f'-
BED CLOUD. NEBRASKA. CHIEF
The Joy of Living
.. .... .ft. .o-t""
,MHHn..n
"PARTNER!"
SYNOPSIR.-HlsllkInK tlie pros
pcct of (i month's visit to nor
niistcro mint, Lady Krythea
I.nuihc, at Jervaulx abbey, and her
cousin, Alcvniulcr Lnmbn, Almec,
vivacious daughter of the Very
Itovcroml Viscount Scroope, waif
dcrs Into tho park, there cncouif
torlng n iilraiiRo youth. Ho InUKh
limly Introduces htniHcir hh "Hilly,"
American. Tho two rlilo on hln
motorcycle, tho "Flying Sphinx,"
(ind part. With Oporglna Herners,
her (utiHlti, Ahnco buIh out for Jer
vaulx. Sho decides that Clcnrglna
'hall Impersonate her at Jurvnulx,
while Mm goes on a hollduy. Geor
gian's horrlllcd protest Is unavail
ing. Almno nKaln meets "Hilly."
Ilo tellH her his iinino Is SpcnCer,
ami she gives hern as Amy Snooks,
at present "out of a Job." Hilly
Klvca hor a spin on tho Sphinx and
oho finds It u (.Morions experience
CHAPTER III Continued
2
"Sny! Lot inu llml you one!
I've
a brnln-wnvel"
"Wlint ilo you moan?"
"lo sliuroH with me I"
"Shares?" echoed Almce. Sho .wns
tonsclous of u curious little thrill.
"Shuro whntV"
"See here I" Raid Hilly, eyeing her
keenly. "When wo were doing llfty-
live on tin; Sphinx, you never wilted
never turned u hnlrl"
"Of course not. It wns gorgeous."
Ilu enme nearer, Intensely earnest
"Know anything ahout motor en
gines?" lie said quickly.
"I've often tuken down the old 'bus
at lionie, on a wet day, und reas
sembled It."
"Where 'was that?"
"At the place where I had n Job,"
euld Almce.
"Great 1" lie cried. "You're tho (hlng
ve been looking for all these months.
Now, listen to the brnln-wavc. I'm
over here to sell the Sphinx. There's
u big deal on In London. lint what
I want's a quiet spot where I can
develop some of the gadgets with no
crooks around to steal 'em. Get riio?"
"Yes, go on," said Almec, catching
his enthusiasm.
"I'm heading now for n Httlo town
called Staulioe, thirty miles south of
here. Standee's quiet as tho tomb.
I've struck It before. There's nn old
intll I b'lleve I can get hold of, and
lit up as a garage and workshop "
"Yes, I seel" said Almee engerly.
"Como on Into It with me come to
Stanhoe!" said Hilly explosively.
"You'll catch on to tho Flying Sphinx
In a minute, an' then popularize her
iih u lady's mount I Tho finest mount
for n girl ever put on tho market.
There Isn't one yet. You can do It I
You'vo got the nerve an' tho grit!
I'll teach you to tend an' drive her.
Will you come?"
"Will a duck swim!" cried Almee.
'Of course I'll cornel"
"Ftne! partner I" cried Hilly, fling
ing out a big brown baud.
Almee took It, and received a Bhnkc
that bruised her lingers.
"Tuke your perch, old clinpl" said
Hilly, straddling thu Sphinx. "Off for
Btiinhoe!"
They whirred down the long slope
with tin westering sun broad on their
right above the llr-trces. It was a
roughlsh ride on tho carrier. There
was no plilloii-scitt; Hilly was evi
dently not accustomed to carry pas-M-tigers.
"Say," said Hilly, over his shoulder,
"1 didn't catch your name, did I?"
"Almee Snooks," replied the pas
longer on the spur of the moment, as
well as she could for the wind whis
tling In her teeth.
"Snooks!"
Almee laughed. It wns very like
Scroope, and quiet as musical.
