Heppner herald., February 27, 1923, Page PAGE THREE, Image 3

Tuesday, February 27, 1923
THE HEPPNER HERALD, HEPPNER, OREGON
PAGE THREE
v
11x3 JOV of liWK) I
(Continued from last week)
SYNOPSIS
CHAPTER I. Disliking the prospect of
a month's visit to her austere aunt, Lady
iirythea Lambe, at Jervaulx abbey, and
her 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
y a ride on the motorcycle, the, "Flying
Sphinx," and part. With Qeorglna Ber
bers, her cousin, Almee sets out for Jer
vaulx. On the way she decides that Geor
glna shall impersonate her at Jervaulx,
while she goes on a holiday. Georgina'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
tiers 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
'Georgina 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
Lord Scroope Is coming to visit Lady Ery
thea and, realizing what will happen on
ills arrival, la In hopeless bewilderment
CHAPTER VIL-While Almee is secretly
'Visiting Georgina at Jervaulx, the place is
burglarized. Almee escapes.
CHAPTER VIII.-Georglna learns, with
much relief, that Almee 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
to 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 Aimee, with the police in
pursuit. In a secure hiding place, a cave
among the crag pits, Aimee tells him the
whole story. He urges that she make a
frank confession to her father, but on re
flection both realize Almee's good name
has been compromised by her two nights'
suiv ar Ivv enttaea
CHAPTER Xll.-Assuring Almee he
has a plan to save her, Billy leaves her in
the 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
:ame into his possession, Billy accepts the
position of chauffeur to Lady Erythea,
seeing In the situation a promise of a way
out of the embroglio.
CHAPTER XIV. Realizing what her
father's visit lo Jervaulx would mean,
Aimee goes secretly to her home, disables
the family auto, thus preventing his jour
ney, and Induces a parlormaid to let her
take her place at Jervaulx.
CHAPTER XV. Alexander recognizes
-- Aimee as the woman on the motorcycle
which ran Into the Lambe carriage, de
nouncing her as "Calamity Kate." Geor
gina divulges Aimee's Identity. Hearing
her story, Alexander consents to keep the
secret.
"Almee," he geld sharply, "go out
go out quickly! I will deal with her."
"What are you going to do?" gnsped
Georgina. Instead of obeying him she
came forward, trembling.
"Go out ! I am going to give this
woman In charge !"
"In pity's name, don't do that!"
Georgina gulped, and struggled for
Aimee Flourished the Feather Brush
in His Face.
breath. "She she Is your klk-klk-Consln
Almee!"
Georgina dropped Into chair and
began to cry. Alexander, taking his
hand from the bell, wondered If she
had suddenly, become Insane.
- ; '
b Sidney Goving(
"Quite right," sulci AiiueeY With the
calm of despair she planted herself In
front of him, her eyes defiant. "I nm
your klk-kik-Cousln Almee. And that's
my cousin, Georgina Berners. I made
her take my place here, because I
thought It would be dull, and Dad In
sisted on my coming. So now call the
police, Cousin AUck, and let's get It
over."
It seemed to Alexander that he had
suddenly been transported Into Bed
lam. He stared from Almee to the
gently sobbing Georgina. And then,
as the door began to open, Mr. Lambe
turned swiftly and caught the handle,
preventing the Intruder from entering.
"Did you ring, miss?" inquired Mr.
Tarbeaux's voice.
"A mistake," said Alexander, quick
ly. "I will ring If I want you." He
closed the door, and peered seurchiug
ly at Aimee.
"I do not understand what this
means," he said coldly, "but it does
not seem an occasion for the intrusion
of servants. We are alone. Will you
explain?"
Almee felt a sudden relief; a twinge
almost of gratitude. She had not ex
pected Alexander to do anything so
sensible.
"I'll make It clear If I can," she
said, and, looking Alexander In the
face with an angelically simple expres
sion, she told him the tale from the
beginning, briefly, yet comprehensive
ly. As she was speaking, Almee
watched Mr. Lambe's face. The waves
of emotion that passed over his usu
ally serene features made them Inter
esting, suggesting some delicate In
strument subjected to shocks for
which It had never been designed.
At the end he was gasping faintly, like
a stranded but still dignified fish.
