The Winslow mail., 1923-03-02
Your loving,
FATHER
CHAPTER VII
The Way of the Transgressor.

Georgina awoke with a start. The
light from a tiny electric torch daz-
zled her eyes; somebody was shaking
her violently.
"Wake up, old thing" whispered
Aimee's voice; "its like trying to
rouse the dead. I'm anxious about
you. What did they say about that
little stunt on the Syderford road?"
Georgina sat up with a gasp, and
clutched Aimee with both hands as a
drowning person clutches a life-buoy.
"It's you. is it," she said fiercely.
"I've got you, Aimee-mabe up your
mind to it! This dreadful business
is finished We're done for-espe-
cially your
"Eh!" exclaimed Aimee, little
startled. "What have you got the
breeze up about now?"
you'll know very soon! Who"
said Georgina sternly, still holding
her, "was that Man that was with
you? Who was hep
"Man?' said Aimee "Oh, you mean
Billy. One of the best that ever
stepped! A clinking good sort"
"B-Billy?" echoed Georgina in a
shaking voice '"Tell me. Tell me
ALI" she said, tightening her grip.
"Well, why not?" said Aimee, and
forthwith she related the Saga of
Billy. The tale, as it proceeded,
seemed to affect Georgina with creep
ing palsy. When it ended, she was
trembling violently. She made two
unsuccessful efforts to speak. She
reminded Aimee of a hen with some
thing stuck in it's throat.
"You are staying with this Man?"
gasped Georgina. "This Spencer-in
Stanhoe? And he let you do it? The
mans a cad"
Aimee sprang up, tearing herself
loose from her Cousins hands,
"How dare you say that! Cad? If
there's only one gentleman on this
earth, it's Billy!"
She glared at Georgina.
There's no beastly sentiment in
Billy, thank heaven. That's why we
became pals; because we want to get
away from it all. l see nothing wrong
in it-nor does he.''
"Then he's a fool!" said Georgina
bitterly. "Oh, what can one say?" she
groaned Il know there = nothing
wrong. That you are incapable Of
Of" she choked. "And this man.
From what you tell me, he is just
such another as you. He is not a
mamie is a child Or he is from
some place where things are-very
different from what they are with u.s.
But you are living in Eastshire-not
in the desert. You know what East
shire is. If ever this comes out-as
come out it must-your reputation
and your good name are gone-fin-
ished
"That, suppose, you do not care
for" she said bitterly, rising and
facing Aimee, "but one thing 1 can tell
you and you may believe me. This
thing will kill your father"
Aimee stared at her blankly.
81 know your father better, per-
haps, than you do, Aimee. To Lord
ScroOpe, black is black and white
white. No one is more proud, more
sensitive. That his daughter should
be living in an obscure lodging, under
an assumed name-with a strange
man she picked up on the high road.
l tell you, quite soberly and certainly,
that it will break his heart"
There was a long silence.
Suddenly Aimee sat down on the
bed and began to cry. She cried with
the abandon of a child of ten, but
very piteously.
81 never wanted to hurt Dad!' she
snuffled. 81 didn't think-I didn't
see-!"
do you understand at last?" said
Georgina grimly.
yves" gulped Aimee slowly, 81
believe do. Dad! L" she caught
Georgina by the arm. II must keep
| that from him-I must"