The Troubled Journey

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19884, 13 May 1936, Page 4

Th e Troubled Journey

:___—_i, SERIAL STORY I

By MARGARET GLENN.

SYNOPSIS. Juan Martin cannot “get on" with Janet. her stepmnmor. The other Martin ChildI‘M]. Fellvlty and Jimmy, feel the sameH 11111 It is euslm‘ for them, as Fellclty is married and living in London, and Jlmmy IS (HHLV ll! 5011001. At last Joan I'EVOHS Bird sends B tele—gram to Felicny, asking if she can live with her. CHAPTER Vlu—{ContinuedJ “It an outrage!" she said, her voice thick with fury. "I‘m ashamed of you for even letting her think about it. she should have been forced to ‘slay here, when the idea. of going to London was first broached." ‘ ”London isn't. a cannibal island," protested John, mildly. 1 "It‘s a lot worse,“ snapped Janet. "You‘ve no control at all over the chlldren———" John‘s good temper would have quietened most women. “Hardly a child. is she, Janet? She must. be comlng twenty—two. And she‘s been a good daughter." “To you, maybe,“ flashed JEnet. I “Not to me.“

There was a curious glint in John‘s eyes. “That‘s rather understandable, isn‘t it?“ he said. “Try not to worry about her—“

But. Janet had worked herself up into a temper which was very nearly a frenzy. She glared across the table. "It's an absolute disgrace," she stormed, ‘letting a girl of Joan's age so of! and behave the way she has done. It‘s not the first time I‘ve been insulted by your children. All they've ever done is to make me feel my position. I'm more like a paid housekeeper than a Wife. They—they scorn me. And you stand by with your crazy laboratory always on your mind, and smile that silly smile. You encourage them. I believe you kno\’V—-—"' Old John looked across 4he tablel There was no benevolence in his eyes now, but there was a glint which few people had ever seen. He spoke very quietly. “I know a great many ihings,“ he said, “which you don't realise. You will be wise, Janet, not to adopt, that attitude in future." \N'ilhout another word he stood up, and walked from the room. Janet could hardly believe her own cars. She had never dreamed that the mild—mannered men who had heEn such an easy \‘ioiim several years before could have spoken to her like that. For a moment she felt that she must rush after him, beat him, call him all the names she could think of. And then the frenzy passed.

An expression of cunning crept into her eyes, and for a moment. she sat very still, listening. She heard her husband cough, 3 light. cough which ‘she had noticed a great deal. lately. He took no notice or it. and she had been tempted to advise him to see a doctor, But why should she? She got up. quickly, and went to the door. Along the passage, her husband was leaning against the wall, with one hand on his chest. He was almost doubled up with pain, and he was obViously keeping his cough in check, as much as he could. He turned round once. and Janet was glad that she was watching him through a crack in the door, and he could not see her.

She was startled by what she saw. 01d J-ohn‘s face was blue. as if he was suil‘ocatlng. He was leaning back against the wall. now. much easier than he had been. and a normal colour gradually returned to his face. But that, moment had told Janet all that she wanted to know. She continued to watch him, until he began to walk towards his study.‘ She waited until he had entered the room, and [hen hurried after him. The door was shut. but she could hear him walking towards his desk. The desk faced the door, but in order to get. better light, Old John usually sat in a ‘lfilflil‘ hacking towards it. She heard the creaking of drnwE’rs as ho pulled them out. Cautiously, she turned the. handle. It. opened without. a sound. \Videning the crank between the door and the frame—work to a spam through which she rould Just see. she Walled, tensely. She had half expected to see what. was happening.

John Martin was bending over a legal-looking document on his desk. Janet had seen it several times before; it was his \Vili. He had shown it to her. without any effort at concealment; that was like him. He had always been open and above-board in everything he had done. But Janet's eyes were like flints as she watched him.

mu, ....“M----\Vtmt “as he dotng with the will, at that moment“‘ “‘hy should he have gone straight. from the quarrel with her, to that document? 'The possibility Illilt hr was altering it. tortured her.

