“WELCOME THE TRAVELLER”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 September 1939, Page 12

“WELCOME THE TRAVELLER”

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. COPYRIGHT.

By

ARTHUR HARDY.

CHAPTER VIII. (Continued). “I see two hundred and fifty pounds was paid for the oak panelling of the hall,’’ remarked Mrs Berry. “What a price for those days. It must have been fine woodwork.” “It was,” answered Adam. “And you can go over to Oldbeech House at any time you like and see it. Squire Peter Standish, who lived there in ’55, bought it.” The solicitor picked up a letter. "This is a note made by Stephen Lawley on May 8, 1855, and it tells us much. 'On this day concluded the sale of Welcome the Traveller. The old inn sign and its iron frame were retained by Robert Waterloo Berry, and they will be removed and conveyed to Wood Farm tomorrow. To me it was the saddest day I have ever known. Remembering Waterloo Berry in the prime of his lame and fortune al the favourite inn I can scarcely believe that it has all come to bad end. Berry long foresaw the crash. Twenty years ago he told me that one day he would be turned out of Welcome the Traveller a bankrupt,and his life at an end. At that time I advised him to sell at once and to retire with an ample fortune, but he would not hear of it. “I love the place too well, Stephen,” he said. "I cannot leave it’.” Robert saw that Prunella was affected by what Lawley had read. He gave her arm a gentle squeeze.

“I can’t help it, Bob,” she whispered. "His portrait shows what a splendid man he was. And you are very like him. You are as tall and as big, and if you wore your hair in that full curly way and put on similar clothes you you would be him all over again. Robert chuckled softly.

“If only someday the Inn could be restored to what it was and you—l’d love and see you there and the place open again and prosperous.” “One could never bring back the old glamour. Prue.” "Prue, I’m a poor man up at the farm. I would have to buy the property. It would need a lot of capital to run the place. Motor cars instead of coaches. But it might entice some regular customers if it were done on a big scale.” As Lawley stowed away his ancient papers Daniel Shelton looked quickly towards Robert.

“When will you come and have the gloves on with Dan?” he asked. x “On Wednesday,” Robert promised, "and perhaps regularly after that.” “Go in for the ring, Bob,” said the old boxer persuasively. “There’s a fortune waiting for you whenever you care to reach out and grab it.” i “Make a fortune with my fists and buy Welcome the Traveller, is that it?” said Robert Berry grimly. ' "Yeah! Even that if you care to set your mind to it.” Prunella Lawley stared at Daniel intently, then glanced at Robert Berry. She noticed that his face was flushed and his eyes were bright. And in that moment an idea was born.

Jessie Capstow motored back to London early on Tuesday mornihg.

“Darling,” she said, when she kissed Nora Berry good-bye. "you must come and stay at my flat when Dan fights Jack Richards. Promise?” Nora promised. In the afternoon Robert drove Nora over io the Lawleys and there.picked up Prunella. The three of them nad arranged to visit Oldbreech House to see the panelling which had once graced the hall of Welcome the Traveller. It was an old and ugly flat fronted country house with rangy outbuildings and stables, all of which wore an air of neglect. Brown brick boundary walls standing ten feet high and very thick surrounded the grounds. The iron gates were open and they drove along a weed strewn gravel drive to the house.

Robert tugged an old-fashioned iron bell-pull that awakened a cracked response within. A tired-looking woman opened to the ring and peeped cautiously out. She smiled and half curtsied as she recognised the vistors.

“How do you do, Miss Lawley. V/hat can I do for you?”

“We have come to see the oak pannclling of the hall, Mrs Rayner,” explained Nora. Mrs Rayner was a Tansworth, a widow and caretaker at Oldbeech House. “Will you be pleased to come in? I have been instructed not to allow anyone in the house. You sec, the property was sold six weeks ago, and the new owner is particular. But he hasn't come to see the place since he bought it, and it don't matter.’ She ushered them in and switched on some lights in the hall. Once inside the house and all was changed. The place was no longer ugly and they found no sign of decay or neglect. The panneling of the hall was warm in colour, reaching almost io the ceiling, and very simple, the whole surmounted by a plaster frieze. With all its simplicity the panelling was startling effective. and the frames hand wrought.

The staircase was equally fine with an arched balustrade and square wrought balusters. The ceilings oi hall and staircase were of plaster and ornate.

"I don't wonder that the man who owned this house bought the panelling of Welcome the Traveller when the inn was sold up.” said Robert. “I have never seen anything nicer. And all Traveller’s Building has to show now in place of it as you go in by the central doors are shabby plaster and walls painted cream.” "There are two small rooms panelled just the same.” informed Mrs Raynor. “Perhaps you would like to see those?”

