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Silas Bennington's Money.

OUR SERIAL.)

BY F. L. DACRE.

CHAPTER XVl.—Continued

"Nothing of the kind. When you get inside of the publishing business you learn a lot. Many of the papers give j away hundreds of pounds every week —freehold houses, incomes for lite, and so on. The publisher gets his money back from the big advertising concerns. If he can guarantee a large circulation the advertisers flock along, and to get that circulation he must attract the public." Mr Grant began to pace nervously up and down tho shop.^ "I believe you arc right, find I will bo glad to sell anything to you that is of use." "Gf course, it's Brown's idea, and ho is tho practica lmiin. He says that no publisher has yet thought of offering antiques as prizes, and that the novelty will cause a tremendous rush. We will try a few hundred pounds' worth to begin with." "Cash only," Theodore Grant snapped. "No discount. —not a fraction. Where's the money coir.bg from." "Don't you trouble about that," Jack said smiling. "Among Brown's innumerable qualifications he is a fin-> ancier." "Mv experience of financiers is that they rarely have any finances. It's a high-sounding title for clever swindlers.'' "Oh, you pessimist!" Jack laughed. "You must have your little grumble." "True—true! I'm a miserable old man, but my life has been one long series of mistakes and disappointments. You arc young, and the young cannot appreciate the rottenness of everything as do the old. The imagination of the young colours the future, and they dance, with songs on their lips, into tho pit of despair. Still, I ■am glad that some of mv stock will be of use to you ; I hate the sight and smell of it." "I'm going up to Rosamund now, Jack said. The lovers' talk lasted a good halt hour. There was other talk, too, and when Jack went back to his office the meeting with Ma'dge Dennington in Temple Gardens was arranged for 3 o'clock. Then there was to be a "Ice little tea somewhere, and Jack had never felt so quietly happy in the whole course of his life. The result, too, was equal to his expectations. With vigilant and confident eyes he saw the two women appraise each other; then Madge kissed Rosamund's cheek with fond impulse.

"My dear," she said, "you are splendid! No wonder that my ibrother-in-law fell in love with you; I'm iu love with you myself."

Rosamund returned the caress in her quiet way, the flush on lier face deepening. "It is delightful to know you, and to feel that I have ono true friend, Mrs Pennington." "Mrs Stuff! I'm Madge to you, •and you are Rosamund to me. You will never guess what chums Jack and I have always been, and I can't afford to lose him. I was shocked at first when he told me about you, but now I have two loyal friends instead of one. Marriage in most oases means the disruption of family ties —now interests and new worries. Mothers and daughters are often jealous of sons' and brothers' wives, and owe them ;i grudge for usurping the affection which was once thers. At-least, that is m.v experience." "Don't you think that very serfish of them?" "Oh, we are all selfish and grasping at heart. Take yourself to task, and every time you propose to do a thing, however laudable, analyse your real motive, and somewhere you will find that self-gratification is at the root of it. Don't look at m© like that, Jack. I except you, old boy. Now take us to tea." They strolled, laughing and talking, to the Embankment, where Jack hailed a taxicaib, and they were driven to a fashionable restaurant in Piccadilly. The tea was delicious to Rosamund, and it seemed that she had been transported to a brighter world. Then Regent Street was promenaded, down one side and up the other, and Madge suddenly discovered that it ■ was five o'clock. What would Grantley say? "It's business, isn't it, Jack? I will tell him all that you are going to do, and we leave everything to yon, without let or hindrance." I "Get your passage booked for that | voyage. I'll see to the rest. You and Grantley must meet me somewhere in town before you sail." They were off to Waterloo station by this time, totally unaware that a second taxicab was purposely following the one they occupied. Madge had to make a dash for the train, and then Jack and Rosamund were driven to was still determinedly dogging them, and inside was seated Sir Peter Tempest, Madge's father. Now and then he craned his neck out of the .window, and all sorts of mutterings passed his lips. "So," he said finally, "it is Master Jack! 'Pon my soul, I must see my gentleman. My duty is as clear as daylight!"

CHAPTER XYII

RAISING THE WIND

Work, woi'k, work! From early morning until late at nigljtb, day in, day out. This was the time of Jack's

Author of "Held in Bondage," t; A Phantom of the L ; ■ John's Heiress," "'lfcs Shadow of Shares/-' "JL taucbtercf Mystery," etc.

