PAID IN FULL

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21215, 11 September 1940, Page 5

PAID IN FULL

NEW SERIAL STORY

by H. S. Sarbert

CHAPTER VI (Continued) “I’m not arguing with you,” he told John. “I can only tell you that this thing would not have happened if I had had any say in the matter.” Later that day Harry was able to talk to his father. It was late in the afternoon when David went into his son’s room. Viola was on duty, but she slipped away when Harry’s lather came in. The two men looked at each other, then Harry stretched out his hand. “Hallo—Dad!” he said “Hallo—son!” Just that simple greeting between them—the greeting that they had used so often. “I’m sorry,” Harry went on. “All —my fault.” “I wouldn’t say that, lad. Thank God you’re going to get all right again! How are you feeling?” Harry smiled wanly. “Bit—weakish!” he said. “That’s only to be expected, lad. What about the head?” “Aches a bit,” Harry answered. “You’re not the sort to say ‘I told you so,’ are you, Dad? You never used to do that in the—old days, when I’d made a—fool of myself over something about which you had warned me previously. I let you down on that —appointment and came here instead, and it looks as if I’ve —l’ve—got my—punishment.” “We don’t want to think about it that way, Harry boy. You’re with friends, and it’s all going to turn out well.’*

A slight pause, and then: “Where’s Carrie?” Harry asked. “Carrie?” “Yes. She was with me. She must have been hurt ” “She wasn’t hurt much, only shaken. The doctor assured me pf that. I think she’s up at the Hall.” “I’d like to see her,” Harry muttered, and then: “But don’t send for her, Dad. I don’t want her worried in any way. She must feel pretty bad about all this. Poor Carrie! She wasn’t—feeling very well in the first place, that’s why we went off for the day. She had been ordered a—change by her doctor. I—l‘d like someone sent just to see that she is all right, Dad. Send her some flowers for me, will you, with my love? I should write her a note, but one hand went to his forehead. David leaned forward, eager above all things that nothing should upset his son, remembering what the doctor had said on this point. “Ifr; all right, old man, I’ll see to everything for you,” he responded. “Don’t worry about anything.” “Good for you, Dad,” Harry whispered. “I knew you’d see to it for me!” Carrie Leaves For London As it happened, however, there was no need for David to send word to Carrie Lucas. Half an hour later she called. She did not look as if she had been suffering much. She seemed little worse for her ordeal. She was smartly dressed, and there was a car waiting for her outside. A friend was taking her back to London.

She was taken to Harry’s room, and, although she had been warned by Viola that she must.not excite the patient in any way, that was precisely what she proceeded to do. “Harry, I shall never forget it — never!” she declared. “I just lost control of the steering, although I did my best; and then, I was thrown out. I think I must have fainted for a few moments, and when I came round and saw you laying there in the roadway, so still—oh, I can’t explain my feelings to you! It just seemed as if it were the end of everything. Oh, Harry darling, you don’t blame me for what happened, do you? If you only knew how I have suffered ”

Standing back in the shadow, Viola’s lips curled a little. She could not help that little sneer. There was something so very insincere, so utterly selfish about this other girl. All the time she was thinking only of herself. She wanted only to talk about what she had suffered. She wanted his pity for her. And she had escaped scot-free. It was Harry who had suffered. Viola went out of the room then, although she did not close the door after her. She was on duty. She had to look after Harry. She had the doctor’s orders about certain things.

Harry patted Carrie’s hand. f “Don’t think any more about it, darling,” he whispered. “But I can’t help it, Harry, I shall always think about it—l know I shall, to my dying day! You know j the dreadful state my nerves are in, i and this has done them the worst ] possible harm. lam going to Loni don now, specially to see my own I doctor ” | “Carrie, darling—you don’t mean I “I mean that I’m feeling just too awful for words,” Carrie cried, “and : the black looks I receive here don’t I help me. Oh, they all hate me. ! Harry! I know that—and you know i it ” He shook his head. “No, no, Carrie —that isn’t true,’ he said. “You mustn’t think that. You mustn’t let such thoughts take root in your heart. Dad is going to love you as I do; he ” “Your father would much rather you married Viola Winn—and she’s making the most of her opportunity, isn’t she?” Carrie stated angrily. “She's your nurse—or thinks she : iS ” 1 “Carrie! I couldn’t help being brought here, and it’s pretty decent of Viola and her grandfather to allow me to stay ” “Well, I couldn’t stop here. The very atmosphere of the place seems to stifle me. Oh, I’m sorry, Harry .—but that’s how I l'eel about it, and I'm sure they all hate me.” “Carrie, I love you, darling—with all my heart, with all my soul! And my people are going to love you, too! Come and kiss me. darling, won’t you? You haven't done that yet!” (To be continued dally)