RED CLOUD. NEBRASKA, CHIEF
The
-
CHAPTER XXV Continued.
12
"By nil mentis, Inspector," Bald Ber
tram! yawning. "I inn a more nmnteur.
All caves look nllku to me.' Mind the
briars; tlioy prick most accursedly."
Arkwrlght's Inspection of tlio cave
was brie
"It In cfnpty, hut the place has been
used, and recently," ho reported.
"StrnnKo they slmutil not luivo chosen
It; It l the host hiding plncu In the
pit."
"Perhaps they only recently (Uncov
ered this deslrahlo residence, and were
nhout to Hhlft their iUiirters," suggest
ed de Jubsiic. "No douht, If a few
watchful policemen ambush themselves
elllclently during the dark hours, they
will catch tho amiable consort of Hint
cutthroat yonder. One hopes so. It Is
pnlnful to the law-abiding to know that
malefactors are at law. Particularly
when they are .females."
Inspector Arkwrlght looked nt lilm
dubiously, and made no reply. Billy,
also, when tho two rejoined him, eyed
do Jussiic with extreme thoughtful
ness, and had some dltlkulty In sup
pressing his emotion. Ho was still
mounting guard over Jake, who luy
upon his Improvised Bfretelmr and
gazed up nt the sky with a singularly
bent I lie smile. Do Jussnc offered him n
cigarette, which he accepted Bllently.
"I think," suld Inspector Arkwrlght,
"I'll call on you two gentlemen to as
Blst me and we'll get lilirt out of this. I
want the place cleared."
It was not an easy mutter to carry
the gate and Its burden out of tho pits.
Ily the time they hnd achieved It, the
car arrived from Jervniilz and wound
Its way over tho flat turf. Jake was
lifted Into It.
"I must trouble yon to nccompany
tue, Mr. Spencer," said Arkwrlght.
"Anything to oblige tho police," said
llllly, squeezing himself Into tho front
of the ear. It was a tight lit.
The Journey to Stanhoo was made
iilmost In silence. When the car ar
rived at the police station Jake was
duly disposed of, while Hilly cooled bis
heels In a dingy waiting room that hnd
been whitewashed some time during
the period when Sir Hobert Heel was
reorganizing the force. Presently In
Bpector Arkwrlght Joined him. The In
spector closed the door, and regarded
Hilly with a sphinx-like but faintly
humorous eye.
I "I think, Mr. Spencer," he said
quietly, "that you liuvo no very high
opinion of my Intelligence?"
"Wrong there," Bald Hilly, politely.
"I don't know tbnt I'd class tho Stnn
hoo staff with tho world's great think
ers. Hut I've heard u lot about Scot
land Yard, and, If I may say so, you
como fully up to sample."
"There Is no harm now In my telllug
you that I know precisely what your
movements have been, .Mr. Spencer. I
know that It was you, nnd not tho pris
oner, who stayed at Ivy cottage as the
tenant of Mrs. Sunning. I know that
pour companion, at the same time,
Hayed next door. I have also a fairly
iiecurute comprehension of the rensons
kvhlch led j on to accept temporary cm
iiloyment In the Jervaulx abbey houso
hold, I did not, till mm, know who
you were. Hut the papers you gave me
establish your Identity. And that
makes all tho difference."
Hilly was silent.
'I am, you see, In possession of the
Tacts."
'There's one recent fact," thought
Hilly, "that you're not wise to."
"Your affairs, Mr. Spencer, though
pomcwhnt complicated, do not call for
the Intervention of the police," said
Arkwrlght, with the ghost of a smile,
"and no olllclal cognizance will bo
taken of that matter; unless something
-unforeseen occurs. I urn a thief hunter
mid not a castlgator of rash young
men. What I know, I shall, doubtless,
keep to myself."
Hilly felt an enormous senso of re
lief, combined with a sharp twinge of
conscience.
"The Irresponsible coiiplu who en
sconced themselves nt Ivy cottage,"
tnh Arkwrlght, with a dry smile, "made
a good denl of trouble for themselves,"
"Inspector," said Hilly, "did you ever
do a fool thing?"