(To "be Continued)

light, and labour was sweetened by love Oh for tho dear, delightful days! Who would not like to live them over again P Summer was upon tho land now, and London was stuffy, and tho air almost imbreathable in tho heat of tho day. But at sunrise it was glorious, and the air was sweet and cool on the embankment. Thither Jack wont between four and five o'clock every morning to see the river take on its first splashes of silver, while London, the grey old leviathan] lay brooding. ''

And the afternoons were fragrant of everything that is good and beautiful in human life. Away from the teeming streets, with Rosamund, to St. James' Park, where the trees were leafy and green, and whispered love to the' wooing of the amorous wind. Much had happened within the last few weeks. Grantley and Madgo were cruising somewhere in the Pacific. They were the guests of a friend of Grantley's, who had turned up most opportunely, and taking them for a yachting trip round the world. Jack had succeeded in letting Pennington Court for six months to a rich colonel, and as ho received the rent he banked it to his; brother's credit. The new ladies' paper was now launched, and Jack was hugging an advance copy of the first number to his heart one June afternoon while : waiting for Rosamund, and talking to he.r father in the shop. This wonderful copy was printed on satin, and had been especially prepared for Rosamund. Theodore Grant was taking a good deal of interest in Jack's business now. Already some five hundred pounds worth of his old stock had passed across the street, and he was ■ talking about investing the money. 1 "Four thousand pounds at five per cent will bring me in an income of two hundred a year. Then I shall have the shop to let or to sell. I'll sell it; I'll wash my hands of it. It will fetch another two thousand —that is, if 'you don't fail me, Castlemaine." I "I shall keep to my bargain," Jack ! answered thoughtfully. He was not j quite clear how he was going to do it, 1 as there was only a small balance left at the bank. There were heaps of money on the books, though, and his credit was established. Printers and paperniakers were tumbling over each other to get a share of his favours. ( "You've taken away the most salejable things," Grant complained. "I | mean the things that attract custom, I and "

"Rest easy, Mr Grant; I'll clear you out, even if I have to pawn my Sunday vest," Jack interrupted, shortly and flippantly. "What a long time Rosamund it." He looked at his watch. "Oil, no; five minutes to spare yet. I'll take another five hundred pounds' worth next week, and you shall send over just what you like. Provide me with a list of the stuff."

There was the tinkling of china, and Rosamund appcarel with the tray, ,nnd a full complement of thinrrs needful for her father's tea, including bread and butter and cake. He mado the tea himself from n kettle which ho boiled over an oil p.t«ve. In this .way lie could refresh himself at the risht moment. "And this is the way T have had to live for years," he told Jack. "I daren't upstairs and leave the shop. Please God, it is nearly over, and I shall he hnund to you for life Ingratitude." "No, no; something stronger than that." .Tnok looked fondly at Rosamund. "This is merely a square busi-

ness deal." "Yes, I know." The old man's eyes were sombre, and there wns a rote of sarcasm in his roice. Then he turned abruptly away, and opened his stock book. The lovers went to St. James' Park again, to their favourite seat n.ear the lake, and then JnHc showed th" first number of the "Wedding Bells" to Rosamund. "A copy on white satin for yon. sweetheart. The printers suggested that T shou'd send it to the Queen. 'Yes,' I said to inyself, 'the queen of my heart—fair Rosamund.' Two of your pictures are in the body of the paper —which means that I will have to pay you three pounds 011 publishing day." Rosamund took the precious paper with trembling hands, her face aligkt with eager joy. "Beautiful —beautiful! Oh, Jack I shall keep tho paper as long as I live. My poor pictures—they are not half good enough. Jack, do you think thpv reallv are all. right?" "Splendid! Wayman was agreeably surprised. They are a relief from his rugged style." "Oh, but ho is very clever. He had a picture accepted I®' the academy last year." "He's lazy. Everything is done in haste in consequence.. Look at this tree of his —a blurr." "Trees are extremely difficult." Rosamund said critically. "A gentleman has been watching us for ever so long—over there by the britlge." Jack followed her glance, and his heart leaped. It was Sir Peter Tempest!

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAG19120708.2.3

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10680, 8 July 1912, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,702

Silas Bennington's Money. Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10680, 8 July 1912, Page 2

Silas Bennington's Money. Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10680, 8 July 1912, Page 2

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