..m n“- ~ v . But she was too cunning to stay here For long: Al‘ler satisfying herself that, he was actually “Tiling at the fool at the. document, slm turned away from Hm study. llzul she leiyed a moment inter she would have sneu him press lhe, ‘huilou which sunununeu one of the >Ch‘llllls In his mom. 'i‘hv S(‘l‘\all|fi who remained with Ihu Marlins Silh'l! Mary's llezllh hail «lone .w nut ”1‘ love and respect for 0h! .luhu. True. lhe li‘eaiuumi which they received l'l'ulu Jamel soured lhelu; umu) sel'uuils haul lel'l. Rut Ihe gniwlvuei' :uul ihe chauffeur remained. lilis‘slilly because they value. under .|.llll‘l-> iuiiueuee less than any of Lhu Hillel's. Jam-L's vuuuiug' was very keen thu'. uuu'uiu:-'. 'l'hv Sl‘l'VllnlS ,‘ll‘ullllL‘ll to themselves “hm ihey saw her enter their kileheu. ll usually meaul a day of altering ihis 11111 l lining thui, uml it was run: that um 01' the “mills \\‘zls not I'edueed iu [mu-s :il'iel' .huiei Mui'liu haul spent u ‘.\-\\* hulll's lleluw stairs. ‘l‘llul Imn'uiug, however, she. was not nu the “:u‘pulh. She hull' exiverlml u suuuunns i'l'mu ,inhu‘s study, :uul she i‘eelmuwl. 11m, lii‘ii mu- nl’ Ih-- meu servunis wnul-i w- enliwL She was i'ixhi. Simmons, ‘ljv mmleuer. \venl upsluh's in re—,urnu' In llm suununus. aiul I'l‘llll‘lh‘ll, quail}. l'ux' .\ic|‘hei',<nnv the Shula” s" .ul'l'eur'. ll \\li.\ nlninlh, .i.lli\'l lnhl hr‘l‘seif, {ml lhw)‘ h.u| lll‘n‘ll “autml In “liness muu- JHI‘I'JH'IH in her hushalul's “ill. \\h.ll \\;x,\ il'.‘ >hn- \\:l.~ «'uusumed by hau- :l~ uuu-h .x~ luy (llljll‘l‘. Summsiux m.- ;....| Hll'|xm[,in]i|l:ifluiihllit‘l“f§llp~ ;wwm; he Hml ”111-mu] tho \\lll .mi llml ~m- nu lullkl'l' lir-neiih‘lli' :hu :1» 'UA-l huh“ i-eliliM-d iz;‘l|_ Jug“,

Martin was incapable of such an ac—tion. but of late Janet‘s mind had been twisted. For the rest of the day she was in a femnent of anxiety. Twice it was on the tip of her tongue to ask John what had happened, but she could not summon the courage. That joutbuz‘st of his, earlier in the day, had irrightened her.

Yet she had to find out what had hagpengd to _ther will. , , , ,

She knew he had Intended, at one time, to give each or his children their share or his estate before he died, and leave the whole of his remaining fortune to her. He had 'acflially made a will, ‘by which she wag the sole lega—tee, excepting for one -or two bequests to servants. But he had changed his mind, and made a second will. leaving one half to her, and one sixth to each!of the children.

She felt that it he had reduced her share. she would go mad. Avaxice had bitten into Janet Martin's mlncl very deeply. Until her marriage to John Martin she 'had always been forced to struggle hard for money. The comp'arailve wealth of her hue‘bzmd‘s and thé luxury of her married life had been a revelation; she was terrified lest anything should happen to send her back, after John‘s death, into the old days of penury.

She conjured up all manner of pOS- - Her husband had used his own method ‘Of ending the disagreement. Janet, blind to her own short—comings, blamed this new development on to Joan and, In a lesser degree, Jimmy.

Wlfy should they benefit, while she sugered?

Hex- dlsllke ‘of her step-children. which had always been in existence, even when she had made superficial efforts to Ibe friendly towards them, deepened into real hatred. From that moment she knew she would never rest until they had suffered— She wanted to hurt them, any and every way she could. For once, John Martin went to bed early that night.