Inspector Arkwrlght twinkled.
"A good ninny, when I was your age.
inn, sometimes, even now. Ilowever.
wish you good fortune. I nm not un-
jrateful to you for your shuro In the
running to earth of Mr. .Tako. It Is the
luty of the civilian to nsslst the police.
Hie woman will still bo brought to
book. And I shnll call on your formi
dable employer before I leave. Good-by,
Mr. Spencer."
Hilly walked out of Stanhoo police
Motion and mnde his wny back to the
abbey on foot.
"Gee I" ho said pensively. "Hut that
ast stunt was awful dangerous! Of
course, I see well enough whnt hap
pened. Hut It wns Just a lucky acci
dent neither Almeo nor that blamed
nuisance of n woman was seen getting
nwny. Tho luckiest sort of accident.
Inspector Arkwrlght Isn't tho fool I
look him for, by n long wny. I wonder
how mv,ch bo knows? nut ho can't
know that."
He shook his shoulders.
"It enmo nenr being n real crash
JuBt when everything hnd come right.
Jt put the wind up me woreo than any
thing yet. Hut thero's nothing to be
beared at now."
Despite tho excellent turn affairs
flaa tnucn, wuys mind was troubling
lila. IIo had the air of a Bmall boy
whoae raid on the Jam cupboard Is
p&out to be discovered. Whoa he ar-
Joy of Livin
By Sidney Gowing
Illustrations by Ellsworth Young
Copyright 1923 by
rived nt the abbey there- was no sign
of hla partner. After lingering for
some time near the most likely haunts,
Hilly sighed and retreated to the
garage.
Ilo had not been there long when
Almeo's face appeared furtively round
the angle of the door.
"Hello 1" Bhe said, stepping Inside.
She halted, and they looked nt ench
other dubiously. Almee was decidedly
pale, her eyes pathetic nnd rather
frightened.
"I couldn't help It, Hilly 1" she Said
suddenly.
"Couldn't help what?"
"You saw us getting nwny, didn't
you? And the girl nnd tho Sphinx?
Has Monsieur de Jussuc explained to
you?"
"I haven't Been him," said Billy,
quietly, "but I guess It Isn't hard to see
how things were. You might us well
tell me, though."
Almee, very gloomily, dcBcrlbed her
encounter with Calamity Kate.
"I know," she concluded, shakily,
"you're thinking mo nn Idiot. I'd no
right to tnko such a risk with the po
lice there and everything. I I sup
poso she's n thief. Hut she's done such
n lot for that man, and she wns so mis
erable. He's hrr husband. And I
couldn't help thinking ubout you and
mo, Hilly, and how I should feel If you
you "
She broke down and began to cry
quietly.
"That's how It was. Are you very
ungry with me?" '
Hilly gasped nnd, stepping quickly to
!.SHT
as&
Billy Pulled Almec's Hands Away.
her, pulled Almee's hands uwny from
her face.
"Angry with you?" he exclaimed,
holding them tight. "I wns ufrald you'd
be mad with met You ought to. Why,
I did the same thing, and I'd no ex
cuse! I ought to hnvo mado sure that
woman was run In."
"You did the same thing?" said
Almee, staring.
"Yes! Of course, I never dreamed
you were in tho pits, or I wouldn't have
done It. That crippled crook in the
cae got over me. They've got 1 1 1 tit for
the or ten years; nnd he's earned It.
Hut be was all broken up about his
wife. Neither of them deserve n scrap'!
or sympathy. Hut the poor devil wns
In such a state, that somehow I fell for
It. He never whined on his own ac
count; ho was thinking of his wife. It
got me on n raw spot. He knew I must
hnvo tracked him through her ho
begged me to say nothing nhout her.