"Near enough!" she gasped. "Hut
i!U chap' will do, Is that American?"
"American? Gee, no I It's the only
English I know. Let It go at that
Amy Is too feminine for a partnership.
And now we'll let her out. This," said
Hilly Joyously, as he opened the
throttle wide, "Is what tho doctor
ordered 1"
The Flying Sphinx, freighted with
flio partners, ronred down the hill
mnd devoured the miles to Stonhoe.
On the outskirts of tho little mar
Jket town of Stanhoe was a cyclist's
rest-house. Hero the twe travelers
had tea under u laburnum trco on the
lawn. Hilly locked the amazing
motorcycle In a shod, by tho proprie
tor's leave, and the pair walked Into
the town on foot.
Two mora utterly Insouciant and
cure free young people never entered
an Kngllsh village on an April day.
No Jot of doubt, of fear, or hesitation
us.salled them. Hilly, Intensely mas
culine though ho was, appeared to
be possessed of a virgin mind. Such
a thing, though uncommon, Is by no
means nonexistent among tho sons of
Adam, It may be that the air or the
(Colorado fqothllls favors lta growth,
ills possession of It called for no com
ment from Almee. Her mind was of
tlie samo color,
It did not enter Into their heads for
n moment thut anybody could put a
dubious construction on Jhelr asso
ciation wUh each other. Und such an
Idea dawned, they might possibly have
Vrned td parted company on the spot.
Almee left Hilly suddenly and jul-
Eresscd nn Inquiry to nn elderly man
ho stood beside a farmer's cart. Iu
moment she rejoin? him.
..-'- "-"4t-Q
"Mrs. Sunning, 2 Ivy cottage, Ids
lodgings," announced Alineo (rluni-
phiiutiy. "ion (imrt mind longings,
do you? Hotter than a hotel more
freedom."
"Freedom for mine I" said Hilly.
"Let's try it I"
Ivy cottage proved to be a pretty
little Jacobean building fronting on u
green lane Just outside Stanhoe. An
apple-cheeked woman, who was pick
ing weeds out of the pnlh, announced
herself as Mrs. Sunning, and Hilly lit
once stated his needs, offering to pay
In advance.
"Why, yes, sir," she said, smiling,
with a civil bob to Almee. "I've u
nice sitting room and a It'll bedroom;
Mrs. Dale, next door, has another,
If you can do with that?" Mrs. Dale
appeared, and confirmed tho offer.
Hoth of them looked at the pair with
smiling Interest and wonder.
"Great!" said Hilly, "ikm take tho
room here, old chap, nud I'll take the
other. We'll share the parlor."
Almee accompanied Mrs. Sunning
Indoors; the little parlor was clean
and cozy, tho bedroom, upstairs at tho
back, tiny but clean.
Almee made her toilet, descended
to the parlor and ordered u meal.
Mrs. Sunning acquiesced In. every
thing. "He's a wunnerful pleasant gentle
man, Mr. Spencer," she remarked, and
then, hesitating and reddening, she
looked nt Almee. "I I suppose, miss,"
she said with much embarrassment,
"It's all right?"
Almee stared.
"All right? How?" she said. "Ev
erything's all right. Very much so!"
The woman's eyes betokened belief
and relief.
"Hless your pretty fnce, who'd think
anything else?" she suid. "You'll ex
cuse my nskln', miss. You see, Lady
Erythen Is my landlord, nnd she owns
a)l Stanhoe."
Almee felt a galvanic shock.
"Whom did you say?" she naked
dazedly.
"Lady Erythen Lnmbe of Jervnulx
abbey, the big place half a mile south
tlie cross roads. She fare wunnerful
strict, she do. It's as much as my
tenancy's worth to have any goings-on
bore. That's all."
Tlie woman loft the room. Almce
stared round her blankly, then col
lapsed Into n chair. She Hung her
arms across the table, burled her head
In them, and broke Into paroxysms
of Impish laughter.
