The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-02-28

caught selling the corn. Only |
haven't been caught-yet.
Buff Dad knewl You don't
know my father, Billy. l 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
abou two hundred years back. Mother
would understand; but not Dad. It's
his creed that a girl mustn't be even
suspected. Ii was only tonight Geor-
gina told me this thing would-well.
1t would break his heart. And | know
him; l see she's right. II you and
T."
"Stopi" said Billy hoarsely. 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~otlonless just outside the. cave
He was there quite a long time. AL
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 owe her.
I'm a coyote" he said quietly
what I need is a quirt laid across
me. I've been a fool"
mot a bit !" said Aimee quickly.
"How should you know"
ut was my business to know !
There isn't any excuse. ~But-things
are so different, where l come from.
And | don't know anything about
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 Pm Lord Scroope's daugh-
ter?'
NO !" said Billy shortly. BE the
same If you were 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?"s
ut seems 10 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"
moi"
81 hope | can make him see sense
even if he's two hundred years old,
as you say. It's all my fault. 1t isn't
yours-not 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! | won't have it, Billyl'
she said desperately. Il don't know
l don't know what you might say. II
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-mineI And
won't have it given away"
Billy drew a quick breath and
Strengthened himself.
Fright 7" he said. Those are the
orders. l accept them. | s'pose a
man can't give away a girls secret,
if she wants 1t 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 beet thing you can do
is to get away out of it all. l shall
manage all right. l don't want to-
"Cut that out" said Billy very qui-
city. ut don't 60" There was a
pause. 81 did think, for a while, 1t
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"
"Yes?" said Aimee eagerly.
Billy stretched out a long arm,
plucked a leaf from the bramble that
screened the cave, and chewed 1t pen
siyely.
There's just a gamblers chance
he said at last. "It's 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 W
"yNhat d'you think of this placer
"It's-snug."
'Snugl" echoed Billy admiringly
That's you! 1t would give some
women fits. But you've sand. DO you
think" he added d%ifidently, that you
could make out her" for a bit? Could
you sleep here?"
Certainly 1 could. Why, they'll
never find me-"
Come up here" said Billy, leading
the way along the cave, which turned
in a long curve, narrowing to a very
small space. AT the end stood the
Sphinx.
shell have to stay here, too.
There's a bit of risk to that-but very
little. We can't help il. In the pam
increase you'll find iron rations. a
can-opener, biscuits, an chocolate. |
always carry those. Down the pit
yonder, just by the alder bush, is a
spring OF water. That settles sup-
plies.
"Now, the first deal is to keep you
right out of the way. For a few
hours, perhaps for a day or more
| can't say how long. But we've got
to put up n bluff. And you'll be at