"And I didn't. I gave him that much
rope. Never told the police I'd seen
her close by. ltunnlng down women Is
their Job. If It's got to bo done, let
them do It. They haven't any choice
but I bad. All the Bnme," said Hilly, "If
I'd dreamed for a moment you were In
tho pits, I'd hnvo chased fifty femnle
thieves sooner thnn you should tnke n
chancel I ought to ho horsewhipped
for rlskln' It."
"I think it was fine of you, Hilly I"
cried Almee with sparkling eyes.
"No!" he said. "It's you that were
fine."
"This," said Almee, "Is what conies
of growing sentlmentnl. Neither of us
would hnvo dreamed of making such
such fools of ourselves n week ago.
What will becom of her? Will she
get away?"
"I don't know or enro. If she made
the road, there's Juice enough In tho
Sphinx to tnke her n hundred miles
from here. I only lpo thoy don't find
her with tho machine. Hut I'll bet they
don't. She'll get clear and cover her
tracks she's the sort that docs."
"Hut tho Sphinx," snld Almee, with
Intenso remorse, "our Sphinx, nillyi
I've lost her for you 1"
nilly laughed.
"Wo'll mighty Boon hnvo another
there's two husdred landed nt the
docks last week samo model; nnd n
factory being equipped to build the now
model over hero. Mass production."
"What I You never told me It hnd
im nrrarMv
--
Sidney Cowing
got ns far as that I But I wanted the
old one, Hilly our Sphinx."
"Muybo yoti'll hnvo her yet. Only
t'tn not going to let her make trouble
for you. We're pretty near dono with
trouble."
"Hut how"
"Never mind. I'll tell you Bome time.
Gee I how you'll laugh I Hut I'm giv
ing you the cinch It is bo."
"Hilly I" Bhe cried, "Isn't that splen
did I Though I I"
"Well?"
"I haven't been worrying bo much
nhout It lately," Bald Almeo swiftly.
"But it's good to know. And what's
going to happen now?"
"I know one thing that's going to
happen now," suld Hilly, and he kissed
her with ns de Jussnc would Bay
empressement.
"Billy 1" suld Almeo a little breath
lessly. "Aunt said wo hnd to bo
decorous I"
"So we nrc," replied Billy. IIo klBsed
her ugaln.
Half an hour later Billy, passing the
main porch, encountered Ludy Ery
then.
'Spencer," she said, "I wns nbout to
send for you. Tho person from Scot
land Yurd, who hns Just left, Informed
me that he had not only cuptured one
of the thieves, but that you had ren
dered him Invaluable assistance. It
really seems n remarkable ending to
the affair but It docs not surprise me
In tho least 1 I suld from the first that
you wero more likely to mnke a suc
cess of this problem thnn all tho po
lice In the country, If they would only
consult you. I was perfectly right
my Judgment, In fuct, Is never wrong."
"Yes, my lady."
"I um quite cupable of reading be
tween the lines," said Lady Erythea
with suppressed triumph. "It Is my
conviction that tho capture of this
ubomlnublc thief wns due entirely to
you. The pollco are Imbeciles."
Billy shook his head.
"On tho contrary, Inspector Ark
wrlght Is nn uncommonly clever man,
my Indy," he said respectfully. "As for
me, I had luck. Luck's a queer thing,
liven cleverness won't always beat It."
Lady Erythca looked a little out of
her depth.
"In any enso," she continued, "I nm
very pleased that tills nbsurd suspicion
of the police regarding you Is cleared
up', and that you come out of tho affair
with such credit. It confirms my opin
ion of you."
Lady Erythca contemplated Billy's
tall figure nnd serenely handsome face
with a certain regret.
"I inn sorry," she snld, "tbnt you nre
leaving Jervnulx."
Hilly smiled.
"The week I hnvc spent In your lady
ship's service," he snld gently, "has
been the happiest time of my life."
Lady Erythca was not given to ex
pressing her emotions. But her ous
ters faco positively tinged a fulnt pink
color with pleasure.
CHAPTER XXVI
"Where Is My Daughter?"
"Why can't wo stny on for unother
week, Hilly?'' Bald Almee, lennlng n
llttlo farther out of the study window,
duster In hand. "Qo to Aunt the
Missus, I inenn nnd nsk her to let you
keep the Job. She'll Jump nt It."