"And so," concluded Almee, "you see
It's a piece of my skirt the police have
got. And It was I who tripped you
up the stairs. I'm sorry Cousin." I
Mr. Lambe passed a somewhat un
steady hand across his forehead. He
looked at Aimee, nnd then turned
slowly to Georgina. j
"Miss Berners " he said.
Georgina's answer was a sob. Imme
diately Aimee stepped across, raised
her from her chair and, with an arm
round her waist, faced Alexander.
"Stop ! Not a word from you to
Georgina !" she said defiantly. 'There's
nj one to blame but me. Everything '
she's done, I made her do. She want-:
ed me to own up. All this, she's done j
to try and save me. Georgle's the best
thing that ever happened." I
Alexander looked at Almee. j
"My dear child," he said gently, "I
have only one wish and that is to help
you." ' I
Almee's Hps parted ; she stared at
him Incredulously. She saw the most
human sympathy In the clean-shaven,
priestly face; the kindliest light In his
large eyes. I
"Miss Berners," said Alexander, '
still more gently, "will you leave me
with your cousin? I should like to
speaK to lier alone. I will see you
presently, If you will give me an op
portunity." Georgina nodded brokenly, and
moved to the window.
"Georgia," whispered Aimee quickly,
as she passed, "meet me by the little
arbor down the gardens In half an
hour It won't be safe here after
this."
Almee and Alexander were left to
gether, facing each other. There was
an embarrassed pause.
"Tell me. Cousin." said Alexander,
iiuietly, "why have you done this mad
thing?"
"Well," said Almee, for once at a
loss, "I you see I was afraid of you,
Alexander." She glanced up at him
almost shyly. 'I didn't want to come
to Jervaulx. I thought it would suit
Georgle much better than me."
Alexander's firm lips twitched very
slightly.
"I gut fed up at home," continued
Aimee, desperately. "Everybody was
so solemn. They drove me to it ! I
just did it on the Impulse. And then I
things sort of happened I "
She made an impatient, hopeless
gesture with her hands.
'Oh, what's the use of talking about
It? It's done, and here I am In this
wretched mess. Police after me, and
everything! You've found me out
you can give me away. What are you
going to do?"
"There Is only one thing to do," said
Alexander. "Make a clean breast of
It"
Almee's lips tightened.
"Come with me to Aunt Erythea,"
said Mr. Lambe soothingly. "I will ac
company you. I'll do everything I
can for you. There Is no other way.
For I can see," he said, "that you have
courage."
"No," said Almee decisively, "It Is
Impossible."
Alexander's eyes became keener. He
looked a Uttle contemptuous.
"Are you afraid?" he" said. "Do you
not see that you must face the conse
quences of this foo'.isli thing you have
done? Once the truth is told, you
have nothing to fear from the police."
"The police !"' said Aimee scornfully.
"I'm not afraid of the police. I'm
not much afraid of Aunt Erythea. It
isn't that at all. It's the other
thing."
"What other thing?"
Aimee looked at him with growing
embarrassment.
"Oh !" she said at last, desperately,
"have I got to put it In so many
words? My staying at Ivy cottage!
Didn't you understand what I told
you? I was there two nights."
Mr. Lambe, to her surprise, did not
look forbidding or censorious. Instead,
he looked a little puzzled. And in
that moment Almee conceived a liking
for Alexander.
"Now that I have seen you, and
heard your story," he said, "I attach
no Importance to that Incident, what
ever." "Ah," said Aimee sadly, "but other
people will, you see."
Alexander suddenly flushed crimson,
and he avoided Aimee's eye. But his
face grew peculiarly grim.
"I have only this to say. That
man that Spencer who dared to ex
pose you to such a situation, Is the
culprit I wish to see. He deserves"
Aimee's heel smote the floor.
"Not a word against Billy! It's he
who saved me, right from the begin
ning. He begged me to let him own
up. But he has kept my secret, at
his own risk, because I wanted It
kept. He is a gentleman !"
Alexander winced. At that moment,
out of the tail of her eye, Almee
caught sight of a tall figure In over
alls crossing the gravel-walk beyond
the lawn.
"Here he Is !" exclaimed Almee.
"Let him answer for himself, If you
want to see him."
