It is dark in the bust

New Zealand Listener, Volume 6, Issue 135, 23 January 1942, Page 24

It is dark in the bust

SYNOPSIS

While seeking a short cut through backblocks bush, David Armstrong discovers the body of a nearby shanty owner, James Collins, strung up on a tree. With Judith Anson, he seeks help at the nearest house, where live George Murray, his nephew John, their housekeeper, Mrs. Marsden, ‘and their guests, a Mr. Graham and his daughter Ann. The inquest reveals that Collins died of luminal poisoning, and that the body was afterwards hanged. Graham is arrested. Evidence against him is (1) He suffered a heavy jail sentence in Australia for a crime for which his secretary Peter Langley, alias Collins, was responsible. (2) He is one of the few men strong enough to have hoisted Collins’ body on to the tree, and on the afternoon of »e murder, complained of overexertion, (3 He claimed to have gone for a solitary walk that afternoon. (4) He is known to have bought a bottle of luminal. Ann refuses to marry Dawid till her father’s name is cleared. But Judith and John are more fortunate in their love, for not even Mrs. Marsden, who has devoted her whole life to John, disapproves. It must be some other worry. that keeps Mrs. Marsden awake at night. CHAPTER XI (Cont’d.) ce OU don’t remember her?" "No, and my uncle never saw her. He didn’t get on with my father, you know." "Yet your father left you with him?" "It was only supposed to ‘be for a year-till I was old enough to be sent to school." " Surely they didn’t send you to school at six?" "No, because my father had died in the meantime and my uncle had become my guardian. He thought six was a bit young to be launched in the world, so he decided to get a suitable housekeeper -a lady and- all that-and keep me with him for a few years." ; * AND that was the beginning of Mrs. Marsden?" "Yes. She came out of the blue and as far as I remember she has never looked any different. What battles we had at first! You see, I’d had a heavenly year alone with my uncle an old Maori housekeeper who spoilte me like mad. I can tell you I hated Marsy for the first few weeks. No wonder, for "I’d grown into a regular little savage and Mar was always calm and civilised and unemotional. She must have come just a few months after my father died." "And she’s been here about twenty years. How marvellous!" "Oh, she’s a good old soul. A bit like a capable sofa cushion." "Not in figure. She’s still a very handsome woman." "No, not in figure. Her boney angles were the only thing I ever had against Marsy. They hurt when you sat on her knee. Not that Mar was ever one for cuddling. No, what I meant about the cushion was that I don’t think I ever saw anyone so superbly negative."

"I think she’s got very positive virtues. She’s the most competent and loyal. person I’ve ever seen, and she’s a lady." "Yes. I suppose she is, though I’ve never thought very much about her before. She’s always been just Marsy. As for being loyal, well, this is her home and her life. She can hardly be persuaded even to go away for a holiday, you know." "She won’t leave you, that’s what it is. Did she ever have any children of her own?" "Good lord, no. Fancy, Marsy doing anything so indelicate as bear a child. I suppose she must be a widow but she seems terribly virginal, not to say oldmaidish to me. I believe I’ve heard, ages ago, that her husband was killed on the honeymoon, and, if you ask me, it was on the first day." "Who's laying down the law about people now? I shouldn’t be surprised if there’s more in Mrs. Marsden: than you've ever dreamed of." "Pooh! You're looking for ‘sortie paradox. You won’t find it in her. Anyway, when you’ve known a person all your life you may be trusted to know»something about them, more eyen then an aspiring young B.A." "Don’t be rude. What was her -Wtkband like? Have you ever heard?" rp "Don’t know a thing about him. She never speaks of him, at least not to me. It’s an old story, you know, and I think she’s forgotten all about him. Her. ovis is this house and this family." ~~ +" "Especially you. You don’t ‘she? mind me, John?" His answer was emphatic, though not in words. "Yd hate her to mind," said» Judith presently. "Mind? Who? What? Not Marsy again? My darling girl, do let’s talk of something a little more interesting. For example, the first moment we can decently slip away from all this drama and. get married." .. ! "Decently — that’s the trouble. It wouldn’t be decent just now. You do feel that, don’t you? Besides, it would be too hard on David." "Oh, damn David." "Well, too hard on everyone. Somehow, it would feel all wrong. No, I simply couldn’t do it just now, John. Yes, yes, of course, you know I want to. Oh dear, here comes the others, and I look the most awful fright." David stared for a minute at his old college friend, and then whistled softly. "Well! For the last four years I’ve watched those plaits in storm and calm. I’ve seen them in the midst of a capping rag and of a debate on Freedom of Speech; seen ’em in the stress of the

