Heppner herald., February 20, 1923, Page PAGE THREE, Image 3

Tuesday, February 20, 1923
THE HEPPNER HERALD, HEPPNER, OREGON
PAGE THREE "
OI
eoMer&rr.
try.
(Continued from last week)
SYNOPSIS
CHAPTER I. Disliking the prospect of
A month's visit to her auttere aunt, Lady
Krythea Lambe, at Jervaulx abbey, and
Jier cousin, Alexander Lambe, Aimee, vi
vacious daughter of the Very Reverend
Viscount Scroope, Is In a rebellious mood.
CHAPTER II. She wanders Into the
park, there encountering a strange youth
In trouble with a motorcycle. He laugh
ingly Introduces himself as "Billy," Amer
ican. The two cement the acquaintance
hy a ride on the motorcycle, the, "Flying
-Sphinx," and part. With Georglna Ber
bers, her cousin, Almee sets out for Jer
vaulx. On the way she decides that Geor
gina shall Impersonate her at Jervaulx,
while she goes on a holiday. Georglna's
horrified protest is unavailing.
CHAPTER III. Happy in her new free--dom,
Almee again meets "Billy." He tells
her his name is Spencer, and she gives
hers as Amy Snooks, at presest "out of a
Job." Billy offers to take her into part
nership in selling the Sphinx. In a spirit
of madcap adventure, she accepts. The
two proceed to the town of Stanhoe, tak
ing separate lodgings in Ivy cottage.
CHAPTER IV. That night Aimee visits
Georglna and learns that the deception
has not been discovered. By her dominant
personality she compels Georgina to con
tinue the subterfuge.
CHAPTER V. On a trial spin next day
on the Sphinx, with Billy, Aimee almost
collides with a carriage in which are her
aunt, Georgina and Alexander. The pair
escape unrecognized.
CHAPTER VI. Georgina learns that
Ixrd Scroope is coming to visit Lady Ery
thea and, realizing what will happen on
his arrival, is in hopeless bewilderment
CHAPTER VIL-While Almee is secretly
visiting Georgina at Jervaulx, the place is
burglarized. Aimee escapes.
CHAPTER VIII.-Georgina learns, with
much relief, that Aimee has got away.
CHAPTER IX. Police Inspector Panke
-decides that the robbery is the work of
"Jack the Climber" and "Calamity-Kate,"
noted thieves, who travel on a motorcy
cle. CHAPTER X.-Billy, aware of his
""partner's" nocturnal jaunts, is troubled.
He follows her, on the Sphinx, to Jer
vaulx. He hears the commotion, at once
suspects burglary, and follows two figures
on a motorcycle who are apparently in a
desperate hurry. Cornering the pair, Billy
knocks out a man who attempts to shoot
him, picking up a package the fellow had
dropped. He discovers the other fugitive
io be a woman. Stopping to aid her, she
strikes him with a stone, rendering him
unconscious, and the pair escape.
CHAPTER XL-Recovering, Billy dis
covers the package he had picked up Is a
jewel case, containing emeralds. Realiz
ing they must be part of the loot from
Jervaulx, he starts for the abbey. On the
way he meets Almee, with the police in
pursuit. In a secure hiding place, a cave
among the crag pits, Almee tells him the
whole story. He urges that she make a
frank confession to her father, but on re
llection both realize Aimee's good name
has been compromised by her two nights'
tit Ivv cntta?
CHAPTER XII. Assuring Almee he
has a plan to save her. Billy leaves her in
tlie cave and, proceeding to Jervaulx, re
stores the emeralds to the astounded
Lady Erythea.
CHAPTER XIII.-Rejecting any re
ward, after explaining how the emeralds
came into his posnession, Billy accepts the
position of chauffeur to Lady Erythea,
-seeing In the situation a promise of a way
out of the embroglio.
Billy turned over the necklace and
fwinted to the little gold-enamel pend-
VOCJ
"A Severe Cut," Said the Inspector,
Impressed.
ant that bore the Lambe arras in a
lozenne.
"Those three sheepskins " he be
gan. "Fleeces fleeces, argent." mur
mured Mr. Lambe.
" are the same brand as those on
the shields over the lodge gates here,
which I noticed as I came by. And
the thieves were coming from this di
rection when I struck them."
