Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-02-27

l nelpe0 0er into a CAP. ana as (
closed the door | added. but after to-
day | shall never forget you again."
| was content to have her go. for ]
needed time In which to think up some
fitting mode of explaining my conduct.
particularly of the %usurpation of my
cousin Dick Cushing's name. with all
the omanc that goes with such crack
Drained. wandering proclivities. How
she came to confound us two | couldn't
conceive.
1t was a vexatious business. | could
hit Upon no scheme that was satisfac-
tory. And what made it all the more
annoying was that | liked my new
found cousin hugely and was anxious
to stand well with her.
Finally | gave it up and repaired to
my aunt's. determined to rely upon my
good luck and the inspiration of the
moment for the course | should adopt
Oddly enough. the revelation didn't
come at ice as | expected. for being
a family gathering. played
no part in II conversation. As | en-
tered it was Hello. Dick. old chapT'
tor my name is Richard. just as Cush-
ing'sD from the boys. while my aunt
kissed ME fondly and led me over to
Edith. saying. This. Edith. is your
cousin Dick" Evidently she had not
been told of our meeting Oh the train.
In a moment we were all seated at
dinner. | was placed or one side of
my aunt Edith was beyond me, and
next came Gushing.
We were a noisy party, but In spite
OF the loud laughter of the younger
element and of the fact that my atten-
ton was largely claimed by my aunt
l frequently caught snatches of the
talk between Edith and Dick. Fol a
time 1t was on Indifferent matters.
Then suddenly l heard this from Edith:
"Have you eyer beer In Tibet?"
ITS coming" | murmured and APP
piled myself desperately to my plate.
"Oh. yes came Dicks complacent
answer. several times"
"How strange said Edith. turning
to me. that both of you should have
visited such an out of the way spot"
Dick looked at me in amazement
"Why. when he began. but l saw
his purpose.
TEL Edith about your last trip there,
Dick. and about your chronological in-
~vestigations and the traces you found
of ancient civilization and all that
He's so modest. Cousin Edith. that you
have to pump him to get him started"
She got him started. and ! breathed
more freely. However. | continued to
keep an ear upon what they said.
"But it is ar awful mysterious place.
isn't it?"
"Yes; 1t is very strange" assented
Dick, and then continued with scien-
tific exactness. 1t is an immense table
land lying between the Kuen Lun and
the Himalaya mountains. These chains
u eastward and diverge until they
reach the meridian of Lassa. when
My attention was claimed by my
aunt once more. and when | was able
to give heed to them again heard
with Joy Edith's complaining tones:
But tell me about the lions and the
lofty peaks whose SUBMITS have never
been seen and the squat little natives
who stab and eat people"
"Lions!" said Gushing. II believe
there are some lions.''
"SomeT" said Edith contemptuously.
1.-THE whole place except for the CAPT.
tai is alive with them"
"As to people," continued the infatu-
ated Gushing, paying little attention.
they are a Mongolia race. closely al
lied to-
Again my listening was interrupted.
but throughout the dinner Dicks d.
dactic tones ever and amor reached me
and added comfort to my soul. Surely
her passion for explorers and 'forlorn
hopes" will be exhausted now. thought
l. And one glance at her as she and
the other women folk left the table
confirmed my idea
| was among the first to Join the
ladies. Seeing my cousin seated apart.
| Joined her at once.
Tibet" l began as l drew up my
chair.
"Oh. don't speak to me of Tibet
she cried wrathfully.
Il was only going to say I had never
been there" | remarked meekly.
Never been therer'
INC. and never want to-"
Never want TOT" she echoed amaz-
eddy.
There was a pause. Then she began.
MT. CushingI'- but paused again.
"Mr. CushingP' I'm in for it now.
However | went on quietly:
Resides. NY name isn't Gushing.
Why you should have thought so I'M
less the names under auntie's photo
graphs got mixed up In some way l
don't know. I'm Dick FitzhugL"
mot the explorer at ALP she cried.
mot a bit Of it Simple Dick Fitz-
hugh"
"Oh, not SO very simple she laughed
$50 all you told nj yesterday was pure
ictionr'
"All-except the last few words as
we said goodby."
She colored cbarmingly.