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m .. . . HOKB COUNTT RAEFORD, N. C. By SIDNEY COWING Ulustratioiis by ELLSWORTH YOUNG Copyrisht 1933 by Sidney Gowinc CMAPfER XXIII—Continued. —11— “But." said Jake with derilish fe rocity, "I’ve got you, too." He raised one knee, and rested his pisttl hand on it. "If I give up to you. there’s somethin’ I'm goin’ to have you do first. You’li take my terms an’ do what I ask—or I’ll drop you. right there and now.’’ There was not the faintest doubt but that he meant what 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.” said Jake thickly, “you’re cold meat I guess It’s the best way. It. glves.me a chance yet.” "They don’t electrocute In this «)untry," 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." 'He turned deliberately and walked to the month 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 he picked it up. H can’t _get jou with a gun," gasped Jake, "but listen to what I got to say, if you’re a man 1 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 lips ‘were tight set; his eyes were posi tively harried. He walked a few 'steps, muttering to himself. He started as a voice called him excited ly by name, and he was aware of Monsieur de Jiissac running toward him. » .^.[‘'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, anp I think they are not far behind. I thought it well to come and warn you." “The police?” Bertrand turned round sharply. He a military expres- ' stob tluit^wonld not pass the censor. , 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 Panke’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 upon Billy and Bertrand. “I don’t think,” murmured Billy, “that I ever knew policemen arrive so—so—what’s the word?” “A propos," said the VIcomte grimly, twisting his mustache. “Thanks. That’s it." “Is there anyU;ing I can do?" “Thanks again, but I think not. We’ll see how they play the hand. “That’s him—the young one!” ex claimed Panke, as the three ap proached. Inspector Arkwright walked up to Billy, and addressed him by name. “Williaki Spencer?** “That shtpe bird," replied Billy pleasantly, “And an adm^^le chauffeur," mur mured de Jus.sac. \Jle drives like the Angel of Deatli.’’ Arkwright’s cold gAiy eye swiveled 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 Spencer was here, 1 came to in form him’ 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 station.” “Does that mean I'aa aiTested’f” The Inspector looked at him search Jngly. ^ “That will depenu on Circumstances. Have you any objection to accompa nying me?” “I’ve ho ol35bctlon to anything. This is my afternoon off. But may 1 take it you are looking for the enterprisiu fellow who burgled the abbey’?” "1 Include tiiat among my acUei-^^ 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 tills way^" said Billy, "I’ll sliow you." He turned toward the bushes. Ark wright. after a moment’s liesitatiun •coompanied him, and motioned to Inspector Panke to follow. Bertrand brought up the rear. B’lly led tiiem into the cave. Jake, prostrate on Ids couch of. bracken, greeted tiiein with a sullen s|^re. Inspector Arkwriglit looked at blm—at the bandaged leg. tlie stuhide ^ covered fac*e, and deep-set e.ve.s. Tlic haodkercldef with the brqken food araa no Ipnger visible ’ "Tbat't your man," said Billy, “known to the popular press as Jack the Climber; but I gather he prefers to be called Jake— T think we ought to humor him so far. His motor cycle Is In the clay pit up the slope. His leg is rather badly hurt." "See if he’s shamming," said Ark wright briefly to Panke. “Do I look as If I was shamming, you gazaboo!’’ growled Jake. He certainly did not. Inspector Arkwright put a question to him, which Jake did not answer; nor did he look at the inspector—his eyes were fixed on Billy. Not a word of reply would the captive vouchsafe to any of Arkwright’s queries. Billy took the VIcomte by the arm, led him outside, and drew a long breath. “Got a cigarette?” he said anx iously. “I gave my list oaq to Jake.” Bertrand produced his ease. “But what a triumph I” 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'you and Poison lift it "See if He*s Shamming,” Said Ark wright. off its hinges and bring it here? We must get the man out; he can’t walk.” He turned abruptly to Billy. - “And now—will you explain, Mr. Spencer?” “Sure,” said Billy. “1 believe you know it was I who came across the thieves on the 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 ^teross England by morning. I wasn’t so sure. The case was Important for me, too, for it looi.ed as if I was going to be suspected. “1 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 to .