“ANNOUNCER’S HOLIDAY”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 January 1941, Page 10

“ANNOUNCER’S HOLIDAY”

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. COPYRIGHT.

By

VAL GIELGUD.

(Author of "Africa Flight.” "Outpost in China," etc.)

CHAPTER XVIII. (Continued;. Lucia turned away her head. The picture summoned up was so clear, so heart-breakingly and simply vivid, that she thought she must cry. .And she knew that she wanted desperately to cry. It would be such a supreme relief. But she dared not respond. Sentimental friendship had been all very well in its way. and in the old careless carefree Austrian days. But it weighed as nothing in the scales against this dreadful possessive almost savage feeling for Geoffrey .Allardyce which now consumed her whole being; the feeling which almost made her hate, the fair pale girl with, the tear-filled blue eyes .... “I must go.” she said, and stood up. ‘ Very well." said Greta. ‘•Goodbye."

She did not offer to get up. or to hold out her hand. Lucia shrugged her shoulders, and went out. She wanted to go somewhere quickly where there would be noise and music, and the bustle of affairs, which might serve to make her forget that passive fragile figure on the window scat. For an instant she feared, of course, fanci-

fully enough, that Greta might haunt her from that afternoon.

Then everything else vanished from her mind. For as she left the lift on the ground-floor, she saw a figure that she recognised making an inquiry at the Head Porter’s desk. In was Geoffrey Allardyce. He passed her within an arm’s length, without seeing her. on his way to the second lift. She was within an ace of following him. careless of consequences, when a second wellknown figure caught her eye.

It was that of Casimir von Reichenberg. sitting half concealed behind a German newspaper. One buckskin shoe was crossed over the other. A blue haze curled up from his excellent cigar. His monocle glittered in his left eye. He looked supremely contented, like some expensive, well-groomed Persian cat. Lucia went across the hall, skirted a large palm-tree, and put a hand on his shoulder. He granced up at her with a twinkle.

"Our young friend would seem to be making the pace most satisfactorily," he oliservcd. "I am pleased with you. Lucia."

She sat down, and deliberately powdered her nose.

Casimir regarded her quizzically for a moment, and then turned away to give an order to a passing waiter.

"Tell me. my dear." ho said, drawing at his cigar, "what is the trouble."

"Trouble? I don't know what you mean."

“I think you do!" “Why? Have I got that worried look? Is my hair untidy, or are my stockings coming down?"

"Don't bother to try and distract my imagination,” said Casimir. "Is anything wrong?" "What should be wrung? Haven’t you just seen our young man heading for Greta s suite, with lire look of a terrier on the scent? Didn’t you sec Xavier leaving that same suite, giving his celebrated imitation of a thundercloud? Are you trying to insinuate that I don’t do my job?"

Casimir shook his head, and waited till cups of China tea had been put down beside them.

I "No, my dear." he said at last. "WeI ve been working together now for j three years, and you've never failed I me yet.” ■’Well?" * he trouble is that I've grown fond of you. Lucia.” | "Paternally, I hope." said Lucia. "I i don’t like amorous elderly gentlemen I —even if they're as elegant as you." 1 "Quito paternally—and quite properly as I happen to be your father." "Really—after all'.'’’ "As really your father, as 1 am not , reaily the Count von Reiehenberg. My name and \ours is Lonski, if you want to know it. It is a name worth having. It has a certain history behind it most of tiie history of Poland." "But—father.'' Casimir was smiling rather grimly A mime with a history lias a way of carrying penalties, also," j >e < ;n d. ‘ With t.he Kunskis it lias always been! tiue that blood is thicker than water, i 1 never anticipated growing-fund of i you, Lucia. I admit it. But I have I don't even regret it, though it is in- f convenient Just, now ” I ham; you. interrupted Lucia with a shaky little laugh. Casimir Sk This -ea m two gulps. "I am letting you j out of this,' he .-.-lid curtly. "It’s risky ■ and it :■ making you unhappy. So I ‘ hall hav<- t<. do without you. I shall send y<>u back m Austr.a UmmrrwA ” ' ’ Even if I don’t want to 'Y..u've always Ts- :i s‘ Wl . r( . ( told Lucia!” But until today* i never dreamed' y, u were really my father: Ami obedience to parents i.i out of fashion. I’m ■ sorry. father. I can’t g t , ■ You mean juu're .n luw Wll(1 thiH , singularly dull young rrian in tiie Eng. i Rudi., ' 1 '’(tly mv;m, said Lucia, geitinii UP hurriedly fur she was mortally afraid that she was going to burst mtu ■ tears in public "ih.tt I can't ■» .' | do I believe for one moment that v.-u are my father''' And :-:b.v hurried out ...f the i umn...e. ..ii..ugn !!><■ | )i; < revolving gki?< : m; :;i;ir K fm.-.i a < ‘n<- futurv h<- may a-, well be called L‘. hr, ,-'-ul nami staring He rubbed ho. ; ;.<v, meditatively. Hr supposed that h,. tnir-t be getting :>i hi,, ~1,1 Fur once he found .L.m .-'f f ;5 ,,..,t >./' ;. ! r> bh ni with j,,, .. S'’’iuticn, and ij ; .! n.g prop. • , p.. •■'h.v.hing ;i !,, u! .■ j"..,, Up'rnm-. ..... th,. .... .....i,.,.;, !■>< /<<-<! --..t .r, '.Sr G<- ifrev AH' • • • ■ i. >'■ ■ - ' ■■ .. ’ ’’. ‘‘ , »*£'«•, <» .* 1. . <1 >lv < * .1 i• i I*■gZl ■ ' F • C

I facing each other with some nine feet I of expensive carpet between them, and i each of them wearing an expression of i utterly serious tensity upon a face both I whiteish and drawn.

