wrong. I've got to bo right on hand,
for I'll bo wnnted. Now hold on while
I tell you what we've got to do."
"Yes?" said Almee eagerly.
Hilly stretched out a long arm,
plucked a leaf from tho bramble that
screened the cave, and chewed It pen
sively. "There's Just a gambler's chance,"
he said at last. "It's pretty thin
like drawing to a throe-card flush.
Hut It's wonderful how they como off
sometimes, If you back yout luck,
good an' full."
by ELLSWORTH YOUNG
x
He flashed the torch round the walls
of tho cave.
"What d'yoii think of tills placer
"It's snug."
"Snug!" echoed Hilly ndmlrlngly.
"That's you ! It would give some
women fits. Hut you've sand. Do you
think," he added dlflldently, "that you
could make out here for n bit? Could
you sleep here?"
"Certainly I could. Why, they'll
never And mo!"
"Come up here," said Hilly, leading
tho way along tho cave, which turned
In a long curve, narrowing to n very
small space. At the end stood the
Sphinx.
"She'll have to stay here, too.
There's a bit of risk to that hut very
little. We can't help It. In the pan-nlor-ense
you'll And iron rations, n
can-opener, biscuits, an' chocolote. I
olwnjs carry those. Down the pit
yonder, Just by tho alder bush, Is a
spring of water. That settles sup
plies. "Now, the llrst deal is to keep you
right out of ''o way. For a few
hours, perhaps for a day or more
I can't sny how long. Hut we've got
to put up n hi. i. And you'll be at
least as safe lieio as anywhere In the
British Isles.
"Our host cb.-n' e Is thnt the police
may get tho I nieclots onto the real
thieves right away. I'm not much
stuck on thnt chance. Police, wher
ever you strike 'em, are well, they're
Just police. We're in a lot more dan
ger from them than that dead-beat
who broke Into Jervaulx, and the fe
mnle rattlesnnke lie hart along. The
police mustn't get you, at any price.
And tiny mustn't get mo either.
Only there's more to it than that.
Half a hundred things. There's n
mighty tangled deal In front of me.
"Now, I'm going to sail right in. All
you've got to do Is lie here In this
cache till about seven or eight o'clock.
I'll bo back here by then. If I'm not,"
said Hilly quietly, "it'll be because
I've fallen through. Yoti bet your life
I won't. Hut if I don't get here by
then, you must throw your hand In,
Just get straight to your father, best
way you can. Do you promise thnt?"
"Y-yes! But tell mo what you're
going to do, Billy 1" she said breath
lessly. "I can't tell you anything. I'll Iinve
to piny the hand as It's dealt me; it
Just depends how tho cards fall. And
don't you worry any!" he said ear
nestly. "If you get doubtful or scary,
Just wash It right out of your mind,
nn' sny this: 'Billy's running the thing
for me, nn' he'll see mo through! I'm
orf. Shake 1"
Witli u sudden gesture Almee put
both her hands in ids. He gave them
a crushing grip, und broke into the
sunniest smile.
"Wo sure nro seeln' life, partner!"
ho chuckled.
Almee replied with n rnther tremu
lous laugh. The next moment Billy
had dropped her hands, and wns gone.
Onco clenr of the crag-pits, Billy
made for the road by another route.
While climbing u gnte he glanced nt
the luminous dial of his wrist watch,
if
Billy Laid Before Her the Lambe Em
eralds. and emitted n whlstlo of consterna
tion. Almee's account of herself wns
absorbing, but ho did not realize till
now what nn unconscionable time
they hnd spent In the envo. The night
was nearlng Its close.
Billy avoided tho roads. lie struck
tight across country and reached Ivy
cottngc with us little loss of time as
possible. Hut tho eastern sky wns
rapidly lightening when ho arrived.
Filtering tho gnrden with extreme cnu
Hon, Hilly found everything quiet, llo
climbed tho trellis deftly, and heaved
himself through Almeo'a window.
With a certain senso of emhnrrass
ment Billy swept tho walls with his
torch, unhooked tho blue dust-cloak
that hung on tho door, folded it smnll,
nnd packed It Insldo his Jncket. That
was the main object of tho expedition.
ft
mi ., n
cHl I
h
M A J3f . V . --A. ry.t
JH9H
shBBf
He also annexed a enko of soap, n
towel and a brush and comb these
latter he had himself bought for Almcc
ut Sydcrford on the Arst morning.
Billy again descended the trellis,
raked over his footprints carefully,
nnd with all possible speed shook the
mud of Ivy cottngo from his feet.
It wns broad daylight when he had
crossed tho fields and came within
sight of Jervnulx abbey. Ho hid the
cloak and Its accessories under a thorn
bush, glanced nt his watch again,
seated himself under the hedge, und
lit n cigarette.
He drew the Jewel case from his
pocket nnd examined tho necklace,
thoughtfully emitting pulTs of smoke.
