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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 1923)
yfrjiMii'. RED OLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF 35 y Sidney Gowing Ittustrallons by ELLSWORTH YOUNG The Joy of Living - Copyright 1923 by Sidney Clowlng "V Kfl II ill THE AWFUL MESS OF Alexander's ctjrs became keener, lie looked a little contemptuous. "Arc yon aftaid?" lie mid. "Do you not sec that you must face the. consequences of this foolish thing you have done? Once the truth is told, you have nothing to fear from the police." "The police I" said Aimcc scornfully. "I'm not afraid of the police. I'm not much afraid of Aunt Erythea. It isn't that at all. It's the other thing." "What other thing?" ' Aimee looked at him with growing embarrassment. r" "Oh I" she said at last, desperately, "have 1 got to put it in so many words? My slaying at Ivy coltagcl Didn't you understand what I told you? I was there two nights." Mr. Lambc, to her surprise, did not look forbidding or censor ous. Instead, he looked a little puzzled. And in that moment Aimer conceived a liking for Alexander. "Now that I have, teen you, and heard your story," he said, "I attach no importance to that incident, whatever." "Ah," said Aimcc, sadly, "but other people will, you sec." Alexander suddenly flushed crimson, and he avoided Aimce's eye. lint his face grew peculiarly grim. "I have only this to say. That man that Spencer who dared to expose you to such a situation, is the culprit I wish to sec. lie deserves " Aimce's heel smote the floor. "Not a word against Billy! It's he who saved me, right from the beginning. He begged me to let him own up. Hut he has kept my secret, at his own risk, because I wanted it kept. He is a gentle' man!" "Hilly," saitl Aimce, "this is my Cousin Alexander. And he's he knows all about it. It seems this is our finish, Hilly." The two men turned and faced each other. There you have it in a nutihcll the awful men that Aimee and Billy have got into. For Aimee it a bishop's daughter and a nice girl they don't make 'em nicer. And Couiin Alexander i a young churchman and churchmen are obliged to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. And Aimee it masquerading at a tervant maid, and it mixed up in a burglary and it gallivanting around with an unknown American, Billy Spencer, who hat a new kind of motorcycle to tell. Incidentally, Billy it at nice at thoy make 'em, too. It't an Englith ttory, but it's bright at a new American dollar. And entertaining! and thrilling! Sidney Gowing it the author. He't a comparatively new man, but he't already made an international reputation. Ho certainly hat written a good ttory here, which detervet itt name "The Joy of Living." CHAPTER I Sentenced. "I enn't go, dad," said Alince des perately, "and I won't I" "My answer, in" dear Aimee," said .Lord Scroope llnn'y yet benlgnantly, '"Is Hint you must go, and you shull I" "A month of Aunt Krytheo," said Aimcc In stilled tones, "would kill me. Why arc these things always piled on to mo? I'm fed up!" The Very Rev. Viscount Scroope, archdencon and Incumbent of the liv ing of Scroope Magna, gazed dreamily over his daughter's head without ap pearing to hear her. A sunbeam til lered through the diamond panes, illumining his silver hair nud finely cut features. It was as though the sun beam said: "Heboid n saint; here Is ono who hears and speaks no evil." A saint Lord Scroope undoubtedly vns; calm, benign and Immovnble'as granite. "My dear child." ho snld gently, "let as admit tho cold light of reason. You can have no genuine objection to your. 'Aunt Krythen, for you have never set eyes on her since you were three yenrs old. Jcrvuulx abbey Is a well appointed and strictly .ordered house. It Is an atmosphere which will cor rect, I hope, the Inlluenco of that de plorable school from which we huve removed you. You must go. Aunt Krythen desires that you shall go. And that, us you will realize when you make her acquaintance, Is final." Tho Hon. Almeo Scroope's vividly lovely fuco became still more muti nous and desperate. "And do not suppose that you will Jack youthful society," added Lord fecroope, smiling. "Your cousin, Al- nxunder Lambc, Is at Jervaulx. A little older than yourself, doubtless, but an excellent companion for you. A young man wholly devoted to good work, and with uncxccptlonnblo con nections, he will doubtless nttnln Hint eminence which his aunt would wish for him." Aimee looked at her father with In