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 thfe scrap, came back along the road yorf- der. The tracks are there yet if you’ve eyes to see them. I guess the machine was half-crippled, and tliey were driving it too hard. I made out that it crashed again—a bad crasli that time. Do you follow me’?” “Yes,” said tlie amazed Arkwright, “but how— “Here’s a piece of the machine— found it 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 tlirough a gateway into the field. "What did that say? That they could wheel the macliine, though tliey couldn’t drive it. Engine done up. Wliat would they do witli 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 brusliwood. “Wliat did the two of them do tlien? You can tee by the tracks in the field tliat one of tliem was dead lame. So lame- tliat' lie liad to be carried or dragged, half of the way. It must liave taken quite a wliile. They couldn’t be far off.^and, to cut it sliort, 1 searched the pits tlirougli and found Jake where lie is. I didn’t get wise to It till now. He’s got a leg so badly sprained thift a compound fracture Wouldn't have laid lilm up much more tliorouglily. And liere you are. In spector, just in tlie nick of time, as the story-books say. Of course,” added Billy, “you’d liave found it out yourself us soon o.s you got to work. I happened to be on fiie spot, tliat'.s all. And I shall he ubIigiMl if yon'l; say nothing about my slmre in it. ai lieudquurters. Thlef-catcliing isn't really In my line-r-rai a motor-engi neer, and it might do me barm to have it known I was wasting time on things that aren't my liiisirie.ss.” Inspector ArUj^rlglit gazed at Billy dumbly. Arkwright 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, that I’d nothing to do with the burglary myself? You’re not aching 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.’f-^ 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 with you at the abbey, Mr. Spencer, when this business is off my hands.” “I’ll 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 home out into the open, “IVait! Set him down;” said . Ark wright suddenly. “He’s «afe, 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?” he exclaimed. Jake threw away the stub of his cigarette. "Yes—Calamity Kate!” said Ark wright impatiently. 'Good Lord, man, can’t you see 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. “1 suppose you’re rlglit.” “Tlie prisoner refuses any informa tion. But I’ll have the pair of them,” said Arkwright grlihly. “I—" “I suggest,” broke In Panke, who was chafing at being thrust Into a sub ordinate part, “that we get thfs man away as soon as possible, and thai two of us wait in the cave^^^The woman probably visits It only at mght.^ and the next time she comes with sup plies, we shall get her.” “The weak ptflnt about that,” re plied Arkwright patronizingly, “is that it’s not certain she only comes at night; this is a lonely place, and it won’t surprise 'me If she is close by. She may have observed us already. We’ll search these pits thoroughly first. There are lialf a dozen of these caves, .and we’ll go through them alL Mr. Spencer, I’ll trouble you to remain by the prisoner. Panke, you and the constable try that cave opposite, and I’ll take this side.” ’ Inspector Arkwrlgjit strode forward with stem determination. “The bag 1^ not complete," he said grimly, “till I’ve got that woman!” gletm «C hope and confidence re turned. Billy had a wonderful knack of getting away with things. . She saw the party disappear Ipto the cave nearest themshe witnessed the emergence of Billy, and was aware of a certain relief of tension when Che 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. Aimee was not slow of comprehension. She began to realize the meaning of it ail. Tlie police had what they wanted. The captive could be no other than Jack the Climber himself. Billy had “got away with it” with a vengeance. Aimee was staring dumbly at the group, when she heard a faint anlmal- iike 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 gipsylsh beauty about her, that survived even the hunted expression in her eyes. She was staring through the bushes at the distant group. "They got him!” she said In a strangled whisper. She huddled her self together trembling. “An’ they’ll get me, too. Let ’em. No good my nmnin’ for it. “I dunno who you are!" she mut tered. “What you doin’ here? Are you goln’ to gimme away?” Aimee 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 Almee’s throat. She had not the faintest doubt who this hunted woman was. “You ttnow who I am,” the woman said thickly; “I can see It In your face.” ^e came n ^tep 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 liad to carry him.” “You!” said Aimee, looking wonaer- ingly at the girl’s slight figure. '' “YeS, me. It took ine—hours. Car ried him—on me back—somehow. When It came daylight, I found the CHAPTER XXIV “Sisters Under Their Skins." Aimee came as near to sheer panic ns slie had ever been yet when.