Newspapers / Jackson County Journal (Sylva, … / April 20, 1923, edition 1 / Page 6
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The Joy of Living By SIDNEY GOWING Sy Illustrations by ELLSWORTH YOUNG Copyright 1133 try Sidney Go win? CHAPTER XXIII? Continued. ?11? "But," said Jake with devilish fe rocity. "I've got you. too." He raised one knee, and rested his plsttl hand on It. "If I give up to you, there's somethln' I'm goln' to have you do first. You'll take my terms an' do what I nsk ? or I'll drop y#u, right there and now." There was not the falnte?t doubt but that he meant whut he said. A glance into his eyes told the listener that. "Nothing doing," said Billy quietly. "I don't take orders from a malefac tor. Least of all at the point of a gun." "Then." snld Jake thickly, "you're cold meat. I guess It's the best way. It gives me a chance yet." "They don't electrocute, In this country,*" said Billy, "they hang. But they do it very efficiently. You can shoot me In the back though, if you want to. I'm going to see about your exit." lie turned deliberately and walked to the mouth of the cave. Jake's finger trembled on the trigger. "Come back !" he said hoarsely. There was something so broken and piteous In the tone, that Billy turned his head. Jake flung the pistol toward him; It fell on the sand at 'Billy's feet, and be picked h up. "I can't get you with a nun,* gasped Jake, "but listen to what I got to say, If you're a man I For God's sake, listen!" And Billy listened. Some minutes later Billy stepped out of the cave Into the sunlight. He was looking unusually grave, his tips were tight Bet; his eyes were posi tively harried. He walked a few steps, muttering to himself. He started as a voice called him excited ly by nume, and he was aware of Monsieur de Jussac running toward bim. "Spencer!" he cried. "I have been looking for you everywhere. Where the devil have you been? The police have inquired for you at the abbey, and I think they are not far behind. 1 thought It well to come and warn you." "The police?" Bertrand turned round shurply. He permitted himself a military expres sion that would not pass the censor. "And here they are!" he said, with a gesture of despair. The helmet of Constable Poison ap peared on the brink of the opposite cliff, about the same time as I'unke's peaked cap obtruded itself over the one behind them, and the felt hat of Inspector Arkwright hove in sight among the bramble bushes below. In a very short time all three men were In the pit, closing strategically npon BUly and Bertram!. "I don't think," murmured Billy, "that I ever knew policemen arrive so ? so ? what's the word?" "A propos," said the Vloomte grimly, twisting his mustache. "Thnnks. That's It.*' "Is there anything I can do?" "Thanks again, but I think not/ Well 6ee how they play the hand." "That's him? the yoang one !" ex claimed Panke. as the three ap proached. Inspector Arkwright walked up to Billy, and addressed bin by name. "William Spencer?" "That same bird," replied Billy pleasantly. "And an admirable chauffenr," mur mured de Jussac., "He drives like tbe Angel of Death.'^ Arkwright's cold gray eye swlveled upon the speaker. "Who are you, and what are you doing here?" "The Vicomte de Jussac, at your service. A guest at the abbey. Know ing Si?encer was here, I came to In form bim he was wanted." "Oh. All right, sir. He's certainly wanted." The inspector turned to Billy,' "Come along, my lad. We are overdue at Stanhoe police static?." "Does that mean I'na arrested?" Tiie inspector looked at hlin seareh Ingly. "That will depend on circumstances. Have you auy objection to accompa nying me J" "I've no objection to anything. This Is my afternoon off. But may I take it yon are looking for the enterprising fellow who burgled the abbey?" "I Include that among my activi ties," said Arkwright sardonically. "Then this Is your lucky day. He's In the cave there." "In the-cave?" said Arkwright, staring. "if you'll step this way," said Billy, "I'll show you." He turned toward the bnphas. Ark- < wright, after a moment's hesitation, accompanied him, end motioned to Inspector Panke to follew. Bert rand brought up the rear. Billy led them Into the cav?. Jake, prostrate on his touch of bracken, greeted them with a sullen stare. Inspector Arkwright looked at Mm? at the bandaged leg, the stubble covered face, and deep-set eyes. The handkerchief with the broken food was no longer visible. . "That's your man," said BUly, "known to the popular press as Jack the Climber; bat I gather be prefers to be called Jake- ? think we ought to humor him so far. His motor cycle Is In the clay pit np the slope. His leg Is rather badly hart." "See If he's shamming," said Ark wrlght briefly to Panke. "Do I look as If I was shamming, you gazabool" growled Jake. He certainly did not Inspector Arkwright put a question to blm. which Jake did not answer; nor