PAID IN FULL

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21224, 21 September 1940, Page 15

PAID IN FULL

E new serial story =

by H. S. Sarbert

CHAPTER VII.— (Continued) Carrie realised, however, that something momentous was going to happen when, just as they were leaving, Mr Wyman strolled up to them. He bowed to Carrie. ‘‘Good-evening, Miss Lucas!” he said. “Your father is not back yet?” “No,” Carrie replied. “Nor Mr Freeman?” “I don’t think so.” “Ah, quite so! And this gentleman—this is Mr Harry Preston, isn’t it? The Mr Harry Preston we were talking about?” “Yes,” Carrie responded, going very white. “Pleased to meet you, Mr Preston,” the lawyer said dryly. “I should like a few minutes conversation with you—alone, if you don’t mind.” Harry frowned slightly. “Some other time,” he said. “Not tonight.” “I’m afraid I shall have to insist that it is tonight,” Wyman stated. “You have no option—or, at least, only one. You must either talk to me, or the police! It’s for you to choose!” CHAPTER VIII. The Police! The police! Mr Wyman was talking of the police! The frown on Harry’s face deepened. It was plain to see that he was utterly perplexed. Carrie Lucas gave a quick glance at the elder man. She knew what it meant. The net was closing round the man she had betrayed in order to shield her father, and this was the outcome of it. Deep down in her heart, she had been well aware that something like this would be sure to happen. “I think you are allowing yourself a great deal of latitude in adopting this tone to me, Mr Wyman,” Harry said, and he spoke with a certain boyish dignity. “I have done nothing wrong. I have no reason to be scared of the police.” “No? Perhaps not,” the lawyer observed. “We shall see about that after our little talk. And since time is passing quickly, I suggest we should get our talk over at the earliest possible moment.’ “There’s a room upstairs—it’s used as a writing room—which will not be occupied at this time,” Harry stated. “Would you like to come there?” “That will suit me admirably,” Mr Wyman replied. “This is most unpleasant, Carrie,” said Harry, turning to the girl; “but I’m sure you won’t mind waiting just until ” Carrie caught a significant glance from the other man. Like the real coward she was at heart, she wanted to be out of the way if anything really unpleasant was likely to occur. Mr Wyman had promised to keep her name out of it as much as possible, and she could rely on him to keep his promise. But she felt now that she wanted to get away. “I think I’ll go back, Harry, if you don’t mind,” she stated. “If you are to have a business talk, I should be rather in the way, shouldn’t I? At least, I expect Mr Wyman would feel that way about it.” “I certainly think it will be better if Mr Preston and I have our little talk just on our own,” Mi Wyman said. “Then I’ll come on to you afterwards, dear,” Harry told Carrie “I’ll get a taxi for you. Perhaps you’ll wait here for me, Mr Wyman.” The elder man appeared to hesitate for a moment. He had run his quarry down, and he was ready to talk business now. He did not want Harry Preston to elude him, as the others had apparently done. But he decided that there was not much risk of this. Harry would come back all right. So he took a cigarette from his case and lit it, and asked Harry not to be long. “Less than five minutes,” Harry promised. “Although I want to say again that I haven’t the slightest idea what you are getting at. In fact, I very much resent everything you have said. Later on I shall expect an apology!” A slightly grim smile played about the corners of the lawyer’s mouth. “You will get everything that is necessary from me,” he said. “Of that you may be quite sure!” Harry escorted Carrie to the street. He waved aside the commissionaire and hailed a taxicab himself. He placed Carrie inside, and then leaned forward. “Dear one, I’m more sorry than I can say about all this,” he whispered. “But there’s just one thing I’d like to tell you. I'm as much in the dark as you are, and I—l would like to know that you believe in me! Will you tell me that?” “Why, of course I believe in you, Harry darling,” Carrie replied. “There’s a mistake somewhere, and you'll soon be able to put it right. 1 have every confidence about that.” Harry drew a deep breath. “Thank Heaven 9 for that!” he cried. “Your love and trust mean everything to me. New I can go and tackie this Wyman person. I'll I come along to you as soon as our [ talk’s over, sweetheart. Maybe I’ll I be with you within ten minutes or a | quarter of an hour.” 1 The fraction of a pause, and I then: [ "Don't hurry too much, Harry!” Carrie advised. “I mean—l snail quite understand if you don’t come tonight. Tomorrow will be soon enough.” * i'll come tonight if I possibly can,” Harry replied. “Good-bye lor the present.” j He leaned further forward and i kissed her. Carrie responded to I that kiss, for she knew that she was ! expected to do so; that he .would | surely think there was something j wrong if she did not. But, at the I same time, there came a twinge of j conscience, a feeling that she was I giving him a traitor’s kiss. ! After the taxi had gone on its way. Carrie crouched in the corner oi the vehicle, and began to make all sorts of excuses. Nothing would happen to Harry. Nothing could happen to him. Everything was going to be all right. Wyman couldn't possibly do anything to i Harry. (To be continued)