The rooms wore in the ground floor and certainly worth a visit. They were standing in the larger of the two

when a fine saloon came up the drive and stopped at the door, where the Berry’s car stood rather in the way. The chauffeur, who jumped down to open the door of the car wore a livery in keeping with the Vehicle. He touched the peak of his cap smartly as a man stepped out and hurried into the house.

They could hear his voice, deep and loud, bawling in the hall. "Hello; Who is here? Mrs RaynerMrs Rayner—where is the caretaker?” "Here, sir,” gasped Mrs Rayner running out and looking nervously afraid. Robert, Nora and Prunella followed closely at her heels, saw the man frowning at the old woman.

“My name is Marlow,” he grated. “I sent implicit instructions. Who are these people?” He transferred the frown to Robert, Nora and Miss Lawley.

“Sir, they are—Tansworth folk,” the caretaker stammered, "they are friends, and ”

’ "The truth is we came to see the panelling in this hall,” Robert explained, taking an instant dislike to Mr Peter Marlow. “It is not Mrs Rayner’s fault. We took her by surprise.” Peter Marlow smiled twistedly. “And she did not expect my coming either. You have no right to be here. What is there particular about this panelling?” He pushed an eyeglass under his left eyebrow and stared at it vacantly, an affectation that increased Robert’s dislike.

"It is old. It was made when a house known as Traveller’s Buildings, In the High Street, Tansworth, was built centuries ago. At one time it was known as the Welcome the Traveller Inn and an ancestor of mine ran the place.” Peter Marlow smiled blandly.

“Oh, yes, I know, the building. Old and shabby, but it has something. Is it for sale?”

Robert smiled grimly. “I am afraid not. If you call on Adam Lawley, the solicitor, to whom it belongs, he may be able to tell you.” “H’m, ah, yes. Lawley. I have heard of him. I think I shall buy it. It might prove useful. You see, I’m managing director and chief producer of Eagle films. I shall want a big place to house the company—ah, yes—l might do worse than buy that old house down in the town.” He bowed stiffly. "And now, if you have seen all you wish to see ”

They took the hint. Prunella’s cheeks were flushed as she climbed into the car. She was angry. “What—a ” “Cad,” finished Nora. “I hope Mrs Rayner will not lose her job-through us.” “If she docs I’ll find something better for her,” Robert promised. He dropped Prunella at her home, then drove on with Nora to the Lawley’s office in the High Street. Adam Lawley was within. "What’s brought you here, my boy?” he asked graciously. “Oh, we’ve just come from Oldbeach House, having seen the oak panelling there. And we met a man .named Peter Marlow, who has made up his mind to buy Welcome the Traveller.” Robert told the story. Adam Lawley smiled broadly. “I have heard about Peter Marlow,” said he, “and what I have heard I didn’t like. And he wants to buy Welcome the Traveller, does he? Well, I’ll take good care that he doesnt.” CHAPTER IX. Robert Berry joined the Shelton camp as sparring partner and boxed with Dan Shelton for the first time on Wednesday afternoon. Dan Shelton had engaged as helpmates Billy Chipham, ex-middle weight champion of England, Fred Thornton, a promising young cruiser weight, Freddy Devene, the wellknown welter weight, and Andy Sagar, as handy man and rubber. Sagar usually helped Daniel Shelton train Dan and in particular rendered valuable service in Dan’s corner on the night of a fight. Eob wore heavy boxing gloves, but disdained the use of a head shield such as Dan Shelton favoured to lessen the risk of having his face cut before the fight. Towards the end of his training Dan would discard the head shield, but not now. ' The professional boxers had heard some tall stories about Robert Berry, but among these Andy Sagar was the only one who had seen him in action. After skipping, shadow boxing, ball punching and all the rest of it, Dan would wind up by boxing two rounds each with Billy Chipham and Freddy Devene; sometimes Thornton would lake a turn, and usually Robert Berry sparred with Dan last of all. sometimes boxing three full rounds. And Dan would grin as he give Berry's gloved hand a flip. “Don't play light, Bob." he would beg. "Crowd me all you know, but don't beat up your hands on my head shield." Dan Shelton had won a reputation as an exponent of the straight left, to which he added a left and a right hook; he was quick on his feet and difficult to hit, shifting on his feet and difficult to hit, shifting his head cleverly. He crouched a little and could vary his style in a fight in a crafty and puzzling way. What then, the critics asked themselves, had Robert Berry to offer against the skill of one of the cleverest heavyweight boxers in the ring?” But those who had not seen Berry i box gaped with surprise as they saw I him stand nicely erect, balanced lightI ly on his feet like a ballet dancer, and make use of a left jab which-kept Dan I well away as they circled quickly round the ring.

(To be Continued.)