^ter overhearing from her coign van tage in the second floor wi[^ow the questions of the police,.slie Jaw them start for the crag pits. The only bright feature the situ ation, tlmugh not dazzlingly bright was that de Jussac was Already on 'his way, in the same direction. She had seen him go, and guessed his errand. Bertrand, at least, was an ’ally. “I’d rather thej. got me than Billy!” she said with a little sob. The one obvious and reasonable thing for Aimee to do, was to remain where she was. TlS^lle 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. Billy was going to meetyrouble, she deter mined to be on thft spot. Tliere was no knowing to wlfat lengths he might igo, in Ills passionlfor self-sacrifice, Ten minutes lat^AImee was in the bushy dip of groundxlMffing into, the crag pits. The police wfere^^^^jthead (if her, converging round the far end. Aimee had taken some trouble to avoid I being seen by them. At tlie moment she could not see them at all, and took it for granted tliey could not see lier either. Bending low and running between the liuslies, Aimee made for the en trance of the Sphinx’s cave. It seemed fo lier that must be where Billy had gone. On arriving at tlie moutli, however, slie discovered her mistake. Through a gap In the brush wood slie cauglit siglit of Billy a con- slderahle distance farther along the pits. And witli him was de Jussac. The police arrived almost immedi- atel.Y* afterward. .‘Vi. ie(‘, croucliing be- bind tlie bushes, watclied the meeting. Her throat f(*lt dry and hot. hei' liamis opened and shut nervously. She liesltated, uncertain what to do. Would Billy “get away with it?” A cave, ^pt 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 liYive 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 Aimee. “If I could go with him—if they’d put us both in the same jug—I wouldn’t care. But they don’t do that.”.. She gave a great sob. “I’d give me life to get him out of it. But he’s done, and he’ll know they’ve got me. It’ll be h—1 for him My man!” An unreasoning flood of tears came into Almee’s eyes. She looked once "But— She glanced round the walls «f the “They’ll find me here—Just the “They may not." Aimee, very paie, looked at the fugitive. “Don’t you think,” she said, “that If you got cl^ this time, you might—drop It all? Try —something different ?’’ “I might,” said Kate slowly, they’ll get me.” She caught sight ot the Flying Sphinx, standing in the ■ dim light at the cave’s end. "What’s that?” she exclaimed, and moved swiftly to the machine ^ Aimee watched her. “You couldn’t ride It.” said Aimee, “not even if the way was clear.” “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; se.irchlng, 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 tlie 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. It was then that a shock of revul sion came over Aimee. This was the female rattlesnake who had nearly killed Billy, and caused all the trouble. Why should Aimee feel pity? The broken man in the hands of the po lice— A rustle ahiong 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 poTileness. "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. Id 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* Arkwright. “I 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 la nothing here,” Arkwright hesitated. “Are you eertalij?” he said, coming forward again. "I have proved it," said Bertrand "at much expense to my skin. Curse these briars I” “All right.” said Arkwrlglrt, turning away; “push on and search thp other end, Panke. No use wasting time here. I think we’re on a fool’s errand after all.” The three polj^ce passed out of sight round the bend of the pits. There was a long pause. Airaee’s face peered cautiously through the branmbles. "What a ■'fearful liar you are, Vi comte!’’ she said with mingled re morse and admiration. Bertrand, without tumlna bowed gravely. “I do my best,” he murmured, "In on that perplexity. "Bat—non# does not hunt a woman." ' "She’ll never- get nai ground,” said The ' i^lne Bred,, atoplJed, fired again—the wheel# threw up tgrfrts of sand, then getting, onto harder ground the machine ran swiftly ahead w|th the faint pulsing whirr that was the Sphinx's song 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 noiselessly up the steep path through the gap towards “Are You Goin' to Gimme Away?" more towards the group. The police were spreading out across the pits, moving in her direction. “My man!” sobbed Kate. “You love him?” said Aimee halt ingly. “He’s my husband!” said the wom an. She filing lierself face down wards on the sand, and wept. Suddenly Aimee stooped and caught her by tlie shoulder. “Come with me!” she said swiftly, and, turning, crept In through the screen of ybrambles, into the cave. Kate looked up comprehendlngly. Then, with the instinct of the hunted animal she dived through the buslies and went to ground. The girls found Iheinselvcs together in the cool gloom of tlie cave. Kate stared at Almge vrtth wonder ing eyes. “I’m sorry for you!” said Aimee unsteadily. “I never thought,’’ .said Kate, “to find any woman sorry for me.” 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* sitlon on the gate, and stared, too. He uttered a hoarse cry—almost » cheer. The Sphinx and its rider breastetf the crest of the rise, staggered, antf sailed away out of view. - CHAPTER XXV defense of a lady with such a genius for getting into difficuities. But let me beg of you to remain where you are.” “Are the police out of sight?” said Aimee eagerly. “For the present, yes. They are away round the corner—ail three. But they may come back.” A moment’s silence followed the warning. Then the brambles parted, and the Plying 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 ithe slope. De Jussac, with an amazed excla mation, turned to intercept her. He found a hand detaining hiin; Aimee had gripped him by the arm. “Let her go!” said Aimee breath lessly. “Let her go!" “Name of a name!” said Bertrand blankly. But he 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 weiglit. The deftness witli which the woman steered it between tlie clumps of buslies w-as astounding. “She hasn’t a dog’s chance,” said Aimee with a gulp, “but what chance there is—let her take It.” “A nation of sportsmen — quol!” 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 the bottom, turned sharo to the right and swung herself Into^J^ saddle. “It'^ one's duty to,stop her,” said Bertrand, twistinc bU mufitache la Two of a Kind. ' Aimee gave a little gurgle of excite* ment as the Sphinx vanished. “She’s away! And I don’t believe they’ve seen lier! If she can stick to It over the field to the gate, there’9 open road before her and she’s clear!” Aimee turned to de Jussac with shining eyes. He shrugged his shoul ders faintly. “A supremely foolish act, mademoi selle,” said Bertrand. “She was In trouble—just as I’vo 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, and he laughed gentl.v. “A sermon would not become me—I a,l80 am a coadjutor. I wilt observe the movements of the enemy.” He climbed quickly onto the shoul der of high ground that divided them from the end of the pit, and returned in a few moments. “Obviously our industrious police did not see her,” he said; “they are now searching the last of the caves.” “Then it’s tlraeL-got bgck into mine,” said Aimee turhing to dlire back Into her retreat. “Not so!” exclaimed Bertrand quick ly, catching her by the hand. “That Is nq place for you.’’ “Why?” “The gentleman from Scotland Yard will search it before he leaves—he took my word for the moment, hut lie will make sure. It was merely that he wm in a hurry. You must get out of thla while you can; like .your friend the lady burglar. Come along!” said Ber trand, setting off'at a run and pulling her with him. “You’re right!” ejaculated Aimee. With long strides they sped round the clump of bushes, Aimee 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 f^w moments 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 lady, and for pity’s sake stay there, for yon are very wearing. IGo!” “Thanks, awfully!" panted Aimee, and departed as fast as her legs would carry her. De Jussac retreated into the pit, mopping ills brow. 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 of loose sand over a pool of oil that was the sole legacy of the Splilnx. He left the place wdth a sigh of relief and, encountering the search party of police, permitted himself to smile. “Notliing doing 1” said Inspector Ark wright. "Panke, wJU you go back? Bring the car down over the meadow;, we’ll get the man on ^t, 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 tills place and make sure.” . (TO BE CONTINUED.) I^te-waters from fish oil plant! y^ materials useful for fertlUaar and for poultix ^(kkL • li I, .J
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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April 5, 1923, edition 1
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