tense suspicion. Then she turned to the photograph of n young mnn In a clerical collar; the face was pleasant but somewhat serious, with large, frank, round eyes. The fnco that Aimee made at It was hideous. "Go and tell your mnld to pack, dear child," suld Lord Scroopo gently, patting her head. Aimee was twenty years of age, and stood flvo feet six, hut her father contrived to have tho air of patting somebody about three feet high. Aimee snld something Inarticulate, and made a bee-lino for n rose-pink boudoir where Ludy Scroope, blonde, petite and wholly charming, was but toning her gloves. Amid pink Bur foundings, Lady Scroope looked little lder than her daughter. "Mummy," suld Aimee forcibly, you'll have to throw mo a rope. I fclvo simply cot to lm rescued from AIMEE AND BILLY this awful visit!" She expounded with extreme rapidity nnd terror her views on Jervaulx, Lady Krythen Lambe, and Alexander. Lady Scroope twinkled, and was so exasperating as to laugh. She put her hands affectionately on her daugh ter's shoulders. "Sorry, Almco," she snld; "there Is, as you would say, nothing doing. You will have to go. I can't have your dear father worried any more. Idon't think," she added pensively, "there's any cause for real alarm about Alex ander Lnmbe." "It's ull very well for you," mourned Aimee, "but" "I'm rcnlly sorry, denr. I am going to tho Mllnc-Templcs nnd elsewhere for a few weeks, but when I como back I will make It up to you. These are th6 little crosses you have to bear." She kissed her daughter, nnd hur ried down to the car. The cor whirled her away, and Lord Scroopo followed It with dream ily adoring eyes. Aimee, who had watched the pair with n sort of ex asperated nffectlon, turned Into the morning room. "What on enrth," she murmured, "Is one to do with people like that?" She encountered her guest nnd cousin, Georglna Borners, twenty three, plump und plncld, dressed In n stylo thnt suggested enforced econ omy. Miss Berners was looking wist ful. "Why, Georgle," said Aimee, encir cling her ample wnlst, "have you the hump, too? Let's be miserable to gether." "It lias been lovely hero at Scroope," sighed Georglna, "and you are bucIi a denr. I've nothing to go bnck to hut Undo Joseph, who doesn't think nbout anything but biology, and scarcely remembers I exist though he Is quite kind, of course. It will be awful after this." "I've never met your Uncle Joseph," said Aimee, "but I'm certain bo's nothing to my Aunt Krythen nnd Jer vaulx." She broke Into n frenzied nud vivid word-picture of all that awaited her. "A place something between a ca thedral nnd ii bnrruck, nnd n fearful sort of ltomau matron with a nose Ilko the duke of Wellington's I've never seen aunt's nose, but It's cer tainly llko that nnd to bo drilled Into flirting decorously with nn owl-faced curate who, sonio day, thoy sny, will probnbly be a bishop" Georglna was Intensely shocked. "Aimee, you renlly are extraordi nary ! Mnny people would bo too glad to bo In your shoes-. A long visit to ii charming old place Jervaulx, thoy say, Is even more old-world thnn Scroope everything orderly, romantic, peaceful " "Moldy!" Interrupted Almeo. "And luxurious. Lady Krythen, cveryono says, Is a splendid mnnnger. And your cousin a nice, sensible young num. I've seen Ills photograph. IIIh fnco " "It's the face," sulci Almco fiercely, "of n cold boiled codfish! I've seen It I've seen It I It made me fee! as If my shoes were full of water!" "Atmee!" (--aid Georgian plaintively, "You nppnl me!" "(00(1 thing I Then you know how I feel I" retorted Aimee pertly. "The whole tiling appals me. Thcso curates! I'm fed up with them! Alexander Is the limit I" Aimee paused for breath. "He's n frump!" she said, with ex traordinary vehemence. "Ho Is good!" Insisted Gcorglna. "That Is n good man's face, If ever 1 snw one. And," ndded Georglnn, with n rapt expression on her plump fea tures, "lie will fall In love with you, Aimee. I'm sure of It! And wher that happens " "Oh, you make mo sick!" said the frenzied Aimee. "It's a disease with you! Sentiment revolts mo. This maundering about love " "Aimee," said Georglnn almost tear fully, "your very name means 'Be loved' !" "Oh, rats!" said Aimcc furiously, and lied from the room. CHAPTER II Escape. In the deepest depression, Aimee wandered down the purk avenue towards the high road. She passed through the lodge gates nnd turned tho corner of the rond. There Aimee hnlted, and considered the perversity of l'nte. And close he side her harked