"Nothing doing!" suld Hilly sternly.
Almee sighed. Tho hour wns nearly
noon on the day following tho Odyssey
of the erng pits. No news hnd been
heard of Calamity Kate, who appeared
to have drifted out of history on the
Sphinx. A brief Interval of pence bud
settled .ipon Jervaulx.
"There'll be n vacancy for n pnrlor
mnld nn chauffeur," announced Billy
with decision. IIo wns standing on the
gravel just outside tho window. "All
tho bother with the pollco Is wiped off
the slate. It's only a fool tbnt backs
his luck too far. And It's time to quit
tho gnme and turn tho lights out."
"That means Aunt has got to know
who I nm, und who Georglo is; and
nnd all the rest of It."
"Thero's no wny out of that, I'm
ufrald."
"I know. But I do rather funk It,
Billy. The worst If It Is poor old
Georglo Is In n tighter place than I
am."
"We'll hnvo to see her through It."
"Don't you think," snld Almee, dis
tinctly worried, "that It would boniest
If Georglnn arranged to cut short her
visit nnd went home und Amy Snooks
gave notice, or Just cleared out. You
as well. Then we we could explain It
all by letter, or something. I think It
would look bettor that way."
Billy looked at her a little oddly.
I om In n funk, Hilly," said Almeo,
trembling slightly. "I don't euro for
myself, but It's nwful to think of poor
Georglo having the BUirm break on her.
She isn't built for it. I believe If tho
thing Isn't sprung on us suddenly, nnd
we minngo It nt the right time, we
wo might get nwny with It."
"Itlglu again," suld Billy, "hut I
shan't go. I shall stay nnd put It
through myself."
"No 1" sold Almee quickly. "I won't
hear of that."
"You Just leave It to me," said Billy,
soothingly, "there's another way. I'll
I show you "
Tho whirr of n motor Interrupted
him. A largo automobile was ap
proaching up tho park road. Almee
looked at It. Such an expression of
horror rnmo over her features that
Hilly was stnrtlcd.
"What's the matter?"
"That's nbsilutcly torn It I" snld
Almee In strangled tones.
"Eh I"
"It's Dad I"
Almeo dived bnck Into the room like
a rabbit retreating Into Its burrow.
The automobile swept up to the main
entrance; tho Very Reverend Lord
Scroope descended.
"Is Lady Ery then In?" he snld, al
most curtly, to the butler. "Announce
mo nt once, please. Lord Scroopo."
Mr. Tarbenux showed him Into the
empty drawing- room. Lord Scroopo
deposited his lint among a cluster of
Dresden ornnments. Ills brow, usually
white and serene ns alabaster, was
clouded. Lady Erythca entered ma
jestically. "Anthony I" she snld.
Lord Scroopo, omitting any greeting,
regarded her fixedly.
"I received your letter by last night's
post, Erythen, announcing Almee's en
gagement to Alexander. I borrowed
tho bishop's car, and I have been trav
eling from Closomlnster slnco seven
this morning."
Lady Erythen received the news with
a smile of approval.
"The Billy child wished me to delay
announcing her betrothal. But that, of
course, I could not consent to. I wrote
to you nt once. Anthony. I commend
the energy yot: have shown In hasten
ing to congrntulnte them nnd me. One
so seldom sees you In n hurry."
Lord Scroope deliberately placed a
pnlr of gold-rlmmed pince-nez on his
nose nnd stnrod nt his sister-in-law.
"The news of this engagement," he
snld earnestly, "Is uuwelcome to me.
Entirely unwelcome."
Lady Erythca stiffened In every limb.
Her enr-trumpot wns presented In ono
hand; with the other she raised her
lorgnettes and directed them nt Lord
Regarded Each Other Glassily.
Scroope. Tho two regarded each other
glassily.
