TWICE WITHIN AN ACE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20162, 24 January 1929, Page 18

TWICE WITHIN AN ACE

A SHORT STO!»j£>

' Dr. Manning, scientist, sailor, and explorer, faced the grey-haired old man. " There is a law against suicide, Sir Robert." Manning knew he had to exercise control, for it was a great compliment to receive a personal visit from such an eminent man, " and 1 tell you, sir. there ought to be a law to stop fools setting out on expeditions of this description without experience." " But the leaders wore supposed (o be experienced." replied the older man. "Well, Sir Robert, if you want a chauffeur, would you give tho job to a man whose only experience was railway engines ?" , " No, certainly not." "That is my point. Here is mission setting out for the jungle of South America, or what is locally known as the savannah, a country uncharted and so thick with foliage as to be almost impenetrable, and thev allow men to take charge, whoso only experience abroad is treading tho ancient, well-known roads ot Mesopotamia during their army days. Pluck! Yes, full of it, but knowledge, nil! Then comes the crash. l»ic mission is presumed lost. The home public saj, ' How sad! Wo must, organise a relief, but I do not sav, ' How sad' and neither do you. Sir, in your heart you say with me 'How foolish!'" Sir Robert rose from his chair. 1 must agree with you, my boy, but I am trying to help tho wreck." A girl's voice broke in upon them through the open French windows. For a moment thero was silence. Manning faced Sir Robert. Ihev both had great admiration for each other. llien Sir Robert spoke. " I cannot press you, my boy. 1 know you are no coward. \ou know money is no object to us or to you. The public hope that you, with your experience, will step into the breach." " Sir Robert, I admire tho motive that prompts so great a man as you to take this journey into tho country to ferret me out, and I thank you for the compliment, but I havo only just returned from India, and want a spell. Wo are discussing this question here in a lovely library in an old-fashioned English home, gazing out into tho sunlight and on to those lawns. It makes one think nlj the •world is beautiful and at peace, but —but we must not forget the main issue. My rnind-picture shows me from memories impossible to fade, that dense savannah, that sweltering heat, that snake-infested, malaria-ridden district where you want me to go; and, Sir Robert, I don't see why I should." " In fact," continued Manning, looking out at a group of people on the tennis lawn, " I know a very good reason why I do noff'want to go." " That makes it all the harder for me ♦o plead," said Sir Robert. " May I congratulate you ?" " Not yet, Sir Robert, but I hope." " Good-bye, my boy, and good luck !" Manning escorted Sir Robert to his car.

Her white fennis frock flashed with blue silk ribbon made her beautiful face look perfect. His fina figure and sunburnt face contrasted well against, his flannels and her dress. They sat on a rustic oeat.

" Dr. Manning, you are a great explorer." " Thank you for the compliment," he smiled.

"It is not a compliment. It. is a world fact. But I want your help." " Anything I can do, most certainly," and the delight, in his eyes showed howtruth fully he spoke. " There is no one here to discuss it with; they don't know, they don't understand, but you, you have seen so much." Dick wafted, still perplexed. " You've heard of tho Bawata mission ?" " Damn," thought Dick. " The air seems full of that blessed mission." But all he said was " Yes." Her voice quavered a little. " They gay that it is lost unless help is sent very soon. Tell me, do you think so?" It was on the point of Dick's tongue to say, "What of it?" but an unseen force caused him to look into her eyes, and all he said was, "Why?" " My father is a zoologist." Dick saw it all. He was thinking hard for a reply when slut laid her hand on his, and looked into his face, her expression full of earnestness. " Tell me do you think they are all right, and that someone will go to their help." Could any man. who was a man, resist it, whatever the odds?

You want my candid opinion ?" Yes," she murmured, half choking

" They are probably lost:, but. alive. I s"e no reason why they should not find food and water of a sort. A relief expedition may save them." "Do you think one will tnke the risk ?''

" Again I will be candid. I do. Believe me, beforo to-night is out you will hear of someone."

