The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-02-14
CHAPTER V-Continued.

3
There was an astonished shout and
a cry of warning ahead. A large car
riage, with two fat horses and a fat
coachman, seemed to be right on top
of Aimee's handlebars. She swerved
and braked violently, while the horses
were refined back on their launches;
the Sphinx toppled sideways, shooting
Billy clean through the screen OF
brambles that covered the ditch.
Aimee performed a sort of semi
somersault, and landed on her feet
with an intoxicated stagger. For one
awful moment she found herself fac
ing the amazed occupants of the car
riage.
She was conscious of the face of
Georgina, very white, staring at her
open-mouthed, with eyes as big as
saucers. Beside Georgina sat a ire
m%endous, elderly lady, gripping a
i~orgnette, and speechless with anger.
A large young man In black, his eyes
matching Georgina's for size had
started up and was grasping the side
of the carriage.
In a fraction of a second the truth
telegraphed itself to Aimee's fustered
brain. Aunt Erythea!
Aimee leaped the ditch like a cha
mois, right over the top of Billy /;
plunged through the tall hedge as a
circus rider goes through a hoop. and
vanished.
rs anybody hurt, there!" gasped
Mr.. Alexander Lambe. "Is-"
"Nope. Not here" said Billy's
voice feebly from the ditch. A pair
of booted legs waved among the
brambles.
81 never saw anything so disgrace
full in my life!" cried Mr.. Lambe.
"Your number! l want your num-
Der. Il"
Lady Erythea, whose face vas
crimson, leaned forward and smote
the coachman twice violently in the
back with the handle of her parasol.
Drive on-fool!" she said explo-
sively.
The coachman started and whipped
up the fat horses. Mr.. Lambe stag
gered as the carriage went forward.
Aunt he said, ''that-that woman,
who was driving, ought to be appre-
hended, If 1 had my way"
IF l had my way" retorted Lady
Erythea, shed be whipped! She and
all her tribe. But the idiot Gervase,
of course, was on the wrong side;
we've no case. 1 hope their wretched
machine is wrecked. Sit down, Alex
ander, do you heart"
Mr.. Lambe obeyed, protesting faint
ly. G%eorgina, with one hand pressed
to her bosom, felt as though she were
on the point of heart-failure.
"Hussies," said Lady Erythea, quiv-
ering, land loutsl Country's Overrun
with them. Decency is deadi !"
The carriage jingled round the cor
ner and disappeared.
Billy Spencer collected himself from
among the brambles INT regained the
road, with the air of a sailor cast
away on an inhospitable coast. Aimee
thrust an inquiring face through the
hedge, and emerged.
"BillyI' she cried. "Are you dam
aged?'
mot a bit. Only scratched"
"And the. Sphinx"
Brake lever bent, that's all. Moth
Ing serious"
Aimee suddenly sat down on the
edge Of the ditch and began to laugh.
She laughed till the very road threw
back the echo; scandalous laughter.
"That's good" said Billy, grinning.
"That's the stuff! l was afraid it
might have shaken you. Go on
laugh !"
you'll never let M drive her
again !" gasped Aimee, hopping her
streaming eyes.
won't Il Why, you've learned the
game-you1l never do that stunt
twice. Only thing 1 feared, it might
have shaken your nerve. But you've
no nerve to shake! You're the goods.
That fool coachman was on the wrong
side, anyway. Let's get on the
Sphinx. You'll ride her like a bird
after this. All the same" he added,
that tank-bar is a bit awkward for
your dress"
81 don't care-I can manage"
"No-it's got to lie fixed" His face
cleared. Its dead easy! I'll get you
q pair of breeches in Syderford."
Aimee, d~umfounded, turned and
stared at him.
"What do you think you arel' she
exclaimed. 1.-THE Universal Pro
vider?"
Billy's chin stuck out sternly.
"Tm your partnerl Get me?"
Aimee looked at him t~houghtfully,
and smiled. =.