"Oh, my Christian aunt!" she
sobbed. "My Georglel My Alexan
der!" Her shoulders were still shaking
wildly when Hilly cam. In.
"Say, whut's .wrong?" he exclaimed
In alarm, as Almee raised a tear
stained face. "Crying eh? No,
laughing 1 That's good! That's the
euro for sentiment! Hut whut's the
Joke?"
"Just something I thought of, Hint's
all," said Almee, wiping her eyes.
"That's nil right," said Hilly linpor
turbnbly. "Guess I ain't Inquisitive.
Hut folks mostly tell mo their troubles
sooner or later."
"I suppose they do," said Almee, re
garding him thoughtfully.
Mrs. Sunning brought an abundant
meal; chiefly eggs and tea. Almce
found It the merriest feast sho hud
ever sat down to. Finally, she nc-
She Dropped.
companled Hilly to Mrs. Dale's door,
nud, returning, retired to her own
room. She was ahout to let down lierJ
hair, hut desisted, and Instead sat on
the bed ''for some time, thinking. She
heard Mrs. Sunning retire, und pres
ently silence reigned throughout the
licuse.
A curious sense of loneliness crept
over Almeo's spirit. She remnlned
sitting for nearly half nn hour. Pros
.ently sho blew out the candle, and
leaned out of the open window. The
window of Billy's room nt the other
end of tho building wiih In darkness.
It had not taken Hilly long to retire.
Almee stayed awhile at the window,
She returned to tho bed, and reflect
ed again. In that reverlo a vision
flonted before her as of trees and sun;
light, and her partner's yellow hair
flickering In the breczo.
"Billy l" she murmured thought
fully. "Old chap!"
By
Sidney Gowing
Illustrations by
Ellsworth Yountf
Copyright mt by Sidney Oowlnf
She laughed, gently.
"Ho Isn't n 'frump, anyhow I"
The reverie took shnpe. Then,
with a little sigh, she slipped off her
shoes, and, carrying them with her,
stole very softly down tho staircase
to the front door. On trying the door
cautiously, she found It bolted, and
the latch linmovnblo. Also no key was
visible. She realized sho was locked
In tho house.
A feeling of Intense nnnoynnce
.seized Almee. Where was tho freedom
she. had sought? Sho returned to hor
bedroom, put on her shoes, leaned out
of the window, and Inspected the wall
critically. It was covered with Ivy
and trellls-work.
She swung herself cautiously out
onto the sill, nnd began very quietly
to descend the trellis. Almec, active
and long-llmhed, could climb llko a
cat. And as noiselessly ns any mem
ber of thnt great fellno tribe, she
dropped upon tho soft soil of the fir
deu plot.
CHAPTER IV
In Deep.
Georgian Herners paced the floor of
her bedroom nt Jervnulx nbbey, and
wondered why the universe had uot
crashed In ruins about her head.
"It's like a dream," she said dnzed
ly, "I can't believe In it at all."
To Georglna It came as an Incred
ible climax that she had, after five
hours ut Jervnulx, been dismissed to
bed with an august but approving kiss
from Lndy Erythen, and n protective,
cousinly hnnd-shnke from the sedate
Alexander Lambe. She had not been
denounced as an Impostor, flung out
with Ignominy, or handed over to the
police. All these tilings hnd seemed
to Georglna not only possible but
likely. ''
"What on enrth will happen when
they Und olit?" she snld, shivering.
She commenced to disrobe, but hnd
not proceeded very fnr when a hustle
nnd a click were heard. Georglnn
turned with u gnsp of fright. Some
one wns trying to force a way In nt
her window. She cuught sight of a
flushed face.
With a shriek of terror Georglnn re
treated to the bed, nnd prepared to
dive under It.
"Don't make such a row, you fooll"
hissed a voice.
The casements swung Inwnrds, and
Almee, rather breathless, dropped onto
the floor.
