SHORT STORY COMPETITION.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 212, 6 September 1924, Page 24

SHORT STORY COMPETITION.

For stories submitted during August first prize is awarded to Miss A. Kenny for her story, "A Wash-out." Amongst the others the following ■how writing* ability: "Tbe Faith of Gillie," "Mine Enemy," "Father and Son," "Tho Country School-Teacher," "Type—and Rufe," "Nebula," and "The Kahikatea Flat."

"Well, I like your cheek? You're .the Governor's daughter, are you?—lolloping round in the mud with saucy counter jumpers—No! you can't use my telephone Lady Verbena Helverstone,. and ' your Mall have to stay anxious. And I'll trouble you all to walk- out of my shop and let mc shut up and go home ■ and feed my fowls." Bernard, full of admiration for the ' expensive girl's inventive genius, whis. ' pered to Iris. "Quick, tell mc the name of one of the Governor's aide-de-camps." '• "Captain Hardy-Kerr," whispered Iris in return. '-''..' "Hardy-Kerr, good enough." He leaned his elbows on the counter and ' said in what he considered an excellent ' imitation of a cultivated English voice • and manner. "I'm, haw, Captain Hardy-Kerr." The expensive, girl moved her little '- white: chin stiffly across her fur collar j' and looked at him fixedly. .^ • "Are. there any other telephones -in ' this~village or, haw, any vehicles for hire?" , . I A moment later the three were on the footpath once more, ana the bun vendor had locked as well as shut her door. ' "My word you're clever," said Bernard ' turning to. the expensive girl with a '• laugh, "to think of that try-on so , quickly. If she hadn't been such an old [ bite it would havo worked too. Have la-bun. I don't like our chances I must ! jsay. There's only a school and a vil-' j'lage blacksmith in sight, and every-. , body's gone. home. I'll go and try the [ Captain Hard-affair touch at the place ahead and see if I can get a car, or a 1 cart, 'or..lodging of some sort for the • . Vice-Regal party. You girls follow .i along." ~;."■'.• v . I He went off biting his bun and ds--1 claiming, "The shades of night were .falling fast, - " ' T' The girls, followed more slowly, skirt- ' ing the pools and muddy hollows of the '■.: half-formed footpath, and looking rather solemnly at the rural landscape, grey , with rain arid dusk. . Bernard was soon back, gulping his . last bit'of bun> and. almost serious."Seems to mc," hp said, "that there's nothing to be done but lay-down, to'it ' and plug the seven - - miles of. half i flooded road into Ruatui, or to take shelter in yonder scliooL-playsbed, and roost there till to-morrow's train, eating ; buns. "What I mean to say, it's just , : as you girls like." ; The girls; whose shoes were thin, showed a preference for the-.playshed. -■■ . "I am expected," said the expensive ■ .girl as they, sat in a row on the dirty .-seat, 1 , "arid" %-car-may .'come for mc yet, , .but I wish I could ha].e N( rung up." / r "That Lady" Veronica was smart," »' daid Bernard again, paying tribute . N handsomely to better wits than his.own,* I i "You did it well. I'll hail any passing ; car, shall I, arid try on the Captaiir Hard-affair stunt Say Iris ought : to-be some one, too, since : we're' goin' in for high life." • I '• ' I "What about the Honourable ; Mrs. ! Harleck, Lady Helverstone's niece?" sng- • gested the stranger gaily. ~ • "First rate—Mrs. Horlick, eh?" and from then on he convulsed. Iris by adl dressing her as Mrs. Malted. "But does Captain Hardy-Kerr really .talk like .that?" inquired the girl, ■ | laughing, after Bernard had had a • j sharp attack of English accent. ( "Well, I don't know him, not personi ally," replied Bernard, rather as though t the distinguished'captain were the only • one of the Governor's staff with whom--1 he was not well .acquainted, "but all • these swell English blokes do talk in that sort of style, haven't you noticed?" ; "I don't know that I "have," murmured 1 the girl. ■ - 1 'The light died out of the wet landscape, ' feet grew cold, and spirits sank. "The explorers reported the natives of this district rather' savage and, in- _ hospitablfe," said Captain Hard-affair< with dismal jocularity, "Lady' Verbena Headstone, will .you have another: bun, do, their terribly filling; give you that 1 feeling of fullness after meals that you '- take a pink pill for; there's just one ' 'each. I, say, this is funny, isn't it, 1 | stranded in a wet school shed in the 'interesting dairy district of Clematis \ Creek. What a jolly Christmas Eve ; we're having. I'm afraid we'll be late for the Christmas tree." I For awhile, the talk was pleasantly personal. The expensive girl was quite t : interested to learn that Bernard jiistij| fied his existence by serving the .public behind the. counter in the biggest ana [ best bookseller's shop in town. "I've often been in there," said the girl, "and yet I've never noticed you; • but I will next time." . A faint pang made itself felt in Iris' I breast. She knew, of course, that Bernard couldn't help girls getting infatuated with him, but she didn't want tlie expensive girl noticing him • too hard. . • "I'm "at- the . glove counter in, • Warren's," she said, drawing the f stranger's attention to 'herself. "Are i you in a shop, or an 1 office, .'or what do you.do?" - .. '"I'll give you three guesses," 'said the ' stranger gleefully. Iris- considered. She was.;.becoming | more and more aware of something she called' style, in*.the girl, of something that she would-have indignantly designated "side. if she had not liked the 1 other girl; I "Typist?" she hazarded. "Xo." "I know," said Bernard, "thaCu easy. All you have to do, of course, is to I go to functions with Lady' IlelverI stone, and let school: kids give you ; .flowers." ' j . They all laughed, and the question [of the stranger's occupation was let ' 'drop. ' The conversation, though spirited, was .growing . fitful. Bernard was get-! ting anxious'about the long hours "of discomfort' bdforo his : charges. He, smoked'a cigarette, and they nto.chocbV lates. which the stranger had discovered in'her 1 pocket. They matched, the rest of the girl in that they wore 'of -the most expensive and delightful kind. . ' "If that,'belich". was a bit wider." said ■ Bernard, "you two' girls could" wrap up '.together- in my' overcoat, and keep warm enough: to,sleep,- while I roosted • at the other end,"but tlie [ivay.it is: . _ - ''We wouldn't' take - your ■ "overcoat.".

