"GAY VENTURE"

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 October 1940, Page 10

"GAY VENTURE"

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. COPYRIGHT,

By

T. C. BRIDGES.

CHAPTER XI. iContinuedi. Mrs Kingscote found Eve in their cabin. She had heard what had happened and was not surprised to see traces of tears on Eve’s face. She sat beside her and put an arm round her. “Making mountains out of molehills, my dear?” she remarked. Eve stiffened. “It was a horrid scene, Mrs Kingscote. All those people heard what that detestable man said.” “Yet anyone would think you were more angry with Keith than with him. Eve.” Eve bit her lip. “Who is the man, Mrs Kingscote? Do you know?” “The owner of the yacht we ran down. His name is Sagar. He came in for a big property in Devonshire, Crofton Close. Any amount of money. I believe.” “Sagar!” Eve repeated. "Sagar. That is the name I have been trying to remember all this time. The rich relation Jane talked of." A look of dismay crossed her face. “He can’t be my cousin." Mrs Kingscote laughed outright. “What a joke!” She paused. “Yet it's quite likely. Eve. Sagar is not a common name." Eve looked thoughtful. “This must be the old man’s son. But if he is, then Tarver was wrong about my being the heir. Yet I truly believe he meant it.” “He might not have known that your old cousin had a son,” said Mrs Kingscote. “But no doubt we shall find out. Now powder your nose, Eve,’ and let us go up and get some tea. And you’ll be civil to poor Keith?" she added. Eve, busy with her mirror, nodded. “Hfe will have to apologise,” she said. To Eve’s secret dismay, Keith did not appear at tea. After tea Eve waited in her chair on deck, but still there was no sign of Keith. By this time the liner was in the Thames, and the Major told Eve that they would be at Tilbury before midnight. Eve went down to dress for her last dinner aboard ship. At any rate she would see Keith at dinner. Her- heart beat a little faster than usual as she saw his lean upright figure crossing the big saloon, but she did not like the odd set expression on his face as he took his usual seat beside her. He ate in silence and Eve grew annoyed again. She vowed to herself she would not speak until he did. But dinner ended without Keith addressing a single word to her directly, though he spoke to the Major and to Mrs Kingscote. As soon as the 'meal was over Keith got up. “I must say goodbye,’-’ he said. “I have to see about getting Zoe’s cage up. Goodbye, Major. Goodbye, Mrs Kingscote. It has been very pleasant to travel with you." He turned to Eve. “Goodbye, Miss Nisbet,” he added with a bow, and walked away without once looking back. As soon as Eve could escape she made for her cabin, flung herself down on her bed and sobbed miserably. A touch on the shoulder roused her. Mrs Kingscote was looking down at her. "Eve,”, she said quietly, "what did you say to Keith?” "I-—I told him I didn't want to speak to him again.” “And he has taken you at your word. Can you blame him?”' “Of course, I can,” said Eve with spirit. “He ought to have known 1 didn’t mean It.” “My dear, you don’t in the least understand a man like Keith Hedley. He has been abroad ever since he left Sandhurst. He has no experience of women. I more than fancy that you are the first he ever had any feeling for. He did his best for you this afternoon. Instead of being grateful you snubbed him. You have hurt him so badly that I doubt if he will come near you again unless you ask him." “And he pretended to be in love with me," cried Eve. “There's no pretence about it. That is why he is so badly hurt. Eve, the next move will have to come from you —that is, if you don’t want to lose him.” Eve sat up. “I —I am fond of him,” she confessed, “but I can’t go running after him at this time of night.” Then wait till the morning. I will make a chance for you to see Keith, and after that it’s up to you.” Eve flung her arms around Mcs Kingcote's plump neck. "You're a dear!" he said. "I promise you I’ll eat humble pie.” Next morning Eve was up early, put on her prettiest frock, and did her hair with great care, then went on deck with Mrs Kingscote. Major Kingscote came towards them. “Where's Keith, Bill?” his wife asked. “Hedley—oh, he’s gone. A pal of his, a flying man called Trask, turned up and insisted on Hedley coming with him. Going to fly him down to Barnham, I understand,” He stopped short. “Hullo, Eve, what’s the matter? You’re white as paper.” “Shut up!” said Mrs Kingscote in a forcible aside. ‘Eve's not very well this morning. Get her a chair.” The Major, the kindest man alive, bolted off to fetch a chair, and Mrs Kingscote whispered quickly: “Buck up, Eve. Keith has a flat in town. You will see him again sooner or later. 11 you feel up to it you’d better come down to breakfast.” Eve pulled herself together and went down to the saloon, where she managed to drink some coffee. It was all very well for Mrs Kingscote to promise that she would see Keith again. She herself knew better. She had driven him away, and why should he come back? She had an odd, numb feeling. The real hurt would come later. Major Kingscote fussed over her kindly. "Isn't your friend coming to meet you?” he said. “I don t know,” Eve answered. “But don’t worry about me. If I don’t get a message soon i shall collect mv

