OUR SERIAL STORY

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1926, Page 8

OUR SERIAL STORY

“ Love in the Saddle ”

(By J. C. LOCKE.)

(All Rights Reserved.)

SYNOPSIS OIF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. Drusilla Cope (Toozle) is heiress of Hurstbury, and will lose it if she marries Harry Hawkshaw without the consent of her uncle and trustee, Mr. Ringland. Hairy races his own steeplechasers to make the five thousand pounds that will enable him to obtain Mr. Ringiand’s consent. He wins five hundred of it through Mr. Barter, his trainer, although Gerald Fancourt tries to stop him. Toozle arrives from the Riviera unexpectedly, and quarrels with Harry about Gloria Harvey, who has asked him to marry her, after having been insulted by Gerald Fancourt. ' Harry wins four thousand pounds. A plot by Gerald Fancourt is exposed and he is warned off. Mr. Ringland has stolen sixty-live thousand pounds from Toozle; he is also involved with the Fancourts in Carrington Drift, a fraudulent goldmine. His secretary, Mr. Fradgeley, and Mr. Kewdey, a lawyer’s clerk, prove this. Mrs. Mary Dobson (Dobby), Harry’s old nurse, also seems to know some secret about Mr. Ringland. On the advice of his barrister-friend, Tommy Dawson, Harry calls on Mr. Ringland once more, repeats the accusations and tells him that the Fancourts are traitors. Mr. Ringland remains defiant, but is disturbed about the Fancourts. On hie way home Harry is overtaken by Gerald Fancourt. They fight, and Fancourt is badly beaten. At the Christmas Hunt Ball of the Greydown Hunt, Harry is surprised to meet Toozle’s aunt, Lady Nunlash (Aunt Matty), who telle him that Toozle is with her. CHAPTER X. (Continued).

Harry turned all manner of colours, chiefly cheerful, and rubbed his forehead confusedly.

“Powdering her nose! And here! You take my breath away, Aunt Matty, you know. Toozle’s suddener than dynamite, so she is.”

“But you like the way she goes off, surely. Aren’t you glad we’re here?” "Glad’s a poor word, but my head’s still whirling. When did yon come?” “Only yesterday. I had Far Grange furnished"up and we’re staying there. I quite expected you’d get wind of it, my dear; some people did. I suppose you never wondered where Dobby had got to yesterday afternoon?” “Dobby? So that’s why I had to scratch up my own tea yesterday, and Why she’s been smirking and hinting all to-day.” She laughed comfortably. “That’s why. All women have their sudden—or their slippery —side, you know. We puzzle you terribly, don’t we, you poor boy? Let's go over to the fire.”

By the enormous fireplace, roaring with a fire of piled logs, Lady Nunlash was engulfed by a troop of friends. Most of the room seemed to be wanting to show how much they liked her. She was a great favourite, when Toozle came through the door. She was as popular as her aunt, and collected a friendly swarm of her own before she had taken five steps on the shining floor.

Her frock was all the colour of larkspurs—those of the deeper blue—and thistle-down-light; it clung to her with a kind of kissing softness and showed her shape very sweetly. Her lovely arms and shoulders were as white as pear-blossom, and it wasn’t wet white, either. Her eyes made no haste to seek out Harry’s; when they did the melting violet fire of them made his blood tingle. Her hair was a shimmer of burnished golden-bronze. She went straight to her aunt, but gave Harry a whisper as she passed. “Glad, darling?” “Don’t I look glad, you adorable?” he whispered back. A dimple fluttered delightfully into her soft cheek as she nodded and smiled.

“Go back to your- young man. child,” said her aunt,.“and leave Sir Willoughby to me; I can-deal with his devilments better.”

“I wouldn’t "dare any devilments with Miss Cope, and she knows .it,” said the Master, but his bold eyes ranged over her pretty freely all the same, “and, anyway, I’m not peeving Hawkshaw if I can help it, after what he did to Fancourt, he might do the same to me You heard about that, I suppose.” Toozle shuddered. “Oh, yes. What brutes men are!” “Brutes? I don’t know, about that. We all think he’s a public benefactor. Though, of course, he did mess him up pretty well; must have just about slain him, I should say. But Hawkshaw was three stone lighter, Miss Cope; don't see where the brutal comes in.” Toozle shuddered again. “Brutes!” she repeated. “Horrible brutes! ”

“Men are like that, Toozle dear,” said her aunt soothingly; “they think themselves Paladins when they can bang each other about. I know the breed — my poor dear was one of them. Nowde go and start training your own brute, darling child; it’s a long job and you can’t begin too soon.” Toozle went to her Brute. “What a bad urchin it has been!’’ said she. “I said he wasn’t 'to fight and he goes and does it the moment my back’s turned. Did he hurt you very badly, darling? Dobby said you wore all covered with blood.” “It wasn’t my blood,” said Harry indignantly. “I do wish Dobby wouldn’t talk such rot. I only took one little dig on the cheek.”