A WASH-OUT. . (By ALICE A. KENNY.) ' The hybrid (not high-bred) official, who was not exactly a porter,and not quite a stationmaster at Clematis Creek Station —which was, after all, only a shed and a slab of asphalt—was cross. The train on its way to Ruatui during a" holiday, of all times, was held up at his slab of asphalt for nearly an hour by a slight wash-out due to most unseasonable rains. Workmen;were repairing it, and he told everybody so in a loud official voice, and also what time the train might be expected, tov,move /on;. but this did not prevent nearly'all the annoyed. _o_day-makers getting-out in the rain and crowding up his slab and questioning him'personally on the matter, about which he had already provided ,' all the information he had... He asked, at last, with heat, if they supposed lie was .the blooming Minister of Railways, and went into his shed and played with 'tbe telephone; - 1 When 'Bernard put his head in and 1 inquired politely if "there was time to run across to a shop he,could.see in the moist middle distance, the official replied illogically and without restraint that there was time to go to Gehenna and back and stay, there if Bernard wished, arid-Bernard's laughter,' as he ; fled, did-nothing'.-to pacify him. ' • ._■ Naturally, - then "Bernard -. and Iris, with whom he was "going," went off in the rain to buy bups. Before them, on the Ifime quest, they saw a slight'girl in a very expensive .overcoat; but they, soon forgot her and the buns and everything, for they, bad barely-reached the road when the - engine screeched in a manner as irascible as if it shared the exasperation of the official, and ground its way out of the station. Bernard ran, Iris ran, the expensive girl ran, "but all in vain; all that was left at the station .was. the angry official donning'a wet waterproof... "Well, you are a blighter!" cried Bernard indignantly, with iris' little, grave wet face at his shoulder. "Don't you talk to mc!" shouted the porter. s " : _ ' "It's no pleasure, I'm sure!'" retorted Bernard. "You're not fit for your job." "Aren't It" bawled the porter. "Just you send that lady away and' 111 soon' show you." .. ''■''""_: ■ ''■'-'•'' But the lady, instead, with great firmness, :Bernard;..away and left. the. tired-porter-repeating himself profanely and without originality in the solitude of his deserted slab "and shining rail's. "Do let mc go Ba«k and : say I'll report him," begged the youth. "That always gets 'em." . "No, no, no!. Put your umbrella over J mc. I'm getting wet." -They stopped outside the station and frit* up the umbrella: The expensive girl passeu th __a, uer expensive hat getting wet: She gave them a hesitating look and went on.--.. _ Bernard, instructed by Iris, bounded and caught hold of her arm. She looked startled and almost offended, but Bernard's honest face reassured her. "Are you adrift, too?" he asked/"or do you know anyone in this little hole? -Stick along with, us if you like, will you —what I mean to say, it's no good a' girl by herself, if you understand—espe- . cially with night coming on. This is Iris—Miss Streeter, I mean—my intended." The girl, a little bewildered,: but grateful, accepted the gallant Bernard's protection, and they plodded through the wet grass and mud and reached the road. •• : , . i —. "Columbus ' sets out-to encounter America!" announced the young man, who was by- the way of-being a humorist. "Man in the foretop reports buns visible in the south south-west." The expensive girl laughed -with a little surprised trill -of gaiety. Ber-. nard's style of foolery seemed new to , her. It gratified that young man extremely.- -•-'-.'' "Columbus,- being- '■_' good navigator, 6teered for them," he continued, slopping across the.footpath, ."and ran on a reef." he added.as, the shop door slammed in his face. "If I had buck teeth'she'd have knocked-them-out." He hammered on the door and a sour looking woman opened 1 .'it- arid- , stared at them. ' - ,"4vez' vbu's ..es'hiins?" asked Bernard with a drip running down his face. "What?" . . . . , v "What I mean to say, how are your buns this evening?" ..'*''> "I always shut after train time—l'm late .already. Do-.you want to .buy ■ some?." • "I do," said Bernard politely, "if you're quite sure you don't mind parting with them. What I mean to say, some people keep their buna to sell to ' the public, and some seem .to get at-y tached to them and hate parting with them.". There 4s no "doubt Bernard' was inexcusable, but the girls could not help giggling,. for the. woman's mannar was as grudging as .possible, and. she looked as though she would have liked to call her merry customer a fool. But she had her revenge. The expensive girl, looking about her, discovered that this little shop was also the post office, and asked if she might use the telephone to get into touch with her people at Ruatui. ; The shop lady brightened a little for the first time since they came in, and refused. 'Tm shut for the night,"' she said with satisfaction. "Fin" always shut at this hour."' .-" .""."" •- ■_ :_ ■■; i "But yon are not"really shut at this' moment, are you?" ' .; ~- . The girl's cool, precise little manner and high held chin seemed to offend the shop lady still "more.' _ jj ... _.'. "Yes, Tain—l only opened that door again to oblige-you and much thanks I {J* 3 *-*-- ■■'-'>.* "But it's rather, .important I want «S

