Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-11-23

HuhL % DO oClCAI LII IL ACA -
be interested 1t will be a big thing for
the man who accomplishes 1t. You
could help me out IL you would. just
ask her to see me. That would be a
simple thing for you to do, and 1t
might mean so much to me-"
The girl wrinkled her brows perplex-
eddy. do 1 understand this to be an
affair of the hearth she Knocked. eff
so Miss Fleming might not be entirely
obdurate. She has been quoted by one
of your papers as searching for a soul
mate So if that is the case The
girl slipped gracefully down from the
wall.
THE Lord forbidw calculates Billy.
I'm pretty anxious for this interview,
but not desperate enough to propose to
a female encyclopedia In order to get
it. Pardon me-" he added hastily. II
forgot she was your aunt"
The girl waved her hands. "Oh,
don't mind u.s." she said sweetly.
"We're used to reporters. That's why
we like yellow catsi"
Billy's lugubrious face frightened
visibly as he looked at her standing
before him. you are a good deal old
err than you seemed up there upon the
wall" he conceded.
The girl nodded. EYES," she repeat
ed seriously, "a good deal older"
For a moment she stood studying
his good natured, disappointed face,
then impulsively seated herself at his
side. Maybe" she suggested, "just
maybe, you know, I could answer a
few of those questions of yours with
out disturbing my aunt"
"You!" Billy's brows went up In
credulously.
She nodded. 81 always go over my
aunt's copy as 1t comes from the ma
chine
B%reathlessly Billy grabbed at pencil
and paper. Its q COMPOUNDED sub
ject to get at" he said alphabetically,
"but I'll do my best from these In
structions."
Lets see," interrupted the girl. And
In a moment 1t was her pencil that was
flying across the pages of Billy's note
book.
''There!' she said at last, raising a
sparkling, glowing face. THAT covers
the subject pretty well, l think. And
now"-with a childish movement she
held the book behind her back-"prom-
ise before l give it to you. solemnly
promise, that you won't open this,
won't read a word of 1t, till you are
back in the Office"
ITS some trick, them" said Billy
sadly. 81 knew it was too good to
be true"
Promise" demanded the girl. "My
hand ON it," she added quickly.
Billy glanced into the teasing, tempt.
ing eyes, down at the little proffered
hand, then surrendered.
"Cross your heart" laughed the girl.
"Cross my heart said Billy.
Over the soft hand he held close in
his W he saw suddenly a woman's
erect form approaching, a oma with
fine, intelligent features and white,
severely brushed hair.
Blushing confusedly, the girl with
drew her hand, leaving N its pfaee-the
reporters book. j
"Auntie,' she said, "I11 be with you
directly"
"Goodby," she added meaningly as
with new hopefulness Billy waited
"Goodby," the girl repeated and, pick
ing up her yellow cat, passed swiftly
through the garden gate.
Dazedly Billy glanced after them.
1.-THE WITCH" he muttered. What non
has she scrubbed in that booki
Nothing to do with the case, of course.
Billy Atkins, you've been cleverly dis
posed of, and just when you might
have landed real copy"
But there was his promise. Jove!
He could still feel the firm clasp of
that little hand. A very pleasant and
heretofore unknown sensation trem-
bled about the region of Billy's honest
heart. =
"Jove!" he murmured again and
laughed softly.
"What luck?" cried Brothers as Billy
tried TO pass unseen into the seclusion
of his office. He must read her mes
sage alone. Half an hour later he
rushed about wildly, his voice trium-
plant.
"Wha luck? he cried. what luck?
Well, just about the best ever. Full
and comprehensive article, personal
touch, too, because it was written by
the lady herself"
"Oh, come OFF, jeered Brothers, but
Billy was back in his room reading
again a personal postscript.
You're TO be congratulated he read,
upon having this enlivening article
direct from the pen of the author, for
poor little l am the author. Aunt Is
only my amanuensis. l couldn't help
it, could l, because you got us mixed?
I'm doing this to make up for my dis
agreeable remark as to the preference
for cats and here's hoping for that
promotion. Yours, Helene Fleming"