"TWO ON THE ROAD"

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 October 1938, Page 12

"TWO ON THE ROAD"

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT COPYRIGHT.

BY

JOHN MACLEOD

CHAPTER X. .—(Continued). “She’s alive, thank heaven!” said Betty, a remark which Lakin thought best to ignore. As they walked slowly homeward, Lakin went on ahead with Marie, while Betty and Smith came on behind. “Have you found out anything more about Smith, yet?” asked Lakin, as tney went along. “I’ve found out that he plays golf,” answered Marie. Then she added, with a smile, “He and I are going to play Betty and Cyril.” Lakin scowled angrily. Smith was certainly not wasting any time. “I would like to know a little more about the man,” he went on. “You know, Marie, there as such beings as confidence men, who worm their way into society for the purpose of fleecing it. It would be unfortunate to discover some morning that your valuables were missing. I have a distinct feeling that Smith’ is not all he makes out. “I don’t like the way you distrust Mr Smith, Walter. He’s father’s guest, and so far- I haven’t heard him make out that he is anything, and, as for worming himself into society, father had a job to coax him to come here at all.”

Lakin felt that he could do no good by this course of action. He was quick to see that it would be an easy matter to provoke a quarrel on the matter, so he hedged off the subject of Smith, and brought up something that was of most importance at the moment; a speedyv marriage. Marie, however, showed no enthusiasm. She was in no hurry to get married, and told him, being perfectly content to go on as he was in the meantime.

“I had hoped our engagement would n’t be a very long one,” he said in annoyance.

“Why?” asked Marie. “Because I love you, Marie, and I quite naturally want to get married as soon as possible.” “The longer we remain engaged the better we’ll know one another. After all, a good deal of unhappiness comes from hasty marriages.” “Rubbish, Marie! Amongst the uneducated classes,, perhaps, but surely we are sufficiently intelligent to know our own mind?”

“Probably, to know our own mind,” replied Marie, “but it’s each other’s mind we want to know.”

Meanwhile, behind, Betty and Smith were conversing along similar lines. “Are you married?” asked Betty, suddenly. Smith looked at her in amusement. It was very hard to know what Betty was going to say next. She had a habit of changing the subject without the slightest warning. “No,” he answered, smiling. “I don’t think so.”

She laughed delightedly. “You don’t think so? What does that mean?”

“Well, I have no recollection of any such, occurrence. One would naturally remember a thing like that, wouldn t one?”

“I should imagine so. Are you engaged to be married?” “Nor am I engaged,” answered Smith, brightly. “Why?” He was vastly amused at this sparkling little wisp of a girl. Good spirits and mischief simply oozed out of her, and Smith readily responded to her mood. When he said “Why?” she laughed up into t his face. “I’m not thinking of making love to you,” she said. “I was merely interested, that’s all.” After a moment’s pause, she rambled on again. “Nice family the Emmersons, aren’t them?” “Fine people,” agreed Smith, wondering what was coming next. “Marie especially, don’t you think?” “Marie especially,” agreed Smith again, with a smile. This was the second attempt to draw him out, but this time he felt no embarrassment whatever; in* fact, he rather enjoyed it. It would be impossible to feel annoyed with Betty; she was much too friendly and confiding to take offence at what she said. “Marie isn’t happy,” was her next unexpected remark. Smith looked at her in surprise. “What makes you think that?” he asked. “I’ve been watching her, and I know.” By this time they had come almost to the house. “Her unhappiness appears to me to date from the day she became engaged, but I think it has become intensified since last night.” . n)l “Why, what happened last night? Betty smiled mischeviously. “There was a ball last night, and a certain Prince Charming has set her thinking.” She ran up the steps into the house, leaving Smith to follow. He looked after her in astonishment, then walked on slowly, considering what she had said. There could be no doubt as to the hint in her voice, and he wasn’t quite sure whether to be glad or sorry. A realisation of his position came to him and he shook his head very decidedly. He certainly liked Marie, but he couldn’t very well butt in between her and Lakin, and, in any case, the idea of him as a suitor for Marie’s hand was right out of the question. He walked soberly up to his room to change for dinner. CHAPTER XI. Lakin returned to his room in a bad temper. He found that matters were not working out according to plan, and the future was vague and uncertain. Having failed to awaken any response in Marie to an early marriage, he felt that his last hope was fading away. It was Smith who had been the cause of this, he knew. If he hadn’t come on the scene, things would have been different. Since the ball last night, Marie had been decidedly cooler. If only he was sure of Smith he would know how to act. He certainly didn’t look like a detective, but Lakin’s experience told him that the days when a detective could be picked out by his feet were past. The most inoffensive person Lakin had ever seen had been responsible for the arrest of Wight, and if that particular detective had betrayed his calling by his feet, Lakin would be much better off financially at this moment. ' A loud knock at the door interrupted his train of thought. Much can be read from a knock, depending mostly’ on the expectations of the listening

party. A short, timid knock would denote that the visitor was not altogether sure of his reception. A firm rat-tat can be taken as a friendly call, and need cause no alarm. But the loud, angry knock is more difficult to read. It may mean anything from a demand to open in the name of the law, to a warning that the house is on fire. In this particular instance, Lakin didn’t know what to make of it. “Come in,” he called, uncertainly. Mira burst in. At sight of her face Lakin jumped up from the chair he had thrown himself into, fearing the worst. He looked past her into the corridor, fully expecting to see a policeman making his appearance. “I’ve just seen Smith’s valet arriving,” she announced, excitedly. “Smith’s valet? Phew! I. thought you had seen a ghost, at least. Got a valet, has he?” He passed his handkerchief across his forehead in relief. “That’s what he’s here as, anyway, but what do you think he was carrying?”

“Don’t know; I’m not good at conundrums.” He was recovering from his fright, and was inclined to be snappish. “Our suitcase!” cried Mira. Lakin looked at her in astonishment. “What are you talking about,” he demanded. “Smith’s valet carrying our suitcase? You mean the one you threw away?” “yes.” “Have you taken leave of your senses, Mira? Or are you by any chance joking?” “Certainly not,” replied Mira. “I tell you Smith’s valet arrived carrying our suitcase. He. had two cases, and our was one of them.” “You’re certain?” “Positive. I ought to know the beastly thing; it’s been trouble enough.” Lakin scratched his head in bewilderment. This was something totally unexpected. (To be Continued.)