“Truly? My poor blessed!” She ran a white finger slowly up his sleeve. “How hard youp arm is, Harry. Did you hit him very hard?” “I must have, rather. lie was in bed for a week, they- say.”

“I'm glad!” said Toozle, vindictively. It is to be supposed that thus the Brute was being trained. “Oh, look, there’s Gloria Harvey.”

He. felt- hideous qualms, but lie looked. Gloria was worth looking at as she came slowly towards them, scattering lazy Smiles among the many- who greeted her. The white lustre of her breast, and shoulders rose like a flower out of a gleaming sheath of orange and gold. She made you think of a pillar of pale flame

gliding along the floor. Her eyes were fires slumbering mysteriously behind an amber, gold-glinting veil; flame-like lights allot through the ruddy meshes of her hair. If Harry did not find her a disturbing vision he was the only man.

She gave Harry one of her smiles and a good-humoured nod. Toozle she kissed with every appearance of affection. Toozle returned the kiss, but the affection was not noticeable. “Dear old girl,” she said; “it’s good to see you back again.” And you would have sworn she meant it. “I somehow thought you’d be wanting to get home.” “I was; but we don’t always get all we want, do we, Gloria?” There was not much sugar over the acid in her voice. Gloria laughed. "We do not, my dear! Send your Harry away- a moment; I want to speak to you.” Moved by- the purely good-humoured light in Gloria’s eyes, Toozle obeyed, though with, perhaps, a trifle of reluctance. "Go and talk to Toby Gatward, Harry. Don’t let him barge-in for a bit.” Harry went; mystified but relieved. "A neat stone for our two birds. Toby was coming to me. I’m going into double-harness with him, you know.” “Really? Oh, I’m glad! Ido hope you’ll be happy.” “Thanks, I daresay we shall. There’s quite a lot in Toby and he has no tiresome morals. I only hope I don’t drag the poor dear through the Divorce Court. Try not to be sour with me, Drusilla. I did try to get your man. I tried my damndest! I wanted him frantically, and I knew if I got him it would be good-bye for ever to the Divorce Court side of things. And, besides, that beast Faneourt dared ask me to be his mistress. I was sick with it still, and Harry made me feel safe and—clean.”

Toozle looked dumbly into Gloria’s eyes. She found startling depths of fierce wistfulness there. Her own eyes grew- less frosty as she looked.

“And so, you see. But Harry was as good as gold. He told me to go to Hell, and yet he was sorry.” Toozle’s eyes glowed; their frost had all melted.

“So am I, Gloria. Thank God Harry smashed that beast. But you’ll be good, won’t you ? about Harry, I mean—you’re so lovely and men are such babies.”

Gloria lifted Toozle’s hand and held it to her own breast.

“Honour bright; and they say I keep my promises, except the sort one makes to men. That’s all dead, dead and buried; but you needn’t worry ever, anyway; he’s just for you.” She lifted the hand again and brushed it with her lips. “Thank you, my dear.” Lady Nunlash appeared beside them. Her twinkling eyes seemed to take in a number of things. “How superb you look, Gloria,” she said, kissing her warmly; “doesn’t she, Toozle? I wonder there’s a man left in this county for anybody else.” “Men! Men are rubbish, mostly, Lady Nunlash.”

“So they are, my dear, but amusing at times. Here’s some of your rubbish coming to be burnt. I believe. How are you, Toby? A bold bad pirate still?” "If I were I know someone who might have found henself aboard my lugger one fine night,” eaid Toby with a smile and an impudent beginning of a bow. Lady Nunlash laughed. “Your lugger was built too late for me, my child. Take him away and burn him, Gloria,”

Gloria stooped and whispered, as she put her hand on Toby's arm.

"Some of him’s not rubbish,” she said. “I’m trying him as a husband, you know.”

