The Troubled Journey

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 18898, 29 May 1936, Page 4

The Troubled Journey

IVIOPIIUIoan Martin cannot "get on" with than] her stepmother. The other Martin childrsn. Felicity and Jimmy. feel the same. but it is easier for them. as Felicity is married and living in London. and “lan II away at school. At last Joan revolts. and goes to live With Felicity. She attends I rivate commercial school owned by Deng Graham. a Ount widower. and later is successful gimmmng a post as secretary to Geoh Matthews, head of the vast commerenterprise or Matthews and Wyatt. Munwhile. avarice hls bitten very deeply into Janet Martin's mind. She hates bu ltl‘pchlldren. Ind plans to hurt them in every we! she can. i relic ty’s usbsnd loos abroad to super"lO en sngineerin, Job. and Felicity aeWIIIDINOI in. A ter seeing them on at Soulllm‘fton. Jean is surprised to and Derek rshatn walnut to run back to London. CHAPTER XVl.—(~Continued.) Then Jacques swung out of the once, brushing past Joan roughly. Joan could hear him breathing hard between clenched teeth. As the door closed behind him she looked at her employer. She had only seen Geoffrey Matthews look like that once before. When he had sat in his study, looking ahead or him, he had seemed hope less. lle seemed hopeless now. His eeys were very hard. but there was an air of despondency about him which seemed to sting Joan. lie turned towards her. smiling with an effort. “l'm sorry you saw him." he said. “I needn‘t ask you to keep that fact to yourself. And. Miss Martin—if You‘re wise, you‘ll try and ilnd another ob.“ Joan was dumbfounded. Never tor a moment had she thought to hear those words from Matthews almsslf. She had laughed when Dorothy had uttered them. but ‘Dol'othy obviously had good reason. Joan managed to keep her face under control. “While there‘s work to do here." she said, “I‘d like to do it, Mr Ma.t-' lhewa." That smile which she had seen once before on ills face was there again. There was a curious mix—ture of grlmness and softness in his expression, as he said: "You're really one of us. aren't you. Miss Martini" Joan-went red. It was almost as if he had been speaking of her love tor l-lalph. Matthews smiled again. but his manner grew more brisk. “Anyhow, there will be plenty to do for the next week or two. and we‘d better make a start." Joan fetched her notebook. and took down his dictation. She worked hard during the day. but all the time she was wondering what that interview meant. She was very nearly certain, now. but she hated to admit it. But she guessed that Matthews and Wyatt were insolvent. She knew what a terrible business that would mean. . The firm was one of the largest in the country. It had fingers in al—most every manual pie. if Mat—ihews and Wyatts went bankrupt. deans. perhaps hundreds of smaller firms would suffer as badly. Josh was very anxious for the next few deys. Curiously enough. she did not pause to consider her own position. If! she had done. she would have realised i that Matthews' advice was sound. She was entirely dependent on her earnedl income. and if she lost the Job at Matthewa and Wyatts. she would veryl soon be pennllrss. Sut she could notn bring herself to look at it like that.! She seemed to feel that she was help- i in; Ralph. if only indirectly. Shei could not desert him. nor his father. at a time of crisis. 0n the following day Geoffrey Mat—thews dictated several letters to her which confirmed the worst. Strangely enough. this followed a conversation with Ralph which was one of the first which Joan had put‘ through since that day \"hen ”19M had declared their love for each other. and then had admitted the hopelessnew of that love. Randi llml sounded grim. and h“ had spoken quite formally to her. Soon i after the conmrsailon. his father had called her into his otlloe. and shl!‘ had taken letters ilddrl‘ssrd to sevrrnL important business colleagues. and also to the Bankruptcy Buildings. ’ It would almost certainly mean :1 trial; and the verdict would W‘m'ilbll‘ he one of guilty. Geoil’roy Matthews and Ralph would be itllprisoned——The thought haunted her. The older man spoke again. “ We can only do our best." he said. quietly. "i think you‘d better get along now. Miss Martin. Be here as early as you can in the morning. in case there‘s some urgent work." Joan nodded. and went away. I Site was more worried than she had ever been in her life. The simple fact was that Ralph was in danger of imprisonment. The man she loved needed her—and she was tied to another man. All that night Joan fought with herself. Could she desert Ralph? Could she leave him to flgllt this great battle aloug‘l Was it fair that she should? She loved him; he lolell her. Her plane was by his silo. But there was llrrck. so ill and pale. a Derek who seemed to depend on her for his very life. She «limuiwl to think of what would lmmlcn if she told llilll that she could not go on with It. Silo realised that she must tii‘L‘itil‘ one way or the other inllll'liinlcly. If she went to llalph. all» would not in, aide to draw back. afterward», Andi if she kept away, Silt‘ \millli lll.‘\t‘l' 110‘ allle tn fol-Kin- ln-rsrlf. ‘ Eventually she took the lino. ..2' least resistance. For lill‘ moment it \"us tinrnslrst «nurse. iillimilull In iilt‘ inn: l‘llll it would musr morn ll'ulllllr. liiii ‘ill‘ could not write in llm‘vk, .ilbi then, any more than she i‘olllil keep away from iiiiillil. She was up earlier lll.ln ll~illli. next morning, and stir rwm-lwd lill‘ unlm» \u‘ll lu-l'lll‘c niln- u'i'liu‘lx. lu-uil‘rr) .\lalthe\\s mun»- ill soon .ll‘tv‘l-“ui'ih. and she knew illllllt‘liiilli‘i} llml tinonly (‘iliiiii'i‘ iiil'i'l‘ l|.nl l‘\t‘l‘ ilpp“ had gone. “ We‘ll need tlmsc lriiurs after all." hi‘ said \\l'li}. Joan Silllit‘ii. .‘ls l'ilnll'rl'nlly .is she could. Silo lunk i'il' Illlv‘li it‘iii‘l‘.‘ into him_ sun" .‘lfi4'i‘ it‘ll l’l‘im‘ix. and watched iilr I'\|il'l‘~‘3il|ll all his l'.ll't‘ as he read illrm tin-unuh lwi'uz'i- sisnins them. Hr k-‘lvi slll'lll‘lsillul) l‘llm'l'i'ul. “ That‘s lhul." ill‘ \llii. " \\‘t-‘\i- lmrl a good ‘l'}. lull l'i!‘l‘lilli‘i.lll(‘i‘\' \\i‘l‘i' lflalllsl us. hr—y'il'tl lrclinr dt‘lH't‘l‘ these by Mini. .\1i.~.~ Marlin. and carry on to )mr- lunch it’irx'wnlzh." Joan iluildcd. and pill on her hat nod was.