Then lie replaced tho case In his
pocket nnd finished his cigarette, his
smooth forehead wrinkling Into tiny
Hues. Finally ho rose and walked
briskly towards the entrance lodge or
Jervnulx.
There was nn electric bell In the
groat porch. He pulled n pendant
handle of wrought Iron, and was an
swered by an archaic clanging Inside.
After n brief pause tho doors were
thrown open by Tarheatix the butler.
Ho looked nt Hilly Inquiringly.
"I want to see tho proprietor on
urgent liusinoss," said Billy. "Is he
up yet?"
"If you menn Lady Krythea Lambe,"
snid Mr. Tnrbeuux with dignity, "her
ladyship bus not yet risen."
"I nin a strnnger here," said Billy,
"but what I want you to do Is get a
message to hor lndyshlp that It will
ho worth her while to see mo ns soon
as convenient. Say I've Important
news about some property that's miss
ing from here."
Mr. Tai beaux became more nlert.
"Como tills' way," he said, and Billy
followed him.
In loss thnn ten minutes Lady Fry
then arrived, pallid after her night of
stress, but unconquerable, clad In n
purple wrap. Billy turned to face
that tremendous presence.
"What do you wnnt to see me
about?" she said sternly.
With his sunniest smile, Billy
opened the leather case and laid be
fore her tho Lambe emeralds.
CHAPTER XIII
"Very Good, My Lady."
"Do these Interest you, madame?"
said Billy simply.
Lady Krythea stared as though tho
green gems hypnotized her. Then,
with n little gasp of Joy, she lifted
them from tlio enso with trembling
fingers. It was one of the rnre occa
sions of her llfo when Lady Erythea
exhibited emotion.
She laid down tlio ncckiaco nnd
looked at Billy ns one might regard
n materialized angel. Before she
could speak, however, Mr. Alexander
Lambe entered the room.
It hns been snid that Mr. Lambo's
eyes were large. They expanded In
descrlhnbly when ho saw tho Lambe
necklace lying on tho table. Ho closed
the door softly behind him, nnd ap
proached the table In an awestruck
manner.
Ho glanced from the emeralds to
Lady Frythen's face, and then, some
what sternly, nt Hilly.
"How did you come by these?" snid
Lndy Erythea, pointing to the em
eralds. Suddenly she presented the
ear-trumpet at Hilly. "Explain!"
Tho car-trumpet startled Billy n
little. He felt so he declared to
Aimeo afterward as If Lady Erythea
hnd the drop on him. But his face,
as he answered, wns Ingenuous as a
baby's.
"I was passing by your park gates
early this morning, on my way to Sy
dcrford. It was past one, an' the
house was dark. When I got to the
place where tho lane turns Into the
road I lienrd a motorcycle coming up
behind, h 1 for coming mighty
quick," said Billy, turning pink, "it
camo right by me, pretty near out of
control. It hadn't any lights, there
was n bend Just nhend, an' I heard
It crash."
Hilly delivered this with a beautiful
fluency Into the ear-trumpet.
"I Just ran In on them," pursued
Billy, "for I didn't hnvo to stop nn'
flgure It out that an outfit traveling
that way with lights out nt one In
the morning was up to any good. They
wero Just picking themselves up when
I arrived, and they went for me "
"Was It u man and a woman?" ex
claimed Mr. Lambe.
"You've bit It, sir."
"My dear aunt!" cried Alexander,
"tho Inspector told me, nfter you re
tired, that ho suspected n man and a
woman, on a motorcycle, of being the
thieves! They can be no other than
thoso people who ran Into us yester
day on the Sydcrford road "
"Hold your tongue, Alexander," In
terrupted Lady Er.Uhea Impatiently,
"and allow this amazing young man
to continue!"
"There was some scrap," said Hilly
dlflldently, "inaybo If there'd been two
men I'd have done better, but the lady
hampered me, and somehow I 'took the
count. They knocked me out, nnd
got away. But they left this behind
them," he pointed to tho case of em
eralds, "and it looks like they never
know they'd lost It. I don't know,
madam, If there was anything else
of yours they got. If so, I'm very
sorry I didn't attach it, and rope the
two thieves for. you ns well. But, with
tho pair of them, It wns rather u
roughhouse. I did my best."
Tliero was n flush of admiration on
Lady Erythea's high cheek-bones.
"Yes, there wero other Jewels sto
len," she snid, "hut their value Is tho
merest trlllo compared to. what you
have restored to me. These cmernlds
nro my most priceless family posses
sion. They nro historic nothing
could hnvo recompensed mo for the
loss of them. Your conduct has been
not only Intelligent, but extraordi
narily gallant. May I ask your name?"
"Spencer. William Spencer."
"Mr. Spencer, it Is Impossible for
me to express my gratitude In words.