She ran to the window and called
recklessly :
"Billy!"
Mr. William Spencer looked towards
her, glanced quickly left and right to
see If the coast w as clear, and hurried
to join Aimee. He stepped In through
the window.
"Billy," said Almee, "this Is my
Cousin Alexander. And he's he
knows all about It. It seems this la
our finish, Billy."
The two men turned and faced each
other.
CHAPTER XVI
"They Must Be Told."
Mr. Lambe's serious eyes had be
come hard and penetrating as a pair
of crystal lenses. They gave the Im
pression of piercing the exterior of the
man before him, and reading his mind
Alexander looked, at that moment,
rather like an inquisitor of Torque
mada's court.
"You are Mr. William Spencer?"
said Alexander Icily.
"That's so. You don't know me? 1
guessed you wouldn't. But I remem
ber you very well, though I never con
neeted your name till now," said Billy
calmly. "You were chaplain to th
Tenth Hutlands, in 1018. Came from
China to join 'em, I heard."
Mr. Lambe was silent.
"I was a sub In the Ninety-seventh
of the line, lying next the British
Seventieth division at Arras," added
Billy. "I remember you because you
brought In six wounded who got left,
after the raid on the pillboxes. Tw
of them were ours. 1'ou got the mili
tary brass."
Almee stared at Alexander In blank
amazement.
"That will do," Interrupted Mr.
Lambe Impatiently. "We are not deal
ing with the war. Do you realize," he
said In his grimmest tone, "the posi
tion In which you have placed this
lady?"
Billy looked straight at him.
"You are Miss Scroope'a cousin," he
said quietly, "and a parson. I guess
I'll take lying down, from you, any
thing you choose to Bay or do. Of
course I realize It, and It's why I'm
here. I've been a fool. I didn't seem
to know. But I ought to have known."
He sighed.
"Things are so different, where
belong. An' they were different In
France mighty different. But that'!
no excuse. I wish I'd broken my neck
befdre I did such a fool thing. And
here we are In the soup. I don't mat
ter. And you don't matter either,
parson. All that matters is Miss
Scroope. Get me?"
"Come here," said Alexander.
He took Billy by the arm, led him
to the window, and turned him so that
the sun shone full on his fare. Mr.
Lambe looked at Billy for some mo
ments In silence, with a peculiar in
tentness. "Mr. Spencer," said Alexander, re
leasing him, "I will see you presently.
I shall have something to say to you.
For the moment, leave me with my
cousin. And go quickly!"
Billy nodded. He turned to Almee
with a smile.
"Don't you worry," he said quietly,
"the padre's white."
Billy disappeared with extreme sud
denness through the window. Alexan
der came slowly up to Almee.
"That young man," he said, "has the
heart of a child. It Is a good thing
to have. And rare, at his age. That
does not alter the fact that your situ
ation Is dangerous, and even terrible.
My decision Is final," he said earnestly.
"There Is but one thing to do. The
plain, honest course. Aunt Erythea
must be told Immediately. Then you
will be safe."
"And I repeat lt'i Impossible," re
turned Almee quickly. "Can't you see?
You understand. And Georgle under
stands. But there Is one. who wlJJ
never understand. MjT father? He
doesn't belong to our time. He'll con
sider only one thing that his daugh
ter has been disgraced before all the
county. Her name a by-word among
the rabble. That's how he'll take It.
It will simply be Dad's finish."
Aimee snitt'od miserably.
"I never thought about it. But
Gc-orgie told me what It would mean
to my father. And slip's right. You
don't know Dad."
Alexander hud turned rather white.
He walked to the door and back, in
some agitation.
"It is some years since I have seen
your father. But I knew him very
well. And I believe you are right.
This would he a heavy blow to him.
But it has got to bp faced."
"Am! I will not let Dad face It!"
said Aimee hotly. "1 don't carp, for
lii.velf. But I'm not going to have
him made miserable for all the par
sons in the country !"
"You have no choice. You do not
suppose for a moment tills thing can
be concealed and overcome !"
Aimee turned to him with supreme
confidence.
"Of course I do. Billy will see It
through!" site said triumphantly.
Alexander gasped.
