The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1923-04-13


e burst into tears. Alexander stood owe
r her like large and protective dog; h
! laid hand on her shoulder and glare
at the others with defiance.
Lady Erythea turned pale. 1t wa
disconcerting to find two members o
the Scroope family Simultaneous,
smitten with insanity.
Where is Aimee?" insisted Lor,
scroope, turning upon her. "Where Il
my daughter?"
"Dadl"
The disheveled parlor maid darted ir
through the door. Aimee's cap wa.
awry, her face was pale, her eyes very
bright; the top of her apron heaved
unanimously. She stopped short, as
Lady Erythea glared speechless at this
Eruption.
Don't cry, Georgia." said Aimee; al
wasn't your fault"
Have l been transported into Bed
lamT asked Lord Scroope, dizzily "Or
are you rehearsing a charade? What
Is she doing in this costume?"
Lady Erythea struggled for breath.
"This," she said grimly, as my par
lor maid, Shocks, whom I foolishly en-
gagged on your recommendation. She
has engaged herself again, however, to
my chauffeur"
Lord Scroope looked at his sister-in-
law with commiseration.
"This," he said, in the soothing tone
with which one would address a de-
lirious person, lis my daughter, Aimee.
am rather glad to find her-in any
costume. 1 began to wonder what you
had done with her."
Lady Erytheas frame slowly stiff
ened. Her fingers clenched the ear
| trumpet as though it were the handle
OF club. Her eyes were terrible. Be
fore the storm could break, Aimee in
tervened
ut wasn't Aunt's fault, Dad" she
said breathlessly, NOR Georgie's-nor
AleXander's. 1t was all mine. And if
you all want to beat somebody, it had
better be me! I'm here to explain /"
"Some explanation" said Lord
Scroope quietly, seems to be called
for"
Aimee avoiding her aunt's eyes, adj
dressed herself to the quivering ear
trumpet.
II didn't want to come here. Dad |
made me. I was-frightened of you. |
Anyway, 1 didn't think Jeryaulx would |
suit me, and that you'd hate me. So I
skipped the car at Burn Ash" said |
Aimee, her speech pouring from her like |
q torrent, land made the chauffeur
bring Georgina on here. And l went
off on my own!
"Georgina arrived here, and you
took her for me. You insisted she was
me. And che didn't dare explain, for
fear of getting me into row. That's
what George is She can't lie-she
can't even act-but she'd let you cut
her in pieces before she'd get me into
TROUBLE!
II got here the same night, and
climbed Into her room. And Georgia
begged me to own up, and I wouldn't
And I came the next night, George
was ready to give It all away-and
then the burglars got in. was nearly
caught, all the household chased me,
the butler tore great piece out Of my
skirt. But ! got away, and at last,
right down by the crossroads ran into
Spencer"
Aimee paused for breath.
Who" inquired Lord scroope, in the
hush that followed, MS Mr., Spencer?"
"a motorcyclist He had come across
the thieves getting away, had a fight
with theh-they were too many for
HIM, bit he got back some Of the jew
els. I told him the awful mess was
Ii, OF course, the police were after
ne-Pd seen their car already. If they
got hold of me, they'd know the-the
silly thing I'd DONE" said Aimee with
a gulp. at would Come out that was
your daughter-it would be all over .he
country, and In all the newspapers
Lord Scroope, very pale, drew deep
breath, and gave prolonged shudder.
"B-Mr. Spencer told me I'd got to
70 back and make clean breast of 1t
all. He wanted to tell you. But I didn't
lare. I refused to let him say any
+hing-I made him swear he wouldn't.
IL was NY lTOuDic, Dol HIS Do ne ulu
what I asked; even though 1t meant
he police would suspect him, too. So
ne took the jewels to Aunt Erythea,
md never said word about me; and
when she offered him the job as chauf-
eur he took It; so that the police
wouldn't suspect him-or me? He
anne here and drove Aunt's carsI"
~And your said her father quietly.
What happened to your"
81 went back to Scroope NEXT day.
ound Amy Shocks was coming here as
naid-I made her go to Seabridge, and
ook her place, Dad. Just to be safe
rom those beastly police-in the hope
hey'd catch the thieves, If we gave
hem time-and then they wouldn't
atch me and make me explain. And
is just what happened; Bflly-Mr.
one of them yester-
ay, and the police have got him. No
ody knows anything about me, except
GU herer'
Aimee painted lie deer at hay.
"And Billy's asked me to marry him,