" Oh, joy! I could kiss that man!" Dick felt the tension of the situation, find lit a cigarette " Mark my words, Miss Dainly, when we meet at the dance to-night, I feel certain you will have heard good news." " If not, I cannot go, for I cannot bear the suspense and look happy. What makes you so confident ? Although I ought not to doubt so great an authority, and it is very good of you to listen to one."

" Not at all: and my confidence is supported by the fact that in all cases where British men are involved, the hour makes the man."

Perhaps he did not realise how greatly he felt this truth.

Half an hour later Dr. Manning was impressing certain facts upon the second gardener in a quiet corner of the rosery. " No one must know tfcose telegrams have gone, and they must go at once." " I understand, sir," said tho gardener, pocketing tho note. " Oil. and don't trouble about finding me with the change, Jenkins." " Oh, thank you, sir, but it's a lot of change sir."

" It, means a lot to me, Jenkins, so get a move on."

Thai, night the papers came out. with the placard:

RELIEF EXPEDITION FOR THE MISSION LEAVES AT ONCE. GREAT HOPES.

And the paper went on to explain howSir Robert Noel had received a reply to his request for help. A well-known explorer, whose name was not given, would sail to-morrow. As the last waltz drew to a close. Dirk was drinking in every moment of the pleasure as she nestled in his arms and they drifted round the room. "I am so happy," said Elsie. "Isn't it splendid that expedition going?" What did 1 tell you?" he replied. es, you were right. I wonder who he is? I wonder!" said Dick. Dick felt a pressure of her hand as sua ; looked up. Is it you ?" she murmured. Dick knew the flood of thanks that would follow, and an unaccountable slivriess came over him. He couldn't take the prize till tho race was won For some reason, instead of saving \es," he replied, "Sir Robert hjm°" me morning, and I refused It was but- meant as a jest. The music stopped She stepped from his arms with a look of ,disgust; plucking a feather from her fan she throw it at his feci and was gone. Dick reeled as though lie had been struck; then walked to the hall, but she nad vanished. ™ ab n ef ht , sh . n ,nv |lp <- hod and IT* chy. ** i,W ' '»

Hick rolled a cigarette, leant back S St I- h ® ,rank ° f a jungle free, and gazed at the muddy river. The light

BY R. J. FRANCIS.

(COPYRIGHT.)

of the camp fire silhouetted his fino fa.ee, which wore an air of gravity. Blowing a cloud of smoke into the air, he tuincd to his companion. |( " Cyril, we are up against it. His companion nodded. " The only way is tor one to go forward, and, if lucky enough to find them, bring them here. Tho other must go back with the men and return hero with help.' * Cvril nodded.

" The worst, job is going forward," said Dick, pulling a pack of cards from his knapsack, and extending his hand. " Cut!" Cyril lifted tho cards and Dick' followed suit. They looked at each other.

" My luck," said Cyril, " rotten to the core." Replacing the cards, " Dick on any other stunt I've been, it would not have mattered. But look at that," and be handed him a photograph. Manning's brain whirled. 'I he photo was smudged through constant, use, but there in the firelight he saw her face. " Engaged, old man ? " " Yes." " Her name ? " Dainly, old boy, and the sweetest little thing you can imagine, so now you know why I want to live." " Yes," replied Dick, determined to be sure. But he was interrupted. "Hell!" shrieked Cyril, and gripped his leg. A huge snake writhed into the pampas. Men who live theso lives know how urgent is action at times like this. Dick whipped his belt around the leg above the wound, and bound it tight. With a knife lie cut the bite and inserted the disinfectant. A rough cure, but the oplv one in such a case. Even now Cyril was losing consciousness.

