"GAY VENTURE"

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 October 1940, Page 10

"GAY VENTURE"

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. COPYRIGHT.

By

T. C. BRIDGES.

CHAPTER X. ' (Continued 1. s “Jealous?” “Yes, Sagar’s in love with you. Did- ( n’t you know it?” 1 “Certainly not.” < “He is. I saw him looking at you 1 last night—sort of proprietary look j which made me hot. So you can t blame me for being jealous. Besides, 1 he’s a rich man, while I make a very ] moderate income by a lot of hard s work.” ‘ “I’d never marry a man for his 1 money,” Eve said. 1 “I don’t believe you would, Eve. The ] question is—would you marry me with- 1 out it?” Eve’s eyes twinkled. “Is this a proposal, Keith?” 1 “You know it is. Eve, will you mar- < ry me?” Eve turned serious. 1 “I haven’t a penny, Keith. I don’t ; want to be a drag on you.” “Darling, you’d be an inspiration for i any man.” He caught her hand and 1 drew her into tfie comparatively dark ■ space between the two windows. His ■ arm went round her, and for the first time in her life Eve knew real kisses. : Presently she drew back, half scared, I very happy. , 1 “Be careful, Keith, dear. Someone |1 might see.” i' “Who cares? Let’s go in and tell them." : “What—right in the middle of their ; rubber? Keith, don't be heartless!” “Well, sit out here till they have finished, then tell them.” He found a ' couple of chairs and put them between the windows. "When wijl you marry me. Eve?” : was his next question. “It'll have to be soon. Dicky told you I was going East again in three weeks.” “Three weeks! But, Keith, I'd have to let Jane know. Oh, and I'd forgotten —we’re going down to Mr Sagar’s place in Devonshire on Tuesday.” “Going to Sagar’s place? Eve, you can’t!” “But I must, Keith. Miss Lynd has accepted the invitation for both of us and it would be simply awful if I refused to go.” “But this is Friday,” said Keith, “and • I have to go to Hamburg tomorrow and shan’t be back till Tuesday. How long are you going for?” “Ten days or a fortnight," Miss Lynd said. Keith groaned. “That leaves only a week after you came back. Then I shall be away for four or five months. My idea was to 'get married at once, have a honeymoon in Scotland, then I could leave you here while I did my job in Africa.” “It sounds perfect, Keith, but it can’t be done. You have to remember that Miss Lynd has spent a lot on me and expects me to stay with her a while. I shouldn’t feel happy if I went off after being with her for less than a week.” Keith was frowning. He was clearly disappointed. “You do understand, Keith?” Eve begged, There was a sudden commotion in the sitting room. A thump, the tinkle of a falling ash tray. Keith and Eve both sprang up. Miss Lynd had slumped forward with her head on the card table. “She's fainted,” Joyce explained. “Keith, you and Dicky lift her on to the couch.” They lifted her on to a couch and” Keith hurried for brandy. “You’d better ring up a doctor, Keith,” Eve said, but Miss Lynd spoke feebly. “No, it’s only one of my attacks. Give me a little brandy, please, and let me rest a while. Then I shall be able to go home.” CHAPTER XI. “Telephone, Miss,” said Rose popping her head into Eve’s room at eight next morning. “It’s Captain Hedley,” she added in a quite unnecessary whisper. Eve woke with a. start and sprang out of bed. Without waiting even to put on slippers or dressing gown she ran to the phone. Rose, with amazing selfdenial, retired to her kitchen. “Yes, is it you, Keith? This is Eve.” “You needn’t tell me that, darling. How is the old cat? I say, I don’t want to be nasty, but I believe it was a put up job.” "What —her fainting?” “Don’t be so shocked, darling. We found out afterwards that the light reflected from the room made a mirror of that open french window. It’s on the cards that she saw us.” “Oh, Keith, how horrid! I don’t think it’s true. She wasn’t a bit well when I got her to bed. I’ve been up with her half the night.” “And I’ve dragged you out of bed,” said Keith remorsefully. “I’m glad. I was longing to talk to you.” “I’ve precious little time,” Keith said. “Dicky’s here, waiting to drive me to Croydon. I have to go in five minutes. Eve, do you think Miss Lynd will be able to go to Devon?” Im afraid she will. She's dead set on it.” “Then I shan’t see you for a forti night!" “I hate the waiting as much as you," Eve said. "But, now that I know you love me, I’m happy, and I'd wait a lifetime if I had to.” Darling!” said Keith intensely. “But it won tbe that, anyhow. I’m going to marry you before I leave for Africa so , you d better make up your mind to that. There’s Dicky calling. Ail my , love, dearest.” “Keith, you’ll miss the bus.” Eve distinctly heard Dicky’s voice, Keith 1 hung up hastily and Eve went back to her room and began to dress. . Miss Lynd appeared at elevon as usual. She was in a distinctly crotch- , ety mood and began questioning Eve about Hedley and Eve soon realised 3 that she suspected that there was some understanding between him 1 and Eve. But Eve was now very much on guard , and Miss Lynd got nothing out of hoi'. 1 Most of the day Miss Lynd lay on the ) sofa and Eve stayed in and looked after her. Sunday was equally dull 1 and on Monday Miss Lynd was packing. Actually Eve was rather relieved

when Tuesday morning came and they started for Devonshire.