Actually, he was worried about the scene with Janet, at breakfast, and he was even more worried by the heart. attack which had overtaken him for a few minutes after that, quarrel. He had frequently been warned that. he was working too hard. Simiiqr attacks, although much less violent, had overtaken him before, and he had consulted the best. medical men in Danchester. All of them had told him the same—he needed rest.

But, John Marlin did not want/ rest. Despite’ the fact that he had married Janet, and he had appeared to be quite happy afterwards, he felt that half of him had died with his first wife. Now that his children were grown up. he had little or no interest in life. He had done all that it, was possible to do [or 1110111. He was ready. at any time, to meet his Maker. M was a philosophy typical of John Martin. He viewed himself as a very small cog in the wheel of the world, and he was convinced that. ii’ there was any work remaining for him to do. he would be spared until it was complete. Then. and only then. he would leave this world. Death had no fears for him; rather did it promise complete rest.

He was only human, however. Now that he believed death was approaching him, he felt that he must complete some experiments which he was! making. Nevertheless. he could not' bring himself to work that day. and} he had taken a sleeping draught and‘ gone early to bed. 1 Janet, realising the error of her attitude that morning. had been‘ pleasantness itself. She had. John: thought, made areal effort to apologise for her bad temper, and he was glad. it did not occur to him that she might be planning, working against his children. iiis first wife had said that John Martin‘s big trouble was that he could never believe anyone would he deliberately dishonest. His wife had actually mixed the sleeping draught for him, and she knew that, for several hours nothing would awaken him. Just after ten o'clock, she went into his room.

lie looked very old against the white pillows. but there was no softness in his wife's thoughts. “’iihout hesitation, she looked lhrough his pockets for the keys of his study and the drawers in it She found them with—out. any trouble. Then, her heart heating fast. she hurried downstairs. The study door was not locked, but the drawer in his desk where he kept his \Vill was; she irlcd key after key, working feverishly. as though afraid that he would. after all. wake up and come downstairs. But her fears were groundless. There was no sound at. all. beyond the clicking of keys against? metal, until the lock finally turned back. Janet's heart leapl. She pulled open the drawer. and gasped with relief when she saw the document. sticking from the top of an envelope. Her first glance at. it. as she took it out wiih lingers which trembled. confirmed her worst fears. There was a eodll‘il, and it was witnessed by both the gardener and the chauffeur. Then, as she read it. n ridiculous shoot of reiiri‘ went through her. There was nuihlnp, in the rorllcll that metiered at all, John Martin had in—clurlml a small ‘hnqurst for a charity \\'lll|'ll he had. :ippnrrnily. forgoilrn when the Will had been drawn up, and ho had reriiilrd that omission.

Juiwl, was ridiculously pleased; she hml srhuuiml snvurul wars of snving llm situation which she hml lumgincd [4) lm crrulml by lhe alirraliun; hul, sho hurl :uhuillml in hr-rsolf that none or “H‘lll haul houu suiisl‘zirlow, and she ‘ \\':l~; nwrwhvhniugly glad lhul she was slill Hll‘ rhivl‘ lmm-flrizu‘y. Illil as .4110 slurml down at lhc “‘ill, 3; lhought shill through lll‘l‘ mind. It “as llw (first. lium slux haul (‘nllSithl'C‘d 11. Nr'wr haul Him riuumillml any i-riuw uguiusl. lhu luws of lhe muniry, :nllhnugh murnlly slu‘ was unstrupu~ lous. Hul .~hu know where the urix’iuul \\'i|l was—llhr, \\'ill where ‘ vwrylhiui: was lull in her! i Slu- rmul lhr‘ umv mw lhrnugh, i quickly ruulh'uiiuyr \\'hul she already imi'w. llull‘ All his furlluw would 1:0 in hur: Hil‘ i'l'lllililllit‘l‘ would go equally in .luam, Jimmy and Frllcily. llul, why l~huulll H? A” oxiu'ussinu rrusswl .lnnm, Map. liu‘s llu'v lhul would haw unulo her huslmuil gush iu “sluuisluurul null (lisuiuy'. ll‘ur u l‘ow luiuulvs sho hunt—ml lhruugh llu- ili'sk. Ilure she was urmhl lhv original “in “as gunc—‘ llul hllt‘ l‘nuull il: IJuivl‘ly. :Ji've‘llii)‘. shn rmul ill ll .sniil Hm balance of l|i.\ f‘hlili!“ :irlvr Mllllll ln‘illll‘fils‘. should go la hi, \xil‘v. .lnul‘l, 01‘ course, he hml iulvmlml, “hr” he luul marlc ii. ‘1” lnnk nlln‘r his rhilrh‘en before his illonlh. llul. lu‘ hml unl (lone so; lhc ism-owl \\'ill hull hm-n mmlv. Mimu‘isiug Ihr Mavmivl \\'ill was ncwr {WWI-r Supp-using nuly lhc lirsl was unmixcrodi‘ millet Marlin could hardly control