did he look at the Inspector ? lite eyes were fixed on Billy. Not a word of reply would the captive vouchsafe to aoy of Arkwrlght's queries. Billy took the Vlcomte by the arm, led him outside, and drew a long breath. "Got a cigarette?" he said anx iously. "I gave my list ob? to Jake." Bertrand produced his case. "But what a triumph 1" he said with a dazed air. "It's not the sort I enjoy," replied Billy, "but I had to see It through." The two inspectors emerged. "Panke," said Arkwright, "there's a gate in the field-fence Just up there, I think. Will ?ou and Poison lift it > '? r "See if He's Shammlnf," Said Arfc wrighi oft tts hlnscs and bring It here? We must get the man out; he can't walk." He turned abruptly to Billy. "And i now ? will you explain, Mr. Spencer?" > "Sure," said Billy. "I believe you know It was I who came across the thieves on tb? night of the holdup, and got knocked out. It seems to have been taken for granted the pair of them made a get-away on their ma chine, and likely were half across England by morning. I wasnt so sure. The case was Important for me, too, for It looked as if I wus going to be suspected. VMI happened to come across some tracks of a cycle tire on the field here; they were old and faint, but they set me thinking. I wish I'd struck them before. I'm used t* following trails ? had a lot of experience In It. Went to the place where the argu ment happened, up the lane, and made out that the motorcycle, after the scrap, came back along the rood yon der. The tracks are there yet If you've eyes to see them. I guess the machine was half-crlpplod, and they were driving It too luird. I made out .that It crashed again ? a bad crash that time. Do you follow me?" ? "Yes," said the amazed Ark w right, "but how ? " "Here's a piece of the machine ? found tt on the road," said Billy, handing him the scrap, of metal. "The tracks didn't go on. So what became of the machine? I found the tire marks passing through a gateway int* the field. "What did that say? That they could wheel the machine, though they couldn't drive It. Engine done up. What would they do with It? Hide It, so nobody would know they didn't get clear away. You'll find the machine, a twin Indian, over In the old clay pit, under some brushwood. "What did the two of them do then? You can eee by the tracks In the field that one of them was dead lame. So lame that be had to be carried or dragged, half of the way. It must have taken quit* a while. They couldn't be far ofT, and, to cut it short, I searched the pits throagh and found Jake where he Is. I didn't get wise to It till now. He's got a leg-ao-badiy sprained that a com pound fracture wouldn't have laid him up much more thoroughly. Aad here you are, In spector, just tn the nick of thae, as the story-books say. Of course," added Btily, "you'd have foond it out yourself as soon as you got to work. I happened to be on the spot, that's all. And I shall be obliged If you'll say nothing about my share In It. at headquarters. Thlef-catchlng Isn't really In my line? r-J'tn a motor-engi neer, and It might do me harm to have It known I was wasting time on things that aren't my business." Inspector Arkwrlght guzed at Billy dumbly. Arkwrlgbt was not a man of ungenerous instincts. "I call that a very remarkable piece of work for an amateur," be said ungrudgingly. "I suppose I've set your mind at rest, tbat I'd nothing to do with the burglary myself? You're not ucbing to haul me off to the station house any more? Or are you?" Inspector Arkwright regarded Billy thoughtfully. "No," he replied quietly, *but there are one or two points that have to be cleared up yet." Billy took some papers from a pock etbook , and handed them to Ark wright. , "If you want information as to my Identity," he said, "you might look through those." The Inspector did so. His usually immobile face gave a twitch of sur prise. "Thank you. I'll keep these for the present," he said, with a change of manner. "I will have a word w^th you at the abbey, Mr. Spencer, when this business is off my hands." "Ill be there," said Billy, with an Inward twinge of anxiety. Panke and the constable arrived, carrying a gate between them, which was taken into the cave. The pros trate Jake was lifted onto it, and borne out into the open. "Wait! Set him down," said Ark wright suddenly. "He's Bafe. any how. We've got to get the other one." He turned to Billy. "You've seen nothing of her ? the woman?" Billy gave him a stare of undis guised amazement*. "The woman 7" he exclaimed. Jake threw away the stub of bis cigarette. "Yes ? Calamity Kate!" said Ark wright Impatiently. 