‘ Neither had attempted to shake i hands. They merely stood and looked iat each other, and felt choked. And when at last speech came, both spoke together absurdly, and as absurdly ‘ apologised simultaneously. But it was Greta, who stopped, and Geoffrey who ' stammered on.

"Please. Greta." he said, his fingers twisting the brim of his hat unconsciously and furiously, "tell me one thing. When you left me the other night—was it to join Prince Xavier?" "What right have you to ask me that?” demanded the girl. ’’Nene. I know. I only implore you to tell me. You see. I love you."

Greta laughed. "Oh please don’t laugh! I take it that it’s true then?” ’'And if it is—you pretend that it matters." Geoffrey took a step towards her, and stopped. "It matters so much.” ho said, "that; ■it doesn’t matter at all! I love you sol ■much that I don't care if he’s your lover ten times over!” "Why do you love me?" The tone should have warned him J but Geoffrey was a young man desperately and sincerely in love for the first time in his life. "Why?" he repeated stupidly. "I don’t know—l just love you ” His voice died away. Greta turned to the window, and ■ spoke over her shoulder. "You asked me a question just now."! she said. ‘ Will you answer me one?" ; "Anything of course!" "Did you come to make love to me at! the suggestion—or the orders—of the! Count von Reichenberg?"

"Greta!” She stamped her foot. “Answer me. Geoffrey!" “I suppose Lucia put you up to this!" “Leave Lucia out of it. Geoffrey, please."

"Very well. It began as a crazy notion of von Reichcnberg’s— yes. But the moment I saw you ” "Thai’s enough, thank you. And as you've answered my question I’ll answer yours. I did leave you the other night for Prince—Xavier —though he is not and never has been my lover. But now I shall marry him.”

“But Greta—why? You don’t care for him! It doesn’t matter about me! Xoure all wrong, as you'll learn one day, But leave that out. Only remember what 1 came to tell you first. If you marry the prince, they’ll kill you!” "And if I don’t," retorted the girl, ho will kill me! Suppose I see who moans it. I’m inclined to believe Xavier. Please go now.” “But Greta ”

She sat down. Geoffrey made a baffled movement towards’ her, and tried to speak, but the words would not come.

At that moment the telephone bell rang. Greta picked it up listlessly, then looked up with widened eye’s, “H's for you,” she said. “Who knew you were here with me? If it’s Xavier—”

She handed over the instrument and clasped her hands together. “Yes?" said Geoffrey, "Mr. Allardyce?” queried a sharp efficient-sounding voice at the other end of the instrument. “Yes.”

Kindly leave the hotel at once, collect IQ3/. and meet Superintendent j Moresby at the address in Soho where I you mot him before. Urgent.” I Die line went dead. There was a j little silence. ( Was it Xavier?" asked Greta j “No.” ; "Then, who." ; ’1 can’t tell you. Greta." "But where are you going"’’ "I can’t tel) yon that either.” i I see, I thought—well it doesn’t i matter, does it. as I’m never going to ! see you again!" ‘Greta!’’ "1 mean it. Go away—and please never try to see me again!" And as Geoffrey went slowly and miserably from the sitting room he heard behind the slam of Greta's bedroom door. CHAPTER XX. Ihe Channel Islands—particularly die '.'mailer of them —are among the must delightful of holiday resorts Even in latish autumn a generally equable weather can as a rule be counted up- n with reasonable accuracy. Ami on tliis particular afternoon a sun that < Would nut have disgraced Mac sh-m down upi'ii tfie cliffs of Sari; uut of: a cloudless sky, Ijr n file dclig.htfußv springe turf of cne cf tin w cliffs were sitting four men. It would h.av t . appeared m ;>.« <■ nhwker • there was m> 0n!,.....k,-r bv ' !u ‘ VGIV that they were having a j ir- > me. H.- Would i-. L-o pr-bably have mhmised that ti'icy wen- fi ur ("untmentai : student' enjeymg a holiday fn m Munich or the B■•■rbiinnv. For their ap;:earance m; beyond q übl uu-Engliih Th, -, w, re tight jackets with rattier small: lapels. Two Wore faintly ridiculous i straw hn'- AH , .<■ .... ' s - ,,< 'd up <-;srr.« r| r'i). u; their ‘die unmistakable niarf: of having < • ae time ■ r another bi en tlnlicd. Tin. : •were dark, two were blonde. But only : < ne < f them <m i icd any . utward visibk ■ ' ! being lher than almg.-thc-Cumm iipkice He the '.•tl!.-:- < f th,. ■■ -’l',' me,., .. }I!S left cheek the ;■ .■ f, ,-,d es. f H... 1 ■' •* r u:’J ikartk chturTfunv = f N' - ‘ i j »1 i ILf"‘ . I. J ‘ J’•>* ' t '• "1 f,,* S 1 ; , ■ ’ '■- l - vT.'..’ H; f \ h.i ! lli. -Lt-J ‘Lj- - c ' r ‘- ’hr’. ■' Lt’?'- Whr-’

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