"Handy things, these verandas,"
panted Almee. "How are you,' Geor
glnn, old thing?"
Georglnn stnred at her In paralyzed
amazement.
Almee sat down beside Georglnn on
the bed, nnd put nn arm around her
waist.
"Well, whnt's hnppened here?" she
snld cheerfully.
"Oh, I am so glnd to see you I" ex
clnlmcd Georglna with Infinite thank
fulness. "Now wo can clenr. every
thing up. It's been nwful I"
"Why? Have- you given me away?"
said Almce quickly.
"I hnven't 1 You know I wouldn't 1"
cried Georglna hotly. "Though you
ought to be whipped. I never snld n
word nbout you. and that's why I'm
in this awful mess!"
"Dear old Georglnn! You'ro n
brick!" said Almce, hugging her. "I
wns only pulling your leg I knew you
wouldn't sneuk. Hut why Is It nwful?
Hnve they found out?"
"When I got here," snld Georglnn
feebly, "I thought I could cxplnln
somehow. Hut Lady Erythen met mo
on tho steps and took mo for you, nnd
everything went right out of my
head"
"Good I I see. You hesitated nnd
were saved."
"Saved?" ejaculated Georglna an
grily. "Well, I wns snved. That's more
Important. You haven't done any
thing wrong, my snow-white Iamb.
Wlint then?"
"And then Mr. Lumbe came out, and
she Introduced him ns my cousin Al
exander. And nnd I've been fright
ened to denth all the afternoon, for'I
haven't had a chance to put things
right."
Almee snt bnclc nnd looked nt her
In nwestruck admiration.
"You mean to say they've no sus
picion nt nll?"Hhe exclaimed. "Dear
old Georgle, how deep you must hnve
been. I never thought you hnd It In
you!"""
"I didn't I wasn't!" said Georglnn
In almost tearful Indignation. "I've
hnrdly said n word nil dny, except
'yes' nnd 'no.' And not even thnt
If I could help it."
Aimeo gurgled.
"And a Jolly safe line, too! I enn
see we've nlways underrated you,
Georgle. And you mean to say they
never even got nn "inkling, nil through,
that there was anything unusual?
Thnt does rather bent me."
"There were ono or two little
things thnt puzzled them for a mo
ment, I think," Bald Georglnn reflec
tively, "hut It nil seemed to smooth
Itself out. And ohl" she concluded,
with' a great gasp of relief, "I am so
glad It's over nnd we can stop It. Now,
how nro wo going to elenr tilings up
and make it nil right for your'
"Stop it? I wouldn't stop it for n
kingdom. It's perfectly splendid I"
Georglnn .stood up.
"You are' out of your senses," she
said dazedly; "I won't listen to an
other word! Think how fenrful It
would bo If Alex if Mr. Lnnibe knew.
He"
"Aim Alexnndcrl Yes. Is ho ns
owlish ns his photograph? What did
you say to hm, Georglna?"
"I I hardly anything. Ho told mo
all about ills missionary work In Man
churia. He"
"Where wns thnt?"
"In the rose garden" Georglna
broke off suddenly.
"Did he squeeze your hnnd?"
Georglna was speechless with Indig
nation. "You were thinking nbout htm when
you stood nt tho window 1" said Al
mee, with tlie air of a prosecuting
counsel. "You were being sentimen
tal. I snw your face. It had thnt
gooey look."
"Almee," snld Georglna, fnlrly roused
at last, "how dare you I I am going
straight toTLndy Erythen, and you can
talk to her I I linve done "
'"No, no! I'm sorry, Georglo," snld
Almco sootbinrjiy. "I couldn't help
"Almee 1" Cried Georglna.
pulling your sereno leg, I won't say
a word against your cousin Alexan
der." "He Is a gentleman, at any rate,"
said Georglna, rather spitefully "lie
is n person ono enn respect."
"I nm s.uro he Is."
"Well, what aro we going to do?"