SERIAL STORY

By MARGARET GLENN.

lier heart was [beating fast as she' left the building. She was tempted: to like the letters to the Embankment and throw them into the murkyl waters of the Thames. ‘but no useful purpose would be served by doing} that. But she hated it each time shei walked into a building and handed a letter to an attendant. The moment she stepped into the Bankruptcy Buildings. Carey Street, almost suffocated her. But she finished the Job at last. it was a quarter to one, she noticed. She had time to do the thing which! she had determined on the previous. night. She went to the nearest underground station, and booked to Regent's Park. Regent's Park,-——the place Where she had first seen Ralph. She felt happier than she had been for a long time, despite her anxiety. She was going to him. to tell him that she loved him and that she must stand by him now that he needed her so badly. Afterwards, she told herself. she could think about Derek. Afterwards—— She knew she was doing somethinttr which would make her hate herself, but something inside her seemed to drive her on. She could not resist the temptation. \Vhen the train drew into Regent‘s Park Station she felt a thrill of real excitement. Ralph‘s house was not far from the station. and she walked up the long. wide drive towards the front door just after one—fifteen. The door was opened by the solemnmfaced butler whom she had seen when she had last visited the house. “Is Mr Ralph in?" [she asked. The butler bowed gravely, and drew back into the hall. “ He is in the library, Miss Martin. I will tell him you are here.” Joan marvelied at the fact that. the man remembered her name, after such a long interval. and she followed him into the small reception room at- the right of the hall. iier heart beat fast as she waited. After an interval that seemed endless, she heard footsteps coming along the hall. They were heavy, but there was a lightness about them; it was almost as if Ralph was hurrying to—wards her. The door of the room opened sud-l denly. and he stood in front of her. Neither of them spoke for a full minute. They looked at each other, and a message seemed to flash from the man to the girl. Joan told herself that he looked haggard and worn. He was suffering ,hadly; she was more glad than ever i that she had come. ‘ Ralph was telling himself that the ‘miracte which he had never expected had really happened. But he was a ilittle afraid. l ” Have you come from—the office?" Ihe asked. and his voice quivered. 1 Joan shook her head. “I've come to you," she said. Just for a moment an expression of disbelief steamed in Ralph‘s eyes, but he saw that she was speaking the truth. He reached her in a single 5111410. and his arms went round her. CHAPTER XVII. i “I couldn't keep away," She Whié'! pered, five minutes later. “All this itiorrible business. Ralph, its worrying you, and you—you needed me.“ “Never more so," said Ralph, and she saw, with a glorious sense of gladncss, that there was a tightness in his] eyes which- had not been there before. “i‘ve hated it without you, Joan. lYou'll stand with ine,‘ won‘t you?" Joan nodded. Words would noti come. - I “ it will be had," said Ralph, speak.ing with an eit'ort. “it might even ‘mean pt'ison—" , "i know,“ said Joan, with a little smile. “Your father told me. Ralph. l Hut it doesn‘t mutter—provided I know that you love me.” “And you love me,” said Ralph Matthews. Joan knew, in that moment, that she had done the right thing. But it‘VL‘n then she hated to think of Derek‘s reaction to her actions. What. inould he say? How could she tell ‘ him? With Derek in Sussex, there was nu need to break the news immediately, and Joan felt that. she could safely take a week or two at breathing—spare. in any case she would have to he sure that he was well again, he—t‘ore she told him that the engagement was a mistake, that there was someone else. If Dorothy Sayers suspected anything, she kept it to herself. The following week—end Joan sent a note to Derek, telling him of the crash Inhich had overtaken the firm, and asking him to forgive her for not Visiting him. " There’s so much to do." she said in her letter, "and the bankruptcyl people are worrying me all the time.‘ They want to clear the matter up quickly, and they‘ve asked me to work‘ over the week-end. in great haste., dear, l Joan. She felt that the letter lacked warmth. but they had frequently written to each other, in the old days, and her note hail the same friendliness as it would have possessed six months before. She dld at least have the satisfaction of knowing that she had told the truth. For the Ilrst two weeks after the crash, site “as liusicr than She had mcr been. ltiilt'crenl onlrinls were i-onlinuully asking questions, and she worked until seven and eight o'clock almost mn-t‘y l‘\\‘llill!<. ’l'lio Matthews. father and son, did mvrylhing ]llt.~.~l'itit‘ to help the inquiry into the i‘ulupany's affairs, and Joint kin-w that their assistance would in: :t strong point in their favour il' lho lmnlirllplr)’ proceedings (lid li|‘\l‘iiyp illi-t a trial. Ralph Sl‘l‘llli‘ii i~in~eri'lil; in» had told ili> lather alioul Joan, and lwoi'rrc} h.nl smiled that grim smile ol’ his. and had said: " You linwn‘t made much of a K‘.li|‘il my dn-nr, iilil l‘in .L'l.ul Ralph‘s shown such good tastr." Joan smiled, \er)‘ happy at that romplnm-nl. Hut site “as still \‘rry anxious. \l‘li‘r thrci- weeks. the al'l‘uirs were wr) nearly ready for r\:unin:ilion. 'l’lie >lll' \\l|i<'li liod lwen created in lithino.“ i-nrli-s \\‘.l~ dwm down. The rr—purrussiom ol' the Matthews and \\'3‘nti llulurvs were not so «'oihidcraldu us it had lwcn l'r-li'vd. llalph had him” right “11-‘n lp~ had mild that. another )i-.i:'. without Inli-rl‘ul‘l'xn'v, would i|i|\i' soon iiil'l” ull iill‘li' ii-vt qguhp lint for the man .ltii‘qur‘s, and his blackmail. thrrc “ould haw born no trouhlr, l'or ll'J-Lllll' rise hail suspcciwl the complicated dut'aluatious. it was a month after the first hor-