He was thankful there was ono other white man in .the party. Ho was young, but plucky, and Cyril would bo all right with him. So when ho recovered, Dick told him what to do, and then lay down to sleep. But sleep came not. Ho lay in his blanket in that jungle of darkness only broken by the. camp fire's flicker. Everything seonied black. His surroundings, his hopes, and, once his thought. For there flashed into his mind a thought. Fato had given him is chance to go bark. Cardon might not, probably would not. return, for the bite was bad. She would forget, and he might win her later. Most men are given a spur in their hour of trial and this was Dick's, for the man in him struck him to the heart. " You coward! " it said, almost like a human voice. " Play tho game! " "Of course!" said Dick to himself, " I must have been dreaming," and quietly got out of his blanket, brought back to the realities of life by tho occasional rays of the tropical sun breaking through the foliage of the heavy jungle.

Cardon woke in pain. " Good morning, Dick." But there was no response. He turned to where his companion should have been, rolled in his blanket, but the space was empty. \ forked stick was stuck in flic ground, and in the fork was a note. Cyril snatched it and read, " I have decided to go forward. You take the other trail, old man, and so long till we meet again. Dirk." "My fault ! " cried Cyril. " Why did I mention sentiment? But there, that's Dick all over. I should have known it." But, he littlo knew that Dirk had seen in (hat photo, that the one object of all was lost, that his dream had been crushed by that one act of gazing at her picture and that that, morning he had gone out into the jungle devoid of everything except duty.

Dick got into a taxi at Waterloo. The November night was just falling as he s*t back, watching the kaleidoscope of light and faces while his car whirled him to the hotel. He had pictured his return to take his reward. Yes, reward there was. Ther-i would bo ovations and letters, but the only one that mattered was gone. He had bought a paper as he got into the car and read the headlines. One referred to him. Hero returns alone, it started, and went on to say how, after all his success ho had been detained abroad, and few people recognised in the calm face that stepped from tho mail boat at Southampton, the leader of the relief expedition which had saved the Bawata mission.

And a good job, too," said Dick, flinging the paper on to the seat by his side.

A week later Dick had arrived home. It was not far from the opening scene of this story. The evening was cold and snowy. He settled himself in a large chair by the study fire. " So that completes tho cycle from here. Where and what was it all for? But why worry ? " and he commenced on his letters. " A lady to see you, sir." " A lady, Johnson ? Ask her to come in." " Miss Dainly! " "Dr. Manning! So you left London at last! " " Yes, 1 returned to-day. How did you know ? " " I didn't, but ever since your boat arrived I have called on the off chance. This is my eighth visit." I am sure I feel honoured, but why all this trouble? It it is anything I could do, a letter would havo found me. Do take a seat. } oil will find that sofa very comfy, and ono nocds to be near the fire on a night like this," said Dick, thinking all the more how lucky Cyril was. " Won't you take off your cloak ? " She undid a clasp and it fell from her shoulders, displaying her perfect neck. ' I have felt so ashamed ever since you went, I felt 1 must, get that off my mind.'" " Don't mention it, if you are referring to the dance," said Dick, purposely walking to a cigarette box. " Let us call it an error of judgment, and say no

more. Do you forgive me ? " "There is nothing to forgive." " Then, again, how can I thank you enough for my father's life? I heard what, a hell it was out there, and how splendid you were." " Much more comfortablo here, Miss Dainly, so as we are not in the savannah, let us enjoy the comforts of England." Dirk was ga/.ing at her dainty hands as she removed her gloves. Would you think me very rude if I asked a personal question ? " ho said, raising his eyes to hers. " No, I don't understand," she replied, slightly amazed " Well, you may think it funny, but are you not engaged? " No. Why do you ask ? " 1 thought when I returned you would be."

Whatever gave you that impression ? But, I will tell you something. My twin sister is engaged to your second in command. "

" Dick threw away his cigarette. Ho was silent for a while. Then ho bent toward her.

I undertook that expedition, ifc was for you, and you alone, little girl. Out there I learned that Cardon was Poetically engaged lo one whom I thought \as you, aiK ] ni y dream vanished. vTonS J j 1 rHurnwL Way T hope seit in r V | ' rea ?p 'f'" ' ,ve <" '»e continued, S !Li sil1 " »'» hi. embrace, «nd. the room was silent, except for the '<£"ig of the clock arid the sound of a