The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-02-07
CHAPTER IIl-continued

,
SAY Let me find you one I've
a brain-wavel"
what do you mean?"
Go shares with me !"
"Shares?" echoed Aimee. She was
conscious of a curious little thrill.
"Share what?'
"See here!' said Billy, cycling her
keenly. when we we're doing fifty
five on the Sphinx, you never wilted-
never turned q hair! !"
"Of course not. 1t was gorgeous"
He came nearer, intensely earnest.
"Know anything about motor en-
gines?' he said quickly.
1--WE often taken down the old bus
at home, on a wet day, and reas-
sembled it,"
where was that?"
"At the place where l had a job"
said Aimee.
Great" he cried. You're the thing
I've been looking for all these months.
Now, listen to the brain-wave. I'm
e here to sell the Sphinx. There's
a big deal on in London. But what
l wants a quiet spot where l can
crooks around to steal 'em. Get mel"
Eyes, go on" said Aimee, catching
his enthusiasm.
"Tm heading now for a little town
called Stanhoe, thirty miles south of
here. Stanhoe's quiet as the tomb.
I've struck it before. There's an old
mill I blieve l can get hold of, and
fit up as a garage and workshop"
Eyes, l see!" said Aimee eagerly.
Come On into it with income to
Stanhoe!" said Billy explosively.
you'll catch on to the Flying Sphinx
in a minute, an then popularize her
as a lady's mount The finest mount
for a girl ever put on the market.
There isn't one yet. You can do It'll
You've got the nerve-an' the grit
I'll teach you to tend an drive her.
WIFI you Gomez"
"Will a duck swimi" cried Aimee.
"Of course I'll comet"
Zine l-partnerI" cried Billy, fling
ing out a big brown hand.
Aimee took 1t. and received a shake
that bruised her fingers.
."Take your perch, old chap" said
Billy, straddling the Sphinx. "Off for
Stanhoei"
They whirred down the long slope
with the westering sun broad on their
right above the ir-trees. 1t was a
rn,Yhicl rtIo ON fha oor,;o, nNto.o
was no pillion-seat; Billy was evil
IDENTIFY not accustomed to carry pas
sengers.
Say" said Billy, over his shoulder,
81 didn't catch your name, did II"
"Aimee-Snooks," replied the pas
senger on the spur of the moment, as
we'll as she could for the wind whis-
Ting in her teeth.
"Snooks 7"
Aimee laughed. 1t was very like
Scroope, and quiet as musical.
Near enough p she gasped. "But
old chap will do, Is that Americana
american? Gee, >nol It's the only
English / know. Let 1t go at that
Amy is too feminine for a partnership.
And now Wen let her out. This" said
Billy ~joyously, as he opened the
throttle wide, sis what the doctor
ordered !"
The Flying Sphinx, f~reighted with
the partners, roared down the hill
and devoured the miles to Stanhoe.
On the outskirts of the little mar
ket town of Stanhoe was a cyclists
r~est-house. Here the two travellers
had tea under a laburnum tree on the
lawn. Billy locked the amazing
motorcycle in a shed, by the proprie-
tors leave, and the pair walked into
the town on foot.
Two more utterly insouciant and
care free young people never entered
an English village on an April day.
No jot of doubt, of fear, or hesitation
assailed them. Billy, intensely mas
culife though he was, appeared to
be possessed of a virgin mind. Such
a thing, though uncommon, Is by no
means nonexistent among the sons of
Adam. 1t may be that the air of the
Colorado foothills favors Its growth.
His possession of it called for no COM
ment from Aimee. Her mind was of
the same color.
It did not enter into their heads for
a moment that anybody could put a
dubious construction on their asso-
citation with each other. Had such an
idea dawned, they might possibly have
turned and parted company on the spot.
Aimee left Billy suddenly and ad-
dressed an inquiry to an elderly man
who stood beside a farmers cart. In
n moment she rejolned him.
"Mrs. Summing. 2 Ivy cottage, let's
lodgings" announced Aimee trium-
phantly. you don't mind lodgings,
do you? Better than a hotel-more
freedom"
Freedom for minei" said Billy.
Lets try it," d.
Ivy cottage proved to be a pretty
little Jacobean building fronting on a
green lane Just outside Stanhoe. An
apple-cheeked woman, who was pick
ing weeds out Of the path, announced
herself as Mrs. Summing, and Billy at
once stated his needs, offering TO pay
In advance.