The Troubled Journey

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19890, 20 May 1936, Page 4

The Troubled Journey

SERIAL STORY

By MARGARET GLENN.

SYNOPSIS. Joan Martin cannot “get on” with Janet, her stepmother. The other Martin children. Felicity and Jimmy, reel the same, but It is easier Tor them, as Felicity is married and living in London, and Jimmy Is away at school. At last Joan revolts, and goes to live with Felicity. She attends a private commercial school owned by Derek Graham, a young widower, and later is successful in obtaining a post as secretary to Geoffrey Matthews, head or the vast commercial enterprise of Matthews and Wyatt. Meanwhile, avarice has bitten very deeply into Janet Martin’s mind. She hates her stepchildren, and plans to hurt them In every way she can. Felicity’s husband goes abroad to supervise an engineering job, and Felicity accompanies him. After seeing them off at Southampton, Joan is surprised to find Derek Graham waiting to run back to London. CHAPTER X.—(Continued). She saw the sudden expression of relief on her employer’s face as he listened. Then: “Yes,” he said, “she Is here. Hold a minute.” She was there! That could only mean herself 1 Matthews confirmed the thought which had sprung into the girl’s mind. “Here's a call for you, Miss Martin ” A dozen questions flashed through •Toan’s mind. Who could be telephonj mg to her, at Geoffrey Matthews’ private house? ] She did not recognise the woman’s i voice at the other end of the wire, for a moment. “Oil, my dear!” exclaimed the speaker, ‘‘l’m so glad I’ve found you. I’ve treid almost everywhere.” “Mrs Gregory!” Joan gasped, as she recognised the landlady at Wimbledon. “That’s right,” said Mrs Gregory, and there was a slight pause. A foreboding of trouble filled Joan’s mind. “I—there’s a telegram from Danchester,” came the next words. “I opened it, Joan, as you weren’t in.” “What is it, please?” Joan’s voice was very tense. “ft asking you to go to see your father, at once,’ said Mrs Gregory. “•He’s ill.” Joan went pale. She was unconscious of Geoffrey Matthews’ keen scrutiny ns she answered. “Thanks very much, Mrs Gregory. If I don’t get home, you will know that I’ve gone straight up north." “Try no;, to worry,” said the friendly little woman at the other end of the wire. Joan murmured something, and said good-bye. As she replaced the receiver she was aware, for the first lime, of her employer’s steady gaze. “Trouble?” he asked. Joan nodded. Her voice was even, but she was very pale. “I’m afraid I shall have to ask you to let -me have a few days from the office.” she said. “My father is seriously ill.” Matthews nodded, without hesitation. He seemed to have forgotten his own worries. “Of course,” he said. “Did I hear you mention ‘up north’?” Joan nodded. “Danchester,” she said, briefly. “Hmm!” murmured Matthews. "Well, you’d better have a snack here, Miss Martin, and I'll get Roberts to drive you to the station. It’ll be Euston, won’t it? Or Pa*dlngton?” “Paddington,” said Joan. Her employer nodded, and rang a little bell on his desk. Almost, be-solemn-faced man entered the room fore the echoes had died d.w\n, a and stepped noiselessly towards the desk. “Coffee and sandwiohes for Miss Martin,” said Matthews quickly. And ask Roberts to get the car out, Simpson.” “Very good, sir,” said the butler. He turned away, and then stopped, sudenly. “Excuse me, sir, but I think Roberts is out—it’s his night off.” Matthews frowned, and before he could speak, his son entered the room. This time Joan needed no telling who it was. There was neither fear nor anxiety on Ralph Matthews’ face as he came in. and he was one of the most clean-cut young men that Joan had ever seen. There was something compelling about his grey eyes as he looked at her with a smile. His father signalled to the butler, and addressed Ralph. “Run Miss Martin to Paddington, Ralph, will you? Roberts is out, and she has an urgent summons to Dan Chester?” Ralph nodded, and smiled. For the life of her Joan could not understand the change in his manner. “Of course,” he said. Then quickly: “Danchester —and T have to be In Liverpool to-morrow afternoon, haven’t I? That’s quite near.” Matthews nodded, and a grim little smile played about the corners of his lips. “Yes,” he admitted. “You certainly must be up there.” Ralph looked from his father to the girl, smilingly. “If Miss Martin wouldn’t mind," he said, “I could run up with her tonight. I’ve everything ready that 1 need, and I shall save time.” Joan burst out impulsively. “If you oould,” she cried, “I’d be immensely grdrfeful, Mr Matthews. Every minute counts.” Ralph’s lips tightened. For the first time he realised that an emergency of some seriousness must have developed for his fathers secretary to leave London at the beginning of the week, lie nodded, and turned to the . door. -I ll be ready in twenty minutes, he promised. A few minutes lalcr, the butler rc- ' turned, laden with a tray containing sandwiches and coffee. He set them in front of Joan with as much re--pect as if she had been Matthews daughter, not Ills secretary, and retired, with a slight how. Matthews senior was smiling, a little grimly. ; -Tm glad we’ll he aide lit help you. Miss Marlin.” Ju* said. “1 hope you find vuur father on Hie mend when you reach Danchester.” could' 1 hardly talk, just then and she certainly could nut eat ; ,nv ..f the sandwiches which were in inml of her. A cup of coffee gave hm new strength, however, j l| was just after nine o'clock wher .loan left I lie Megenl’s Park house, with Ralph Matthews at her side, j lie was driving an Alvis Sports calunnilv enough, and Joan remerriberec the clean-cut. pleasant young man wh had >o!\ ed the mystery of Iho Morris which wouldn't go. She sighed The pleasant hours of the week-enc seemed a long wav off, now. ! >he wondered how her father j would be when .ho reached Dani shelter. Id her ov>n mind, she fell