"Mr. Spencer, not being a police
man, uses his common sense," inter
posed Lady Erythea with extreme
aridity. "Are you suggesting that he
stole emeralds worth a fortune, fr
the pleasure of returning them with
thanks besides wounding himself on
the head?"
Mr. Panke heaved a heavy sigh.
'Jk'a. ms laSy. I m endeavoring to
Jit
iiii
fl '
i r
JULVIDP
Sidney Gowiiig4
collect facts Uiut may helpln "TTIe
tracing of the thieves." The Inspector
ran through his notes, detailing the
Information Billy had given him dur
ing the first part of the story. "Full
name, William Spencer, on your way
from Beechwell to Stanhoe railway
station, Intending to catch the 2:15
a. m. mail train to London, when you
encountered the thieves about 1:30
a. m. Is that correct?"
"Precisely," said Billy, annealing
the statements into his memory. It
would not do to forget any of them.
The thought of the work he was giv
ing the Recording Angel caused him
not a tremor. He was thinking only
of Almee, hiding In her cave behind
the bramble bush. "Do you want me
to come to the station house?"
"Not necessary," said the Inspector,
after a moment's hesltutlon, "but I
want to know where you can be found
Immediately In case anything further
transpires and your testimony will
be wanted If we apprehend the
thieves." lie avoided Lady Erythea's
eye.
"Overseas club, London, will find
me. I've quarters there."
The inspector made a note.
"What Is your occupation?"
"Motor engineer."
"Engineer?" queried the Inspector,
glancing at his hands.
"Well, say motor mechanic," said
Billy grinning, "and proud of It."
"Are you employed with any firm?"
"I am on my own-at present."
Inspector Panke closed bis note
book with a snap.
"I must return to my duties, your
ladyship. I congratulate you on recov
ering the emeralds." He bowed gloom
ily to Mr. Lambe and darted at Billy a
parting glance that said: "Young man,
however little you desire to see me
again, I shall find you when I want
you. I am Inspector Panke."
The door closed behind him.
"It Is a pleasure," said Lady Ery
thea grimly, "to reduce the self
esteem of that very fatuous person."
She turned to Billy with increased In
terest. "You are, It seems, a motor
mechanic. And out of employment.
Would you care for n situation as
chauffeur? I can offer you," said
Lady Erythea, "four pounds a week,
and nil found."
Billy was submerged by two waves
of emotion. The first was a strangled
desire for laughter. The second, an
Instant determination to clutch at the
offer, with Its amazing possibilities
and advantages that opened before
him. Thought was a very fluid thing
with Billy. -
"Done!" he exclaimed.
Mr. Alexander Lambe coughed.
"Say, 'yes, my lady,' " he murmured.
"Tes, my lady!" announced Billy,
Into the ear-trumpet.
"Very good," said Lady Erythea with
satisfaction, "I engage you. I must
warn you," she added with sudden cau
tion, "that I had to discharge my last
chauffeur for dishonesty an offense
that in your case Is obviously Impos
sible and ulso for one still more re
volting; I found him philandering
most indecorously with one of my
niuid-servunts." She fixed Billy with
her eye. "I trust you have no such
propensity us that."
"I should," said Billy indignantly,
"as soon think of drinking a gallon
of petrol."
"Precisely," said Lady Erythea with
approval. "Then I should like you to
enter upon your duties today. Say
this afternoon. There are quarters
for you over the garage, and the uni
forms of the man I discharged. You
will only be required to go out once
this evening. At five-thirty" Lady
Erythea checked herself. "But I for
got. You will require a day or two's
rest. You have hud u strenuous night,
your bead is injured "
"That doesn't amount to a skeeter
liite, my lady." suld Billy quickly. "My
heads all right. I can be ready by
this afternoon."
"Very well, if you are sure. It will
be convenient. My coachman Is away
for the day. I believe the two motors
are In order. Take the smaller one,
the Panhard luggage-car, and meet the
5:30 train at Stanhoe. There will be
a young woman on the train. She la
coming here as parlor maid. Bring
her and her boxes. You understand 7"
"Sure very good, my lady," said
Billy. "Wnat'a her name?"
