The Winslow mail., 1923-03-23

at absolutely tears everythingP
said Aimee desperately "What am l
to do? If only I'd told Billy! But
even he wouldn't be able to do any
thing here"
She paced the floor of the cave
The bottom had dropped out of the
entire scheme Of things. Then her
face lit up with a gleam of hope, and
she stopped short, thinking swiftly.
There might be time. It's fright
fully risky. But if 1 don't try it I'm
done for
She buttoned up the dust-cloak with
nimble fingers.
GAS well be hung for a sheep as a
lamb" said Aimee
She left the cave, ran up to the
crest Of the crag-pit, and looked round
cautiously. Then she picked up the
skirts of the dust-cloak and scudded
across the common like hare.
The Panhard luggage-car from Jer-
vaulx wound it's way through the
lanes with Mr.. William Spencer at
the steering-wheel, clad in dark
green uniform overcoat with brass
buttons. The time was 5:15 p. m.
The Panhard was running badly. In
spite of Billys overhaul, two of the
cylinders mis1red; presently the car
stopped with a cough and splutter.
Billy, using blood-curdling language
anent the profigate Mr.. BoXall, late
chauffeur of Jervaulx abbey, got down
and opened the bonnet. 1t took him
several minutes to start the Panhard
again. and when finally he arrived at
Stanhoe railway station, the train
from Burnt Ash was alongside the
platform.
A painfully obvious policeman in
plain clothes was lounging in the sta
ton approach. He did not waste a
second glance on Billy; the driver of
the Jervaulx abbey car had no inter
est for him. Billy, anxious to pick up
his passenger, the disastrous parlor
maid, hurried onto the platform.
He sighted his quarry at once A
young woman in a cheap black tight
fitting coat was standing by the lug
. known in England A tin trunk was
hurled out of the van by blind, in
visible force and Billy, approaching
the passenger, raised his peaked cap
politely.
"Are you for Jervaulx abbey?" he
asked.
The young woman turned round.
I, 4 eSI,0 c.aic n
primly in broad Eastshire dialect.
You might carry my box for me, il
that amt too heavy
Billy's head swan. His fingers
opened, and feebly closed again. His
eyes bulged.
1t was Aimee Aimee in black
coat over a print dress, and sensible
boots Her bronze hair was drawn
straight back and plated into a re-
spectacle knob her eyes were prefer
naturally solemn.
They passed out. Billy took his
place at the wheel, Aimee seated her
self beside him.
"Pll sit here" she said serenely,
"and you can tell me about the place
as we 60 What's it like? They say
her ladyship is something chronic"
Billy glanced at her dazedly, and let
in the clutch The transit of Stanhoe
was made at something over the
speed limit. When clear of the town,
Billy gave the coughing Panhard full
throttle and roared along the Jervaulx
road. He did not look at Aimee, who
was staring straight in front of her.
Billy switched the car down a narrow
lane, covered by overarching trees,
and stopped the engine. He turned to
face Aimee.
Partner" he said, 'what in thun-
der does this mean?"
Aimee looked at him, and dissolved
into spasms Of laughter.
"What do you think of it, BillyY'
she said. aren't 1 the complete Amy
Snooks?'
"It don't go!" said Billy, almost
fercely. Let me in on this. What
have you been doing?"
"When you left me this morning,
remembered something positively aw
full. Dad was coming here this after
noon-at five o'clock"
s Billy whistled with dismay.
"The police business had driven it
right out of my head. And 1 couldn't
consult you. 1 thought the only
thing was to get to Scroope Towers
and try to put it right. knew there
was a train about ten at Stanhoe, and
I started for the station. But l never
got there"
'"Thank the powers you didn't!'' said
Billy fervently. "All the stations are
watched. You'd never have passed
through alone without getting pulled
by the cops"
"Well, the train wasn't necessary.
A car overlook me on the road
driven by a young man. He pulled
up and offered me lift"
"Oh!" said Billy.