n sharp explosion, with a Hash of yellow flame and a whiff of pungent smoke. And a flour voice exclaimed: "II 11" "Just what I wns thinking!'' snld Almeo. A young mnn, who wns tinkering n motorcycle, whence enme tho explo sion, looked up startled, and removed his cnp. "Oh! I'm sorry!" ho snld. "I didn't know thero wns anyone around." They looked at ench other, nnd both laughed. It was Impossible to look at the. stranger nnd fnll to laugh. Not In derision, but Joyously, spontaneous ly, ns one laughs when tho breeze heels tho boat, or when a puppy dog falls head over tall. When the motorcyclist grinned, his tectli were so white thut they gave the effect of a Hash. Ills fair and rather tousled hair caught the sun. Ills head looked as If It might be rammed through a door, without dam aging unythlng except the door-panel. He was big built, nnd nbout twenty five, but his bright blue eyes might have belonged .to a boy of sixteen. lie wore dusty blue overalls. "That's better 1" he said approving ly, ns Aimee lnughcd again. "You were looking as If you felt pretty low." "I was. Kvcrybody has been ap palling! Talking sentiment till I feel sticky nil over." The strnnger's fuce fell. "Gee! Thnt's too bndl So-Anient, eh?" He mnde n gesture ns If wurd- They Looked at Each Other and Both Laughed. lug off Invisible assailants. "Senti ment Is poison Ivy! It gives mo thnt tired feeling. Muilnm, nccept my sym pathy." In the space of a moment they felt as though they had known each other for years. "Do you live anywhere nbout hero?" said Aimee. "I seem to hnvo seen " "Here? About soven thousand miles west-by-south of lioro!" said the stranger, laughing. "Cobalt, Arnpu boo county. Citizen of tho world nnswer to tho nnmo of 'Hilly.' And I'm here In England," ho added, lay ing u loving hand on the tank of the motorcycle "to sell this." "Weird-looking thing!" snld Aimee, with Interest, for tho cycle's engine wns of u remarkable shape. "Yours?" ".Mine I" snld the strunger Joyously. "Alone I did It. I hold the patent. It's n Sunukntowzer the Flying Sphinx!" "Hipping name. Can It fly?" "Can It fly? It devours space like the sunbeams lick up tho mists of the mornln'I And no more noise than n bnby's whisper. "Around tho world In thirty wlnkn When onco imtrldo tho Flying Sphinx! '"It's got Slnbnd's Cnrpet nn' tho Seven-league Boots guessing." lie threw a leg over the suddle. "Llko a spin up the rond? Jump up behind l" Aimee Immediately perched herself on the carrier. There was u whirl wind ehurni ubout the stranger thnt carried her away. The next moment the Klylng Sphinx did the same. The wind whistled pnst Aimce's ears. To keep her seat she wns obliged to grab Hilly suddenly round the waist. "Don'J. mind if I hold you?" she gasped." "Shucks!" said Hilly Impatiently. "I don't care how joii hold me, s'long's you don't hit the grltl" They breasted ti o crest of the rise. "Hnng tight now !" he cried. "We'll let her out !" The Sphinx went forwnrd with the whirr of a shell. She peeled the road way behind her like u running tape. Aimee felt tho roar of the wind rise to n screnm. Hilly leaned lightly for ward townrds the hnndle-bnrs, cool, effortless, efficient. Aimee wns only conscious of being whirled gloriously through space, when the Sphinx, after u two-mile loop, slid bnck to the spot whence she had sturted. Aimee sprang from the enr rler. "Oh, thnnk you I" she gnsped. "Thnt wns too good to be true I" The cyclist, without -dismounting, looked at her glowing face und frank eyes. "I wish there were more like you," he said, laughing. "Tell 'cm who ever they are to enn the sentiment. S'long, an' good luck to you!" He rulsed his cup, nnd next moment the Sphinx whirred him nwny In n cloud of golden dust. Aimee followed him with her eyes till ho wns round tho bend, then she turned back Into the park. It seemed to her that the sunlight had become less vivid und the sky paler. Very slowly, Aimee made her way back to the portals of Scroopo Towers, where tho henvy family cur, laden with luggage, stood waiting. Georglna was on the steps, abundantly wrapped up, and Lord Scroope stood beside her. "Grundle," he snld to the chnuffeur, "you will drop Miss Herners nt the station nnd tnkeMlss Almeo on to Jervaulx, returning here direct." Tho chnuffeur, who wns a middle aged man with n singularly wooden expression, seemed to be making u mental effort. He saluted, staring straight before him. "Goodby, Georglna I Bless you, my child; bless you I Drive on, Grundle. What are