"Tho thing for you to do," said Al
mee, "Is to go on respecting Alexan
der. And for him to go on respecting
you. Think how nwful It would be
If It enme out now. Alcxnnder," euh1
Almec, with a pathetic little break hi
her voice, "Is gbod. lie doesn't got
Into scrnpes. He Isn't In horrible
trouble like me nnd nobody to help
me. I didn't think," she ndded with
n gulp, "thnt you'd go back on mo,
Georglo 1"
"I Won't and I can't," said Georglna
mournfully, "and you know It." Hut
she softened visibly. "You hnven't
told me where you've como from, nnd
what you've been doing! I've been
frightfully worried about you."
Almee regarded her thoughtfully. It
was clear that Georglna already had
all she could bear. This was no time
to tell her about Hilly.
"You needn't worry nbout mo. I'm
staying at a little place nearby. I'm
quite all right, and I've got some
money. We simply must keep It up
for a few days father Is leaving
Scroope Towers soon, nnd then I'll
show you how we can smooth It nil
over."
"Hut don't you see how Impossible
it Is I Your father will como here to
see you before he goes. And he he'll
expect yon to write to him!"
"How bright you aro tonight,
Georgle. You think of everything,"
snld Almee briskly. Sho snt down at
the writing table by tho wall, selected
n sheet of tho Jervaulx note-paper
with the Lambe arms tlireo fleeces
argent on u Held vert nnd with nn
Immensely serious face began to write
rapidly, puuslng occnslonnlly for
thought. Georglna watched in fasci
nated horror.
"Listen!" snld Almee, blotting the
sheet nnd rending If ulotul with much
satisfaction.
My Dearest Daddy: I arrived here safe
ly, nnd already I'm quite ono of tho fam
ily. Aunt Krythea likes mo much hotter
than she thought Bite would; olie Is very
nice nnd kind, and I have a lovely bed
room. I nm enjoying myself very much
at Jervaulx. (That's all perfectly truo.)
Cousin Aloxnnder Is awfully Interesting,
ana i iiko ncnring mm lane about Man
churia. Ilo Is a gentleman, and one f",elH
he Is really good, and that makes me
respect hhn.
I'm awfully sorry I mado such a fuss
about coming here, but I never thought I
should have such a lovely time as I'm
having. So you needn't worry about mo,
bocause I'm going to bo quite happy.
Your loving daughter,
AIMEE.
P. 8. In case you thought of coming
over to see mo soon, I ought to mention
that the wholo place Is simply devastated
with mumps. Of course It's quite all
right for me, becauso I've had them.
Georglna emitted a moan.
....... ...... ..........---"'
"A very proper letter," snld Almec,
affixing n stamp to the envelope, with
a determined thump. "Ono should
always consider one's parents, nnd
spnro them pain. And that postscript
Is n touch of genius; tho only thing
In the universe Dnd Is afraid of Is
mumps. Ho hasn't hnd them, nnd he
snys they nro a formidable affliction
to the nged, nnd very undlgnllled.
And It's quite true; I saw live children
at Stanhoe with mumps this nfter
noon. I should hate to tell a lib.
Unless," she added, wrinkling her
smooth brow, "It becumo absolutely
necessary."
Sho moved toward the window.
"Almec 1" cried Georglna, starting
up panic-stricken. "You'ro not going!
Are you serious about this?"
"Not a bit. And don't you be, ei
ther," said Almce, as she clicked oil'
the switch of the electric. "See you
tomorrow If I can. Good night, ohl
thing."
The room wns plunged In darkness,
and there was a scraping sound at tho
window.
"Almee I" gasped Georglna wildly,
fumbling round tho wall for the
switch. It was sonic time before sho
found It, and when she turned It on
the room wns empty.
"Almce 1" cried Georglna, lennlng out
of the window.
There, came a sudden thumping on
tho bedroom door."
