The Washington times., 1921-10-16

They were. Instinct with life and
audacity, ever on the lookout for
what them termed "fun." which
might mean anything. 80 long - Il
spelt q new sensation. prefer~bly
spiced with danger; and l knew
that there l had the right stun.
especially when under the veneer
OF abandonment and carelessness
there was the discipline OF the
Guards to work upon.
Invent out into the hall and found
Burgess greeting them as they
pulled on their driving coats over
their heads and repealed the very
latest things In tweeds and silk
socks underneath.
what about the old Nero. Mr..
Clympingy" asked ysrjoyce. 'Tve
left the engine running, as she's the
/. devti TO start. Shall take her
round TO the garage. as she's got q
bit OF ginger under her bonnet. and
isn't 30 easy TO tackle till you know
!, her little ways2" ~ ~ n ~ ~,
4 "Rigtt-o," said Burgess, laughing
like a, schoolboy. which did him
Z good, could feel "f,ll come round
with you myself and show you the
way. as I'm always interested In
big cars, while Osgood here can
mix us one of his famous btonxes
against our RETURN" s2st, z,
Soon We were all assembled in
the hall. outwardly a cheerful
enough party as usual, but with
the horror ever lurking In the back
ground, Of which SO far the two
youngsters and Ann we're happily
ignorant.
"One Of you may see Lord Bull
lingdon when he has had his nap
after lunch-that is. probably about
three o'clock" announced Ann OIL
cially. but the doctors think II bet
ter that II should not be both the
first time. You will have to settle
II between yourselves"
''It'd better be MIL" said Harry
Verjoyce promptly. "He's better at
these things than am"
These things" was eminently
vague, but we all had an instinct
what he meant and what II covered.
"Right-oh," said young yelling
ham gruffly; ''here's luck"
And he swallowed his cocktail to
cover his feelings, and Manders
came to the rescue again with some
questions about the big white Mer-
cedes racer, which was Verjoyce's
latest addition to his auto-stud and
very safe topic.
And then lunch, itself a merry
enough meal, at which the bali was
tossed about from one to another
with the deliberate purpose OF BAN
ishing unpleasant things to the
background OF memory; and never
met a better man at the game than
Manders, who always seems to have
the knack OF the right note to keep
things at the required pitch.
II will call you. Mr.. Wellingham,"
Ann said, leaving us over the port,
when you can see Lord Bulling-
don; but don't stay more than ten
minutes, please. and keep him OF
unpleasant subjects as much as
ever you can. We want TO keep
the circumstances surrounding the
shock as much out Of his mind as
we can"
Ann put on a professional man.
ner, which was quite becoming. and
would have been amusing II the cir
cumstances had not been so grave
Il might say, appalling
'T'll do my best, Miss Clymping."
said Bill Wellingham, holding the
door open for her Trust me,
though I'm afraid poor wretched
subaltern can't be counted on for
the tact, to say nothing of the airs
and graces, Of these barrister
chaps"
It was quite happy, and allowed
Ann to leave US in the midst of
general laugh.
"All right, my lad" said Manders,
laughing. "I'll get back on you
before I've done. ! often hope my
self that there's more affectation
than real idiocy among the Junior
officers Of the Guards Brigade"
Then Blenkinsopp spoke. intro
ducing a more serious vein.
Gould You two chaps get two or
three days leave for very partic-
ular purpose. he asked-"say from
Monday to Wednesday or Thurs.
day? It's rather important; and
III explain the whole business later
on"
Might be wanglei, Bill, mightn't
it?" said Harry verjoyce.
Wellingham nodded.
Think so. We've both been very
good boys lately. and doing quite a
lot of beastly duty one way and an
other"
well then" said Blenkinsopp
, quietly. 'I'll. put you wise after
Wellingham has seen Burlington.
It's mans work want of you both.
no kids game; and it's connected
with the cleaning up Of this infer
nal business"