"I cannot countenance deceit. The
whole thing Is known to me my po
sition Is Impossible," he said. "I
should be abetting a lie."
"There's no need for you to do any
thing at all. Nobody wanted you to
butt In, Alexander. The secret Is
mine, not yours. Go to Aunt Erythea,
If you must !" said Almee bitterly.
"Oh, I'm not complaining I can see
that you must. Only you'll do It with
out my sanction. Go to her, and toll
her all you know about me."
Alexander groaned. For awhile he
was silent. The perspiration stood
out on his forehead. The anguish In
his face was so plain that even Almee
felt compunction.
Alexander sighed aloud.
"I shall keep silence," he said. "It
Is Impossible for me to betray a wom
an's secret without her consent or to
utter one word that may affect her
reputation. But what will come of
It"
"Ah !" said Almee eagerly, "you
need know nothing at all. Whatever
happens, I'll keep you out of It."
"On the contrary! I Implore you,
whatever difficulty arises, to come to
Almee Seized Hit Hands In Hers.
mo. I I will do all I can." He gulped.
"I want to help you, Almee."
Almee seized his hands In hers.
"Alexander," she cried breathlessly,
"I am sorry I knocked you down !"
The next moment she had fled
through the window.
Half aii hour later Almee, a some
what furtive figure, was dodging to
and fro on the path near the little
arbor In the rose garden, keeping an
anxious eye on all the approaches
from the house. She was still feeling
a little confused.
"Who would ever have dreamed he
was such a good sort as that !" she
said to herself. "It's a delirious sort
of mess I've got them both Into. 1
hope he won't Jump on poor Georgle.
Why on earth doesn't she hurry up?
There she Is oh bother! Alexander
again I"
Aimee retreated out of sight Into
the arbor.
Georgina came slowly along the
path, her countenance pale anil down
cast, like a reculritniiit novice who
fears the Lady Superior. Mr. Alex
ander Lambe, looming through the
forest of standard roses, quickly over
took her.
".Miss Berners!"
Georgina turned to Mm with fright
ened eyes.
"I wish to speak with you," said
Alexander with suppi'imsed agitation.
"Shall we tie seated?" He led her to
a rustic sent close against the arbor.
"It distresses me," said Mr. Lambe
earnestly, "to see, as 1 cannot help
seeing, the effect this has had upon
you. The shock to your sensibility.
Let me set your mind at rest, as far
as I can. I hardly dare to think how
It will all end. But your cousin Is as
Innocent as an Infant of any real In
tent to deceive. She ban behaved an
lnconsequently as a child that Is all.
One one must try to make allow
ances for her. She should be still at
school. .That Is what I think of her."
"Yes," murmured Georgina miser
ably, "but what must you think of
ine!"
"Of you!" said Mr. Lambe with
trong feeling. "Your loyalty your
unflinching attachment 13 that young
madcap, snrs my admiration, rt
dreadful to think of what you must
have suffered. Purely to protect
Aimee. You faced my aunt." -Mr.
Lambe clasped his hand and drew his
breath in sharply. "Yes, you risked
the displeasure of my aunt ! And
of course, the police. For days tills
sword of Damocles has been hanging
over your blameless head. You you
have not been guilty of deceit. No, no!
Only of silence. I think you have
behaved, on the whole, admirably."
"Oh!" gasped Georgia faintly, hard
ly daring to believe her ears, "you can
not mean It !"
"I do mean It!" exclaimed Mr.
Lambe warmly. "Miss Berners, from
the first hour I saw you, I was con
vinced of your your essential good
ness! It betrays itself In nil that you
do. Anything that Is underhand or
questionable, glides away from you "
proclaimed Mr. Lambe, with a sweep
ing movement of his hand, "as the
turbid stream flows over the river
bed of white marble, leaving Its pur
ity unsullied. My admiration for you
Is greater, If that Is possible, thun
ever."
Georgina's heart fluttered delight
fully. "I think," continued Alexander, with
growing enthusiasm, "that you. exist
to sacrifice yourself for others, Miss
Berners. You have more than piety
you have charity. It Is one of the
sweetest qualities In a woman."
Georgina turned to him with swim
ming eyes.
"Oh, Mr. Lambe!" she murmured
with delicious confusion.