that he must be seriously ill. Janet would not have wired unless It was really Imperative that she should go north. Ralph Matthews seemed to realise her preoccupation. He said little, and lijg handled the car with the expertness of. long practice. It went along evenly, but several times the speedometer touched sixty miles an hour. After a while, the acute unhappiness which Joan had felt eased a little. Her companion smiled at her, and she returned the smile without an effort. “Sure you wouldn’t ~ like another coffee?” he asked her, after they had been driving for nearly two hours. “I’d much rather get to Danohester,” she said. “Unless you would like to —” “Not a bit,” broke in Ralph, quickly, “I’m yours to command for to-night, Miss Martin.” Joan smiled her thanks. It was at that moment that she remembered the words which Dorothy had used concerning him on the previous Saturday. Something about being—or imagining himself to be, a Don Juan. He certainly looked the part. She found herself, unconsciously, comparing him with Derek Graham. There was nothing homely about Ralph Matthews, although he possessed all the strength of feature which characterised Derek- If there was a point of similarity between the two men It was in the way in which their lips turned upwards at tfie corners. Joan took herself to task. The comparison was absurd. Whether Ralph’s reputation was deserved or not, that night he was courtesy and consideration itself. They reached the outskirts of Danchester soon after two o’clock. He took her to West Side, and, as he escorted her to the door of her father’s house, said quietly: “I shall put up at the Station Hotel for the night, Miss Martin, and I’ll be there until twelve o’clock to-mor-row. If there’s anything at all I can do lor you, please let me know.” Joan nodded gratefully, and watched him stride back to his car. Then she pressed the bell-push of the door which had been her own front door for so many years. There was an immediate sound of footsteps. The fact that the servants were still up, at that_Jime of night, was proof enough that her father’s illness was really serious. To her surprise, McPherson, the chauffeur answered her ring. He He touched his forhead, and his dour features spilt into a smile. “I’m richt glad to see ye,” Miss Joan,” he said. “Wull ye come richt up?” Joan paled at that bluff greeting. “How is he?” she asked, and she could hardly hear herself speak. She knew from the expression on McPherson’s face that the report would be very bad. “Weel, lass,” said the old servant, “I’ll be verra surprised If he lasts the nicht. But dinna ye worrit. He’ll be ready to meet his Makes, will John Martin.” Joan was too full for words as she went upstairs. As she reached the door of the bedroom It opened, and her stepmother entered the passage. Janet looked very much the same as she had when Joan had been at home. There was a grimness about her at that moment, and her eyes did not soften as she saw Joan. “How are you?” she asked stiffly. “I thought it wiser to send for you.” Joan nodded. “Thanks,” she said. She felt that she could not say another word. The coldness of that greeting appalled her. In the circumstances she had expected her stepmother to forget the past, but those was no suggestion of forgetting in Janet Martin’s manner. Joan entered the bedroom. A nurse was sitting In an easy chair next to the bed. Joan hardly saw her, although she was vaguely aware that she was there. All she saw was the face of her father against the pillows. Old John Martin's lips were blue, but they were set in a soft, placid smile. Ills eyes were closed, but there seemed a peacefulness about him which caught at Joan’s heart. She crept towards him. lie was lying very still, but he sensed her approach. His eyes flickered, and stayed open_for a moment. Joan bent over him, and she saw his lips curve in that old, lovable way. “Joan,” he murmuredT and his band strayed across tbe coverlet. She let him lake her lingers in his frail hand. “I’m going,” he -said very softly. •‘Don’t fret for me, Joan, because I’m happy. Look after —Jimmy.” “I will,” murmured Joan brokenly. “Oh —Dad 1” “Remember, I’m glad I’m going,” said Old John Martin. Joan leaned forward, and pressed her lips against his cool forehead. He smiled again, and then his eyes closed. She felt the pressure of his hands relax, and he uttered a deep sigh. She hardly knew how long she stayed there, but -she was conscious, soon, of a huud on her shoulder- She half turned, to llnd herself looking into the face of the nurse. “Come away, my dear,” the nurse said quietly. ‘"lie’ll be sleeping—and lie’ll be waking in a better world than this.” (To be continued.)