The Two Miss Carrs

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 69, 13 June 1927, Page 14

The Two Miss Carrs

9 *

Thomos Cobb

SYNOPSIS OP PREVIOUS CHAPTERS.

CHAPTERS I. to XI. —Mrs. Fentiman flatters herself that she does not look her ago, although ’ she is 10 years older than Dick Warrender. He knows he has only to say the word and the lady and all her possessions are his. She is trying to get his a post as private secretary to Sir Edwin Shackel. Mrs Fentiman returns from a visit tb her mother and sees Dick Warrender with a young lady companion. She Is handsomely dressed, and holds a Sealyham by the leash. Later in the day Mrs. Fentiman entertains Dick and taxes him about this voung lady whom Dick owns ne does not know. On their way to tennis Luke Harborough notices that Dick Warrender waves his hat to a radiant-look-ing girl standing bareheaded at a. cottage gate. On Monday Dick devotes the day to Mary Carr and on that morning Mrs Fentiman drives past in her car. She recognises the girl, and greets Dick with a distant bow. In Hyde Park Dick comes across another lady with a Sealyham. The dog recognises him. and Dick scrapes acquaintance with the girl He brings up the tonic of Mary Carr, i rid his companion asks whether she has yet obtained a situation. Dick J s astounded, and asks whether Miss Carr eft her last situation on Saturday “Yes last Saturday.” is the reply Having made up his mind to forget Mary, Dick does not take her home on Sunday, but, believing she wants a situation, he gets a Mrs Harborough to call on the girl. Mary says she does not mind being a lady help. Luke goes to an at home at Lady Canningbury’s and there meets another Mary Carr with whom he takes tea. He finds that there is some connection between the Misses Carr. Dick sees the lady with the Sealvham go to the house of Sir Timothy Carr, who left £250.000 and jumps to the conclusion that Mary is the heiress. If that is so. she is eligible for marriage with him. He plans accordingly and tells Luke he wants a job, then he calls on Mary.

CHAPTER Xl.—(Continued). “Ah, well, I always hope for the best,” he insisted. “I can’t help it. That’s my nature. By the bye,” Dick added, “I haven’t told you why I’ve intruded this morning.” Taking the two newspaper cuttings from his waistcoat pocket, he flattened them out on the table cloth, “I thought you might like to see these advertisements,” he explained. “I’ve just been cutting them out.” “How extremely kind,” she returned, and he tried to imagine what her feelings must be. How she must laugh in j her sleeve! | He looked over her shoulder as she read. “I thought the one from the Personal Column seemed the most promising,” he said, and read it aloud: “Educated young lady required to read to invalid gentleman. Eleven to five daily. References. Liberal salary.” “Well, what about it?” asked Dick, as she stared at the cutting in silence. “I’m afraid I’m a very poor reader,” she answered, with a quite pathetic sigh. Little hypocrite!

Author of " Joanna Sets to “The Late Mr. Beverly '* &c. r &c

“Oh, well, you can leave that for the invalid gentleman to discover,” cried Dick, “though I don’t believe for a moment you’re bad at anything. Upon my word, you might have a shot at it.”

At this point, while he was stooping over Mary’s shoulder, Mrs. Dale opened the door again, and Mrs. Harborough entered the room.

CHAPTER XII. Mrs. Harborough frowned at the sight of Dick Warrender. She had warned him that people were beginning to gossip, and she had also given Miss Carr a well-meant word o<f ad- , vice, yet there they were together at eleven o’clock in the morning, obviously on the most intimate terms. “So sorry to disturb you,” cried Mrs. Harborough. “But, indeed, you’re not,’’ said Mary, “Do sit down.” “Thank you; I’ve not a minute to spare,” was the answer. “I have not begun my marketing, but I’ve just seen poor Laura Gretton ” “Is anything the matter with Gretton or the kid?” asked Dick. “No, but her nanny left at a moment’s notice yesterday. There’s only the one child, Miss Carr, really the sweetest little boy, and if you wouldn’t mind obliging her, it might lead to a permanency. ' They were all standing between the table and the window, and Mary darted a swift glance at Dick, who was doing liis best to keep a straight face. “I’m sorry, but I’m afraid ” she began, only to be interrupted. “It’S not a question of wages,” said Mrs. Harborough. “Mrs. Gretton would not mind what she paid for a few days, and your meals would be sent up to the nursery.” Naturally that’s an enormous temptation.” murmured Mary, while Dick found it more difficult than ever to. look grave. The incongruity of offering the possessor of a cool quarter of a million a job at, he imagined, about a pound per week! Something to laugh over by and by, when she was Mary Carr no longer—when she was Mrs. Richard Warrender.

“I promised,” Mrs. Harborough continued, “to ring Laura Gretton up. She would be so pleased if you could go early this afternoon.” As Mary broke into a perplexing but extremely charming laugh. Mrs. Harborough thought that she scarcely looked suitable to act as Jimmy Gretton’s nursemaid. “Mr. Warrender has been showing me an advertisement,” she exclaimed.

“I would far sooner read to an old gentleman than look after such a young one. Though it was nice to think of me.” '“You remember what they say about a bird in the hand,” said Mrs. Harborough. “I know you would be comfortable with the Grettons. Quite young people. Don’t you think Miss Carr would, Dick?”

“Oh, they’re quite all right,” lie answered, and turned solemnly to Mary. “Of course,” he suggested, there’s no reason why you Shouldn’t write to the old boy who wants someone to read to him, and go to Laura while you’re waiting for his answer. Though, upon my word, I don’t know how you would like pushing that heavy kid about.” “I shouldn’t like it at all,” cried Mary vehemently. “I should hate and detest it.”

“I must say,” returned Mrs. Harborough, “I think it’s unwise to lose a chance. But I suppose you know your own business best.” “I suppose I do,” said Mary. “Are you coming my way, Dick?” suggested Mrs. Harborough, taking her handbag from the table.

“Er —not for a moment,” he an-' swered. “I—l just wanted to tell Miss Carr what I should say in reply to the advertisement, you know.”

When she had gone, however, he made no further reference to the newspaper cutting, knowing, of course, that she did not intend to take the least notice of it, and hating to make her feel embarrassed. He hinted that though the afternoons were so sultry, a walk would be delightful in the cool of the evening, and finally left Virginia Cottage with the understanding that he should pass its gate again at six.

Not that the heat was allowed to keep him indoors till then. Going direct from Mrs. Dale’s to the station, he took the train to Charing Cross, and walked thence along the Strand to Somerset House. After one or two inquiries he found his way to the Will Office, where he bought a shilling stamp, filled in a form, and -was presently provided with a copy of the late Sir Timothy Carr’s last will and testament. With the exception of a few small legacies to employees, everything of which he died possessed was left to the Public Trustee, in trust, ‘and for the sole use and benefit of “my dear daughter, Mary.” There was a long list of properties, which Dick did not take the trouble to read to the end. He had seen enough. (To be continued.)