Lady Nunlash looked after them thoughtfully. “Splendid creature,’’ she murmured; “and all metal of the finest, once you’ve burnt a handfull of dross away.. Oh, they’ve begun! Yes, you may dance it with me, Willoughby. Always gallant to the aged, aren’t you?”

The Frolingham Dance Band dropped into its stride with excellent vivacity, and the scarlet coats and many-eoloured dresses began to weave a bright-hued flashing web about the now crowded floor. To Harry, the throbbing music, the lights, the colours, and the broken notes of laughter and happy talk seemed to mingle and spin themselves into a. golden mist through which, Toozle in his arms, they floated in a golden dream. “Happy, my Harry?” “Happy, as angels, Golden Heart of mv Heart!”

“Oh, darling but how pretty! Who’s taught you to make love-poetry since I’ve been away ?” “None but your sweet and loveliest self, you heavenly witch. I'm drunk with you to-night, I think. What place is this? Paradise?” “Only a mud hut on human earth. Paradise enough, since we’re in it together. Oh, I do love you, Harry! Do you me?” “Look at me!”

“Ah! Hold closer. Do you know you look beautiful to-night. Harry? Your eyes make me tingle.” “At which we hit the ground witli a bump. Toozle, you’re drunker than I am!” | “But you are beautiful, duck-pet. Oh, very well then—-but it’s so sweet to be happy asses sometimes, isn’t it, Harry?” “Awful sweet.” “And you began it, anyway. How darling of my Auntling to trapse all that long way for me—for us, because she’s drefful fond of you. Harry.”“So’rn I of her, bless her.” “Yes; and she rf says don’t waste any more precious time over silly oh! Hurstbnry, but come back with us after Christinas marry me out there. She’ll give us Far Grange to live in for our very own, she says.” “Oh, does she, you star-eyed schemer? ■Weil, she won’t, because we’ll have Hurstbury safe for you in a bra.e of shakes, with our marriage-license thrown in; then it’s me for the south—and you. By the very first train, too, you bet your honey-sweet soul!” “But I'm so impatient, darling.” “If you pout like that I’ll have io kiss you!” “Three steps would swing us behind those palms, and—l’m still pouting. Quick! no one will notice.” But Lady Nunlash did. More dances had done nothing to sober Harry, .and he was in a most exalted state when lie took her into supper. Toby had captured Toozle, . • “You darlingest Aunt Matty.” he said. “I could kiss your pretty feet for giving us this heavenly time!” “You’re waking tip. Harry, upon my word.” she chuckled. “But you can’t do it; we’re not behind the palms.” “00-er!” said Harry, turning pinker. “Sorry; Aunt Matty; but we didnlt mean anyone to see us.”

'“Clearly not. But don’t worry. Nobody else did, and I’m sympathetic.” “You’re an absolute clinking sportsman, that’s what you are, and I’d still like to kiss them.” “At least it's nice to hear them called pretty once more.” She looked down at her feet complacently. It was quite true; they were pretty. “It’s so comforting to" an old bird like me to keep one or two of her youthful fine feathers, Harry. Moulting hens are such dreary things.” She looked the reverse of dreary, with her cheerful plumpness, her skin finegrained as porcelain, her excellent fresh colour —all her own—and bright eyes, with the strong black brows above them in vivid contrast to her white Fair. Harry laughed at her and told her so. She returned the laugh. “My heart’s not dreary, anyhow. But listen, Harry; yes, this’ll do charming. 1 do want our darling Toozle to have you before she loses the tiniest of her lovely young feathers. She’s just feeding on her own flames at present and so are you. I can see you’re meant to be happ'v together, so won’t you come back with”us and get married down there? Toozle tells me you won’t, but won t you ?”

Harry shook his head slowly. “I can’t, you kind one,” he said regretfully. “I want to pretty badly, but it ’ud be sneakist to chuck up the sponge just when the fight’s at the last round and we’re winning. Tommy Dawson has been a brick, too; I couldn’t let him down and spoil all his work.” Lady Nunlash looked thoughtfully at her plate. “I know you’re right,” she acknowledged, “but" I detest seeing time slip away from radiant young folk who are longing for each other. Ah, well. Is that Pommery? Yes, I’ll have some. I'm glad Gloria, has given up waiting, though I wonder if Toby will be big enough to hold her.” She looked at Harry wickedly. “Didn’t you feel very flattered when Gloria tried to net you, Harry? I would if I were a man; its a tacit admission that you have fires to match her own. and, coming from Gloria, that’s a compliment indeed.”