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Show " 1 lie J oy or Living soft wind of the morning caressed them a they rode. Not that it had any pacifying effect on Almee's spirit. The sense of adventure Mounted to her liead like wine. "Here we are!" gnld Billy, turning onto a long, deserted stretch of high road, running delightfully level und straight. He let the Sphinx nut. For eighty seconds the hedges Hushed by . like long green streamers. At the end of a mile and a half Billy stopped und dismounted. "Now," he said, "we're not going to talk ahout how to sell the Sphinx jet awhile; the first thing Is to put you wise to her. You've got to know her Inside out and backwards and she' the sweetest thing Mint ever burned gas. Now, look here!" Almee kneeled eagerly on the grass, and Billy fluently explained, dismantling disman-tling the parts as he talked. For twenty minutes she followed him, testing for herself. "Why," said Billy with delight, stopping and looking at her, "It's Ilka teaching a duck to swim ! You catch on quicker than I can show you you were horn to It!" "I'm nn Infant to you," said Almee admiringly. "What a head you've got. It's everything n motor engine ought to be but never is. Let s take down the cylinder." They busied themselves dismantling and re-uRsembllng the engine. "I'll show you how to drive her now." said Billy. "Stationary, till yon get the hang of her." Almee mounted the snddle, while the machine remained on Its stand, and Billy showed her how to control the engine ruunlni free with the " ' "Mrs. Sunning, 2 Ivy cottnge, lets lodgings," announced Almee triumphantly. trium-phantly. "You don't mind lodgings, do you? Better than a hotel more freedom." ' "Freedom for miner, said Dilly. "Let's try It I" Ivy cottage proved to be a pretty little Jacobean bulld ng fronting on a green lane Just outside Stunhoe. An apple-cheeWd woman, who was picking pick-ing weeds out of the path, announced herself as Mrs. Sunning, and Only at once stated his needs, offering to pay In advance. "Why, yes, sir," she said, smiling, with a civil hob to Almee, "I've a nice sitting room and a ll'll bedroom; Mrs. Dale, next door, hus another. If you can do with that?" Mrs. Dale appeared, and confirmed the offer. Both of them looked at the pair with smiling Interest and wonder. "Great!" suld Billy. "You take the room here, old chap, and I'll take the other. We'll share the parlor."- Almee accompanied. Mrs. Sunning indoors; the little parlor was clean und cozy, the bedroom, upstairs at the hack, tiny but clean. Almee made her toilet, descended to the parlor and ordered a meal. Mrs. Sunning acquiesced In everything. "PARTNERl" STNOPSia-DiEllking the pros-pect pros-pect of a month's visit to her austere' sunt. Lady Erythea Lambe, at Jervaulx abbey, and her cousin, Alexander Lambe, Aimee. vivacious daughter of the Very Reverend Viscount 8 roope. wanders wan-ders into tho park, there encountering; encoun-tering; a strange youth. He laughingly laugh-ingly Introduces himself as "Billy," American. The two ride on his motorcycle, the "Flying Sphinx," and part With Georglna Burners, her cousin, Aimee sets out for Jervaulx. Jer-vaulx. She decides that Georgina shall Impersonate her at Jervaulx. while she goes on a holiday. Georr gina's horrified protest is unavailing. unavail-ing. Aimee again meets "Billy." He tells her his name Is Spent er, and she gives hers as Amy Snooks, at present "out of a Job." Billy gives her a spin on the Sphinx and she finds It a glorious experience. CHAPTER III Continued 2 "Say I Let me lind you one I I've a brain-wave!" "What do yeu mean?" "Go shares with me I" "Shares?" echoed Almee. She was conscious of a curious little thrill. "Share what?" "See here!" said Billy, eyeing her By c Sidney Gowing Illustrations by Ellsworth Young Copyright IMS by Sidney Cowing She laughed gently. "He Isn't a frump, anyhow!" The reverie took shape. Then, with a little sigh, she slipped off her shoes, and, carrying them with her, stele very softly down the stuirease to the front door, (in trying the door cautiously, she found It bolted, and the latch Immovable. Also no key was visible. She realized she wus locked In the house. A feeling