THE STRANGER.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 110, 10 May 1923, Page 14

THE STRANGER.

BY J. I', I.IH'IUINAN.

OKI l-'ultleberry leancil '"aclc in hie chair an.l placed'tin- lips of l>i« podgy finiTors togellipr. '■Vcs. Charley." he suid. "I think you Oujjlit to get ilif appiiiutmrnt without IiHK-li tliflicttlty. I apiikf for you at tlie <>imrdiHHH' meeting to-day, and after a short (li-ius-iidii tin , fiual i-lioicc of a vk-Ki to thf Ciinrdians was left in tinhands of Mr. Smurke. Tlic ilmice l>e« bi-tw-ceii vuii and young Blaikbif, ami 1 tliink Smurke will choose vim." ■■Thanks very much fur all you've done. Mr. Fii'ltlcuprry." >uid Charley Cranson. a smilo of jfi'atitude on his handsome voting fai'P. "And now I'll j lip getting liome. for I know yon must lie tired utter tile busy day you've had. Oood-night." Charley stepped out into Hie windy Btrcete ol Littleborough. :i feeling of exultation in his heart. I'pon his father's death a month earlier he liad piven lip a post in London to come and livi; with his widowed mother in the tiny liouse which was about all she had in 1110 world. She was away now. but liow good it , would be if he could greet her on her ! return with the news of his appointment as clerk to the Littlenorough Guardian?. Xearing liis own door his meditations wire broken. He had prodneed liis key, when he came to a sudden halt, and etood staring down at a figure on the doorstep. While he stared a cloud passed from the face of the moon, and showed up the figure before him. He found himself lookinp into "the larpe, plaintive eyes of a prfitty pirl whose drawn face Defrayed the'fact that, she was approaching'the last stages of exhaustion. Then lie heard a sweet voice say. l- Is this your house? 1 am sorry for trespassing. I will go." As she spoke the beautiful stranger struggled to her feet; but -he would have fallen to the pavement next moment had not Charley thrown out his arm and caught her. Clutrlpy unlocked and threw open the front door with his free hand, and drew her inside. To feel her clinging limply to hie shoulder filled him with a sense of indescribable pleasure. He was quite eorry when lie had deposited her safely on the drawing-room sofa. "If you will wait, a few minutes," he eaid. "I will get Sarah to make you some tea.' . But Sarah, the maid, was out. and so Charley had to make the tea himself. He brought it in with some hot buttered toast. The girl looked prettier than, ever in the lamp light, and food coon' brought a colour to her pale cheeks. Suddenly there was a sharp rat-tat-tat on the front door. Charley ' hurried oft' to answer the summons. In the uncertain moonlight he saw the square figure of Mr.' Jeremiah Smurke. "Good evening, Granson."' said Mr. Bmurke. briskly. "Can I come in?" . He stepped into the hall. As lie Aid so Charley felt a -distinct sense of d\sr comfort. There seemed to be something hostile and aggressive about Mr. Smurkc's tone. The two men faced each other in tlie hall, and. looking into 3lr. Smurke's face, it seemed to Charley that they had better remain there. If he invited Srnurke into the tiny room Where he and his mother had tlieir meals. Smurke would tliink it peculiar. And if he invited him into the drawingroom. Smurke might think anything! '•You hare seen Futtleberry since the Guardians' meeting to-day, I suppose?" demanded Mr. Smurke. '•Yes. and he told mc tlie final decision has been left to you." "Quite so—exactly! You consider yoiireolf a suitable young man for the post of clerk to the Guardians ?'' "I tliink you would find mc efficient and conscientious, Mr. Smurke. Indeed, I'm sure you -would." "H'm! But the young man who obtains this position must be a person of exemplary character." Mr. Smurke accompanied this remark with a sharp and rather unpleasant look. Charley Hushed angrily. "You seem to have doubts as to my character, sir," lie said. "And not without reason!" snapped Sir. Smurke. "May I ask for an explanation?" asked Charley, coldly. "Yes," Mr. Smurke retorted. "It is ■ not ten minutes since I .saw you entering tins house with a young woman in your arms. What is more, 1 believe she is still here —alone with you. I saw your servant in the High Street just now, and 1 know that your mother is still away. Now. sir. answer mc. Am I right?" "The lady is a stranger " "That makes it all the worse. Don't attempt to make excuses. You have said quite enough already. I am ashamed ot you. You are a disgrace to Littleuorough, and 1 would not have you as rierk to the Guardians if you were the only man in the place! Good night, sir, nnd be careful, or you will find yourself in the dock before long!" With these words 3lr. Smurke swung round, wrenched open the door, and hurried out into the night. Pulling himself together, Charley returned to his guest.' ■• ■- ~ '"I hope you're feeling -better now," he eaid. "You were looking really ill just now." "Yes, thank you, I'm much better. If you'll let mc rest here a little.longer Tll goon be strong enough to go on again." "But, if it isn't a rude question, have tou far to go? ; Perhaps you would" let mc see you on your way?" He broke off and looked at her. Slie seemed embarrassed. •'I—I had meant to go to London," she stammered, and hesitated. "Hay I see you to the station, then?" She became more embarrassed than ever. "N-ii-no. I—l don't think I can 1 go to London." "I would like to help you. whatever I you want to do," Charley assured her. ' [ The girl's eyes filled with tears. She j was trying to speak, but it seemed that «he could not command her voice. "Is anything the matter? Can't I help you?" asked Charley, gently. "Oh, I have been so silly—so foolish!" ahe exclaimed. "But why should 1 worry you? 1 must go. I'm being unfair to you." ;._.■ .• V-Xoneense," laughed Charley. "Why .X .not tell mc.the trouble, and see if I tail lielpV ■ ' !?"** a tlu >n'lprous knocking int6tv {&£! himself hurrying n^r a faont {». exclaiming, ang^.-.* U » «*y to believe, that my nouso. Take n>* to tln *.\ "There is a here whom fainting on my dooretcp," >«*„££ Charier, evenly. .V. .-j, ; ;.._ They entered the drawing;reom.- : ;^:

