RIAL FOR AND GIRLS LOST WORLD

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 257, 10 November 1939, Page 4 (Supplement)

RIAL FOR AND GIRLS LOST WORLD

BY LAWRENCE STOUT

[:.-*'Ws, if - i ;er m.— DICK’S NEW JOB?

■ ~ “How is Mr. Richards to-day?” .asked Dick, as they strolled towards the house. ' “Much better,” replied Evie. “J thought you might like to sec him. He’s been asking for you.” “ For me?” Dick looked doubtful. “It was you who found him. If you had not called the doctor so promptly he might have died.” “Somebody must have come to sec us,” said Dick, pointing to a big green car which stood at their gate. “Oh! that’s ours,” said Evie. “I thought I would run you down.” ' Soon they were sitting side by ; side in the big green Buick, which Evie handled with confidence and skill, which greatly impressed Lhcr companion. “Women are usually rotten drivers,” said Dick, looking out of the window at the little town nestling'in the valley below. “Oh! are they?” cried Evie indignantly, championing her sex. Before Dick could reply the car lunged forward with the, big engine roaring at full throttle. Loose stones made a deafening pitter on. the swings' and flooring. -Ugahnst t,lc car thou t the ’light in last with squealing brakes,'' the car swung into the vicarage drive and came to a stop before the old house. A big, blousy woman in tweeds was standing on the steps to meet them. A glance was. sufficient to tell Dick who she was, for her resemblance to Mrs. Richards was obvious. “Evie,” said the woman to his companion, “if you drive like that you will not be allowed to use the car. Apologise at once to this young gentleman.” “I’m sorry,” said Evie humbly. “It was silly of me, Dick.” Then, brightening: “Oh! have you met my mother?” Evie’s mother was one of those masterful women who just naturally take what they want in life. She took Dick by the arm and led him through the house to a verandah on the north side, where her brother lay on a couch, his

head swathed in bandages. At • the sight of Dick he raised himself and bellowed: “Hello, hoy!” „but the effort seemed to cause him pain, for he relapsed, and it was some time before he continued in a weak voice: “So it was you who found me and fetched the doctor? I have to thank you, lad. Give me your hand.” Dick held out his hand and felt it the invalid’s masdecided. Life on ' a farm appealed to him, which was not surprising, as he had been reared on one. Sometimes he had visions of himself as a pilot in the Royal Air Force, or the Captain of a trading ship. Rut now that he was suddenly asked to decide, he felt many doubts and misgivings. ; He had been impressed by the : 'Arrange ' and colourful character 1 of the Captain, who seemed to have taken a liking to him. And ; then there was Evie. . . . Dick ■/had never been a great admirer of girls before, but there was Aspmething in her lithe moveAnents that appealed strongly to pjick. Evie’s natural manner, her !: sublime tinself-consciousness, had fllFwade their impression on the , •. Nor Avas„. it against. .Evie } ' wliileCiitipitderi i tif finely cast, and l/ifas 1 already- showing the promise a beautiful womanhood. t ; Thinking of all these things, Dick [ had fallen silent until roused by : the Captain’s touch. “Eh, boy?” he whispered. / “The pay..will be £2 a week—you I live here.?j • to ask my guardian,” replied'Dick. “If Mr. McCullough says-yes, I’ll come.”

“Good!” murmured the invalid. “Can you start to-morrow?” “To-morrow?” said Dick, who had made many plans for his holidays. “To-morrow,” repeated Richards, who seemed to have guessed what was happening in the boy’s mind, for lie added: “You can have a- holiday later—a real holiday.” “Well, sir,” replied Dick, mindful of his manners, as Evie and her mother had re-entered the room. “I’ll be very pleased to start as soon as you wish.” “Good!” cried Evie. “tie’s taken it. I told you he would.” “Be quiet!” said her mother sternly. “He didn’t take it because of ybu!” “Be off -with you!” whispered Richards, one bright eye uponjliis niece. Dick, watching him atv this moment, thought: Evie certainly did not inherit her looks from the Richards’ side of the family. tier father, Hie had learned, was a well-to-do farmer called Bell, who spent of his time in England. He provided fairly comfortably for his wife and daughter—and left them to their own devices. Evie went to a well-known girls’ school in Auckland, where they lived most of the year, only returning to their farm for the summer.