you waiting for?" The car meandered out of Scroope park and turned northward along the main road. Georglna was In low spir its. Aimee throughout had been seeth ing with an enormously Increased sense of mutiny, nnd, ns they neural the station, she exploded. "I can't stand It, Georgle!" "I wish I were you 1" said Georglna mournfully. "Eh?" "I wish I were Aimee Scroope, nnd on my way to Jervaulx abbey. Thut's all." Almeo started slightly. An extraor dinary Impish expression camo Into her eyes. Georglna, who knew the sign of old, looked at her nervously. "You arol" said Aimee, In a voice of unlooked-for decision. "What on earth do you mean?" Aimee gripped her by tho arm, and replied, in a low voice that bubbled with excitement. "My dear, fat cousin, your full name, ns I remember, Is Georglna Amy Scroopo Herners I Lop off the superfluous head and tall, nnd there you nrc Amy Scroope. Near enough for anyone. You are going to Jervnulx lnstend of met Aunt Krythen hns never seen me, nor has Alexander Lnmbe. And neither of them know you from Adam I menn Kvel You'll suit them down to the ground V Georglnn looked at her with dawn ing terror. "It Is a gorgeous arrangement!" ex claimed Aimcc, tightening her grip on her cousin's arm. "And nothing eas ier. Uncle Joseph will never miss you leave me to flx thnt up. Grundle will deliver you nt Jervnulx; he's a perfect super-Idiot, nnd bus probably forgotten which of us Is to go there, If wo didn't tell him. He never tnlks, cither. As for me, I shall go to Sea bridge, or on n walking tour or uny thlng I choose!" "Almco, aro you mnd?" "It Is ono of tho sanest moments of my life!" retorted Almeo; and, lean ing over tho bnck,-6ho tore tho tng- J lubels off her luggage and Georglna's, and scnttercd them on the rond. "You enn take my things with you!" "If you think for a moment I'd hnve anything to do with such a business " A fiendish expression came over Al mee's features. She gripped her cous in's arms agiiln. "If you don't," she hissed, "I'll tell everybody about you and Aloyslus Blcnncrhiissct getting lost at the rurl decanal picnic I" At this monstrous accusation, Geor glna blushed scnrlet. The mildest pec cndlllo In n blameless life, the memory of tho Incident in question always filled her with alarm; AJmee had held It over her head before. "I won't listen to unother word!" she gasped. , "You needn't. It Is the time for deeds!" Aimee seized a small square box from among the luggage and thumped the chauffeur on the book. "Grundle, stop here! I have only a bug, I'll walk up to the station ap proach. Take Miss Berners on to Jer vnulx. A'nd hurry she Is behind time nlrendy!" A fnlntly bewildered expression passed over the chauffeur's fnce, ns though he were trying to nrrange his Georglna Faltered. Ideas. He rubbed his car for a mo ment, then saluted and let In the clutch. Gcorclna, who had risen with the Intention of escaping from the car, lost her balance nnd collapsed In n slightly undignified manner on the seat. She struggled up nnd turned a flushed fnce towards her cousin. "Stop! Stop!" she cried, In an ng onlzcd voice. "Aimee " "Good-by, dear!" snld Almeo, wnv Ing her handkerchief. "Don't get lost with Alexnnder!" The enr bore the speechless nnd ges ticulating Georglnn out of sight round the bend. Aimcc snt down on her box, burled her fnco In her linnds, nnd dis solved Into such unfeeling Inughtct that a pair of thrushes and a chaffinch lied from the hedge In Indlgnntlon nnd alurm. Onward through the green Innes nnd over the county bonier tho enr carried n limp and nerveless Geor glnn.' Consternation hud given nwny to numb despair. "What shnll I do?" she thought. "Whnt nm I to sny to Ludy Krythen? There'll be a fearful row I" Georglnu racked her brains for a woy out of the difficulty. Thero seemed to bo none. She lay back ex hausted. And so perverse is even the purest of human minds thnt n faint suggestion crept Into Georglna's a little whisper, us it were, In thnt blumeless ear that it would bo pe culiarly delightful if she could flit thu rolo that Almeo hud mapped out for her. Georglnn stnrted, and thrust the Idea from her with horrified self repronch. Agnln slio sought for an explanation n true one which would save Almee's fnce. By the time she hnd considered nnd rejected half a dozen, finally deciding on ono that slio thought might do, the car had cov ered the thirty miles nnd wns thread ing through tho park road of Jer vnulx. Georglha stumbled out of tho car nt the main entrance nnd faced