of Intense annoyance seized Almee. Where was the freedom she had sought? She returned to her bedroom, put on her shoes, leaned oui of the window, und Inspected the wall critically. It was covered with Ivy and trellls-work. She swung herself cautiously out onto the sill, and began very quietly to descend the trellis. Aimee. ndlve und long-limbed, could climb like a cat. And as noiselessly as any member mem-ber of that great feline tribe, she dropped upon the soft soil of the rnr-deu rnr-deu plot. . . .' ..I.... .1..' . .' '. how are we going to clear things up and make It all right for you?" "Stop It? I wouldn't stop It for a kingdom. It's perfectly splendid I" (ieorg'nn stood up. "You are out of your senses." she said dazedly; "1 won't listen to another an-other word I Think how fearful It would be If Alex If Mr. Lumbe knew. He" "Aha Alexander! Yes. Is he as owlish as his photograph? Wliut did you say to him, Georglna?' "I I hardly anything. He told me nil about his missionary work In Manchuria. Man-churia. He . "Where was that?" I "In the rose garden " Georgina broke off suddenly. "Did he squeeze your hnnd?" Georglna was speechless with Indignation. Indig-nation. "You were thinking about him when you stood at the window !" said ' Almee. Al-mee. with the air of a prosecuting counsel. "You were being sentimental. sentimen-tal. I saw your fuce. It had that gooey look." "Almee," snld Georglna, fairly roused ut last, "how dure you! I uin going straight to I.udy Lrythea. ami you can talk to her I I have done " "No, not I'm sorry, Georgle," snld Almee soothingly. "I couldn't help "A very proper letter," said Almee. affixing a stamp to the envelope, with a determined thump. "One should always consider one's parents, and spare them pain. And that postscript Is a touch of genius; the only thing in the universe Dad Is afraid of Is mumps. He hasn't had them, and he says they are a formidable affliction to the aged, and very undignified. And It's quite true; I saw five children at Stunhoe with mumps this afternoon. after-noon. I should hate to tell a fib. Unless." she added, wrinkling ber smooth brow, "It became absolutely necessary." She moved toward the window. "Almee!" cried Georglna, starting up panic-stricken. "You're not going! Are you serious about this?" "Not a bit. And don't you be. either," ei-ther," said Almee. as she clicked off the switch of the electric. "See you tomorrow If I can. Good night, old thing." The room was plunged1 in darkness, and there w us a scraping sound at the window, "Almee!" gasped Georglna wildly, fumbling nvmd the wall for the switch. It w as some time before she found It, and when she turned It on the room wns empty. "Almee!" cried Georglna, leaning out "He s a wunnerful pleasant gentleman, gentle-man, Mr. Spencer," she remarked, afid then, hesitating and reddening, she looked at Aimee. "I I suppose, miss," site said with much embarrassment, "it's all right?" Almee stared. "All right? How?" she said. "Everything's "Ev-erything's all right. Very much sn!" The woman's eyes betokened belief und relief. "Bless your pretty face, who'd think anything else?" she said. "You'll excuse ex-cuse my uskln', miss. You see, Ludy ICrythea is my landlord, and she owns all Stunhoe." Aimee felt a galvanic shock. "Whom did you say?" she naked dazedly. "Lady Erythea Lambe of Jervaulx abbey, the big place half a mile south the cross roads. She fare wunnerful strict, she do. It's as much as my tenancy's worth to have any goings-on here. That's all." The woman left the room. Almee stiiicd round her blankly, then collapsed col-lapsed Into a cluilr. She flung her u I'll is across the table, buried her head in them, and broke Into paroxysms of Impish laughter. "Oli, my Christian aunt!" she clutch out. She took longer to grasp this. The controls, though simple, were of an unusual type. In ten minutes, min-utes, however, she mastered them pretty efficiently. "Fine I" suld Billy enthusiastically, "rartner, the Sphinx Is your big sister! sis-ter! Now we'll run her on the road I'll ride the pillion an' coach you. But for the laud's sake go easy with the throttle. She'll rush you clean off the British Isles If you give her any gas." Almee