"The name Is Immaterial. She Is
for Jervaulx. It U curious," added
Lady Erythea Impatiently, "how my
memory fall me. I forget the wom
an's name. Alexander, you remember
I spoke to you of thla matter? The
girl from Scroope, that I engaged on
the recommendation of your uncle
she was In his service. The daughter
of one of hie keepers Lord Scroope
gave her an exemplary character, she
la coming on a fortnight's trial."
"Snooks was the name you told me."
said Mr. Lamb.
"To be" sure". The young person's
name is Snooks," said Lady Erythea
to Billy. "That will preclude all pos
sibility of mistake. I regret, Spencer,
that you would not allow me to rec
ompense you, but I have no doiibt that
I have acquired an excellent chauf
feur. And nowyou will be glad of a
bath and a meal."
She rang for the butler, and gave
him an order. Mr. Tarheaux and Billy
departed In each other's company.
Alexander Lambe breathed heavily.
"My dear aunt," he said, "you are
a law unto yourself, and I have known
you do some remarkable things. But
is It wise to engage as servant a man
of whom you know nothing, without
character or references?"
"Alexander," snid his aunt, "you
almost betray Imbecility. What bettor
references could I have than the resto
ration of the Lambe emeralds and the
refusal of a reward, when the man
could have made a fortune for himself
without any risk of detection?"
Mr. Lambe was dumb.
"That abominable creature Boxall,"
said Lady Erythea, "had unexception
able references, and was chauffeur
eighteen months to the bishop of Lat
chester. You know what his record
was here." She turned upon Alexan
der. "Do you, a shepherd of men,
pretend to say that you think that
young man anything but absolutely
honest ?"
"I observed him, and I am certain
he is honest," said Alexander after a
pause. "But er his manner Is very
peculiar."
"We must make allowances," pro
claimed Lady Erythea, "for the Inde
pendence of the American. In theory
I have always believed It detestnble.
Actually I find it not unnttractlve."
CHAPTER XIV
The New Parlor Maid.
Almee, sitting in the morning sun
light near the mouth of her burrow,
heard u rustling among the bushes
and at once divert back Into shelter.
Presently there was a soft whistle,
which she answered. Mr. William
Spencer parted the brambles very qui
etly and entered the cave.
"Billy!"
He clicked his heels together nnd
touched his cap.
"Anything I can do for you, miss?"
he said grinning. "Got a new job.
Chauffeur to her ladyship. Four a
week and all found."
"What !"
Billy sat down beside her nnd made
his report. Aimee heard it, at first,
with the air of Desdemona listening
to Othello. Then she rolled on the
sand In helpless spasms of laughter.
"How absolutely gorgeous," she
panted, sitting up and wiping her
eyes. "You've done splendidly. I
wish I'd been there to hear you bluff
the fat policeman. But what's the
good of the chuuffeur's job, Billy?
That will hamper you."
"Not a bit! It's great. I Just
jumped at It. You see, I've got n sure
berth now, right close here, where I
want to be. I'm your mint's man.
And she's some old girl, too she
Isn't taking anything from anyone.
You should have heard her handing It
to the policeman. I'm solid so far.
And," added Billy, gleefully, "I've two
automobiles In my charge. Not had
ones either. We can't use the Sphinx.
But, If we want to shift you quick an'
lively, you've the call on those two
cars."
"I never thought of that! You're
right, Billy."
"Of course there's danger still. It
wasn't any good my giving a false
name. That would have been fatal In
the end. But there's the trouble that
they knew me as Spencer, In Stanhoe.
I'm going off right now to try an' put
that straight," said Billy. "I can see
a light. Yes, I believe I can get away
with it. That Inspector will be a nui
sance, I'm afraid. But he's a fool,
anyway."
Aimee looked at him admiringly.
"What a lot of whoppers you must
have told, Billy. Did you mind?"
Billy put a twig between his white
teeth and bit It lu half thoughtfully.
"Where I come from, we hate a
liar," he said. "But there's just one
time when a man can lie, an' it's up
to him to do It. Mind? I I enjoyed It."
"But I don't see how you can do It
so well, If you've had no practice."
"It's wonderful how you fall Into
It, when there's something worth doln'
It for," said Billy simply. "Well, I must
get busy. I've got till the evening,
when I fetch a hired girl from the
station. She's from down your way.
Name," he added, grinning, "of Snooks.
What d'you think of that, partner?"
