The Two Miss Carrs

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 72, 16 June 1927, Page 18

The Two Miss Carrs

C?» f}y

Thomas Cobb.

Aathor of Joanna Sets to Worl fc," “The Late Mr. Beverly /* &c., &c

1 SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. I CHAPTERS I. to XlV.—Mrs. Fclltimiin flatters herself that she does not i;>nk I her ago, although she is 10 years older I than Dick Warrender He knows he I has only to say the wunl aim the lady land all her possessions .are his. She is trying to get his a post as private secretary to Sir Edwin Shackel. Mrs. FentiI man returns from a visit to her mother | and sees Dick Warrender with a young lady companion. She is handsomely I dressed, and holds a Sealyham by the J leash. Later in the day Mrs. Fentiman entertains Dick and taxes him about this young lady, whom Dick owns he does not know. On their way to tennis Luke Harborough notices that. Dick Warrender wavea his hat to a radiant-look-ing girli standing bareheaded at a cottage gate. On Monday Dick devetes 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. Tn 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 topic of Mary Carr, nud his companion asks whether she has yet obtained a situation. Dick Is astounded, and asks whether Miss Carr eft her last situation on Saturday “Yea. 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 Oannlngbury’s and there meets another Mary Carr with whom he takes tea. He flhds that there is some connection between the Misses Carr. Dick sees the lady with the Sealyham 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 be wants a job, then he calls on Mary. He suggests that sheh should accept a position in a newspaper advertisement and later makes sure that Sir Timothy has left his money to “Mary.” Luke in response to an invitation calls at Virginia Cottage and learns that the two “Marys" are cousins. After another interview with the lady of the Sealyham who calls herself “Molly,“ Luke has a new interest in life.

CHAPTER XIV. — (Continued.) This morning, however, wishing to concentrate her attention on his advertisement. round which he had drawn a heavy pencil line, he brought nothing but the journal, and while she read it, he stood looking over her shoulder. Turning her head, she looked up into his satisfied face with a delightful laugh. “All, well, I was never more serious in my life,” he protested. “I’ve booked three insertions, you know’. I don’t care what it is as long as I can pick up a few pounds a week extra. The little more and how much it is. What can a fellow do on three hundred a year?” “Play at golf, and lawn tennis, and have the best of good times generally,” cried Mary. ‘‘That’s all very well,” Dick continued, but suppose the poor devil wants

to get married. Where would he b#? A couple of hundred a year extra would make all the difference in the’ world. Oh, of course, I don’t want to be told. I know-it-would be a bit of a pinch, anyhow. Still, heaps of men do it. A good deal depends on the girl. If she had been used to a luxurious life, naturally she’d feel the difference. She might funk the plunge. Perhaps you think she would be a bit of a fool to take it, anyhow," suggested Dick, “though if she really cared for the cliap—” “And felt certain the—the chap cared for her,” murmured Mary. “She wouldn’t be able to doubt that when she saw he was working the flesh off his bones for her—what!” cried Dick. “I put ray own address instead of box so-and-so to save time, and you notice I said write or wire.”

On leaving the cottage, expecting to meet Mary again later during the day, he looked back at the garden gate and saw her standing by the window, with an unwontedly pensive expression. Having nothing to do for the rest of the morning, he thought he might as well look in at North Lodge, where he had not been for several days. He found Mrs. Fentiman in the garden, and as he bore down upon her in his rather misleading ultra-cordial manner, she drew his attention to the white roses in full bloom on the pergola, and then led him to look at the “Dorothy Perkins” only half in flower.

“What an age it seems,” she said, “since you used to come here morning after morning, looking so interestingly pale. Dick,” she added abruptly, “what do you mean by that ridiculous advertisement?”

“You saw it!” he cried excitedly. *T thought it wasn’t likely to be overlooked. Of course,” he protested, “I knew what you’d say. The leopard can’t change his spots, nor the Ethiopian his skin—that sort of thing. But I tell you honestly, my dear Frances, I’m not the same man.” “What has transformed you?” she demanded, turning to look into his face. He told himself that hers looked faded in the sunshine, and he could not help contrasting her with Mary’s animated personality. “Ah!” he said, and paused for a moment. “I see, I’ve been a bit of a waster,” he continued. “But, if you know what I mean, I’m like one of those Johnnies who can’t keep off the penitent stool. My dear, I’ve made up my mind.” “What about?” she asked. “Mary—Mary Carr.”

“I understood you to say you were going to have nothing further to do with the girl,” said Frances. “That’s quite true,” he admitted. “I meant it, too. But I soon found I simply couldn’t stick it. She’s my destiny. I mean to marry her if only she’ll have me.” “How in the world do you propose to keep her?” suggested Frances. “God knows! I’m doing all I can—there’s that advertisement- One’s bound to take a little risk.” “You would bt‘ taking a great deal,” was the answer. “You know nothing about her, nothing of her people. You picked her up in the park—” “Ah, my dear Frances, what does it matter where you pick up a pearl,” lie cried. “And she’s a pearl beyond price. No use to say I’m taking a leap in the dark. I know all about that. By jove, if only she’s willing to put her hand in mine and take it with me.”

CHAPTER XV Mrs. Fehtiman could not understand Dick Warrender. She had flattered herself that she knew him thoroughly with all his weaknesses, all his virtues, and she had not for a moment imagined that he was capable of marrying entirely for love. Yet it appeared that he had been caught in the toils, and by a young woman, concerning whom Frances was honestly dissatisfied. She had never spoken to Miss Carr, though she had seen her frequently about Highstead, and had once stood close to her side at the counter of the circulating library. But the girl was said to be looking for a situation, while yet she was expensively dressed. She wore a wirst watch with a gold bracelet, and the librarian paid her unusual attention. There were half-a-dozen slight indications which had a cumulative effect, and Mrs. Fentiman sincerejy hoped that Dick was not making a grievous blunder. (To be continued.)