"TWO ON THE ROAD"

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 October 1938, Page 12

"TWO ON THE ROAD"

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT COPYRIGHT.

BY

JOHN MACLEOD

CHAPTER IX..—(Continued). “Come on, Mira,” he said decidedly. “We'll go to Cranford Hall and get the strength of him. I’ll find out what he knows, and what his game is.” Mira followed him slowly. She would much rather have been going in the opposite direction, and keep going until she was a thousand miles away. Meanwhile, in the car, the Walford party was passing the time in pleasant conversation. “I believe, Mr Smith,” said Betty, “that Marie, and you have challenged Cyril and me to a game of golf?” “That’s so,” agreed Smith. “I think Miss Emmerson’s rather keen on a victory.” , “You don’t know how keen. Marie’s a good golfer, but she hasn’t had much encouragement. Walter just plays on sufferance.” “By the way, Smith, ” broke in Walford, “I see in this morning’s paper that your famous kinsman is making history in Africa.” Smith winced. He had hoped to hear nothing more about this. He managed to turn it skilfully, however, “One of these mornings I'm expecting to read of him as a departed kinsman,” he said, smiling. “You know, I’ve often wondered what the poor unfortunate natives of Africa have done to merit so much of his attention. Do you golf, Mr Walford?” “Oh, just a bit. My enthusiasm is about equal to the results I get.” “Maybe you (don’t practice enough?” suggested Smith. Walford shook his head. “I don’t. Don’t want to. Fishing’s my game, and that’s where you’ll find me the most of the time down here. Best river in the world here, and the best fish.” “Can’t be much good for the angler, then,” said Smith, with a smile. > “Why not?” “I though the best fish always got away?” “Ha, ha, ha!” laughed Walford. “Very good, but we anglers are no worse than you golfers. Look at the scores you fellows get when you don t take a scoring card with you.” The time passed quickly and pleasantly, and the subject of Smith relatives was forgotten, to the great relief of Smith. Presently the car swung off the main road and entered a broad drive, which was overhung with stately pines. At the end of this avenue, which stretched for about a hundred yards, they approached a beautiful oldfasioned house, which seemed to have been set down in a fairyland of gardens. The country house of the Emmersons was the most beautiful Smith had ever seen.

CHAPTER X. Emmerson was standing on the steps, when the car pulled up, and he gave them a hearty welcome. Marie they met in the hall, looking radiantly lovely and, at the sight of her, Smith’s spirits rose. It was worth risking a bit to win the charming smile she greeted him with. “You know your way about, Jim,” said Emmerson to Walford. “Marie will look after, the ladies. Same rooms as usual.” He turned to Smith. “I’ll show you up to your' room, Smith. Glad you managed to come. Youl’l like the old place.” Smith was following Marie with his eyes as she took Mrs Walford and Betty upstairs. “I’m sure of that, Mr Emmerson,” re replied. “It’s perfectly delightful.” He followed Emmerson up to his room, delighted to find that he was just as welcome in sober daylight as he had been in the uncertain atmosphere of the hall bar the night before. This was the only point on which he had been doubtful. There had been the possibility that Emmerson might have regretted inviting a perfect stranger to his house when he had come to think the matter over, but, if he did, he showed no sign of it. “When you’re ready,” said Emmerson, “we’re having afternoon tea on the lawn.” Smith made arrangements for the transport of Shep from the station, and Emmerson left to despatch someone to meet him. Left to himself, Smith looked around the room and smiled. A real bedroom! After the comfortless nights spent under the stars. He sat down on the side of the bed and tried to think things out. Now that he was here, he wondered how it was all going to end. It was certainly the thought of Marie that had been the deciding factor in his coming, but he had not known then that she was engaged to Lakin. Lakin! Again he thought of the name, and where he had heard it. Failing to place it, his thoughts turned to the man himself. A selfish, surly prig, was his mental verdict, and he wondered how on earth Marie had ever come to be engaged to him. He was so unlike her, and Smith couldn t help thinking what a tragedy such a union would be. “Maybe I’m jealous,” he thought, and smiled at the very idea. He had only met Marie the previous night, and if he was getting jealous already, and of her fiancee, too, things were moving very fast indeed. He couldn’t disguise from himself the fact that he had a very high regard for her, and derived a great satisfaction from the fact ihat the feeling was mutual. What worried him most was his position as guest. True, he had been pressed to accept the invitation, yet he felt that, in a sense, he was masquerading under false colours. Although he had laid no claim to any position, Smith’s general appearance had given an impression which he had no possible means of living up to. When it came to leaving here again, there would be complications regarding his address, and future meetings. Then there was the matter of the borrowed clothes. He could hardly go on indefinitely wearing Cyril’s clothes; his imaginary trunks would have to turn up somehow. Pulling himself together, he stood up. No use meeting trouble half-way. There would be difficulties to- overcome, but they added spice to the adventure. He would be on his guard against awkward questions, and particularly would he have to be careful of Miss Lakin. He revelled in the luxury of a real bath, and changed into a suit of flannels. It was a long while since he felt

