Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1923-05-10
4 ratner gathered it from what I
heard of him."
"Put Delicia-"

1t bore the name Hiram ID.
which conveyed nothing to Lord
Scroope Under it, in pencil, were the
words, about Mr.. William Spencer"
"Is the bearer Of this belowT' asked
Lord Scroope.
eyes, M lord. He wishes to see
your lordship urgently"
Lady Scroope glanced at the card,
and suppressed her curiosity nobly.
81 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 twinkied
family, and there was something cons-
polling about his presence.
Lord Scroope?" he inquired, bowling
courteously. "It's very good of you to
receive a stranger. 1 thought that my
nephew, William Spencer, would De
here. He promised me to arrive about
now. I guess it's something big that's
delayed him."
"Is Mr.. Spencer your nephew" said
Lord Scroope ~guardedly.
"That is so. You know him, /
think"
1T is hardly the word. 1 know less
than nothing of him, Mr.. Rivington."
Correct. He feels, and so do l, that
a proper explanation is due to you,
Lord Scroope. / don't know the whole
story, but circumstances have impelleo
William, by 40 choice of his own, to
break into the society of Eastshire
county in a way that would probably
be called unusual down here. He came
to London and consulted me last night.
He was very much distressed-which
isn't usual with him. It's only fair to
William that his credentials should be
presented, and l think I'm the man to
do it. 1 should like, Lord Scroope, to
tell about Billy"
Lord Scroope stiffened. But there
was an uncommon dignity in Mr.. Riv-
lngton; there was also something re-
markably likable about him. He DIP
peared to have very strongly the Spen-
Ger gift of attraction.
'Will you be seated, MI. Rivington.
I will give my attention to what you
have to say"
MI. Rivington twinkled again, then
became grave.
81 should have thought" he said,
gubsiding gently into an old bergere
chair, that it was enough for anyone
to meet William to size him up. How
ever, he is the son of my only sister,
and of the late Lindon Spencer of Den
yer. Who was, on the whole, the finest
man I ever knew in the course of a life
that a been described as varied and
comprehensive. And Billy is al good
as his father. 1 wish you had met Lin
dom"
L appreciate what you say" replied
Lord ScrOpe. 81 do not gather, how
ever, what Mr.. Spencer's occupation
iS."
"He has developed himself as a mo-
tor engineer"
II know so little Of mechanics" be-
gan Lord Scroope.
Mechanics" said Mr.. R~ivington,
smiling, ARE, of course, a matter of
taste. They have an interest for me"
A light dawned suddenly on Lord
Scroope.
as it possible" he said, shat you are
the-the author as it were-of the Riv-
inSton motorcar?"
'"That among other things" said the
visitor pleasantly.
Lord Scroope looked bewildered. 1t
was not possible, however ignorant one
might be of mechanics, not to have
heard of the Rivington automobile.
NoP, however casual a reader of the
secular press, could one avoid the
echoes of the fame of that solid manip-
ulstor of millions, that human comet
Of progress, Hiram B. Rivington. The
name on the ~pasteboard had not till
now connected with Lord Scroope's
mind.
He contemplated Mr.. Rivington with
wondering interest.
"Mr. Spencer" he said, sis indeed
fortunate in his uncle"
II would rather say that I'm fortu-
nate in my nephew" replied R%ivington.
BILLY doesn't need an uncle. In my
country we haven't much use for a
young man whose only assets are his
relatives. Billy has made good by his
own efforts, sir. He is the inventor
and proprietor of the Flying Sphinx
motorcycle"
San experimental machine, 1 under
stand. 1 hope, for Mr.. Spencer's sake"
said Lord Scroope, politely, that it
may prOve-ah-successful."
Mr.. Rivington smiled.
"The present model of the Sphinx,
though a big advance IN the others, is
past the experimental stage. OF the
first and second models, a quarter of a
million have been sold in the States.
The plant for the latest, on mass pro-
duction, is now being laid down. In
the company that's being f1oated l hold
a third contrOl-and I'm very thank