Alexander answered her with a hol
low groan. She was startled at the
sudden distress In his face.
"The question Is not what I think of
you," he said bitterly, "but what you
think of me! You know tlte prin
ciples I profess, and that I Impressed
on you. Out of my own mouth I am
condemned. How can you feel any
thing but contempt for me! I have
consented to connive at this mad esca
pade of Almee's and nil Its conse
quences. To keep silent. To to bol
ster It up," he said with a gulp. "I
have passed my word."
Georgina's eyes shone.
"You hnve done that!" she cried
eagerly. "Why, now that you are on
her side, she may be saved from ex
posure after all I I think It Is splen
did of you absolutely splendid!"
"How can you think of me, but as
a hypocrite? You do not mean, Miss
Berners, that you feel any respect for
me now?"
"Mr. Lambe, when I first knew you,
I thought you my Ideal as a church
man. I think so more than ever.
When I was In trouble, and consulted
you, I seemed to find you a little hard.
Boor Almee had enough to bear. But
now," gasped Georgina, quite curried
away, "I consider your conduct noble
really noble! I admire you more
than ever."
"Miss Berners," said Alexander,
husky with emotion, "If only you knew
what a relief It Is, that I have not
forfeited your regard I I have only
known you a few days, but your kind
ness, your sympathy" his hand closed
almost convulsively on hers "Miss
Berners, may I call you Almet I I
mean Georgina I"
"I'oof I"
A stilled, explosive sound caused Mr.
Lumhe to start violently nnd look
round him.
"What was that? A dog?" he said
confusedly.
Georgina, pink to the ears, had risen
to her fest; her eyes shone somewhat
viciously.
"It sounded to me more like a eatl"
she said In acid tones, and walked
away down the path.
Mr. Lambe followed her.
When they were out of sight, the
parlor maid emerged from the little
arbor, her face crimson, her shoulders
shaking, n handkerchief pressed to
her streaming eyes.
"Boor old Georgle!" she gnsped. "I
couldn't help It. I should have burst
In another minute."
She squeezed the handkerchief and
controlled her emotion.
"They'll have a Jolly old tangle to
unp.ck, too, when Aunt knows!" she
said thoughtfully.
"No use stopping hero. I suppose
I'd better finish my dusting."
Almee made a circuitous Journey to
the deserted drawing room, and dusted
with the energy of a high-power ma
chine. The room was not much the
better for It. She was only Just In
time, for the housekeeper appeared,
and after some sour comments, stood
by Iter while she did a good ileal of
the work over again. Then Aimee was
marshaled Into the library, to ilnst
that.
The library overlooked the path
leading to the garage. It was smue
forty minutes later that Almee caught
sight of the cliiiulTeur approaching.
She flung down her duster nnd ran
to the window, giving a cautious
whistle, as u poacher who culls his
dog.
Billy made sure that the coast was
char, and came to her window. He
looked at her nnd laughed Joyously.
"The clouds have rolled by, part
ner!" he said.
"What has happened? Have you
seen Alexander?"
"Sure. Just had a pow-wow with
him In the garage."
"What did he say to you?" asked
Almee quickly.
Billy eyed wr thoughtfully.
"Never you mind. The game's
square. The padre's all wool and a
yard wide. You're all right now.
Unless "
"But the police! Suppose they truce
ui and come back here?"
"They may not. I b'llve I see a
through, ti And tit aiL.thji m
gilt?
"But If they come here!" .
"Then they'll get me," said Billy,
"but they won't get you; you're safe
from the cops, anyhow. I promise you
that."
Aimee leaned out of the window,
with Hushed cheeks, and caught his
hands In hers.
"Billy," she said breathlessly, "how
good you've been to me. How good
you've been! I want "
"I'd be flayed alive for you !" snld
Billy suddenly. "There Isn't anything
I wouldn't do and I've done nothing,
yet. You've got the grit of twenty."
He held her hands tight In his.
"Almee "
"Oh I Look out !" exclaimed Aimee,
darting back. There was a heavy step
on the gravel and Mr. Tarbeaux came
round the corner. Billy walked briskly
forward.
Mr. Tarbeaux bent a suspicious and
accusing eye upon him.
off, tF.s evening. You sit IT
CHAPTER XVII
Complications.