'Oood Lord, man, cant you 6ce she must be somewhere here, too? She's been bringing him food and water, and tending his leg how else could he have lived there six days when he can't move?" "Great Christopher!" said Billy. "I suppose you're right." "The prisoner refuses any informa tion. But HI have the pair of them," said Arkwright grimly. "I ? " "I suggest," broke In Panke, who was chafing at being thrust Into a sub ordinate part, "that we get this man away as soon as possible, and that two of us wait In the cave. The woman probably visits It only at night and the next time she cornea with sup plies, we shall get her." "The weak point about that," re pHed Arkwright patronizingly, "is that it s not oertalu she only comes at night; this is a lonely place, and it won't surprise me If she ia cloae by. She may have observed us already. Well search theae pits thoroughly first. There are half a dneeo of these caves, and we'll go through them all. Mr. Spencer, III trouble you to remain by the prisoner. Panke, yo? and the constable try tbat cave opposite, and I'll take this side." Inspector Arkwright strode forward with stern determination. "The bag Is not complete^' he said grhniy, "fill Tve got tbat woman !" V OH AFTER XXIV ? *?> "SUtors Undsr Tfwlr 84dm." Ainioe came as near to sheer panic as she had ever been ret when, after overhearing from her cohpi of van tage in the Mcond floor window the questions of the police, she saw then) start for the crag pits. The only bright feature of the situ ation, though not dazdlngly bright, was that de Jussac was already on his way, In the same direction. She had seen him go, and guessed his errand. Bertraad, at least, was an ally. "I'd rather they got me than Billy !" she said with a little sob. The one obvious and reasonable thing for Almee to do, was to remain where she was. To lie low, like Brer Rabbit, and take no part in the com ing crisis. As a natural consequence, It was precisely the thing which her mind refused to entertain. If Billy was going to meet trouble, she deter mined to be on the spot There was no knowing to what lengths he might go, in his passion for Belf-sacrlflce. Ten minutes later Almee was in the bushy dip of ground leading Into the crag pits. The police were well ahead of her, converging round the far end. Almee bad taken some trouble to avoid being seen by them. At the moment she could not see them at all, and took It for granted they could not see her either. Bending low and running between the bushes, Almee mode for the en trance of the Sphinx's cave. It seemed to her that must be where BIMy had gone. On arriving at the mouth, however, she discovered her mistake. Through a gap In the brush wood she caught sight of Billy a con siderable distance farther along the pits. And with him was de Jussac. The police arrived almost Immedi ately afterward. Aliaee, crouching be hind the bushes, watched the meeting. Her throat felt dry and hot, her hands opened and shut nervously She hesitated, uncertain what to do Would Billy "get away with It?" A gleam of hope and confidence re turned. Billy had a wonderful knack of getting away with things. She saw the party disappear Into the cave nearest them; she witnessed the emergence of Billy, and was aware of a certain relief of tension when the police returned and spoke with him. . Finally, wondering as she watched, Almee observed the arrival of the gate ? saw the prostrate body of Jake carried into the open. The distance was considerable. But the significance of that pathetic figure on the gate came home to her. Almee was net slow of comprehension. She began to realize the meaning of it all. The police bad what they wanted. The captive could be no other than Jack the Climber himself. Billy bad "got away with it" with a vengeance. Almee was staring dumbly at the group, when she beard a faint animal like noise close beside her. She turned sharply, to find that she was not alone. A woman, in a stained and ragged dust-cloak, was crouching behind the screen of brambles a few yards away. She was young, and not ill-looking, save for the deathly pallor of her face and the disorder of her hair. Indeed, there was a wild gipsyish beauty about her, that survived even the hunted expression In her eyes. She waB staring through the bushes at the distant group. "They got him !H she said in a strangled whisper. She huddled her self together trembling. > "An* they'll get me, too. Let 'em. No good my runnln' for it. "I dunno who you are!" she mut tered. "What you doin' here? Are you goin' to gimme away?" Almee did not move. Her heart beat fast. But there was no menace In the woman's eyes; only an expres sion so broken and piteous that some how a lump came into Aimee's throat. She had not the faintest doubt who this hunted woman was. "You Know who I am," the woman said thickly; "I can see it In your face." She came a step nearer. "Art you goln' to call out?" Aimee did not answer that question. "Is he much hurt?" she said quietly, looking towards the distant group round the man on the gate. "Hurt?" said Calamity Kate. "He smashed himself days ago, it was." She had subsided on the sand, and embraced her knees with her arms, staring before her with unseeing eyes. "I got him down here. Tried to help him along ? couldn't walk. Then I had to carry him." "You I" said Aimee, looking wonder ing! y at the girl's slight figtire. "Yes, me. It took me ? hours. Car ried him ? on me back? somehow. When it came daylight, I found the cave. Got him In. I ripped up me skirt to bandage him. I stole food for him, nights. \ In two or three days more I guess he'd have been able to get away. Now they've got him, an' they'll have me." She rocked herself gently to and fro. "It'll be h ? 