"What?" cried Aimee. "It must be
Amy Snooks daughter of Dud's sec
ond keeper, who was killed In the war.
I know her as well as I know myself.
I gave you her name when you asked
me mine It was the first I could
think of. You say Aunt has engaged
her !"
"Yes. On your father's recommen
dation." "How beastly awkward I Directly
ahe sees Georgle the game's up!"
"That's rotten," said Billy seriously ;
"we've got enough on our hands as
It is. If she wasn't a woman, I'd spill
the car and put her out of action for
quite awhile, so she couldn't give you
away. As It Is, seems to me the only
thing la for me to get hold of your
cousin Georgina an' show her how to
keep the Snooks girl quiet. I think
it can be done, If Georgina has any
sense."
"Yes, that might do. I don't think
we need worry much about Amy
Enooka, after all. I wish I could get
a word with Amy myself. Shed do
any blessed thing I told her even If
It was to throw herself into a furnace.
I tan manage Amy. You'll Just have
To- do jour best, though. But look
here, Billy," said Almee earnestly,
"you haven't told me yet how you're
going to pull me out of It all. It's
getting a worse tangle every hour.
What's the plan?"
"I'll he back here about seven this
evening," said Billy seriously, "nnd
by then I'll bring you good news you
trust me. Gee I why didn't you remind
me?" he exclaimed with self-reproach,
dragging a paper parcel from his
pocket; "you must be starving."
"I had some chocolate from the
Sphinx's pnnnlcr."
"Well, try this." Billy exposed
some rashers of bacon between slices
of bread, and n lukewarm sausage. "I
wish It was something better. They
gave me a meal at the abbey, and I
pinched these for you, And here's
your blue dust-cloak from Ivy cottage.
Put that on. It'll cover the tear In
your dress, In case anyone came across
you. I'll try an' raise a new skirt for
you. An' now I've got to slide out
and get to work."
He rose quickly, nnd was gone be
fore she could say a word. Almee
went to the cave's mouth and watched
him out of sight.
"I wonder what he'll do," she said
to herself. She reflected on the situa
tion. The difficulty concerning Amy
Snooks, the new parlor maid, was
uppermost In her mind.
A flash came Into Aimee's eyes ; It
announced the birth of a brilliant
Idea. She laughed Impishly, and then
sighed.
"Can't be worked, I'm afraid," she
murmured. "Too fur away, and
I V - - - y,t A
Almee 6tarted to Her Feet in Sheer
Panic.
thf.re Isn't time.' But what a pity!
I "
Suddenly Almee stnrted to her feet
in sheer panic.
"Oh, great heavens, what an Idiot
Inm! Dad! I quite forgot 1"
The stress of the past ten hours
had utterly driven from her mind one
vital fact that now came back poign
antly. Lord Scroope was coming to
Jervaulx at 5 p. m. Georgina had
said so. The burglary, Intervening,
swamped nil memory of It. But, after
all, Lord Scroope's arrival would be
worse than the burglary,
"It absolutely tears everything I"
snld Almee desperately. "What am I
to do? If only I'd told Billy I 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
fuce lit up with a gleam of hope, uud
she stopped short, thinking swiftly.
"There might be time. It's fright
fully risky. But If I don't try It I'm
done for."
She buttoned tip the dust-cloak with
nimble lingers.
"As well be bung 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 a hare.
The Panhard luggage-car from Jer
vaulx wound Its way through the
lanes, with .Mr. William Spencer ut
the steerlng-whool, dud In a dark
green uniform overcoat with brass
buttons. The time was 5:15 p. m.
The Panhard was running badly. In
fiplte of Billy's overhaul, two of the
cylinders misfired; presently the car
stopped with a cough and splutter.
Billy, using blood-curdling language
unent the profligate Mr. Boxull, late
chauffeur of Jervaulx abbey, got down
and opened the bonnet. It took him
several minutes to start the Panhnrd
again, and when flnnlly he arrived at
Stanhoe railway station, the train
from Burnt Ash was alongside the
platform.
A painfully obvious policeman In
plHln clothes was lounging In the sta
tion approuch. He did not waste a
second glance on Billy; the driver of
the Jervaulx abbey car had no Inter
est for him. Billy, anilous to pick up
his passenger, the disastrous parlor
maid, hurried or to the platform.