"Either you are working too hard,
Alexander," said Lady Erythea, In
specting her nephew through her
lorgnette, as they rose from the
luncheon table, "or the burglary has
been a greater shock to your nerves
than I should have suspected. I do
not like to see you wearing that pal
lid and constrained expression. Your
sister will be quite concerned about
you. She arrives, you remember, by
the evening train."
"Diana!" said Mr. Lambe. "I had
quite forgotten that she was due here."
Georgina started slightly, and looked
perturbed.
"She Is coming," said Lady Erythea,
"to investigate the Jervaulx ghost.
Certainly, she might have done It be
fore. But I believe she has only re
cently become a member of the Psy
chical Research society. She is quite
enthusiastic about It so far ns Diana
can he enthusiastic about anything.
Indeed, her letter Is so technical as to
be unintelligible to me."
"I did not know there was a ghost
here," said Georgina, wide-eyed.
"I should not like to say that there
Is. But It Is a tradition In the family,
and has been well vouched for. I
hnve never seen It. Diana seems to
Imply," added Lady Erythea a littles
acidly, "that only those who are ad
vanced, and In tune with the Infinite,
see such things. If she thinks she Ik
more spiritual than I, she Is welcome
to try. She will discover nothing
whatever." Lady Erythea turned to
her nephew. "Bertrand de Jussac Is
coming also."
"De Jussac?" cried Alexander, star
ing at her.
"Yes. You know him, I think."
"I have met him, of course," said
Mr. Lambe dryly. "I should have
thought this was the last house that
so frivolous a person would wish to
visit. Why Is he coming? Surely he
Is not Interested in the ghost?"
"In the ghost no," said Lady Ery
thea, with a faint yet serene smile,
"but possibly bis Interest may arise.
I approve him. A young man of excel
lent standing and Irreproachable de
scent." "Descent Is the word," said Mr.
Lambe rather curtly, and left the
room.
"How long Is Diana going to stay
here?" Georgina asked anxiously.
"Two days but It Is possible she
may bo persuaded to prolong her
visit," said her ladyship placidly.
"What Is the Vlcomte do Jussac
like?"
"D'Artagnan In the flesh. With n
touch, perhaps, of Porthos. The type;
which It Is a good woman's mission to
reform. But this Is outside your prov
ince, Almee," she said abruptly, and
laid a hand on the girl's shoulder.
"Go, my dear child, and get your
cousin away from his books. Tuko
him for a drive und some fresh air."
Georgina left the room obediently.
But Instead of seeking Alexander, she
hunted, with an agitated face, for
Almee.
"Hullo! Wliat's the trouhla now?"
exclaimed Almee. "I nay, Georgle,
dear, I'm beastly sorry about being
In the arbor. I couldn't help "
"Oh, never mind that now!" broke.
In Georgina distractedly. "A much
worse thing's happened. I knew how
It would he. Lady Diana Lambe Is
coming; she'll be here In an hour or
two."
Rapidly she repeated the news con
cerning the two expected gliosis.
Almee received it with consternation.
"Cold Lambe!" she exclulme!.
"Coming here? As IT I hiuln't enoii: i
to bear without that! It's the wo: I
nous yet."
"Wh-whnt 'lid you cull her?"
"It's what everybody calls her In
London-Cold Lambe. It tils her li
u glove. A beautiful, frigid heii-l !"
"Almee! She knows you, doesi, !,
slut?"
"Of course. She lives In toiwi.
She's the only one of the Lainhes I do
know. And Diana hates me, und -well,
I've never pretended to like her,
either. She's perfectly pitiless; she'll
give me away like a shot, and flatten
me out. She'll be all over It!"
"Lot us hope," said Georgina breath
lessly, "thut Monsieur de Jussac will
er distract her attention ; keep her
occupied. Lady Erythea says "
Almee sat on the bed and exploded
with luiigliler.
"That aunt of mine Is Incorrigible!"
she gasped. "I tell you It's perfect
rot. You might as well try to ni'-lt
an Iceberg fresh from the Pole. This
French vlcomte won't stand the slight
est chance."
"Io you know him, too?"
(Contlnutd on Pase Fire)
I