That journey gave Eve her first sight of the English countryside. It was a lovely June day and the views delighted her. Her chief regret was that she had not Keith with her to share her pleasure.

Sagar met them at North Road with the car. He had gone down on the previous day. He wore a grey tweed suit which must have come from a first class tailor. His pale blue tie, perfectly polished brown shoes and pearl grey hat were all of the best, yet Eve had a passing thought that he was just a little too well dressed for the country. Crofton Close lay a few miles from Moreton Hampstead on the north side of the moor and was approached by a long and hilly drive. As the car topped a steep slope Eve saw before her a valley down which tumbled a brook in a series of falls and pools and on the far side a long, low house built of weathered grey granite. The walls were covered with creepers and gayflower beds and lawns dropped in terraces to the little river. The hill side behind was covered' with magnificent timber, beech, larch and’ fir. Eve sat (quite still, her eyes fixed on the scene in silent delight. “You like it?” Sagar asked. “You needn't answer," he went on. “I see I you do.” I The car had crossed the bridge and was moving slowly up the steep slope leading to the house. “What's that?” Eve asked sharply, pointing to a large, ivy-clad building among the trees some half mile to the right. “The old house,” Sagar told her. “It's huge but little better than a ruin. No one lives in it except ghosts. Not that I believe in them,” he added with a laugh. Eve shuddered slightly. “It’s horrid,” she said. “It spoils everything.” Sagar shrugged. “Sorry you don’t like it. I don’t either. But it would cost a fortune to pull down. The walls are four feet thick. Here we are. Come in and have some tea.” ■ The Dowei- House was as charming inside as out. Eve came straight into a square hall with an enormous oldfashioned fireplace. The floor was solid oak and the roof raftered with great oak beams. The furniture, too, was black oak, but some modern chairs, handsome rugs and a low teatable gave ah air of comfort. Eve felt at once that the old house was friendly —just as friendly as the other, the ruined Close, was hostile. Then she got a shock. The man who brought in tea was as ugly as his master was handsome. Unless she had seen him Eve could never have believed that any man could be so hideous. His huge, square head was set upon shoulders' of gigantic width. His nose was a mere blow and his eyes, very close together, were so deep in his head, they were hardly , visible. His legs were short, his arms long and the backs of his hands were covered with a felt of hair. Yet he was most correctly dressed in a black coat and dark trousers and by the way he set out the tea, seemed to know his work. “Will you pour out, Miss Lynd,” Sagar said. He turned to Eve. “I saw you looking at Holt. He isn't a beauty, but he’s a mighty good servant. I found him in Montana, darn near starving and got him a job. When I came into this place he insisted on coming - with me. What’s more, I have his wife ■ and daughter.” He grinned. “Don’t be scared. They’re not as ugly as he.” The tea was excellent and for the , first time in her life Eve ate Saffron ■ cakes with Devonshire cream and , whortleberry jam. Afterwards Sagai’ rang and a middle-aged woman, not . bad looking, but whose face had no ■ more expression than a rag doll, ans- , wered it. Sagar addressed her as Mrs. Holt and asked her to show Miss Lynd and Miss Nisbet their rooms. > Upstairs the house was as pleasant as below. Eve’s room large, airy, with t deep window seats and walls of pale t golden yellow, delighted her. It faced the garden, and the tinkle of the stream was mingled with the murmur , of bees in the honeysuckle outside. t There were yellow roses on the dressing table. . “I hope all is as you like, Miss,” said Mrs. Holt formally. £ “It is delightful,” said Eve impulI sively, “ — the prettiest room I have j ever seen.- And the flowers. Thank you so much.” A faint look of sur- ■ prise showed for an instant in Mrs. Holt's pale eyes. , “Thank you, Miss,” she said and went softly away. Eve sat on a window seat and looked ‘ out on the peaceful gardens. ! “I wonder why I like this house so j much," she said to herself—and why I dislike its master.” For without know- ( ing why Eve had come to the definite conclusion that she actually disliked her cousin. After a while she got up and began a letter to Keith. . She wrote a lot about her journey ( and how she liked the house, but suppressed any mention of the odd butler and his expressionless wife. She sealt ed letter and addressed it to Walford 3 Street, then opened her bag to find a stamp. , Her purse was gone! It was defin itez not in the bag. She searched frantically but found no trace of it. With it , had gone not only her stamps, but all ~ her money and her return ticket. , (To be Continued).