started dead slow. The ease and resiliency of the drive, once the Sphinx wus running, astonished her. Gradually Almee Increased speed to fifteen and twenty miles. She was In toxicated by the sense of power, answering an-swering to the least touch of he! fingers. "Glorious !" she gasped. "YoiHre doing fine.' said Billy, watching keenly. He made ber practice prac-tice stopping and starting, Including emergency halts. "Say. Isn't sho the last word In lady's mounts?" "Bather!" said Almee, In spite of a sense of difficulty with ber dress and the Sphinx's tank, low though It was. "Except I feel as If I were all stock- aeuuiy. "vvnen we were uoing nny-five nny-five on the Sphinx, you never wilted never turned a hair!" "Of course not. It was gorgeous." He came nearer. Intensely earnest. "Know anything about motor engines?" en-gines?" he said quickly. "I've often taken down the old 'bus at home, on a wet day, and reassembled reas-sembled It" "Where was that?" "At the place where I had a Job," ald Almee. "Great I" he cried. "You're the thing I've been looking for nil these months. iNow, listen to the brain-wave. I'm over here to seil the Sphinx. There's a big deal on In London. But what I want's a quiet spot where I can develop some of the gadgets with no ! crooks around to steal 'em. Get nie?" "Yes, go on," said Almee, catching bis enthusiasm. 'Tin heading now for a little town called Stanhoe, thirty miles south of here. Stanhoc's quiet as the tomb. I've struck it before. There's nn old mill I b'lleve I can get hold of, and fit up as a garage and workshop " "Yes, I see!" said Aimee eagerly. "Come on into it with me come to Clnnhiial" Buiil lllllv ovviti lal vl 1 CHAPTEn IV In Deep. Georglna Renters paced the floor of her bedroom at Jervaulx abbey, and wondered why the universe had not crashed In ru.ns uboul her bead. "It's like a dream," she said dazedly, dazed-ly, "I can't believe In It ut ull." To Georgina It came us un Incredible Incred-ible cliuiux that she had. after five hours ut Jervaulx, been dismissed to bed with un august but approving kiss !;om Ludy Erythea, and a protective, cousinly hand shake from the sedate Alexander Lambe. She bad not been denounced us an Impostor, flung out with Ignominy, or humled over to the police. All the.se tilings had seemed to Georgina not only possible but likely. "What on earth will happen when they find out?" she sld. shivering. She commenced to disrobe, but bad not proceeded very fur when a hustle and a click were heard. Georglna turned with a gasp of fright. Someone Some-one wus trying to force a way In at her window. She caught sight or a flushed fuce. With a shriek of terror Georglna re- or tue winnow. There came a sudden thumping on the bedroom door. "Almee!" snld the stern voice of Lady Erythea. "Why Is your light on at this hour? What are you moving ubont for? Is anything wrong?" "No-no aunt I" said Georglna, choking, "n-n-nothlng much." "Extinguish your light Instantly, and go to sleep !" With slinking Angers Georglna turned off the switch, and undressed pathetically In the dark. She crept Into bed and thought of Alexander the one touch of untroubled calm on the waters of Jervaulx. CHAPTER V On the Job. Morning and the song of birds. The sunshine streamed into the room, bringing with It the God given fragrance of nn April morning; the scent of rnln-sprlnkled enrth, wallflowers wall-flowers and greening thorn-hedge. Aimee stood and drank it In thankfully, thank-fully, till she realized with a shock that It was past ten. The only buth avallr.ble nt Ivy cot tage was a . tub of spring water. Ings." "Shucks! what of It?" he answered Impatiently. "There's nobody here to see. Try her on the high geur now." Almee changed genr deftly enough, and for awhile drove steadily. But the Intoxication of speed confused her senses. She made the one mistake mis-take she had been warned against. The Sphinx dashed forward like a whippet, and, In trying to rectify the error she made It worse. "Throttle down!" said Billy sharply. Intending to obey, Almee blundered again, and closed down the extra air Inlet. The Sphinx roared In protest, and shot ahead like a bullet from a gun. The puce was awful. How the machine