The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-04-18
CHAPTER XVI
"Where Is NV Dauohter?"


"Why can't we stay on for another
week. Billy?" said Aimee. leaning a
little farther out of the study window.
buster in hand. go to Aunt-the
Missas, | mean-and ask her to let you
keep the job. She'll jump at it."
Nothing doing I" said Billy sternly.
Aimee sighed. The hour was nearly
of the crag pits. No news had been
heard of Calamity Kate, who appeared
to have drifted out of history on the
Sphinx. A brief interval of peace had
settled upon Jervaulx.
"There'll be a vacancy for a parlor-
maid an chauffeur" announced Billy
with decision. He was standing on the
gravel just outside the window. "All
the bother with the police is wiped off
the slate. It's only a fool that backs
his luck too far. And it's time to quit
the game and turn the lights out"
"That means Aunt has got to know
who | am, and who George is; and
and all the rest of it,"
"There's no way out of that, I'm
afraid"
Il know, But I do rather funk 1t,
Billy. The worst if it is poor old
George is in a tighter place than l
am"
'Wenl have to see her thro ugh it."
Don't you Think said Aimee, dis
tinctly worried. that it would be best
if Georgina arranged to cut short her
visit and went home-and Amy Shocks
gave notice, or just cleared out. You
as well. Then we've could explain 1t
all by letter, or something. I think it
would look better hat way"
Billy looked at her a little oddly.
81 am in a funk. Billy" said Aimee,
trembling slightly. 81 don't care for
myself, but It's awful to think of poor
George having the storm break on her.
She isn't built for it. l believe If the
thing isn't sprung on us suddenly, and
we manage it at the right time, we
we might get away with it,"
"Righr again." said Billy, "but I
shan't go. l shall stay and put it
through myself"
mo" said Aimee quickly. 81 won't
hear of that"
you just leave 1t to me-" said Billy,
s%oothingly, there's another way. I'll
show you"
The whirr of a motor interrupted
him. A large automobile was ap-
preaching up the park road. Aimee
looked at it. Such an expression of
horror came over her features that
Billy was startled.
whats the matter?"
THAT'S absolutely torn ii !" said
Aimee in strangled tones.
"Eh!'
cts Dad!"
Aimee dived back into the room like
a rabbit retreating into its burrow.
The automobile swept up to the main
entrance; the Very Reverend Lord
Scroope descended.
is Lady Erythea in?" he said, al
most CURLY, to the butler. "Announce
me at once, please. Lord Scroope."
Mr.. Tarbeaux showed him into the
empty drawing room. Lord Scroope
deposited his. hat among a cluster of
Dresden ornaments. His brow, usually
white and serene as alabaster, was
clouded. Lady Erythea entered ma
iestlcally.
"Anthony !" she said.
Lord Scroope, emitting any greeting.
regarded her fiXedly.
81 received your letter by last nights
post, Erythea, announcing Aimee's en-
gagement to Alexander. l borrowed
the bishops car, and l have been trav-
cling from Closeminster since seven
this morning"
Lady Erythea received the news With
a smile of approval.
"The silly child wished me to delay
announcing her betrOthal. But that, of
course, l could not consent to. | wrote
TO you at once, Anthony. l commend
the enerss' you have shown in hasten
ing to congratulate them-and me. One
so seldom sees you In a hurry"
Lord Scroope deliberately placed a
pair Of gold-rimmed pince-nez oil his
nose and stared at his sister-in-law.