"I do not understand you," said Lady
Erythen with frigidity. "Alexander Is
a young man of unexceptionable char
acter nnd prospects. Jervaulx will be
his. Tho Scroope estate Is entailed, nnd
I am sufficiently au fait with your af
fairs to know that when your two sons
In the Service are provided for there
will be no overpowering fortune left
for Almee. It appears that If there Is
any complaint, it should coino from
me."
"The flnnnclnl aspect of tho question
docs not weigh with me," suld Lord
Scroope with urpeiity. "I object to
the match itself. If Alexander Is to
marry nt nil "
"If he Is to mnrry 1" Interrupted Lndy
Erythca warmly. "Of course he Is to
murry. Though I confess I wns very
much afraid ho never would. Permit
me to tell you, Anthony, tbnt In hiking
up this attitude an to the marrlngo of
priests, you stand on n very slinky
foundation. You yourself are a Clerk
In Orders, and un extreme Ritualist.
Shnll I remind you that If you had not
mnrrled Dellclu nnd an excellent thing
It was for you this situation would
never hnvo arisen I"
"I am not conscious of hnvlng ex
pressed any siieh argument," said Lord
Scroope very stiffly, but with n certain
plnkness nbout tho ears. "As for Alex
ander, he Is In every way nn excellent
young mini. But If he Is to marry, the
last thing I should hnvo desired Is his
nlllanco with my daughter. Their tem
peraments are so opposed that I nm
convinced nothing but unhnpplness
J. could result In fact, your news seemed
to me nlmost Incredible. I do not know
what to do tho position Is very til Ill
cult for me, If the ctUld has really be
come attached to him," concluded Lord
Scroope, with visible distress.
"Good gracious, mnn, what did you
expect?" exclaimed his slster-In-law.
"It never entered my head," Bald
Lord Scroopo, emphatically. "I thought
that your Influence, and that of Alex
ander, would huvo a steadying effect
on Almee, who wns In somo need of It.
But tills l"
Lndy Erythca allowed Increasing ex
nsperutlon.
liriiiiiiiiuii in n in in i in
"Vou are tulklng rubbish!" she ex f
claimed, sharply. "Of all tho girls t
known to me, no more Bultnblo mate
could bo found for Alexander. Indeed,
during her sojourn hero Almee hns en
deared herself to me scarcely less than
to him. Her piety, her quiet devotion
tho complete nbsence In her of nil
slnnglness nil these spenk eloquently
In her favor."
Lord Scroopo gazed nt her In bewil
derment. "I really do not follow you, Erythen.
And I am greatly disappointed," said
Lord Scroopo heavily, "greatly disap
pointed. I did not foresee this."
"I nm not responsible, my denr
Anthony, for your lack of foresight,"
Bald bis slster-In-law, acidly. A shndow
darkened the window, nnd she turned.
"But your daughter can answer for her
self."
Georglna stepped In through the
open window, followed by Mr. Lambc.
Suddenly observing Lord Scroopo Bhe
halted nnd beenmo rigid. Every scrnp
of color left her cheeks. Alexander
halted nlso, and slowly turned a deep
plum color.
"Since It Is n fait accompli," snld
Lndy Erythca to her brother-ln-lnw,
almost with ntouch of pleading, "be
nmluble, Anthony, nnd bestow your
blessing on the hnppy pair."
She raised her ear-trumpet ns though
to Bharc In the benediction. Lord
Scroope looked nt Georglnn dumbly nnd
then stared at Lady Erythca.
"What did you sny?" ho asked diz
zily. "The happy pair!" snld Lady Ery
thca, loudly and Irritably.
"Where Is my daughter?" exclaimed
Lord Scroopo with consternntlon. "Ery
then, where la my dnughter?"
Lady Erythca started. She glanced
at Georgian's horror-stricken fuce, and
then, with deep concern, moved to her
brother-ln-lnw's side.
"My dear Anthony," she said In n
low voice, "como upstnlrs nnd lie down.
It will soon pass off. Do not bo
alarmed, Almee. Lean on my arm,
Anthony."
Lord Scroope shook himself free.
"Are you In your senses, Erythca?