1 for Jake!" she said thickly. "To know they've got me!" She looked at Almee. "If I could go with bim ? if they'd put us both in the same Jug ? I wouldn't care. But they don't do that." i She gave a great cob. "I'd give me life to get bim out of it But he's done, and he'll know they've got me. It'll be h ? 1 for him My man P* An unreasoning flood of tears came into Aimee's eyes. She looked once i "Ara Yob ??In' to Gimme Away?" more towards the group. The police were spreading out across tbe pits, moving In her direction. "My man!" sobbed Kate. "Yon love him?" said Almee halt ingly. "He's my husband !" said the wom an. She flung herself face down wards on tbe sand, and wept. Suddenly Almee stooped and caeght her by the shoulder. "Ooroe with me!" abe said swiftly, and, turning, crept la through the screen of brambles, Inte the cave. Kate looked up oomprehendlngly. Then, wltk the Instinct of tbe hunted animal she dived through the buahes and went to ground. Tbe girls found themselves together In tbe cool gloom of the cave. Kate stared at Almee trtth wonder ing eyes. "I'm sorry for you!" said Almee unsteadily. "I never thought." said Kate, "to iind any woman sorry for me." She glanced round the walls of the cava ?They'll find me here ? Just the same." "They may not." Almee, very pale, looked at the fugitive. "Don't you think," she said, "that if you got clear this time, you might ? drop it all? Try ? something different?" "I might," said Kate slowly. "But ? they'll get me." She caught Bight at the Flying Sphinx, standing in the dim light at the cave's end. "What's that?" she exclaimed, and moved swiftly to the machine. Almee watched her. "You couldn't ride it," said Almee, "not even If the way was clear.4* "I can ride anything with an engine to it!" said kate desperately. There was a gleam of hope In the hunted eyes ; already her hands were busy with the levers; searching, examining. But she stopped, baffled. The controls of the Sphinx were too much for her. The next moment Aimee was beside her. "That's the throttle!" said Aimee swiftly. "Here's the starter ? this changes the gear ? you have to be careful with the Intake. On the sec ond speed she goes over the roughest ground like a bird ? on the level road ; she'll do eighty. If you could get her out clear of the bushes ? but you'd never get away with it?" The woman turned to her, gasping. "Will you let me try ? ?" she ex claimed. C It was then that a shock of revul sion came over Aimee. This was the female rattlesnake who bad nearly killed Billy, and caused all the trouble. Why should Almee feel pity? The broken man in the hands of the po lice ? A rnstle among the bushes at the cave's mouth made the two women turn quickly. De Jussac, stepping In side, halted and stared blankly at them both. , ?Ten thousand devils!" exclaimed Bertrand, momentarily startled out of politeness. "You needn't be frightened for me." said Aimee quickly. "She'll do me no harm.** Bertrand's active brain took In the situation briefly. "No harm !" he said. "Name of a name! If the police found you here with that!" Aimee turned very white. That as pect of the case had not even occurred to her. In the stress of new emotions, the realization of danger to herself had been crowded out. If she had to explain to the police . . . "Yes," said Aimee quietly, "If they come here ? I'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 there!" cried Inspec tor Arkwrlght "I thought so. This way, Pankel" ' 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." Arkwrlght hesitated. "Are you certain 7" he raid, conftng forward again. '1 have proved it," said Bertrand, "at much expense to my skin. Curse these briars!" "All right," said Arkwrlght, turning away; "pnsh on and search the other end, Panke. No use wasting time here. I think we're on a fool's errand after all." Tbe three police passed oat of sight round the bend of tbe pits. There was a long panse. Almee's face peered cautiously through the branmbles. "What a fearful liar you are. VI comte 1" ahe said with mingled re morse and admiration. Bertrand, without turning bowed gravely. "I d? 