things and go up to London by train.” The Kingscotes had to go. Eve saw them off the ship. Then she went back to her chair on the deserted deck, feeling more lonely and forlorn than ever before in her life. Stewards and others, passing on their business, cast curious glances at the pretty girl sitting alone, and wondered why she was not going ashore with the rest. Then suddenly a man stopped in front of her, and Eve, looking up, saw Sagar. CHAPTER VII. Sagar no longer wore the ill-fitting grey flannels I ’. He was in well cut blue serge with a smart fawn felt hat. He raised his hat and smiled, but the smile was very different from the sneer of the previous day. “Miss Nisbet,” he said, "I am your cousin, Jack Sagar, I want to beg your forgiveness for that stupid scene yesterday. The bare and brutal fact is that I was drunk. Don’t be shocked. Drink is not my failing, but when they pulled me out of the water they gave me a very stiff whisky and hot water and lemon. Although I did not realise it till later, it made me quite tipsy. I don’t recollect exactly what did happen, but I know I made a tool of myself. I can only throw myself on your mercy, and hope that you will pardon me.” Eve could hardly believe her eyes or her ears. She sat silent so long that Sagar seemed to think that she was not going to forgive him. “I am sorry,” he said very quietly. "My offence was beyond pardon. I quite understand. Goodbye.” He was turning away when Eve recovered her voice.

“Stop, please,” He stopped and stood before her, silent, head bent. “I do understand,” Eve went on. "You were very rude and I was very angry, but if it was as you say, that makes a difference.”

“I was rude and you were quite right to be angry,” Sagar said gravely. Thank you very much for your kindness, and If, later, you feel you can accept me as a cousin it will make me very happy.” “Are you really my cousin?" Eve asked.

“In a way, yes. My father, John Sagar, was your mother’s uncle. He went to America when quite a young man and made a great deal of money in oil. He was nearly fifty when he came home and bought Crofton Close. Then he married Ethel Fancourt and I was the only child. My mother died when I was only three, my father and I. did not get on and', when I was fifteen, I ran away and went to Montana. I had almost forgotten England when, a little more than a year ago, I heard that my father had died suddenly. He left no will so I was heir to everything,” Eve nodded. "Now I understand. I have heard my half-sister, Mrs. Dane, speak of your father, and when I heard your name I remembered that there was some relationship.” “I too, have heard my father speak of your mother,” Sagar said. "And now you have come home.” “Yes. lam asked to stay with a Miss Agatha Lynd, an old friend of my mother."

“Agatha Lynd!” Sagar’s face brightened. "But I know her. At least I know a lady of that name.” "How odd!” Exe exclaimed. "Where does your Miss Lynd live?" she asked. “In Chalmington Mansions, Suffolk Street, Kensington.” "Then she is the same,” Eve said quickly. "Tell me, what is she like," Sagar smiled. “A rather elderly lady who pretends to herself that she is young. But a good sort, I feel sure.” “She must be or she would not have asked me like this.” "Is she coming to meet you?"

“I don’t know," Eve confessed. "I was hoping for a message. But she may not know the ship is in.” “I am pretty sure she does not,” Sagar said. He paused a moment. “Miss Nisbet, let me drive you up to London. My car is waiting." "Are you going to London? I thought you lived in the country.”

"Crofton Close is in Devonshire, but I have a flat in Charles Street. That’s where I am going now. I shall feel happy if you allow me to do you this small service.”

"Thank you!" said Eve, simply. “1 shall be grateful.” Sagar called a steward, and Eve’s baggage was brought up. A saloon car was waiting with a liveried chauffeur, a thin, sallow-faced man. Sagar handed Eve in and took his seat beside her. It was the first time Eve had ever been in such a car before, and its power and silence absolutely awed her. She leaned back in her deeply-cushion-ed seat, and in spite of her troubles, began to almost enjoy the new experience. Presently Sagar spoke. "You’ve had your share of excitement since leaving home. Miss Nisbet. A (Ire in your first ship and something like a murder, I heard.” Eve shivered slightly. "1 beg your pardon.” said Sagar quickly. "I shouldn’t have mentioned it. It must have oeen rather horrible.” “It was horrible," Eve agreed. "But the wretched man is dead, so that ends it." "Dead!” Sagar repeated. "1 thought he got away.” "He got away from the ship." Eve said, "but there was a terrible sandstorm at the time, and we were told there was not a chance of anyone liv-l ing through it." "If it would not worry you. I wish you would tell me about it. Miss Nisbet. I am interested because I have a notion that this Tarver is Hie very same man who was concerned in a | kidnapping case in Los Angeles when: ) was there about four years ago." | (To be Continued).