"My dear kids, you would if I thought it the best thing to do—but the way it is—if I can't get you inside some house, it appears to mc that I ought to smash one of the school windows and let's all go inside there. We-might"be able to light a fire; wouldn't that be nice. Only their so blamed touchy about Government property—they mightn't even give mc the option of a fine." "Oh! you mustn't,"..said Iris. They discussed the chances of getting a lift into Ruatui,'and" decided to hail every car that 'passed, because those going into Ruatui might give them a lift, and those coming out might bein search of the expensive girt. ' As" they sat listening to"the drip on the roof, and the ripple of overfull ditches, they heard a car < coming. •• "There's our car," said Bernard, ."i'll give it a go." .- _, . He hailed from the shed, and ran out, striking matches, and slopping \vetly across the sandy playground. His hail was heard by the occupants of the big car,. which came swishing and whirring along in the wet, and it slowed down. "Hullo!" cried a man's voice. "Who's that?" "I say," answered Bernard, still under the influence of the expensive girl's' clever fun, "can you take us into Ruatui. 'It's—haw—Captain HardyKerr—". : "Who did"-you say?" . * "Captain Hardy-Kerr and " "Captain Hardy-Kerr! -" repeated an astounded, voice:.' "Stop, please! I'm getting out —what's this?" — -, - ' A big man in an overcoat squelched towards Bernard, and flashed an. electric torch on him. , "Hardy-Kerr—are you?" he said, as the youth blinked in the light. His manner was .extraordinary Un- ■ ■' * "Come here, Drake!" he' called to someone else, interrupting Bernard's attempt to speak; and as another man joined him, he.said in a peculiar tone: "This fellow says he's Hardy-Kerr; interesting, eh?" .' "Well I'll be !" said the other. "What's the idea?" "It's' > a joke," explained Bernard in haste. ' "Is it?—a joke, eh? And, how. long have you been operating under my name, young man?" . "Oh!" said .Bernard aghast. . "Won't they take us?" cried Iris from the shed. - - "Who is it?" cr.icd the expensive girl. "Hullo!" shouted the man with, the electric' torch, and ■ was through the. fence-in a moment, and hurrying to wards the girls. - , " "Lady. Veronica, is that where-you are?" he cried in obvious joy and relief. "How on earth .did. you get'here'? Your mother has been bo anxious." ' Bernard, standing by the fence witb the individual called Drake, and feeling rather as if he were in custody, beard her pouring put the tale.' -' "Oli! here he is," she cried merrily as they all came up to the' fence. "So you really were," said Bernard hoarsely, and he. and Iris drew close together for protection. "I—l thought it was.all a lark!" and he blushed.hotter and hotter in the dark as he remembered all the silly things he had said. "It' has' been a lovely lark!" said, Lady Veronica, "and now'we can get to Huattii in comfort." "But" why Hardy Kerr?" asked the aggrieved owner of the name, indicating Bernard.: V. ?'lt was ,an absolutely necessary step." said- Lady Veronica with-delightful sham -. seriousness, "to _ impress '■■ that nasty: old shop woman. Her bung, though," she added, "were delicious. I don't know what I should have dorm without Mr. Collins and bis intended to look after mc. They've been so kind. I'm sure daddy will want to thank you both," she'added. . The homely word daddy filled Bernard with .relief. .Evidently the__Vice-Regal set, "with which he was not acquainted, was'human to some degree, but he instantly, registered a resolve that daddy's opportunity of thanking him for his very trifling services .should be as limited as he could manage even to vanishing /point. ~ .