The Dancing Girl

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 112, 17 June 1914, Page 2

The Dancing Girl

ARTHUR APPLIN, author of " Love

CHAPTER-VII. (continued). THE MISSING. DANCER. ; After a while Claudine suggested tbat they should rest on a great flat Moulder which overhung the stred.ni. She linked her arm through Ajnnie's and, to.the latter's surprise and coiisterjiation, drew her close. . j. : "Thete l's something I think I 1 ought tell you, " she said, suddenly^; with an "effort. "It is only fair, aftfcj* the conversation we had in my djiejssing aroom some time ago." ! j Annie's heart commenced to! j beat quickly, but she tried to appear cerned. .]! "What is it?" ;'| Claudine turned her wonderfitfj eyes «n Annie. "Can't you guess? jlt is,, , about i Dick.'.'. : >•; Annie felt the blood mounting to hefr checks; she cliasped her hands together, 3ier nails biting into her -flesh. 1 "He's told you that he .loves-/,you, I suppo.se? lam not surprised, and.please ! don't think I'm jealous. Do you /intend to 1 marry him, or— —'' 1 Claudine stopped her with a gesture. "•'He has not told me that he loves me yet. But I know that he loves me, and I love him, too." "Enough to marry him?" Annie tried to look Claudine in the face, but she failed. There was, a long eilence before the latter replied.; ; "In what' other way could L love ium?" Annie shrugged her shoulders.: *' Oh, jnen always run after actresses.'' "I shouldn't have told you this," Claudine continued. "Only last night J)ick asked father's permission to propose for my hand. Understand, he jiever said a word to me. , It was delightfully old-fashioned and gaUaint of him. Of course, father refused.; II am lis only child; mother died yeaH ago, ®nd he thinks no one is good enough for me." She gave a little laugh, whachj fortujaflitely drowned, the sneer that Escaped Annie 's lips. ; j ! The latter waited a little; I while, twisting her fingers together nerypusly. "Well?" she said at last, as calmjlv as :fiilie "That's all ' You and I agrejed—-I suppose half in earnest, half in jest—that the* best woman should wiri Dick. I" felt it was'not playing the gamje unless I told you what had happened. You see, I haven't won him yetL I 4jton't know, what he intends, to dol He may go away and never see me again." "You take it very coolly, I imust say, Annie ,cried. "I should not ihave .thought you :were so cold 'blooded. If I)ick really loves you he will fujn off "with you' in Bpite of a dozen fathers. If you really love him you would iniake iutis; I should think." ' Claudine shook her head. "That's not Dick's way. He's the soul of hon-

A SUMMER ROMANCE

■a Three," "The Seaside Lovers, " etc.

Annie rose and stood with her "back to Claudine. Honour was something she didn't understand, and of which she didn't want to think at that moment.

"Well, we sha'n't quarrel about him, 1 " she "said, with a forced laugh. '' I wonder where, the other two have gone?" "Mr Bob and Sallie? I don't expect they want to be disturbed. How happy they seem, don't they?" and Claudine gave a little sigh. .Just then they heard footsteps approaching through the brushwood, and Annie saw Claptain Carvick approaching. She advanced to meet him, and « whispered conversation ensued. "It is now nearly three o'clock," Carvick' said under his breath. '' The last, train leaves at five. In a few minutes you must slip away, but unobtrusivel\%' so ' that ■ Claudine won 't notice .you have gone. . Wait about at the inn until the others turn up, then start at once to walk to the'-station. You can say that we are going to meet you The old time table I gave Claudine states that the train leaves-at 5.45." Annie nodded. "What shall I say when we get back to Westborougli, if anyone questions me?" "You are a woman; you can think of something, surely,Carvick hissed Under his breath. "We have missed the train, that's all. Of course, we shall hire a vehicle and drive into Westborougli in time for the performance tonight." • And Captain Carvick closed one eve knowingly. They joined Claudine and wandered along through the green bracken beneath the shade of the trees. Captain Carvick had plenty to say and a fund of stories with which to amuse the girls.