n gaunt and majestic lady In gray silk who came down the stops. "And so, my denr Aimee," snld Ludy Krythen, In n .largo and Inronn atlvo voice, "you nrrlve at last. Wei como!" Georglnn faltered. Kvorjrthlng she had Intended to sny wns driven out of her hend. Almeo hnd been pro pheticAunt Krythen wns very llko tho duke of Wellington. "Lndy Krythen!" gnsped Georglnn, ns two men-servants came to unload the luggage. "There Is there 13 mistake! May I" "The modern tendency of the young to enunciate Indistinctly," snld Lady Krytlica, producing un car-trumpet, "always annoys me. Soy what you have to say clearly." Georglna had not reullzed that Lady Krythen was extremely denf. "There Js something I have to ex plain," she bawled hoarsely Into tho ear-trumpet. "I'-pl'ense, can I see you alone?" "Ah !" snld Lady Krythen vaguely. "I 'am pleased that you look forward so much to your visit. No, you need not fear being alone. Here Is your cousin," she ndded, ns n young mar" In clerical collar came out upon tin steps. "Alexander, your cousin, Aimee." Georgina turned n polo and timid fnco to the strnngor. The Hev. and Hon. Alexander Lnmbe bowed. Alexander was large and well, though somewhat loosely, hullt. Ai mce's epithet, "owl-faced," was hnrd ly fair. Certainly his clean-shaven face was a little serious, and his eyes large and round, but very kindly. "Welcome to Jervaulx, Cousin Ai mcc," he said. A sudden Interest and sympathy quickened In the largo eyes ns they rested on Georglna's face. And tho panic-stricken girl's fenr died within her. Mr. Alexunder Lnmbo looked so cool nnd protective nnd do pcndnble. "Kscort your cousin to the morning room, Alexnnder," snld Lndy Erythea nuthorltatlvely, "and olfcr her re freshment after her drive." They walked In together. And n3 they walked their backs seemed to suggest, In some subtlo manner, that nn understanding, a mutual sympathy, had dawned between them. Bucks can bo very expressive sometimes. Lady Krytlica regarded them with a look of commanding approval. Slio followed them majestically up tin steps. "This," proclaimed Lndy Krythen') erect nnd overwhelming back, "Is a I ordained It from the beginning." CHAPTER III Re-Enter Billy. AIiwco tramped along tl( broad hlghwny, whistling. At Scroope, much more nt Jervaulx, ono wns not nl lowed to whistle. Ever nnd unon she stopped whistling to laugh. Aimee hnd dropped the square box Into a quarry pit an hour before nnd continued on her way unburdened. The Idea of finding lodgings nt Sea bridge appealed to her. She had funds enough. A month's pocket money wns In her, purse, nnd Lndy Scroope had been liberal on her de parture. "What n row there'll be," chuckled Aimee, "If Georgle doesn't piny up I I don't enre. I gave them my ulti matum. Thoy can't hang me. I'v been very patient with them nil. Ono must mnke n stand sometime or other. Who does my life belong to," demand, ed A I wee, never n purist In grom mar, "If not to me?" A faint sound wns borne upon tho breeze, a noise that attuned Itself cu riously to Almee's thoughts. It wns like the buzz of a homing bee. She looked up, nnd snw n motorcyclo speeding nlong the road with u smear of following dust behind it like tin tall of a comet. Aimee recognized the Klylng Sphinx, and heenme nwnro of n Inughlng fnce looking up nt hers, nnd n set of very white teeth. "Why. It's Billy 1" she cried spou tnnoously. "Hello, old chnp!" cried the cyclist. Billy wns bnre-houded, his fair lmlr sticking up nt the crown In n little tuft thnt blew about In the wind. "Where were you muklng for?" lit snld. "Tho unemployment bureau!" re torted Almeo flippantly. Billy's fnco expressed concern. "I suppose you're guying me. You don't mean you've lost your Job?" "Job?'' Almeo bubbled with amuse, menr. "Well, I hnd a Job all ready for mo this morning. But it's washed out. I've lost It. And now I'm ndrift." Billy wns perplexed. He had been wholly unnblo to place Almeo. Ha wondered If slio were a governess. A question wns on his lips, but he checked himself for Tour of giving of) fense. "Lost It?" he exclnlmed. "I guesa It's Just ns well! You look n'lienp happier! What Job d'you think of chusin'?" "I I don't know." Billy looked at her engorly. A sud den flush camo Into his eyes, as onw who conceives a superb Idea. "Will a ducl swim!" cried Aimee. "Of coureo I'll come." (TO UK CONTINUED.) Radio. "What's the matter now?" ycJIcd his wife. "I'm trying to pick up n blinking hed-tlmo story. The kids uln't Inter ested In crop reports." , 4t