This Is my niece by marriage Geor
glnu Berncrs. What Is she doing hero?"
"Y-yes," gulped Alexander's llnncee.
"I'm Georglnn. I couldn't help It."
Sho collapsed Into nn armchair nnd
burst Into tears. Alexander stood over
her llko a largo and protective dog ; he
laid a hand on her shoulder nnd glured
ut tho others with defiance.
Lady Erythca turned pale. It wns
disconcerting to find two members of
tho Scroopo fnmlly simultaneously
smitten with Insanity.
"Where Is Almee?" insisted Lord
Scroope, turning upon her. "Where Is
my daughter?"
"Dad 1"
The disheveled pnrlor mnld darted In
through the door. Almee's cap was
awry, her face was pale, her eyes very
bright; tho top of her apron henved
tumultously. Sho stopped short, us
Lady Erythca glared speechless nt this
Irruption.
"Don't cry, Georgle," 6ald Almee ; "It
wnsn't your fnult."
"Hnvo I been transported Into Bed
lam?" nsked Lord Scroope, dizzily. "Or
nro you rehearsing n charade? What
Is she doing In this costume?"
Ludy Erythca struggled for breath.
"This," sho said grimly, "Is my par
lor maid, Snooks, whom I foolishly en
gaged on your recommendation. She
has engnged herself a;aln, however, Jo
my chauffeur."
Lord Scroope looked at his slster-In-law
with commiseration.
."This," ho said, In the soothing tone,
with which one would nddress a de
lirious person, "Is my daughter, Almee.
I um rather glad to find her In any
costume. I began to wonder what you
had dono with her."
Lady Erythca's frame slowly stiff
ened. Her fingers clenched the ear
trumpet as though It were tho handle
of n club. Her eyes were terrible. He
fore the storm could break, Almee in
tervened. "It wnsn't Aunt's fault, Dad," she
said breathlessly, "nor Georgle's nor
Alexander's. It was all mine. And If
you nil want to bent somebody, It had
better be me! I I'm here to explain!"
"Some explanation," said Lord
Scroope quietly, "seems to bo culled
for."
Almee, nvoldlng her aunt's eyes, ad
dressed herself to the quivering ear
trumpet. "I didn't want to come here. Dad
mnde mo. I wns frightened of you.
Anyway, I didn't think Jervaulx would
suit me, and that you'd hate me. So I
skipped the car nt Burn Ash," said
Almee, her speech pouring from her like
a torrent, "and made the chauffeur
bring Georglnn on here. And I went
off on my own 1
"Georglnn arrived here, nnd you
took her for me. You Insisted sho wns
me. And she didn't dnro ecplnln, for
feur of getting mo Into n row. That's
what Georglo Is! Slus can't lie she
enn't even net but she'd let you cut
her In pieces before she'd get mo Into
trouble!
"I got here tho samo night, nnd
climbed Into her room. And Georgle
begged mo to own up, nnd I wouldn't.
And I came the next night; Georgle
wiiB ready to glvo It all nwny and
then tho burglars got in. I wns nearly
caught, all tho household chiiKcd me,
tho butler toro n great piece out of my
skirt. But I got nwny, nnd nt InMt
right down by the crossronda, I ran Into
1111 Mr. Speifcor."
Almee paused for breath.
"Who," Inquired Lord Scroope, In the
hush that followed, "Is Mr. Spencer?"
"A motorcyclist, ne hnd come across
the thieves getting away, had a fight
with them they wero too mnny for
blra, but ho got back somo of tho Jow
els. I told him tho awful moss I was
In. Of course, tho pollco were nfter
mc I'd seen their car already. If they
got hold of me, they'd know tlm the
silly thing I'd done," untd Almeo wlrn
a gulp. "It would come out that I was
your dnughter It would be all owr the
country, and n all tho newspapers 1"
Lord Scroope, very pale, drew n deep
breath, nnd gave a prolonged shudder.