kept on the road was a miracle. mir-acle. Every moment promised a dov- sobbed. "My Georgle I My Alexander Alexan-der !" Her shoulders were still shaking wildly when Billy ennu In. "Say, what's wrong?" be exclaimed In ulurm, as Almee raised a tear-stained tear-stained face. "Crying eh? No. laughing! That's good! That's the cure for sentiment! But what's the Joke?" "Just something I thought of. that's all." said Almee, wiping her eyes. "That's all right," said Billy Imper-turbubly. Imper-turbubly. "Guess I ain't Inquisitive. But folks mostly te'.l me their trouble sooner or later." "I suppose they do," snld Almee, regarding re-garding him thoughtfully. Mrs. Sunning brought nn abundant meal ; chiefly eggs and tea. Almee found It the merriest feast she bail ever snt down to. Finally, she uc- "You'll catch on to the Flying Sphinx in a minute, an' then popularize her as a lady's mount ! The finest mount for a girl ever put on the market. There Isn't one yot. You enn do It! You've got the nerve an' the grit ! I'll teach you to tend an' drive her. Will you come?" "Will a duck swim!" cried Almee. "Of course I'll come !" ' Tine! partner!" cried Billy, flinging fling-ing out a big brown hand. Almee took It, and received a shake that bruised her lingers. "Tuke your perch, old chap!" sild Billy, straddling the Sphinx. "OT for Stanhoe I" They whirred down the long slope with the westering sun broad on their -right above the fir-trees. It was a roughish ride on the carrier. There was no pillion-seat; Billy was evidently evi-dently not accuoiomed to carry passengers. pas-sengers. "Say." said B!!!y, over his shoulder. "I didn't catch your name, did I?" . "Almee Snooks," replied the passenger pas-senger on the spur of the moment, ns well as she could for the wind whistling whis-tling In her teeth. "Snooks I" Almee laughed. It wns very like 8croope. and qult ns muslral. "Near enough!" she gasped. "But 'old chap' will do. Is that American?" "American? Gee. no! It's the on'y English I know. Let It go at t hat-Amy hat-Amy Is too fcmln'ne for a partnership. And now we'll let her out. This," said Billy Joyously, ns he opened the throttle wide, "U what the doctor ordered I" The Flying Sphinx, freighted with the partners, roared. down the hill ' and devoured the miles to Stanhoe. On the outskirts of the little market mar-ket town of Stanhoe was a cyclist's rest-house. Here the two travelers had teu under a" laburnum tree on the lawn. Billy locked the amnzlng notorcycle In a sbd, by the proprie- treated to the bed, and prepared tL dive under lu "Don't make such a row, you fool !" hissed a voice. The casements swung Inwnrds, and Almee. rather breathless, dropped onto the floor. "Handy things, these verandas." panted Almee. "How ure you, Georglna, Geor-glna, old thing?" Georglna stared tit her In paralyzed amnzemcnt. Almee sat down beside Ceorg'na on the bed. and put an arm around her wnfst. "Well, what's happened here?" she snld cheerfully. "Oh. I am so glad to see you I" ex-clnimed ex-clnimed Georglna with Infinite thankfulness. thank-fulness. "Now we can clear every-thlne every-thlne np. It's been awful!" "Why? Have ynu given me away?" said Almee quickly. "I haven't! Yon know I wouldn't!" cried Georglna hotly. "Though yne ought to be whipped. I never said a cord about yon. and that's why I'm In this awful mess!" "Dear old Georglnn! . You're a brick !' snld Aimee, bugging her. "1 was only pulling your leg I knew yon wouldn't sneak. Rut why Is It awful? Have they found out?" "When I got here." snld Georglna fccl-ly, "I thought I cnutd expln'n somehow. But Lady Erytben met me on the steps anil took me for you, and everr'h'ng went right out of my bead" "Good! I see. You hesitated anil were saved." "Saved?" ejaculated Georglna angrily. an-grily. "Well. I wns saved. That's more Important. You haven't done any-thlna any-thlna wrong, my snow-white lamh. What then?" , . "And then Mr. Lambe enmo out, and she Introduced htm ns my cousin Alexander. Al-exander. And and I've been frightened fright-ened to death all the afternoon, for I haven't had a chance to put things right." "Almee!" Cried Georgina. pulling your serene leg. I won't say n word ngainst your cousin