so fresh and clean. Here was something like life! Spick and span, and going to afternoon tea on the lawn, where servants would wait on him. He smiled as he thought of the long, drawn-out days on the road, worried by flies, and waiting for darkness to fall so that he and Shep could raid some farmer’s fowl pen. These days would come again, probably, but meantime he would make the most of his stay at Cranford Hall. The others were already on the lawn when Smith came out; all except Mira and Lakin, who hadn’t arrived yet. He was introduced to Marie’s brother, Cyril, and to that irresponsible youth he took an immediate liking. Betty, who was sitting next to Marie, rose and joined Cyril, perhaps a trifle too innocently, thereby leaving the seat vacant for Smith. Nor was Smith slow in availing himself of the opportunity. He had no idea that Betty had vacated it for the purpose of letting him sit there, but Marie had, and she tried to frown at the mischievous Betty, but without much success. “You’ve got a wonderful place here,” commented Smith, as he sat down. “You’ll think so when you’ve seen it properly,” replied Marie. She was still trying fc frown at Betty, who had taken Cyril into her confidence and was enjoying the situation thoroughly. “When afternoon tea’s over I’ll show you the golf links. You might as well get acquainted with them right away, because much depends on you there. I want to put certain fresh people in their places.” Smith smiled. There was evidently a keen rivalry between Betty and Marie for golf honours. He hadn’t the slightest objection to being shown ovex the links, though; he would cheerfully have followed hex’ over the entire country. // He looked around at the well-kept lawns and gardens, wondering whax Shep would think of all this. Here and there paths wound in and oux amongst the shrubbery, offering a cool retreat from the rays of the hot sun, and at intervals along these paths were little arbors hollowed out of pine trees, and with quaint little rustic seats under them. Trellis work up the sides and along the top provided a hold for flowering vines, making the paths appear like natural entrances to the forest beyond. The noise of a car coming up the drive brought Smith’s eyes in that direction. It was Lakin and Mira arriving, and as they approached Mr Emmerson rose and went to welcome them. They watched the car until it pulled up in front of the door, then Marie turned to Smith.

“Maybe, I’d better show you the golf links, as I promised,” she smiled. “I might not get the chance later.” They entered one of the winding paths in the shrubbery and, after following it for about a quarter of a mile, they came out on to a cleared, undulating stretch of grassland. Never had Smith seen a more wonderful spot for a golf course. At one time it had evidently been covered with trees and shrubs, and the architect had cleared just as much as was necessary for this purpose, leaving the rest untouched. A nine-hole course had been formed, which presented a different outlook from every angle it was seen from. The diminutive club house had been built on an eminence, from which could be seen most of the fairways, ano the beautiful stretches of velvety turf threw out an invitation to the enthusiast. “One needn’t be a golfer to recognise beauty here,” said Smith, smiling. Marie led the way to a seat in from of the club house, where they sat down. “If I owned a place like this,” continued Smith, “I’d consider it as more than a mere country house. I could live here for ever.” “Yes, it’s nice. You haven’t seen it all yet, either. There’s a pretty little lake farther on; I’ll show you that, later. Then there’s father’s racing stables just behind.” She smiled. “You have a trying time ahead of you. Father’s never happier than when he’s showing his horses off to someone.” “Couldn't you show them to me?” suggested Smith, hopefully. She shook her head, smiling. “Couldn’t be done. Father would never forgive me. That’s one oi life’s little pleasures for him, and I wouldn’t deprive him of it. I promise to show you the lake, though.” Well, that yas certainly something. He hoped it was a large lake, and far enough away from the house to occupy an hour or more getting there. He was just on the point of suggesting that there was no time like the present, when they heard footsteps approaching. Turning round, they saw Lakin and Betty coming along the path. “My fiancee's been getting anxious,” said Marie. “Evidently,” replied Smith, trying to hide his disappointment. “So there you are!” said Betty, as she came up with Lakin. She winked at Marie. “Walter thought perhaps you had slipped in the river or something. I came along to help him find the body.” Lakin flushed in confusion. Betty could be most embarrassing at times. “I didn't know you were with anyone," faltered Lakin. This, of course, was untrue. He had rriissed Smith from the company on the lawn and had guessed that he and Marie were together. He didn’t like it, and had set off to look for them, determined to give Smith no more opportunities of being alone with Marie than he could help. He had made, the mistake of asking Betty if she had seen them, and Betty had mischievously offered to form a search party. She had persisted in looking under the arbor seats and in all the unlikely places she could think of as they came along, to the intense annoyance of Lakin, who could hardly- have dispensed with her company. Lakin din’t like Betty. He had .an uneasy feeling that she could see through him, and he was never quite at peace when she was present. She took a delight in teasing him, in consequence cf which he usually tried to avoid her. When they came within sight of the club house and saw Marie and Smith, Betty gave an exaggerated sight of relief. (To be Continued.)