exam. room and at a cocktail party. But this is positively the first time I’ve ever seen them ruffled. Now, my dear, come clean with Brother David." But Judith had recovered her poise and merely remarked kindly, " How bright we’re getting! Acting the sleuth thad sharpened those wits we once thought so dull." David sighed heavily. " That’s rightbite the hand that fed you. Who’s idea was the hiking party in the beginning? Mine. And now you turn on me-you who once. for a brief spell-a very brief one. I'm happy to say — I actually thought I was in love with." Ann laughed and interposed. " When you two have finished being rude to each other-please, may I say how awfully glad I am, Judith?" David had a sudden inspiration; now was the moment to carry his love by storm. "Ann, let’s have a double wedding. What a lark! Come, come, none of this hanging back. Coyness is out of date. Take a lesson from Judith. There’s a girl who never hesitated to lay her natural truthfulness -- and her ankle-on the altar of love." HEN Mrs. Marsden came in presently, the dining-room was in an uproar, and even Ann had forgotten her tragedy for the minute. ° David, who was getting the worst ot it, immediately took shelter by her side. "Help. help! Mrs. Marsden, do be peacemaker. You might make a better job of it than you have of chaperoning." Mrs. Marsden did not seem to hear him; her eyes. were fixed upon John, and in them was an inscrutable expression. He came forward quickly and put an arm about her waist. "Marsy, old dear, congratulate me. Come here Judith, and get the parental blessing, so to speak." For a moment the reserve on that quiet face quivered and broke; then she took Judith’s hand quietly in hers and said with all her usual composure, "I am so glad." The two looked at each other with a steady glance of friendliness, but John broke the curious tension of the moment by saying heartily, "Good for you, old girl." Had Judith’s words sunk deeper than he had admitted? Certainly there was something of relief in the tones, and stooping, he gave the housekeeper a hearty kiss; the salute was half in jest, but only half. Some current of feeling between the three of them lent the moment a seriousness which he scarcely understood. So they stood for a second, the other two mere spectators; to Ann, who watched the little scene in astonish. ment, it seemed as if Mrs. Marsden for one brief moment was a different person -vivid, alive, filled with a _ strange passion. It was only a moment. The next, she stooped and began methodically picking up the welter of scraps that covered the floor. "Dear me, it’s like a Dorcas meeting where there’s been a quarrel," she said mildly. | Ann sighed with disappointment. She been wrong; nothing could really alter Mrs. Marsden. But Judith, who had

seen the woman’s expression when John kissed her, would not have agreed, and her face was very thoughtful as she folded away her neglected work. CHAPTER XII. S David and Ann walked across to the tennis court, they glanced in at the kitchen window. Judith’s sleek head was bent over the table on which a litter of material was scattered; at the other end Mrs. Marsden was busily ironing. There was a complete and understanding silence. "Those two get on well," David remarked after they had passed. "I suppose Judith’s making a point of being friendly with the powers-that-be." "Not she. She wouldn’t bother about other people if she didn’t want to. None of us ever do nowadays. It’s because she really likes Mrs. Marsden; she did, right from the first- and she’s been getting more and more interested all the time." "Oh well, I suppose the old girl’s reign is over." "Over? Why?" " Judith’s not likely to keep her on once they’re married." "Not keep her on? Why, David, no one would ever dream of Mrs. Marsden leaving Te Rata. She belongs here just as much as the Murrays do. Mr. Murray looks to her for everything-John too. She’s much more like the mistress of the house than a housekeeper." "H’m. ... All the more reason why she shouldn’t stay. Two mistresses in one house wouldn’t be much fun." "Tt won’t be like that with Mrs, Marsden and Judith. They’re both far too wise." "Don’t you believe it. It'll be just like having a mother-in-law in the house all the time." "T think you’re wrong. Mrs. Marsden never makes any claims on anyone. I believe it’s the house she loves just as much as the people. Besides, she’s so awfully impersonal. I’m sure she and Judith will get on splendidly; they’re both so quiet and so wise. Quite different from me, I’m afraid." "Thank goodness! Those strong silent women seem to me to go right agin nature." "Oh David! And you admitted that you were nearly in love with Judith yourself once!" "Nearly. Besides it was a century ago -before I met you. Who would be in love with a super-woman when there was a little creature like you about?" She laughed, her eyes bright for the moment, their shadow forgotten. " John is. He never looks like that at me." "He’d better not. Come ‘and play tennis and don’t be provocative." " What long words! I wish you weren’t so clever, David. I never once got a prize at school." "I’m sure you didn’t. But it’s being made up to you now. Just think, you’ve got me." " After that, I’m going to beat you in a single. Oh dear, there’s Mr. Misson. David, how wicked and light I am. Do you know, for the moment I’d almost forgotten and was being happy." (Continued on next page)

