WELCOME THE TRAVELLER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 152, 9 April 1941, Page 7

WELCOME THE TRAVELLER

By ARTHUR HARDY. ::

A Vigorous, Romantic Story with an Old-World Background

CHAPTER XV

HAWLEY’S LEASES.

Robert knew the property mentioned. It was in good repair, had a laige gaiden at the back and a paddock and an orchard behind.

“That’s fine,” lie said. “I hope you get it, Jess. The finest air in' the country blows down Capstone Hill.” Jessie would not stay to lunch. She went to call on Dan and have a word with him on the way down to the town. Jessie’s heart-to-heart talk with her father and mother that night won the day for her. Early on Monday morning she called to see Martin, the estate agent and drove him up to the Bees Home cottage. Its attractiveness exceeded her expectations, lor it was cosy and warm inside. Provisionally she clinched the deal, leaving the keys of the cottage with her mother before she left for London, so that they might go and view it.

On her return to the ironmonger’s shop she found the manager of the stores closeted with her father; they were talking over the sale of the business and its stock. The bargain was as good as completed, Jessie found. That afternoon she called on Adam Lawley. He was expecting her, and greeted her cordially. “I am glad to hear that your father is going out of business and jour mother is going to have a rest, mj dear,” he said. “You arc a clever little manager, Jessie. Is it your wish that. I should act for you?” “Yes—and for mother and dad in everything,” Jessie answered. “I want you to carry through tlio purchase of Bees Home. I don’t want any mistakes to creep in.” “Very well.” Adam Lawley nodded. “Joe Capstow will leave the Buildings with the remainder of a long lease on his hands. But I’ll deal leniently with him. I shan’t ask him for an extra penny for rent, Jessie, so that he may depart with a, clear conscience and no worries.”

“I don’t see why you should bo a loser by it,” said Jessie, pouting. “Of course, you could let again.”

“I think not. There are only two and a half years of the lease left to run. I don’t want to let for two and a half years, and I might find a tenant of whom I disapproved. I’ll forgo the rent. Tell you father so. And I shan’t bite on liis ears with my charges either.”

Jessie throw her soft arms about the solicitor’s neck and kissed him fondly. “You dear 1. That is just like you.” Adam Lawley regarded her with eyes that twinkled.

“Young lady,” lie said, waruingly, “you had better be careful. It is a long time since a very pretty and charming young woman kissed me like that. The flesh is weak. I might run amok and want to kiss you back, break up tlie happy home, and go whoopee, as the Americans say.”

.Jessile laughed happily. “Not you—and not me,” she said. “1 gave my heart into a man’s keeping long ago, and I don’t veer from point to point like a woathervane blown by a fresh wind.”

“Dan is a lucky mau,” said the solicitor.

“I did not say it was Dan.”

“But I know it is Dan.” Adam Law Icy kissed her on the cheek and gave her hand a squeeze as slio left him. Jessie drove up to Wood Farm to fetch Nora, and at five o’clock, just as Robert came in after going the round of the farm, Adam Lawley rang him up on tlio telephone. “Oh, that you, Robert?” The deep rich voice had a throb in it. “I’ve got some ilows for you. Joe Capstow has sold, his business to the Stores at a fair price ; the Capstows have agreed to go and live in Bees Home cottage, which Jessie has bought for them, and so the first of the Traveller’s Building’s lease has fallen in.”

“What? Don’t you intend to let again?” “Xtat worth the trouble, Robert. The shop is going to be closed. And I shall have that option ready for you tomorrow. Call in and sign it, if convenient, will you??” Eagerly Robert promised lie would. DAN DAMAGED. Dan Shelton’s return contest with MeGinty was fixed for Wednesday, Scptember loth, Ember Day. The hot weeks of the summer were in this way, spanned Vnd a big gate assured. Six weeks before the contest Robert Berry was given the name of the heavyweight boxer who was to oppose him over ten rounds: Barney Floyd, winner of the recent big heavy-weight novices competition, was the man. According to repute he was a crude fighter with a big punch. Robert meant to take no chances with him; crude, young, strong opponents with a dangerous punch, were not to he despised, lie was determined to fight his way into the big money and did not mean to slip up through any fault of his own. Dan delayed his start as long as possible in order to give his wound every chance to strengthen. Outwardly it was almost impossible to detect the scar. The skin laid knit completely and the flesh was firm.

It was reported that Mike MoGint.v was taking his training too lightly; it was common knowledge that McGintv hated the grind of thorough preparation; ho relied on his knock-out punch, and three weeks’ work was enough for any fight, lie had always declared. He had already heat-on Dan Shelton. he believed that the knew all Dan had to give, and "lie .scoffed at the thought of defeat. Mike McGintv planned to wipe out Dan, then cross the Atlantic and tight Ben Bran nock for the world’s heavy-weight championship. As training approached its peak boxing critics and experts thronged into Tansworth as usual. They were impressed by what they saw. Dan Shelton, undismayed by, his defeat, was in grand shape and boxing with a speed and dash that .promised victory. Robert Berry had nlroadv shown what he could do.