I thank you most heartily for what
you have done; It Is fortunntu for mo
tho emeralds fell Into such good
hands. Let me say that 1 was about)
to offer n reward for Information
leading to tho recovery of tho Jewels;
n reward of" Lndy Erythea hesi
tated, and achieved an inward strug
gle "one hundred pounds. Hut I
must really ask you to accept a hun
dred nnd fifty."
Lady Erythea unlocked n desk, and
produced n check-book. Billy flushed
red.
"Madam," he said quietly, "tho serv
Ico I did you cost me nothing. I'm
glad you hnvo your Jewels bnck. I'm
n man who earns his living, but I don't
ucccpt gratuities. And people very
scarcely ever offer them to me."
Lndy Erythea turned somcwhnt
pink in her turn. She slid the check
book aside.
"I beg your pardon," she said, with
some cmhnrrassment, mingled with re
lief and a touch almost of annoyance.
"It was the least I could do. You will
nccept no recompense?"
"None, inadnui. Anyway not it
money." j
"You arc not English, are you?"
"American. And n Westerner, n!
thnt."
"Ah ! You have done mo n great
service. Is there nothing I can do
for you?"
Before Billy could reply, Mr. Tnr.
beaux opened the door.
"M'lndy, Inspector I'nnkc " '
Mr. Taibeaux's gaze felLon the em
eralds. Ho was very human for n
butler, nnd it took him ii fraction o
u second to recover himself.
"Inspector I'nnko urgently desires
to see your ladyship at once."
"Show him In here," said Lady Ery.
then grimly.
Billy did jiot move nn eyelid. It
seemed to him thnt Mr. Lambo's sol
emn eyes were watching him rathe
Intently. Inspector I'nnko nppeared.
It was n great day In the Lambe e-n-eralds'
hlrtory. Tho- Inspector wrt
the Afth person in whom they enlist 1
Intense emotion.
"Well, have you caught the thieves?
Inquired Lndy .Erythea, acidly.
"No-nr., my lady," stammered In
spector I'nnko, gazing nt the necklace.
"Perhaps you had better enlist tha
sendees of Mr. Spencer," said her
ladyship, with n wnve of her hand
townrd Billy. "This young man has
already found tho emeralds and re
stored them to me."
"Then," snid Panke, with a search
ing glance at Billy, "I should like n
full account, at once, of how you cama
by the Jewels."
"Sure," said Billy genially.
Mr. Lambe set chnlrs for them both.
All four seated themselves; Lndy Ery
thea, with an nvhl determination to
keep nbreast of nffalrs, held her ear
trumpet close to Hilly and the police
man. Hilly repented his tale with fuller
detail this time, and described, not
without a twinge of embarrassment,
his downfall at the bnnds of Calamity
ICate. Lady Erythea's lips tightened
grimly, the description did not sur
prise her. The Inspector hnd his book
before him nnd made careful notes.
At tho conclusion he regarded Billy
pensively, and with n touch or envy.
"It's n pity you didn't hang on to
them, when you'd got them In hand,"
said Panke. "But, of course, we knort
what Calamity Kate Is."
"Who?" echoed Billy.
Panke described briefly tho populaf
nnmes of the two thieves, nnd what
little was known nbout them.
"And now, Mr. Spencer, I hnve some
questions to put to you for tho In
formation of the police. This hap
pened between one nnd two o'clock.
It Is now seven. What became of you
in the meantime?"
Billy turned to the light and al
lowed Panke to Inspect tho wound on
tho side of his head, only partially
concealed by his hair.
"If you'd had thnt," said Billy, "I
guess you'd bo lyln' on the grass yon
der now."
"A severe cut," 'said the Inspector,
Impressed.
"And you lay unconscious there till
daybreak?" exclaimed Lady Erythea
with Intense sympathy.
"It might have been a week, for all
I knew when I woke up. When I'd
got my senses buck, nn' mnde up my
mind what to do," said Billy calmly,
"I came along here."
"Didn't It occur to you," said Punke,
"that the right tiling to do was to go
to tho police?"
"No. It occurred to me the first
thing to do was to get the stuff
straight back to Its owner." .
"And perfectly tight, too!" said
Lady Erjthea sharply.
"How did you know," persisted
Panke, "that the necklaco belonged
hero?"
Billy turned over tho necklnco and
pointed to tho llttlo gold-ennmel pend
ant that bore tho Lambo arms In a
lozenge.
"Those three sheepskins" he be
gan. "Fleeces fleeces, nrgent," mur
mured Mr. Lnmbe.
"nro tho snmo brand ns thoso on
tho shields over tho lodge gates here,
which I noticed as I came by. And
the thieves wero coming from this ill
rectlon when I struck them."
"What do you th'lnk of It,
Billy?" she said. "Aren't I tho
complete Amy Snooks?"
(TO UK CONTINUED.)
Don't disturb roursclL