"B Mr. Spencer told mo I'd got to
go bnck and make n clean breast of It
all. Ho wanted to tell you. But I didn't
dnro. I refused to let him sny any
thing I made him swenr he wouldn't,
It wns my trouble, not his. So ho did
whnt I naked; even though It meant
the police would suspect him, too. So
bo took the Jewels to Aunt Erythen,
nnd never said n word nhout me; nmj
when she offered him the Job ns clmuft
four he took It; bo thnt tho police
wouldn't suspect him or mo! He
cume hero and drove Aunt's carsl"
"And you?" sold her father quietly,
"What happened to you?"
"I went buck to Scroope next day. J
found Amy Snooks wns coming hero tin
mnld I mndo her go to Senbrldge, nnd
took her place, Dad. Just to bo &nfo
from thoso beastly police In the hope
they'd catch the thieves, If wo gave
them time nnd then they wouldn't
catch mo nnd mnko mo explain. And
It's Just what happened; Billy Mr,
Spencer caught one of them yester
day, and the pollco have got him. No
body knows anything about me, except
you hero I"
Almee pnntcd like n deer at bay.
"And Billy's npked mo to mnrry hlih,
nnd I'm going to t" she said desperate
ly. "I love him I There's nobody llk
Billy bo's been splendid I He Isn't n
chauffeur nt nil till Aunt made him
one. And I'd mnrry him, even If ho
was I" declared Almee, on tho verge of
tenra.
There was a stunned silence. For
once speech denied Itself even to Lndy
Erythen. Georgian wns sobbing gently
In the chulr. Alexnnder still stood over
her and said nothing.
"I seem to find a thread of enlighten
ment In this story," suld Lord Scrape,
ulowiy. "Yes, I think I know enough
of you, Almee, to understand. I have
a question to put. You came here on
the day following the burglary. Where
did you spend the previous night?
Whnt wero you doing?"
"I was In a cave i"
Lord Scroopo passed n long whlto
bund ncross his brow.
"A envo?" he repeated, blankly. "Ycu
have reverted, It seems, to the customs
of our Neolithic ancestors "
"It wns a ripping cave," snld Almee
n little hysterically, "down In tho crag
pits. All the little rabbits for company.
It wns more peaceful than Jcrvuulx.
I know It wouldn't have suited Georgle."
"May I ask when this unknown
young mnn permitted himself to pro
pose to you?"
"Yesterday !"
"We will not pursue that matter,"
said Lord Scroope, gloomily; "thta
hardly seems the time or place for de
tailed explanations. I feel "
The door opened nnd Monsieur de
Jussnc entered. He gnve a slight start
us his eyes traveled rapidly over tho
group.
"A thousand pnrdonsl A family
inntter, I perceive," ho said quickly, "I
will withdraw"
"Don't go, Vlcomtel" exclaimed
Almee. "Anyono who's n friend of
mlno Is welcome here. You may ns well
be In at the death."
"If I can be of any service " said
Bortrnnd. IIo bowed courteously to
Almeo's fnthei.. "Lord Scroope, I pre
sume." "You," said Lady Erythca to Ber
tram!, trembling with wrirth, "wero
"You Were Also In This Conspiracy."
nlso In this conspiracy I You appear to
know tho whole story !"
"Oh, of course he knows It," said
Almee, wildly, "Just as Billy knew It,
nnd Georglna, nnd Dlnnn, too. They
all did their best for me right from
tho beginning. I wnsn't worth Itbut
they did."
"It seems," snld Lady Erythca, grip
ping tho back of a chair, "that every
ouo In my household knew nil nbout
this except myself nnd my nephew 1
Who, through his position nnd his Inno
cence, now finds himself "
"I bog your pardon, Aunt," snld Al
exander, pnllld but calm, "I, also, knew
everything thnt was to bo known
from tho moment Almee entered this
house. I know thnt Georglna was
Georglnn. I nm hb culpable as nny."
(TO DH CONTINUED.)
Imagination and Memory.
Imagination is not, llko memory, held
to uctunl experience. It takes the
mind beyond Its own experience, be
yond the present and apparent. It
Idealize,