(To Be < ’nnlinucd)

(Copyright).

it was a Wednesday afternoon with a fortnight to go. A crowd oi light experts and reporters surrounded the boxing platform which was built up out in the open. Dan Shelton had discarded his head shield and Hilly Chipham had started to box lour rounds; with' him, with wraps oil. Daniel Shelton’s orders were for Chipham to go all out, but to take care not to hit Dan where his forehead had been cut. Billy had trained into good shape, but Dan began to make mincemeat of him. In a hot second round he clipped Billy on the chin and then rammed home a right that dropped Chaphafu heavily to the canvas-covered iloor. Billy crouched on the boards, shaking liis head and looking dazed. Suddenly his eyes snapped. With set teeth lie waited some seconds for his head to dear ; then up he sprang and launched a furious attack that surprtsed Dan and drove him to the ropes. Billy hud iol the moment gone mad. He swung blows recklessly at Dan’s head. The veteran liked Dan and did not realise what he

was doing. Dan covered and edged away and got to the middle of the floor just as a savage left hook came flying over Dun’s guard and landed with a vicious snap on Dan’s had temple. In a flash the damage was done Billy’s glove opened a gash as deep and as wide as before. A crimsou stream blinded Dali.

Putting his gold watch back in his pocket, Daniel Shelton leapt up with a yell of dismay. “Eh, you, Billy,’’ he roared. “Stand back. Stand away, do you hour? Look wluit you’ve done. Dan, wrestle him. Hold him until we get him out of the ring.” Robert Berry slid into the ring ami helped Dan to lead Billy Chipham away. Billy’s knees were wobbling and as his eyes cleared lie stared vacantly about him. “What’s all the fuss about,” he asked. “1 haven’t begun lighting, have 1? Did I put Dan down. Daniel patted Billy’s shoulder soothingly. . “Take it easy. You’re all right,

Billy.” “CALL OFF THE CONTEST!” He turned his attention to Dan. Robert joined him. Dun sat on his stool whilst they bent over him, examining. Sugar used the sponge One look was enough; the cut was ashad as before, if not worse. Daniel said nothing for a minute, then be wheeled round. “Get Dr. Grainger on tbe’phoue, Devene. Tell him to cohio at once,” be said quietly. As Devene hurried away Daniel stepped up to the ropes and looked around at the pressmen who were discussing the accident. “There’s no need for you to talk about this, boys, until we know just where we stand,” he said. “It’s mifortuuatoj but we can’t mend it. It depends upon what the doctor says.” Dr. Grainger reached the cot tag*, within twenty minutes. He had been traced by telephone while out on bis round, and he brought his bag with him. He examined the cut and his manner was grave. A long time elapsed before he was able to staunch the flow of blood and stitch up the wound. Only Daniel Shelton and Robert were in tlio room.

Down in the garden the reporters and experts were pacing up and down smoking and discussing the mishap. Experience had taught them that the hurt was a serious one. A reopened cut like that would never heal up and give Dan an equal chance against MeGinty to-day fortnight. MeGinty had opened that cut in their last light, had beaten Dan because of it. He would he sure to play upon the danger spot and find it again and again. It was a bad outlook lor Dan Shelton, the best English heavyweight champion seen for many a year. Billy Chapham had gone into the house and was pacing the scullery miserably. His work done Dr. Grainger gave Dan an encouraging smile. “You had better stay in bed until the morning,” he advised. “Read a book, keep quiet and don’t worry.”

In an adjoining room the doctor gave his verdict. “It’s a had business, Shelton,” he told Daniel. “That last time 1 saw your son that wound had healed so perfectly that it showed no sign of weakness. It would have withstood any ordinary punishment Only a swinging punch delivered in a certain way could have reopened it, and I am bound to say that there is no chance of the place healing within a fortnight. It will close, yes, but it won’t have knit. There is evidence of a permanent weakness.” Daniel took the bad news gamely. “Dan won’t be able to light MciGinty; that’s what you mean.” • “The cut won’t stand it. You don’t want to have Dan forced to retire half way through the light do you?” Shelton shook his head, stared blankly at Robert. “No.” He hurried down the stairs and out into the garden where the reporters crowded round him. eager fur news.

“I’ll not mince matters, gentlemen, ’ said Daniel. “That cut is bad. The light is off. Dan won’t meet MeGinty at the New Arena uii the loth.”

The cottage was emptied like magic. Cars screamed down Wood Hill into the town ; Daniel was using his own telephone and they had to lind others. As they flashed the news far and wide, Shelton rang up the New Arena and spoke to Mark Blissard. ‘•Mr Blissard. this is Daniel Shelton speaking. Billy Chapham, by accident, reopened that cut above Dan’s eyes and the doctor says Dan won’t he able to light MeGinty on the loth. You’ll have to call off the contest.”

An imprecation travelled raspiugly to Shelton over the wire, ihere was a moine.pt’s pause.—T hen.— “1 II arrange something. MeGinty has already drawn some of his' money, being broke -is usual. It’s hud news. I’u.V maybe f can arrange something. I II b<‘ ill Jaiis-wort-li as soon as I can.

The characters hi this story are entirely imaginary. No reference is intended to any living person or to any public or private company.