'•So Ibis is your idea of frtvdom and leading your own life!" said the toll man, scowling at the girl on the sofa. "You leave a note to say you're going to London, and then you come and meet this young seapegriue at Littleborougii. Luckily. T was able to track-you here, mill while making inquiries at the police station a constable happened to come in who had seen yon enter thii> liouse. As for you"- lie turned to Charley — -'I'll make you sulT.'j- for your part in tlie abduction of my dauglrter." The gir! »a« sit tint; up now. The appcnraiuf of the tall niiui »e<-med to have banished her former embarrassment. '"You i-iin lind liuili with mc as much as you liki-." she said, "but not with tliis; g.'ni li'jiinii. [ have behaved like a little tool. I—l did mem to go to London and become an actress. But— but someone stole my purse, which had all my money and my ticket to London in it. and—and I found niyeelf landed at Littloborough. 1 was horribly frightened, and wandered al»out until I was quite exhausted. Thau darkness uame. and while 1 was sitting on a doorstep, trying to make up my mind to throw up the sponge and go home, this gentleman camp along and v.as very kind to mc. When you talk about abduction.

J you're talking nonsense, because I don r t ; even know this young man's name. You ! ought to be grateful to him for his kindj ueKs." I I The tall man tinned tr> Charley.] . "Thank you for being kind to my j J daughter.'' lie said, "mid please forgive j 1 misunderstanding. When a girl j I leaves homo for the first time by run- i ! uing away her father naturally becomes j J .uixioiw." f "I am glad to have been of assistance, ,, ! <aid Charley. ■ Vor a long lime after the two had left I 1 Mm Charley (iranson sat in the little ' I »rawing-room, thinking ruefully of his [ ' night's adventure. He felt that lie had i lost not only the Guardians' clerkship, i J but also the a< |uaintance of the. most -•harming and beautiful girl he hail ever ■ : «een. However, it was useless to fret. ! He must draw what <omfort be could I from the fact that be had done what ! any decent man would have done in similar circumstances. i During the wee-res tliat followed it i became eloar to Charley that his chance I of obtaining work at Lit tie borough was | : very slight. If he applied for a post, j I employers eyed him doubtfully, and j 1 someone else obtained the situation. '

! Soon the truth T>ecame clear. Mr. Smurke had been talking! A month after his adventure Charley ■ j wns surprised one morning lo see a ] motor ear draw up outside liis home, i ; Next moment he was dashing to the I j 'loor, for he had seen a girl's face, and had recognised the features of his unknown goddess. She smiled as he ran across the pave- i ment. I "I ought to have called before,' , she i said. ', "It is very sweet of you to call at all," declared Charley. ''I have been waiting because of dad." j ; she went on. "You see, I was in dis- : grace for running away from home, but J now it's all right." i Her blush made her look lovelier than ; ever. I "You must have thought mc very un- | grateful,"' she continued: "but 1 had to I j persuade dad before 1 could do any- ! i thing. You remember that the night! ! you hrlped mc a horrid man called and | i insulted you? I heard the whole conver- j i salioik: the drawing-room door was ajar, j ;I. told dad how you lost a job through j mc. and I've come to offer you the post | :of private secretary to Mr. Mark AnnerJ ley. of Annerley Park."

: Charley's eyes widened. I "Mark Annerley, the millionaire?" he ■ stammered. j "Yes. tlie millionaire whose only and i spoilt daughter you helped last montn. I Dad made inquiries about you, and I congratulate you. Mr. Granson, upon obtaining the post!" J 'But that was not all that Charley j gained. Twelve months later he was not only a millionaire's private secretary, but also the husband of a millionaire's only daughter. I '