IT IS DARK IN THE BUSH (Continued from preyious page)

HE young man looked down at her with fond despairing eyes. For what else had he been striving these many days? If he could only break through her defences, carry her off her feet, rush her to town, marry her. Afterwards? She was very young; she had known her father only a few weeks; she did not really love him at all, It was the shock and the tragedy, not a daughter’s love, that troubled her. He would make her forget in the end — whatever that end might, be-as he had made her forget just now. In. the kitchen Judith was exhibiting the quilt, finished at last. "You like it?" "T think you have done it well. It was good of you." "T liked doing it. I think it is rather sweet. It would be fun to see it on a baby’s cot." "You like children, Miss Anson?" "T thought you had promised to call me Judith. Yes, I like them. Life’s a poor thing without saty at least to most women.’ "Yes, The ordinary woman spends her’ time in finding a wubstitute--end losing it. " A

"You don’t mean John? You're not going to lose him. "We'll have lots of fun together. Why do you look like that? I’m a true prophet. Wait and see, But I don’t think you quite like my quilt. Is it the colour scheme?" P "T think it’s very pretty. Perhapsbut you'll think me critical when I should only be grateful-but perhaps that little bit of grey-green linen’s a mistake." "Ts it? I wasn’t sure. But it’s such a scrap." \ "Yes, where did you find it?" " Right in the bottom of the bag, and I've searched but I can’t get one more bit to match it. No, I think it’s rather nice there. I love that colour. It’s like the grey-green of the bush and the hills. Now I must find something for lining." MEANTIME, Charles Preston had been twice brought before the court and remanded. Now the preliminary hearing was to take place at the end of the week. "Tf only we could find something — anything to prove that another man had been there," said David on Thursday morning, as they sat over breakfast. " The trouble is it’s such a deserted place and on a clay by-road. A man may have easily gone up there that afternoon and been seen by no one.’

"But there was that sale. A lot ofthat they may have caught sight of some-

men must have been about that day." © "Yes, but the sale was over by midday and the stock all off the mud road by two o'clock, I’ve made very careful inquiries about times and so has Missen. Langley was not dead till five o’clock or thereabouts. There was plenty of time for a man to get up there and get back before we appeared. If only there had been some more footmarks, but we can’t light on any. That one was in a bit of marshy ground and even it was blurred. Ashton will do his best with it, of course, but all he can hope to do is to cast a doubt, a very faint doubt, in the mind of some juror." "Well," said John, "none of that will come up on Friday, will it?" "No, none of it. The defence will be reserved. Meantime, we’ve got a month or so, I find myself catching at any straw. I see the police are advertising for a couple of drovers, strangers to the district, who came down the road that day. Their alibis are all right; it’s not that. They rode straight through with stock and a dozen people can check up on their movements. No, the hope is that they may have seen someone." "Preston, the police think?" "Yes. But we know that Mr. Preston wasn’t there, I have a sneaking hope

one on or near the place that afternoon." "Where are they? Why did they disappear?" "They were a couple of rolling stones just picking up a job anywhere. Now they’ve gone south, apparently, with a big mob of sheep. At present no one seems able to locate them. Meantime, there’s only a couple more days till the Magistrate’s Court. Come along, John, and let’s have one more go." "Surely you’ve searched every inch?" asked Judith as they set out. "TI suppose so, but you know the eternally hopeful feeling-the conviction that there must be something there. Come along and help us, Judith. Your dark eyes always see twice as much as anyone else’s." "Sorry, but my dark eyes will be bent on my patch-work quilt to-day." " Oh, blow that quilt. I’ve heard a lot of talk about it but I don’t believe the beastly thing really exists at all. Anyway, you won’t show it to us." "Never show children or fools things that are half done. You shall see it when you come home. Take Ann with you. She’s nothing to do this morning and she’s getting nervous about Friday. Goodbye and good luck!" (To be continued next week)