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 sight?' said Almee eagerly. "For the present, yea. They are away round the corner ? all three. But they may come back." A moment's 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 mation. turned to Intercept her. He found a hand detaining him ; Almee had gripped him by the arm. "Let her go!" said Almee breath lessly. "Let her go!" "Nam* of a name!" said Bertrand blankly. But be obeyed. There was little choice. Already Calamity Kate was well down the slope, running be side the free-wheeling Sphinx that gath ered more and more Impetus by Its own weight. The deftness wtth whleh the woman stsered it between the clumps of burf>ee was astounding. "She hasn't a deg's chance," said Almee with a gulp, "but what chance there Is? let her take it." "A nation of sportsmen ? qnol !" murmured Bertrand with a paralyzed air. He glanced to the left, where the police had disappeared round the shoulder of the bluff. There was still no sign of them. Kate, reaching the trodden path at tbe bottom, turned sharp to the right and swung herealf into the saddle. "It la one's duty to stop her." mid Bertrand, twisting his mustache In perplexity. "But? one floe* a woman." "She'll never get started ground," said Almee. on h;^ that The engine fired, stopped, again? the wheels threw up spirts y sand, then getting onto harder Kr&n ' the machine ran swiftly ahead W|k the faint pulsing whirr that was | Sphinx's song of triumphant progrej. She shot forward much too fast. t was only Just controlled In time. N? other cycle than the Sphij, could hare made good over 8U(^ ground; no other could have gan^ so efficiently and noiselessly Up steep path through the gap toward He Uttered a Hoarse Cry. the higher ground at the far end. It 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, t(io. He uttered a hoarse cry ? almost a cheer. The Sphinx and its rider breasted the crest of the rise, staggered, aud sailed away out of view. CHAPTER XXV i wo or a Mna. Aimee gave a little gurgle of excite ment as tbe Sphinx vanished. "She's away! And I don't helieve they've seen her! If she can stick to It over the field to the gate, there's open road before her and she's clear t" Almee turned to de Jussac with shining eyes. He shrugged his shoul ders faintly. "A supremely foolish act, mademoi selle," suld Bertrand. "She was In trouble? just as I've been. Everybody's shielded me at their own risk," said Aimee defiantly. "How could I do less for her?" "Alas, the morals of the age!" said Bertrand, aod he laughed gently. "A sermon would not become me ? I also am a coadjutor. I will observe the movements of the enemy." He climbed quickly ante the shoul der ?f high ground that divided them from the end of the p4t, and returned In a few moments. "Obviously our Industrious police did not see her," he said; "they are now searching the fast of the caves." "Then it's time I got back Into mine," said Aimee turning to dive back into her retreat. "Not so 1" exclaimed Bertrand quick ly, catching her by the hand. "That Is no place for yon." "Whyr ?"The gentleman from Scotland Yard will search it before he leave*? he took my word for the moment, bnt he will make sure. It was merely that he was In a hurry. You must get out of this while you can; like yoar friend the lady burglar. Come along!" said Ber trand, setting off at a run and pulling her with him. "You're right!" ejaculated Almee With long strldee they sped round the dump of bushes, Almee in tow of Ber- ' trand. and, turning sharp to the right, scurried up one of the steep paths that led out of the pits. Billy suffered yet one more shock as the pair of them came Into his field of vision. He gaped at them, hardly able to believe his eyes. In a few momenta they had passed ; Aimee reached the top of the pit, and Bertrand glanced ap prehensively back in the direction of the police. "All clear!" he gasped, utterly out of breath. "Get to the road ? get out of sight. Back to the abbey, dear lndy, and for pity's sake stay there, for you are very wearlnsr. Go !" "Thanka, awfully!" panted Aimee. and departed as fast as her legs would carry her. De Jussac retreated Into the pit, mopping his braw. Taking no no tice of the frantic signals of Billy he returned to the cave, dived Into It, took a hurried look round and kicked plenty ef loose sand over a pool of oil that was the sole legacy of the Sphinx. He left the place with a algh of relief and, encountering the search party of police, permitted himself to smile. "Nothing doing !" safd Inspector Ark wright. "Panke, will yo? go back? Bring the car down over the meadow; we'll get tbe man on it, clear the pits, and set a watch In the cave where we found him." He moved towards the late stable of the Sphinx. "But I'm going to look through this place and make sure." (TO BE CONTINUED.) Waste waters ?rox flah oil planta yield materials useful for ferttllMft and for poultry feed.
Jackson County Journal (Sylva, N.C.)
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April 20, 1923, edition 1
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