After a while Claudine glanced at watch ,011 her wrist.

"What time does the. train start?."

Leaning against a tree, Cqrvick asked her for the time-table he had giveri he v. Annie saw her-opportunity.-and slipped away. In a few seconds she was out of sight; :i minute later out of hearing.

She commenced to run. It was easy to- find the path they had just taken, as the grass and bracken were trampled down. She reached the place where they had lunched, and then, making her way to the r.oad, she proceeded more slowly in the direction of the inn. She iovertook Bob and Sallie just before she reached it. They were walking with their -arms around each other, and Sallie was carrying a huge bunch tof flowers. -

"Halloa! All alone?" Bob <Jried: " Where are, the others?"; j • •

"They seemed so interested in one another, I thought it only kind: to run away," Annie smiled. "I don-'t think they intend having tea, but mean to meet us at the railway station."

It was. some time before they found anyone tb; attend to them at the inn. It was a quaint, old-fashioned building, covered with ivy which ran right up to

the thatclied roof. It was just' off the j roailj quite alone,, with not • another ' building in sight. • ■ . ; After knocking for some time, an old man stumped his way into the parlour arid promised to serve them' With tea as quickly as possible'. " 7'" : '' The kettle's boilin','' hie announced, i "but my old woman's been laid up with rheumatics these three days; and there ain't no. one excepting. & lad to attend to things. I won't keep you long." '" A queer' sort of fclaee,'' Bob said, looking 'round the dark \ oak-panelled room. ' "Shouldn't be surprised if it didn't possess a ghost, a haunted room, and all sorts of terrible histories." .

"Shouldn't care to pass a night alone here!" Sallie shuddered.

Annie said nothing. She longed to run away; the place depressed and frightened her. Carvick had laid his plans' carefully and cleverly. And for the last time her conscience stabbed her) What chance indeed would Claudine have when she found herself alone with him here? She had seen enough of him to know that no amount of pleading would touch his heart. As he had said, ( he wa,s determined to win her by fair means or foul. Fair mpans having failed, he was going to use foul;.

There would be no one he,re to come to her help. She shivered, and told herself that after all it-was no affair of,hers. She was not responsible, and anyway it was too late to do anything. Claudine knew enough of the,world and Captain Carvick to take care of herself! But, ; the walk back to the railway station seemed endless. She had an uncomfortable feeling that she was. being pursued, and continually. fancied .that. §l^e ; heard footsteps behind her. She began to wonder whether Claudine would discover Carvick's ,plot in time to frustrate it! ;

As it happened, they only arrived at the railway station just,-in. time. Great was Bob's consternation when he discovered that Carvick and Claudine were missing. He was half inclined to stay behind himself,; and Annie guessed that but for Sallie's presence he would have done so.

: She gave a sigh of relief when the train pulled out of the station.

The die had been oast. Whether she won Dick now or lost him, she would at least be revenged. But revenge did not seem as sweet ;is it might have been.. Ever and again she found herself trembling like a leaf.' She asked herself what would Dick do next day •when he know the Would he turn from Claudine with loathing, or Would he still believe in her? : ' 4 l wonder if we ought to- go to Claudine's; hotel! " Bob said, when they had reached Westborough and were walking towards the promenade! "Mr may be anxious, and if they have to drive all the way back it may make Claudine late for the performance tonight." - ; < :

"Oh, they'll get here all right—if they want, to," Annie said. Bob gave her a quick 'glance and frowned.

