THREADNEEDLE STREET.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 304, 1 October 1940, Page 7

THREADNEEDLE STREET.

By LESLIE BERESFORD.

CHAPTER, V

WHO IS THE BLONDE GIRL?

Money’s casual gaze, meeting that of the pretty blonde girl, with her expression of amused recognition, showed no acknowledgment of mutual acquaintance in turn. He was content that she remained sitting, her smiling lips sending out a little stream of cigarette smoke, which screened her face slightly. She evidently had no intention — as yet—of claiming that acquaintance. He was not in any doubt that she was watching him and probably meant later on to have a word with him, if opportunity could be found. He made some 'fitting reply to Hilcry Draper, and they all began to move in a group along the terrace*. Draper, young and good-looking, struck him as eminently of the Mayfair “play-boy’’ type, not vicious so much as irresponsible,-.

He was a little surprised that he should have entered the employ of a man like David Bellew, who one supposed would insist that a man was capable before anything else. However, he could only conclude that Bellew must have had some cause for the confidence he had reposed in Draper. Just as obviously, since the fellow . was abruptly dismissed, that confidence had in some Avay been misplaced.

David Bellew’s daughter had more confidence in Hilery Drapery than her father had. Possibly—so Money decided after watching them together now for a while—even more than confidence. It looked to him—and indeed her father himself had suggested so—the two were on very friendly terms.

He was also aware that his own presence in this party, though politely accepted by the others, was that of an a source of secret amusement, even veiled derision. It seemed that Verity’s invitation had been deliberately designed for that. He was not as she had suggested, meeting her side of the argument with her father. He was being put on show for her friend’s entertainment.

Not that he minded in the least, once he had realised the situation and decided how to handle it. He did so quite effectively, having a naturally caustic tongue combined with a ready wit, when he cared to use them. Thenoisy dinner-talk, as he occasionally became involved in it, was several times quietened by his remarks, which carried the sting of barbs .and never once missed the directness of their aim.

Indeed it became so increasingly evident that he was getting far more out of the entertainment than they were, that finally they gave in to him. Nobody admitted so much, and nobody would have suggested such a thing was happening. Verity merely rose, suddenly, said something about a good floor and a lovely hand being wasted, clutched at young Draper and hurried him away into the throng of swaying dancers. The rest followed.

Money could see how angry with him Verity behind her laughter and seeming indifference. Although in the pleasantest way, ho had made her look small in front of her friends more than once.

The dancing gave him a convenient means of escape from them for a few minutes without their being interested in what he did. So, being left alone, he rose and strolled nonchalantly out into the fresh night-air, which was blowing from the river across the broad terrace.

Here, as he had expected, the pretty, blonde girl was still sitting in her corner, from which she could see the

A Serial Story of Money, Adventure and Love.

:: (Copyright) k

lighted interior. He went straight to her and sat down. “Taking risks, Dot, aren’t you, being around places like this,’’ he suggested in low tones. “Don’t I have to live along with risks Chris F” she retaliated. “What about yourself P And—wliat are you doing here, all dressed up and being called Mr Money by the glamour girl you came with in a car? Did I hear her tell that smart crowd you were somebody’s new secretary?” “If you did, Dot, you’d he wise to forget it. Take my advice and forget you ever knew me at all.” “—IN REGENT STREET.” “That isn’t possible, Chris, and you should know as much. I’ll tell you somebody else who isn’t going to forget you, too, and that’s Duke. After what happened to-day especially—in—in Regent Street ” She had glanced cautiously round before whispering the last words, which had made him uneasy too, so that he gestured sharply. He leaned towards her.

“When you next see Duke Irwin,” lie said slowly in undertones, “you can tell him from me, Dot, that if I hadn’t seen you at the wheel of that crawling car, waiting for him, he wouldn’t have got away. The police would be holding him now.” *

“You think I’m going to tell him that? You must be mad!”.she gasped under her breath. “Why, Duke’s gone up in smoke already through you spoiling that job just as he was pulling it off. It’s only because he reckons he heat you to it, and got free, that he isn’t-well after your blood.” “It wouldn’t worry me if he was.” Money laughed softly. “And you can tell him so, Dot. He’s quite at liberty to try, if he feels that way.” “I can’t understand you, Chris!” she leaned forward again. “Why did you want to butt in to-day? You’d quit tho racket ”

“That’s just it. You know, Dot, how I came in that racket and had to stick it for a while. It never was my game, and—you know how I came to quit. Duke and I and the others came to terms. What I knew, I was to keep to myself, and that was that. “But, having quit, ifind being a respectable, law-abiding citizen again,” he pursued cynically, “b just couldn’t stand by and> see shop windows damaged. That’s how 1 felt at the moment, before ever 1 noticed that Duke was tho fellow on the job. Anyhow,, it’s time someone put paid to liis account As I said, if it hadn't* been that i caught sight of you. he wouldn’t have got away.” - A rich colour rushed to her cheeks, and her dark eyes glowed. “So—you do, think as much, of me as that, Chris?” she breathed eagerly, and laughed. “That’s strange. ¥ou never said so when you were with us."