"Almce!" snld tho stem voice of
Lndy Erythen. "Why is your light on
nt this hour? Wlint nre you moving
nbout for? Is anything wrong?"
"No-no auntl" snld Georglna,
choking, "n-n-nothlng much."
"Extinguish your light Instantly,
und go to sleep I"
With shakjng Angers Georglnn
turned off the switch, nud undressed
pathetically In tho dark. Sho crept
Into bed nnd thought of Alexander
the one touch of untroubled calm on
tho waters of Jervnulx.
CHAPTER V
On the Job.
Morning nnd the song of birds.
The sunshine strenmed Into the
room, bringing with it tlie God-given
frngmnco of nn April morning; the
scent of rnln-sprlnklod earth, wall
flowers and greening thorn-hedge.
Almec stood and drank It In thank
fully, till she realized with a shock
that It was past ten.
The only bath available at Ivy cot
tngo wns a tub of spring water.
Almee made the, most of tills, and,
dressing hurriedly, came downstairs
glowing like a plcotec. Billy was In
the parlor.
.iiuriiiUK i iiu lj it'll.
"Have you been down long?" ex
claimed Almce.
"'Bout threo hours!" he chuckled.
"I've covered sixty miles since then.
Just a little breather."
"Why you haven't wnltcd break
fast for me, have you?" she cried.
"Oh, that's all right. Hang a bnker
up nn' got a roll an' milk at Syder
ford. Nothing done yet couldn't
brenkfnst without my pnrtner."
Mrs. Sunning, with bare, dimpled
nrms nnd her face wreathed In smiles,
brought In the breakfast. There were
brown ducks' eggs, cream, water
cresses and a brace of brook trout.
Billy "glnnced nt ills compnnlon
from time to time, with a quiet watch
fulness. "Sleep nil tight, old chap?" he
asked presently.
"Kather. Didn't wake up till Just
now," said AUuoe, taking a large
spoonful of comb honey. "Did you?"
Billy paused.
"Middling," he said slowly. "Say,
partner, what'd yon llko to do now?
Best n bit?"
"Best!" said Almee scornfully. "I
wnnt to live, not rest!"
"Bendy to get busy on tho Sphinx,
nn' cleave tlie ether?"
"Yes, right away."
"Good I I'll get hor flxed."
Twenty minutes later they met by
tho shed wMiere the Sphinx was stored.
As Billy wheeled the machine' out, ho
looked keenly Into Almeo's eyes.
"Partner," he asked, "you hnven't
nny tiling on your mind, have you?"
Almco laughed aloud. Her eyes
sparkled.
"Do I look as If I had?"
"No, by tho Great Horn Spoon, you
don't I" snld Billy, eyeing her with a
(lash of admiration. "You look as If
you'd face the world and laugh at
everything It handed you from a
bunch of roses to sudden death.
You'ro IT! Come bri."
They went out through the little
gate. Billy did not offer to mount the
Sphinx till they were clear of the lane.
When ho stopped, Almee observed for
the flrst time that the Sphinx had a
brand-now spring pllllon-seut clamped
to tho carrier.
"What's this for?" exclaimed Almee.
"Why, for you, old clinp. Easier
riding."
"I didn't need It, Billy. Tho currier
was good enough."
"Nope," snld Billy with dotermlnn
Hon, "not nearly good enough. Car
rier r You nln't baggage, nre you?"
"Don't know. It's what a lot of
people havo called mo."
"Who?" suid Billy indignantly.
"Oh, frumps."
"There's a lot of Indlscrlnilnntlng
nconlo nbout," snld her pnrtner ab
ruptly.
Tho Sphinx cturted, and Billy
threaded lanes at an easy pace. Tho
soft wind of the morning caressed
(hem as they rode. Not tha( it had
nny pnclfylng effect on Alinec's spirit.
The sense of adventure mounted to
her head llko wine.
