The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-05-24

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 its way through the
lanes. with Mr.. William Spencer at
the steering-wheel, clad in a dark
green uniform overcoat with brass
buttons The time was 5 rs p. M
The Panhard was running badly. In
spite Of Billy's overhaul, two Of the
cylinders misfired; presently the car
stopped with a cough and splutter.
Billy, using blood-curdling language
anent the profiigate Mr.. Boxall. late
chauffeur Of Jervaulx abbey, got down
and opened the bonnet. 1t took him
several minutes to start the Panhard
again, and wher 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
gage-van. Baggage checks are un-
known in England. A tin trunk was
hurled out of fhe van by blind, In
visible force, end Billy, approaching
the passenger, raised his peaked cap
politely.
"Are you for Jervaulx 'abbey?" he
asked.
The young woman turned round.
I'm the new parlor maid" she said
.primly in broad Eastshire dialect.
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 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.
"Tll sit here" she said serenely,
land you can tell me about the place
as we go. What's it like? They say
her ladyship is something chronic"
Billy glanced at her dazedly, and let
To-, 81. ,.I,,
was made at something over the
speed limit When clear of the town,
Billy gave the coughing Panhard full
throttle and roared along the Jeryaulx
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 meanl'
Aimee looked at him, and dissolved
into spasms of laughter.
"What do you think of 1t, Billy?"
she said. aren't l the complete Amy
Snooks?"
"It don't goi" said Billy, almost
fiercely. Let me in on this. What
have you been doing?"
"When you left me this morning, 1
remembered something positively aw-
full. Dad was coming here this after
noon-at five o'clock"
Billy whistled with dismay.
"The police business had driven 1t
right out of my head. And couldn't
consult you. I thought the only
thing was to get to Scroope Towers
and try to put it right. ] knew there
was train about ten at Stanhoe and
l started for the station. But i never
got there
'Thank the powers you didn't ~ said
Billy fervently. ''All the stations are
watched. You'd never nave passed
through alone without getting pulled
by the cops"
"Well, the train wasn't necessary
A car overlook me on the road
driven by young man. He pulled
up and offered me a lift."
"Oh!" said Billy.
"He was quite good sort. Inclined
to be bit sentimental; but 1t was a
fast car. and he was rather new to
driving. What's the matter with your"
There was an expression on Billy's
face that she had not seen there be-
fore. He WIS looking sour.
Get on with the song and dance"
he said shortly.
well was dropped near Scroope.
and got across 10 the Towers; creep
ing about like Red Indian, SO no
body saw me. had n look in through
the morning room window and saw
Dad reading his letters. ] had mind
to go in and kiss him, but, of course,
that wouldn't do. He was looking
pleased-I think he WINS reading Aunt
Erythea's letter approving Of me. OF
course he hadn't heard about the bur-
glary. There's no telephone at Scroope
Dad won't have one.