“What 1 always said, Dot, was that you ought not to be in the racket. Still, that wasn’t my business, Avas it?” “it could have been, Chris, if I’d guessed you really wero as interested as that.”

“Interested? No. It was just human nature, a man’s dislike for seeing a. woman making a little fool of herself, messing up her life. However, let’s talk of here and now, and what’s going to happen, Hot. Just dp as I said, and forget you’ve seen me— *—” “What you really mean, Chris, -is that I’m not to be too inquisitive about this marvellous' new Mr Money line of yours, dashing around in cars with a beautiful gijd and being introduced to smart . society as a new secretary ’ “Exactly, Hot! And there’s no use in being inquisitive. You go your way, and leave me to go mine. My glamour girl, as ypu call her, wouldn’t understand those ideas about other people’s property which you and Duke Irwin hold.”

“Why don’t you say what’s in your mind, Chris?” she said, with a sudden snap of bitterness. ‘“l’m not good enough to meet her ladyship.” She touched him on the arm, and he saw that she was looking not at him, but right past and behind him, a glitter of amusement in her' eyes, her lips parted in a smile as she said under her breath, laughingly: “And here she is, coming straight for us.” Before Money could look round ho heard Verity’s husky voice with its slightly imperious tone. “Of course, it must be him!” she was exclaiming. “Are there armies of redhaired men in this place?” SCANDAL THREATENS VERITY. Money, on his feet, faced her as she reached them. She was with, Draper. “We’ve been looking for you everywhere, Mr Money!” she told him, then stared at his companion, as if noticing her for the first time, and at once began to apologise: “Oh, J.’m so sorry if we’re intruding. But—perhaps your friend would join our party? She seems to be alone. Won’t you introduce her?”

It was the blonde who answered for Money.

“I’m Dot Savage,” she informed laughingly. “An. old friend of Chris—” “Then you really must join us, my dear, as I suggested. I’m Verity Bidlew—•—•”

“I thought I recognised you, Miss Bellow. I’ve seen, you lots of times. Someone did tell me once you wore the daughter of the Mr Bellow. The banker, I mean.” “Hasn’t—Mr Money told you that lie’s employed by my father?” Verity asked on a note of surprise. “We’d boon talking so much about old times together . . .” She turned with a smile to Money: “Why, how •nice for you, Chris, to lanc\ such a fine job. However did you do it?”

“I’m afraid Miss Bellow’s -father’s the only person wild can answer that question, Dot.” Money believed in swift acceptance of accomplished fact. He was sure that Dot Savage would say and do nothing that would embarrass him. She would be as little anxious as he for Bellew’s daughter to know the truth behind their earlier associations. Meanwhile, that was

clearly what Verity—as she suggested a move to the cocktail lounge—wanted to find out. Pic was inwardly amused at the ingenuousness with which her questions were adroitly countered by the other.

That amusement received a sudden shock, however, after they had been in tho cocktail lounge a few minutes. Not five spaces from where they Were standing in a little group, a woman, scream-' ed hideously, causing all talk instantly to cease, while eyes were turned instinctively in the direction of the sound. That was followed by the noise of men in argument, with the woman intervening, pleading. Suddenly the fuss ceased with startling abruptness. It ended in the ear and nerve-shattering explosions of a shot fired at point-blank range. One of the arguing men was still holding the gun in his hand as a space seemed magically cleared round the spot*,where he stood. The woman lay on the polished floor . . . In the turmoil, waiters and management rushing to the scene, telephones being rung for police, dance-music stopped, tho cocktail-lounge crowded by the curious, Verity Bellew found herself out on the terrace, before she knew quite what was happening. Angrily, she struggled to release a bare arm from the steel grip of Money’s propelling fingers as he thrust her across the terrace and out into the night. “Let me go!” she was panting, protesting. “What’s the silly idea, behaving like this?” “Nothing silly about it!” he said •tersely,•dragging her on, so she simply i had to follow or fall. “David Bellew’s daughter can’t bo mixed up in that- sort of thing,” was his simple explanation, and again she made a desperate effort to. release herself.

“How dare you interfere with me? I’m going right back to —to Hilery and the others—”

“You’re doing nothing of 'the sort. Miss Bellew. If you look over there, you’ll see tine- police already arriving in a car.' / They’ll take the names of everyone who witnessed what happened, as wie most certainly did!, being nearest to the spot. You can’t be mixed up in trouble of that sort, and I’ll see you’re not.”

“You’re what?” She stared at him, wide-eyed, suddenly sobered by his firm, quiet tone.

They were both by now alongside her parked car, a dooir of which he opened. He lifted) her up, dumped her down in the back seat, then climbed in himself and slipped into the driver’s place behind the wheel. The car was already some distance on thei road back to London, travelling now swiftly but Avith safety, before Verity spoke a word, Then she said, amazement and angqr shaking her voice:

“So you think, just before Dad’s unearth ed you from somewhere and taken you on as his secretary, that entitles you to treat me like this?” “It’s tine only treatment for a girl like you, Miss Bellew. Ask your father when you see him-.” (To be continued).