m ' ’herseif as she relocked the drawer, and hurried out of the study, with the original Will in her hand. ‘iier Willi None of the others benclitted by it! CHAPTER VII. > The next three months passed quickly to Joan. She discovered that the work with Geoffrey Matthews wm simple unri straightforward. Her Job was simply to be a second memory for her em—ployer, There was no doubt that Matthews was pleased with his new secretary; and Joan was delighted with the success she had made. The typing and shorthand came quitc‘ easily; not once had Matthews com—i plaincd. - At Wimbledon, the Jacksons were preparing for their trip abroad, and

when she reached home at nlghL Joan's mlnd was qulckly filled. There was thls to get. for Babs and for Fellrclty, this to remember for Dick, who was being harnessed at his oftlce wlth the last mlnute detalls of the jun which he was going 10 superlnleml, and who hardly seemed to have tinn.‘ to eat, his meals. Through It all, however, the great—est. good temper rclgnrd. It was re—markahlc, Joan thought, that. she had never onrc scrn the smnhlanvc at a quarrel hetwcon Ft'lll‘tty and lllrk In the four months and nun-e that she had burn at \\7lnthlcdnlr She \'t(‘\\'— ed their going; with a panar ot' l'ogrvt; it. had been very easy while she, had been able to luck on Park \'i(‘\\' as a home. What would it. lm like when she was rrally alone? She tnld ln‘rscll’ that l-\'rr.\thin:.: had tnrnr‘d Hut, so \\'nmlrrtully, until now, that thrrc was no t'vasun at all why it shouldn't continue to (in su. Ir Felicity was worried nt thv prnspect. or luring Joan in London with—out. anyone tn ltern a watchful (an: ml hrr, shr said nothing. Ff‘lit’tt)’ did not bellow in \\'ul‘l"\'iltg her slslvr. .loan was vapahlr and l'nntldrnl. san knrw Ihr dangers \\'hi|‘tl lurked in tho rlt)‘, although she was Inn halthy minded tn lot thrnl wnrry ln‘r; and Mllll wnnmn lmrw that lmndon was the sat'ost plane in tht' wnrld, In'l)\'j[(ud mm wanlud to In- Hal‘r. Juan was rhenrud t'l'msidot‘ahly by Frltt'ity's rm-anragmnmtt. There was (Inn thing which had tn he dnnn ln‘l‘ure thr .tawlisnns lnl't ling» land for lhn llanal')’ lslnnds: .lnnn had to ho rhund sultahlr' at-rmnnn‘udalinn.l 'l‘hn two Slslrrs disrnssml lllis sx‘wral tinws. 'l‘hvrn worn \‘aritllts as‘sm-ia-tlnns whm'v .lnan wnnld ho lunlmdl :lHl‘l‘ all right. ltlllv llt‘illlt‘l‘ Ht lln-Inl wrro sure that shr‘ wullhl Im happy] Nor did ”my want hr‘r tn talu- a rumn,‘ furnished, and ln‘m'ldc for herself. (To be cuntlnncd.) ‘