Alexander." Alexan-der." "He Is a gentleman, at any rate," said Georglna, rather spitefully "he Is a person one can respect." "I nm sure be Is." "Well, what ure we going to do?" "The thing for you to do," raid Almee, Al-mee, "Is to go on respecting Alexander. Alexan-der. And for him to go on respecting you. Think how awful It would b If It came out now. Alexander." sab Aimee. with a pathetic little break In ber voice, "Is good. He doesn't get Into scrapes. He Isn't In horrible trouble like me and nobody to help me. I didn't think," she added with a gulp, "that you'd go back on me, Georgle !" "I won't and I can't," said Georgina mournfully, "und you know It." But she softened visibly. "You haven't told me where you've come from, and what you've been doing! I've been frightfully worried ahout you." Almee regnrded her thoughtfully. It was clear that Georgina already had all she could hear. This was no time to tell her about Billy. "You needn't worry about me. I'm staying at a little mice nearby. I'm quite all right, and I've got some money. We simply must keep It up for a few days father Is leavlnc Kc roope Towers soon, and then I'll show you how we cun smooth It all over." . "But don't you see how Impossible It is! Your father will come here 'to see you before be goes. And he he'll expect you to write to him !" "How bright you ure tonight. Georgle. You think of everything," said Almee briskly. She sat down nt the writing table by the wall, selected a sheet of the Jervaulx note-paper with the Lambe arms three fleeces argent on a field vert and with an immensely serious face began to write rapidly, pausing occasionally for Aimee mude the most of this, and, dressing hurriedly, came downstairs glowing like a plcotee. Billy wus In the parlor. "Morning!" he cried. "Have you been down long?" exclaimed ex-claimed Almee. "'Bout three hours!" he chuckled. "I've covered sixty miles since then. Just a little breather." "Why you haven't waited breakfast break-fast for me, have you?" she cried. "Oh. that's all right. Bang a baker up Mi' got a roll an' milk at Syder-ford. Syder-ford. Nothing done yet couldn't breakfast without my pnrtner." Mrs. Sunning, with bare, dimpled arms and her fuce wreathed In smiles, br mglit In the breakfast. There were brown ducks' eggs, cream, water-cresses water-cresses and a brace of brook trout. Billy glanced at his companion from time to time, with a quiet watchful watch-ful was. "Sleep all right, old chap?" he asked presently. "Rather. Didn't wake up till Just now," said Almee, tuklng a large spoonful of comb honey. "Did you?'" Billy paused. "Middling." he said slowly. "Say, partner, whut'd you like to do now? Best a bit?" "Best!" said Almee scornfully. "1 want to live, not rest J" "Beady to get busy on the Sphinx, an' cleave the ether?" ' "Yes, right away." "Good ! . I'll get her fixed." Twenty minutes Inter 4hey met by the shed where the Sphinx was stored. As Billy wheeled the machine out, he bulked keenly Into Almee's eyes. "Partner," he asked, "you haven't anything on your mind, huve you?" Almee laughed aloud. Her eyes sparkled. "Do I look as If I had?" "No. by the Great Horn Spoon, you don't!" snld Billy, eyeing her with a flash of admiration. "You look ns If you'll face the world and laugh at everything It handed you from a Mm wmm Mmm Billy Leaned Swiftly Forward. nstating crash. In front was u right- angled bend, Inviting sudden deatb Billy leaned swiftly forward. ' "Valve-lifter left !" be said quietly In her ear. Almee's left hand tightened tight-ened on the lever Just In time. The' steady voice when a fool would lnivo. yelled aloud brought all ' her facuU ties back; she throttled down as machine slowed, and swung round the bend s:ifely nt a bare e'ght miles an hour but without soundtng the horn. "Cad? If there's only one gen tleman on this earth, it's Billy.' (TO EE CONTINUED.) tor's leave, and the pulr walked Into the town on foot. Two more utterly Insouciant nnd care free young people never entered an English village on nn April day.-No day.