"Here we nrcl" said Billy, (timing
onto a long, deserted stretch of high
rond, running delightfully level nnd
straight. Ho let the Sphinx nut. For
eighty seconds the hedges flushed by
like long green -streamers. At thu end
of a mile and a half Billy stopped nnd
dismounted.
"Now," ho snld, "we're not going to
talk nbout how to sell the Sphinx yet
n while; the first thing Is to put you
wise to her. You've got to know her
Inside out and backwards nnd she's
the sweetest thing that ever burned
gas. Now, look herol"
Almce kneeled eagerly on tho grass,
nnd Billy fluently explained, illsmnn
tllng the parts ns he talked.
For twenty minutes she followed
him, testing- for herself.
"Why," said Billy with delight,
stopping nnd looking at her, "it's llko
touching a duck to swim! You catch
on quicker than I can show you you
were born to It I"
"I'm nn Infant to you," said Almee
admiringly. "Wlint a head you'vo got.
It's everything a motor t'nglno ought
to lie but never Is. Let's take down
(he cylinder."
They busied themselves dismantling
and rc-nssembllng the engine.
"I'll show you how to drive her
now," said Billy. "Statlonnry, till you
"get tho hang of hor."
Almec mounted tho saddle, while
the machine remained on Its stand,
nnd Billy showed. her how to control
the enyliie running free with tho
clutch out. She took longer to grusp
this.. Tho controls, though simple,
were of nn unusual type. In ten min
utes, however, she mastered them
pretty elllclcntly. " 7
"Fine I" said Billy cnthuslnstlcnlly.
"Pnrtner, the Sphinx Is your big sis
ter I Now we'll run her on the road
I'll ride the pillion nn conch you.
But for the land's sake go easy with
tho throttle. She'll rush you clean
off the British Isles If you give her
any gns."
Almee stnrted dend slow. Tho caca
nnd resiliency of tho drive, once the
Sphinx wns running, astonished her.
Gradually Almco Increased speed to
fifteen and twenty miles. Sho wns In
toxicated br the sense, of power, nn
swerlng to the lenst touch of her
fingers.
"Glorious!" she gnsped.
"You'ro doing lino," said Billy,
watching keenly. Ho made her prac
tice stopping and starting, Including
emergency halts. "Sny, isn't she the
Inst word in lady's mounts?"
"Bnthcr!" snld Almco, In spite, of a
sense of difficulty with her dress nnd
the Sphinx's tnnk, low though It was.
"Except I feel ns If I were ull stock
ings.", j
"Shucks I wlint of It?" he nnswered
Impatiently. "There's nobody here to
sec. Try her on the high gear now."
Aimeo changed gear deftly enough,
and for awhile drove steadily. But
the Intoxication of. speed confused
her senses. She made tlie one mis
take sho hnd been wanted against.
The Sphinx dashed forward like a
whippet, and, In trying to rectify the
error she made It worse.
"Throttle down I" said Billy sharply.
'intending to obey, Aimeo bluudered
ngnln, nnd closed down tho oxtru air
Inlet, The Sphinx ronred In protest,
and shot ahead llko n bullet from a
gun. The puce wns awful. How tho
machine kept on the road wns n mlr
nclo. Every moment promised a dcv
h2 TO '
Billy Leaned Swiftly Forward.
nstntiug crash. In front was a right
angled bend, Inviting sudden denth
Billy lenned swiftly forward.
"Valve-lifter left !" ho said quietly
In her ear. Almeo's left hnnd tight
ened on the lever Just In time. Tho
steady voice when n fool would havo
yelled aloud-Jirpught nil her facul
ties back; she throttled down ns the
machine slowed, und swung round the
bend safely it a bnro eight miles an
hour but without sounding the horn.
"Cad7 If there's only one gn.
tleman on this earth, It's Billy,"
(TO HE CONTINUED,)
' At tho Art Gallery,
"Why do they always depict 'Echo
ns n womnn?" "Becnuse woman al
wgys has the last word."
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