• "Anyway, I think I'll go to the theatre and warn them," he said. ' "It Will only be'kind.' You" see, it is Claudhie V benefit, and that means a great deal to her." 1 ! v ' Annie walked bftck to her rooms alone -and -crept quietly up to her bedroom, anxious not to meet ?h.er mother. Dick ha<3 ; provided them all with tickets fof'"the performance. She decidedthat she lought to go, in otder not to aroiiße suspicion. Besides, it was of her revenge

to.sit in front in the crowded theatre waiting for the dancer who she knew would not appear. Everyone of importance in West borough, including the Mayor, had taken a seat. , .It was a .gala, nighty a .veritable triumph; "'for Ciaudine. Dick would be there too. She might have to sit nexj; him. She set her teeth and,smiled. He had suffer, ,iand now she would be able to /hinv suffer. And perliaps in' his misery and loneliness, w;hen he Jsriew the truth, he would turn to her again. The sun set. Twilight came; and the stars peeped out' from the sky. Ahnie' crept quietly : out 'from her rooms' and, calling a cab, drove to the theatre. Every seat was taken when she entered. She was immediately conscious of an air* of suspense; a low, excited hum of voices caught , her ear. The audience had been warned; they knew the dance'r had not arrived. She took her seat and glanced round, She saw at once that .Diek Was not present. Perhaps he had been warned and gone in search of Ciaudine. That was a possibility she had never contemplated.

CHAPTER VIII. A CALL FOE HELP.

Dick Hardey had not much time to think of his ! Own affairs while he was in London. He Wa;s manager of his department at Messrs Illingworth and Dressbody's, and 1 the firm had such confidence in him that he w r as given practically a free His heart was, in his work, and' lie never allowed more than a few- days of his holiday to pass, without going back to the business to see if things'were progressing properly. He caught a train early in the afternoon on; Saturday, and arrived at Westborough at '6.30. He was tempted ,to call at Ciaudine's hotel and see if she had returned from the picnic, but he reminded himself that she would probably be resting; so after a brisk walk on the front he mad 6 his Way to his own rooms. MioreOver, lie had made up his mind to speak to Mr Alencon before seeing Ciaudine again. He ordered something to eat, and was just going up to his bedroom to dress for the theatre when he caught sight of a note addressed to him lying on. the table. The writing was unfamiliar. It had not come by post, but' had . evidently been left by hand. He opened th£ envelope, threw it; into the wastepaper- basket, and, unfolding the letter, read it. It was dated;,; but commenced abruptly, and bore no signature:—. . . .. ...

"Miss Alencon will not appear at the theatre to-night, as we havegOrie off together for a littlte holiday. I think it only fair to tell you this, ami to you that it will be use- : less for you to attempt to find her or persuade her to return."

Dick read tlie letter through twice, turned it oyer to make sure that it wasn't signed, ' then dropped it on to the table and stood starkig vacantly in front of hiiii. ' The seconds passed, but Dick did not move. It gradually grew dark. He walked , unsteadily to a chair by the window and' sat down. Presently a clock struck, the hour—seven! . , ; • He roused himself, picked up the 'letter, and sure he had ,seen the writing before, but he knew only one man could have written it.. The fact that it : wais unsigned seemed to verify his sus : ' pic ions. f "■ !*,. It Wiis frpm Captain Cdrvitfk, For |

mofiient lie hesitated, and then made tip his.'mirid. ■ . "

He hurried downstairs, got. out his motor ' bicyclfe, anh : "rode straight to OlaMiife ? s JhdteL Shies was not theife. She had jgoiie 'out e&i-ly in the morning and had 'not returned; Mr Alencon ]had left about' Of an j hour kgb.' "The liall port'er understood that he had gone' to the, theatre. There Dick fctarriied.' In the vestibule he met Bob,' tdld him that Ciaudine and Captain Carviek' had missed . the train.' 1 "' "'" v "

"I was just going to try and'find Mr Alencon. The manager says he has been enquiring for you, and seems to siigpect tiiat you are'responsible for his daughter J s absence, "1 wanted to tell him the trUtli and to aHay his fears.'' ' : "Where did the picnic take place?" Dick cried. "Tell ~me quickly and briefly." Bob gave, him the name of the railway station and described the position .of the inn where they had arranged to meet for tea.

'' It's no use your trying to get 'there now, old man; they are on their way back for sure. Ciaudine 1 may arrive at any moment." (To be continued to-morrow.)