-No Jot of doubt, of fear, or hesitation assailed them. Bliiy, Intensely masculine mas-culine though he was. appeared to be possessed of a virgin mind. Such a thing, though uncemmon, is by no means nonexistent among the sons of Adam. It may be that the air of the Colorado fr-clillls favors Its growth. Ills possess on of It called for no comment com-ment from llmee. Her mind was of the same color. It did not enter Into their heads for a moment that unybody could put a dubious construction on their association asso-ciation with each other. Had such un Idea dawned, they might possibly have turned and parted company on tho spot. Aimee left Billy suddenly anil ml-diesscl ml-diesscl an Inquiry to an elderly man 'who stood beidde a fanner's cart, lu a moment Mho rejoined liliu. She Dropped. companled Billy to Mrs. Dale's door, and, returning, retired to her own room. She was about to let down her hulr. but desisted, and Instead sat on the bed for some time, thinking. She heard Mrs. Sunning retire, and presently pres-ently silence reigned throughout the house. A curious sense of loneliness crept over Almee's spirit. She remained sitting for nearly hulf an hour. Presently Pres-ently she blew out the candle, and leaned out of the open window. The window of Billy's room nt the other end of the building was In darkness. It bad not taken Billy long to retire. Almee stayed awhile at the window. She returned to the bed, and reflected reflect-ed again. In that reverie a vision floated before her as of trees nnd s;:n light, and her partner's yellow hair flickering In the breeze. "Billy I" she murmured thoughtfully. thought-fully. "Old chap!" Aimee sat nncK nnn iookpu at ner In awestruck admiration. "You mean to say they've no suspicion sus-picion nt all?" she exclaimed. "Dear old Georgle, how deep you .must have been. I never thn ig'it you hud It In you!" "I didn't I wasn't!" said Geore'nn In almost " tearful Indignation. "I've hardly said a word all day, except yes' and 'no.' And not even that If I could help It." Almee purrled. "And a J'llly safe line, too! I can see we've always underrated you Georgle, And you mean to sy they never even got nn Inlillng. nil through that there' wni anything unusual? That does rattier-beat nie." "There were one or two little things that puzzied them for a rro ment, I think," said Ceorg'na re"ce-lively, re"ce-lively, "hut It nil seemed to smooth Itself out. And oh I" she concluded with s great gasp of relief. "I am o ' glad It's over und we can slot) It. No t. wc-oiKiim wuiciieu in ibsci- tinted horror. "Listen!" said Almee, blotting the sheet and reading It uloud with much satisfaction. My IVarent Dsddy: I arrived hre safely, safe-ly, and already I'm quite one cf the family. fam-ily. Aunt Krythea likes me much better than she thought the would, she Is very nice and kind, and I have a lovely hrri-room. hrri-room. I am nJoylng mygrlr vrry much at Jervaulx. (That's all perfectly true.) C'ounln Alexander Is awfully Interesting, and I like hea.-ing him talk ahout Man-i Man-i huria. He is a gentleman, and one I eij he Is rally good, and that makes ma respect him. I'm awfully eorry I made mirh a fun about coming here, but I never thought I sliou'd have audi a lovely time a I'm having! J-o you needn't worry about me, becaune I m going 10 be quite happy. Your loving daughter, AIMEE. P. 8. In case you thought of coming over to see me soon. I outsht to mention that the wholj fines elmjily devn'tated with mumps. Of courn It's finite all r'thl for me, because I've had them. Georglna emitted a mean. hunch or roses to suciucn death. You're IT ! Come on." They went out through the little gate. Billy did not offer to mount the Sphinx till they were clear of the lane. When be stopped, Almee observed for the first time that the Sphinx had a hrand iiew spring plMion-scat clamped to the carrier. "What's this for?" exclaimed Almee. "Why, for you, old chap. Kasler riding." "I didn't need It, B:ily. The carrier wns good enough." "Nope." said Billy v.lth determination, determina-tion, "not nearly good enough. Carrier! Car-rier! You ain't baggage, are you?" "Don't know. It's what a lot of people have called me." "Who?" said Billy indignantly. "Oh. frumps." "There's n lot of indlscrimlnatlng people about," Bald her partner abruptly. ab-ruptly. The Sphinx started, nnd Billy threaded lanes at an easy pnee. The |