He sighted his qnarry at once. A
young woman in a cheap black tight
fitting coat was Htandlng by the luggage-van.
Baggage checks are un
known la England. A tin trunk was
hurled out of the van by a blind, In
visible force, and Billy, approaching
the passenger, raised his peaked cap
politely,
"Are you for Jervaulx abbey?" he
asked.
Hie rgung woman turned roiind. .
"I'm the new pnrlor maid." she said
primly In broad Eastshire dialect.
"You might carry my box for me, 11
that ain't too heavy."
Billy's head swam. His lingers
opened, nnd feebly dosed again. His
eyes bulged.
it was Aimee. Almee In n black
cent over a print dross, and sensible
boots. Her bronze hair was drawn
straight back and plnited into a re
spectable knob, her eyes were preter
naturally solemn.
They passed out, Billy took his
place at the wheel, Almee seated her
self beside him.
"I'll sit here," she snld serenely,
"and you can tell me about the place
as we go. What's it like? They say
her ladyship Is something chronic."
Hilly glanced at her dazedly, nnd let
in the clutch. The transit of Stanhoe
was made at something over the
speed limit. When clear of the town,
Hilly gave the coughing Pnnhnrd a full
throttle, nnd roared along the Jervaulx
rond. He did not look at Almee, 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
fnce Aimee.
'Tartner," he said, "what In thun
der does this mean?"
Aimee looked at him, and dissolved
Into spasms of lnughter.
"What do you think of It, Billy?"
she said. "Aren't I the complete Amy
Snooks?"
"It don't go!" snld Billy, almost
fiercely. "Let nie In on this. What
have you been doing?"
"When you left me this morning, I
remembered something positively aw
ful. Dad was coming here this after
noon at five o'clock."
Billy whistled with dismay.
"The police business had driven It
right out of my head. And I couldn't
consult you. I thought the only
thing was to get to Scrooie Towers
ajid tlx t'2 U'lt IL ''.'s!)ti. Iknew there
You Cannot SEE it, HEAR
it or DODGE it
There are no "Stop, Look and Listen" signs to warn you
againsti dangers of fire, theft or accident.
You cannot see or hear the loss that may await you to
morrow. But you can prevent the loss that follows the un
fortunato eventualities that surround all business.
Insure today do not worry for tomorrow.
This agency rcpresnts the oldest and strongest companies
and solicits your full confidence. Consult us as you would your
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L. E. VAN MARTER
Phone Main :i52
Dick
Pr actical s ; i ?
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Tailoring
Clean
lean68
was a trnlnnhout ten at Stanhoe; and
I stnrted for the station. But I never
got there."
"Thank the powers you didn't I" said
Billy fervently. "All the stations arc;
watched. You'd never have passed
through alone without getting pullfid
by the cops."
"Well, the train wasn't necessary.
A car overtook me on the roadV
driven by n young man. He pulled
up and offered nie a lift."
"Oh!" said Billy.
"He was quite a good sort. Inclined
to be a bit sentimental; but It was n.
fast car, and he was rather new to
driving. What's the matter with you?"
There was an expression on BIlly'R
face that she hud not seen there be
fore. Ho was looking sour.
"Get on with the song and daneo,"
he snld shortly.
"Well, I was dropped near Scroope,
and I got across to the Towers; creep
ing about like a Ited Indian, so no
body saw me. I hnd a look In through
the morning room window and saw
Dnd reading his letters. I hnd a mind
to go in and kiss him, but, of course,
thnt wouldn't do. He was looklnjr
pleased I think he was reading Aunt
Erythea's letter approving of me. Jf
courso he hadn't heard about the bur
glary. There's no telephone at Scrooje
Dad won't have one.
"Then I stalked the garage, whejo
old Grundle, our fihover, had got tho
head off one of the cyllnMers, and I
heard him grumbling to the gardener
about having to drive Dnd to JervaujLv
and back the same evening. I hid tn
the laurels till Grundle went to hl
dinner, nnd then I attended to the car
especially the magneto. I did It ar
tistically. Y'ou enn tnke It from me,
the old 'bus will never leave Scroope
today. Dad's visit is a washout. He's
(Continued on Papo Five)
Friend or relative visiting you?
Phono the Herald.
Ileppner Hotel lluilding
Robnctt