SERIAL STORY.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20276, 19 August 1937, Page 4

SERIAL STORY.

By STANLEY PORTAL HYATT.

CHAPTER I. A Voice on the Telephone. i " What arc you IhiiUving about. r dear?” John Sc tun broke what had i beeu a ions' t>l*ell of silenee, during which the dusk had turned to darkness, leaving the glow from the lire the sole light in the tiny drawing room. The noise of the tral'lle in Kensington High Street came faintly • lo lheir ears—the Hat was nearly at | the lop of the mansions—buL except ; for that, il seemed almost as if the j two in that room might be alone in 1 the world, so entirely were' they j wrapped up in one another. "What are you thinking about?” 5 Seton repeated Ills question. ! The girl looked up, and, as she did ; so, the firelight seemed lo turn her ; red-brown hair to dark gold. “ About ! you, of course,” she answered simply, • " about our parting to-morrow and the months of anxiety which must follow.” Seton laid his hand on hers. “ Don’t look at it in that light, Jocelyn. Think of the other aspect of it—this is October, and by March I shall be back; then you and I will have no more partings.” ; Jocelyn gave a little' shiver. “ Perhaps—l don't know—Oh, Jack, T suppose I'm upset to-night but I wish you weren’t going to Hast Africa. I know you must, of course, that it's your work as a mining engineer, but if anything happened to you on the Mammoth mine—” He tried to comfort her, knowing that she was on the verge of a breakdown. “ The Mammoth Is only one of the places I am going to visit, and I shall not he there more than a couple' of days. Besides, it should bring me luck, because it was through you I got. the commission lo report on the mine." " i know, I know.’ she answered, ‘‘and that’s why I’m so afraid. If anything happened to you through having known me—” she shuddered at Hie thought. " you met Lord Whvmnir here and Lord Whymnn, or his company, gave you this commission.” He attempted lo laugh away her j fears. " Poor Whyman. You always seem rough on him, yet lie’s a good fellow, although 1 don’t think he's i much use as a director of mining companies.” Jocelyn shook her head. “ 1 don’t tike him. 1 never did like him: and, If T had known In lime, I would have stopped von accepting’ his commission. Still, it is 100 late now. I suppose,” and she sighed wearily. 11 Yes, as a point of professional honour, 1 couldn’t back out now," he replied gravely. ” But everything will be right, dearest, I’m sure It will. I’ve been out there three times be'fore, and then I had no one waiting for me to come back. I was quite alone in the world. Now, I shall be infinitely more careful.” She stood up and faced him. “ And I have only you, really, only you to care for. You know how matters are between mother and Oh, Jack, if you didn’t or if you changed—” Seton took her In his arms and stopped the words. “ I shall never change— ’’ he began, but at that moment there was the sound of the front door being opened, and then Mrs Drake, a tall stately lady, with the remains of a beauty which had once been almost as great as that of her only daughter, entered the room, switching on tlie electric light as she di<l so. 41 Really, one would think our light had been cut off,” she said querulously. ” The hall is in darkness, 100. You might think about these matters, Jocelyn, when the' servant is out. . . Oh, good evening, John,” and she extended a cold hand, then added In a tone which made the man go hot with anger, " I wish yon would see to llin dinner. Jocelyn. That’s the worst of being able to afford only one wretched maid, who Is always wanting an evening out.” I

Jocelyn left the room without a word. Mrs Drake sank into an arm chair; whilst the man stood with his back to the lire in grim silence, hating tile woman in front of him. ' •* John.” Mrs Drake's voice broke j in on his thoughts, “ 1 understand that Mr Lawson's companies are usually • very successful, and that this Mam- ; moth mine is one of his.” | The in in nodded, and she went on, I ‘Then, if that is so, the Mammoth j shares will probably be worth a Jut o'.' money?” i .-cion nodded again, “Yes, if (he mine is good. Thai is what I am going lo fin cl out for them. 1 can say nothing yet, but if my report is favourable, they will float a big company.” “And could one get shares?” “ I suppose so.” lie replied unwillingly, “though the promoters would probably take most for themselves and their friends. If you applied for a thousand, you might get a hundred.” “ So it all depends on your report, on what you say?” Mrs Drake was evidently determined to make sure. Seton answered a little impatiently, “ Yes. and unless 1 am certain the mine is rich, !• shall advise them not to float it. But if you are thinking of speculating Mrs. Drake, I warn you to leave the Lawson companies alone. They are dangerous things io gamble in, especially for a woman.” The lady folded her iiands complacently. “ I do not call it gambling. I understand business. I may tell you, in confidence, that recently I have made over a hundred pounds in this way,” then her eyes flashed, “ I must have money. My lain husband, Coli onel Drake, left* a most disgraceful will, puffing me in flic hands of trustees—at least 1 have a co-trustee—and I have only ilm miserable, income to manage on. The capilal is my daughter's !” .--•lnn looked al her keenly. lie had often heard her grievance before, and ! knew I hat much of Ilm bitterness towards Jocelyn arose from it; hut lie had never suspected her of gambling. M..rc Ilian ever, lie wished lie were not forced to leave Jocelyn. ill six moulds’ lime, he would ho back, to marry and lake up a permanent post at Home, but, meanwhile, there were these oilier cngagdiiciils which must be fulfilled. pealed. " I know my own business.” the lady's voice was almost rude now. '* I will beg you 11 :>t lo interfere, John." “ / am sorry I cannot ask you to remain to dinner, as the maid is out.” The door opened, and Jocelyn heard the latter part of the speech. She went very white and gave a little gasp, but she said nothing until they were in the hall, there she broke down. “ Oh, Jack, everything seems to be going wrong. If only you need, not go! The name of that dreadful mine seems to haunt me, somehow.” “ You will laugh at your fears when I come back.” he answered with an attempt at gaiety. “ Everything will be right, so long as you do not change.” She looked at him indignantly, through her tears. “ You know I shall never, never, never do that," she answered. “ Someone wants you on fhe telephone, sir,” the night porter at the hotel announced when Solon came in. “ lie's rung you up a dozen times l should Iliink. lie wouldn't give his number. . . . Ah, there’s the bell. I expect it's him again . . . .Yes. sir." The voice which spoke to Seton was thin and squeaky. “Is that. John Seton?. . . All right . . . No, I'm no one you know, hut I want, to warn you. . . The Mammoth mine is a. queer place. Why did Williamson. who was lo have made Ihe report. disappear? Bn careful of them all, and. most of all of a lady there . . . One thing more, don't forget vou're leaving Lord Why,nan at home,'then, before Selon could say a word, the speaker rang off. (To Im continued.)