Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1923-03-23

cycle, and they'll find out we were
at Ivy cottage. They'll get my de-
scription. And even when they find
out who I really am
Billy drew in his breath sharply.
George told me it was my finish
even before this silly burglary hap
pened," continued Aimee gloomily.
"Georgie knows about these sort of
things. 1t isn't the burglary that mat
ters. I could get over that. It's this
this other thing"
Billy was silent.
1.-THE idea is" continued Aimee, with
the same remarkable calm, "that I've
lost my character; like a housemaid
that's been stealing, or a groom
caught selling the corn. Only 1
haven't been caught-yet.
"But-if Dad knew! You don't
know my father, Billy. 1 couldn't ex-
plain him to you. Dad is just about
the dearest thing that ever lived-in
his way. But he belongs to a time
about two hundred years back. Mother
would understand but not Dad. It's
his creed that a girl mustn't be even
suspected. 1t was only tonight Geor-
gina told me this thing would-well,
1t would break his heart. And l know
him; 1 see she's right. If you and
l."
"Stop!" said Billy h%oarsely. Don't
say any more. 1--we got to think
this thing out"
Aimee found that he had suddenly
left her. Presently she became aware
of the outlines of his big figure, stand
ing m~otionless just outside the cave
He was there quite a long time. All
NEE sat where she was, twisting her
handkerchief between her fingers. She
felt very much calmer. The trouble
and the stress were now with Billy.
He came back, and stood over her.
"Tm a coyote" he said quietly.
"What l need is a quirt laid across
me. I've been a fool"
mot a bit !" said Aimee quickly.
"How should you knowY"
at was my business to know
There isn't any excuse Buildings
are so different, where l come from.
And I don't know anything about
women. We think a lot of women,
down my way, but we don't talk about
them-much. Partner, this thing I've
let you in for through my foolish
ness-it's broken me all up"
Because I'm Lord Scroope's daugh-
ter?'
mol" said Billy shortly. "Be the
same if you we're his housemaid. But
it's up to me to see you clear-you
and him, too. And I'll do it,"
His voice was so confident that
Aimee's trouble fell away from her,
as a sun-ripened chestnut sheds its
prickly husk.
"What are we to do then, Billy?"
"It seems to me-" said Billy gently,
that the simplest way is the best
way. Let's you an me go to the old
man. No use talkin' about it here.
I'll put it straight for you, partner"
mol"
81 hope I can make him see sense
even if he's two hundred years old,
as you say. It's all my fault. 1t isn't
one scrap of it. l won't
say much-but come right along with
me to your father now-an' leave the
talking to me-"
Aimee rose.
Never! 1 won't have it, Billy !"
she said desperately. 81 don't know
1 don't know what you might say. If
it comes out I'm done for anyhow;
I'm going to take the chance that 1t
WON'T There must be a way to stop
it-there must be some way.
Its my trouble-mine! And l
won't have it given away"
Billy drew a quick breath and
Strengthened himself.
Fright p he said. "Those are the
orders. 1 accept them. l s'pose a
man can't give away a girls secret,
if she wants it kept. l know that
much"
"Why, of course" said Aimee sim
ply. "But will you please understand,
Billy, that I'm not going to drag you
into this. The best thing you can do
is to get away out of it all. shall
manage all right. 1 don't want to
"Cut that out" said Billy very qui-
city. at don't 60" There was a
pause. II did think, for a while, it
might be best-for you. But that's
wrong. I've got to be right on hand,
for I'll be wanted. Now hold on while
l tell you what we've got to do"
"YesT" said Aimee eagerly.
Billy stretched out a long arm,
plucked a leaf from the bramble that
screened the cave, and chewed it pen
sively.
There's just a gamblers chance"
he said at last. ITS pretty thin
like drawing to a three-card flush.
But it's wonderful how they come off
sometimes, if you back your luck,
good an full"
He flashed the torch round the walls
of the a
"What d'you think of this placer