rated. rible days that Joan saw Ralph and his father in the study of the Regent’s Park house. Both of them looked grim and tired, hut there was something in their manner which told Joan they had good news. Ralph told her. “ We’re both absolutely broke,” he said, quietly. ‘We mean that, Joan. All this house, the furniture, everything, will be sold, for it’s all in Dad’s name, or my own, and we’re both partners in the business. But there won’t be any criminal proceedings.” Joan’s face was radiant. “Thank heavens for that!” she exclaimed. “ Oh, Ralph, I was so terribly afraid!” “ l know,” he said quietly. “ But we’ll be able to face things now, dear, without any worry about that. Geoffrey chuckled a little. “ But you’ll have plenty of other things to worry about,” he said. “ Ralph’s never known what it is to be short of a pound or two, and he’s going to.” The younger couple laughed. “ We’ll manage,” they said. !0n the evening of the following day, a Friday, Ralph said quietly: “ It won’t have to be long before you talk to Derek, my dear. It’s not fair to him—and it’s not fair to us.” Joan’s lips tightened. She hated the Job, but she knew that it would have to be done. She bad spent -one week-end at the cottage where Mrs Sayers was looking after Derek, and, unhappy as she had been inwardly, she had kept it from Derek. She would have told him the truth, but for the fact that lie seemed to bo worried about himself and about the future. lie was better physically, however; it was mentally that he seemed to suffer. llis sense of humour seemed to have gone, and he was inclined to get bad-tempered, a thing which had never happened before the accident. Joan was surprised, bul she said nothing. She told herself that he probably noticed some difference in her, and that he was touchy in consequence. Uertainly that week-end was not one of the happiest that she had -spent. Dorothy's mother seemed to understand her. Mrs Sayers walked with her to the station, on tho Sunday evening—Derek was resting, for he had been walking during the afternoon, and he was very easily tired—and said: “ Tilings rarely stay black all the time, lass. Don't worry too much.” Joan pressed her arm, gratefully. But she dreaded the lime when she would have to tell Derek tho truth. All these things Hashed through her mind us Ralph said that she would have to talk to Derek soon. “ There’s no sense in putting it off any longer,” she said, quietly. “ I’ll go down to-morrow, dear, and ” “Shall 1 come?” asked Ralph, as she paused. Joan shook her head. “ I think I’d better manage this myself.” she said. “ Afterward 1 shall always want you. darling.” Ralph's lips crushed hers. (To be continued.)