The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-08-16

ooPe lowers. A nights rest bad no,
restored the color to her cheeks Her
smiled family. "e'' one
You dear people," said A,moo
s.eahg hand into her mothers
s @nlie the other clasped the long white
nnsers OF her sire, "yeu haven't scold.
Gu me at all. What you ought to do is
10 oeat me. It's no use nv irving IN
'eh you how sorry am. There aren,t
any words for it."
Aimee DEAR" said Lady Scroone
strokihg her hair, try and look LITTLE
less tragic. This isn't like Won. It's an
over now" "''
IS itF said Aimee wistfully. "T am
siau' mummie. I've told you both the
story, all over and over. I've tried to
make 1t clear. It's fearful tangle, I
know. You have both been so sweet
about It." '"ee'
III is hnished," said Lord Scroope
gently. Il am SO devoutly thankful
aimee to find you have come safely
through the dangers which beset von
at Jervaulx-what might have hap
pehed appals me to think of-that it Is
Impossible to be harsh. And-and IT
alstfesses me to see you looking SO un.
nappy. For the first time in your life.
can never remember to have seen Won
in such a mood"
Aimee stood up.
The thing want to know" she said.
piteousiy' us, what about Billy? You
won't answer me. Mummie, you, know.
VIII understand. If 1 lose Billy, 1 don't
care whether l live or die. That is all !"
Lord Scroope passed his fingers
through his snowy hair. Aimee's
mother put an arm round her and led
her out of the room.
Go upstairs and rest for awhile,
Baby" said Lady Scroope, gently.
you are very tired, and there has
been talk enough"
In few minutes Lady Scroope re-
turned.
This said her husband, sadly, sis
the most distressing aspect of the
whole affair.""
Il had long talk with Aimee this
morning" said Lady Scroope, "and it
isn't thing we can dismiss lightly.
Tony l know the child better than
you do" She reflected. This Bill
this Mr.. Spencer appears to be rather
remarkable"
IF we can trust Aimee's account"
said Lord Scroope gloomily. "But-a
young man picked up by the wayside,' -
he added with bewildered air. my
dear Delicia-l"
He is not English, is he?"
American, 1 understand. 1t seems
curious" said Lord Scroope, pensively,
'but l believe he is the first American
1 have met"
His wife laid a small white hand on
his shoulder.
"Tony, darling" she said laughing
'you know very little of the world, but
one thing at least you know. You saw
this man. Is he-a gentleman"
Lord Scroope paused.
whatever else he may not be, he
is that"
81 rather gathered it from what ]
heard of him."
But Delicia-"
The butler entered with a card on q
tray. Lord Scroope inspected the card
1t bore the name Hiram B. Rivington,'
which conveyed nothing to Lord
Scroope Under it, In pencil, we're the
words, about Mr.. William Spencer"
as the bearer of this belowY asked
Lord Scroope.
Eyes, m lord. He wishes to see
your lordship urgently"
Lady Scroope glanced at the card
and suppressed her curiosity nobly.
~ shall leave you to receive this Wis
itor, Tony" she said. II do not think
Aimee ought to be left alone just now
She retired. A very large. clean
shaven man with a rectangular jaw
and thin, humorous lips, was ushered
into the library. He was attired In
roomy gray tweeds, his eye twinkled
family, and there was something com
pelling about his presence.
Lord Scroope?" he inquired, bowling
courteously. "It's very good of you te
receive stranger. thought that my
nephew, william Spencer, would be
here. He promised lie ts -rrive about
now. I guess it's something zig that's
delayed him."
as Mr.. Spencer your nephew" said
Lord Scroope guardedly.
''That is so. You know him,
think"
at is hardly the word, l know less
than nothing of him, Mr.. Rivington.'
Correct. He feels, and so do i. thai
proper explanation Is due to you
Lord Scroope. don't know the whole
story, but circumstances have impellet
william, by no choice Of his own, tt
break into the society of Eastshirt
county in a way that would probably
he called unusual down here. He came
to London and consulted me last night
He was very much distressed-whicf
isn't usual with him. It's only fair tt
william that his credentials should bt
presented. and think I'm the man tt
do IT. I should like. Lord Scroope. tt
ALL about Rilly"