LICENSING LEGISLATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 222, 19 September 1929, Page 30

LICENSING LEGISLATION.

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. A -huge, irregularly shaped diamond lias been delivered to Fred Pullen in San F/ancisco, one of many costly gifts that have come from an unknown friend. The Pullens had bought a Chinese lacquered chest, and later sold It to two Chinamen who came to seek it. A subsequent newspaper dispatch tells of a (>BO.OOO dollars reward offered in China for the return of seven great diamonds, believed to have bpcn in a chcst and shipped to America. Mrj. I'ullen, romanticallyminded, always trying to arrange a marriage for her pretty daughter, Julia, who is loved by Sam Carlile, a neighbour youth. Ab the last chapter ends, Mrs. Pullen tells Sam thst Julia's employer, a lawyer r.rimed Mr. Murty, is probably In love with the girl. CHAPTER XLVIII. Carlile shifted restlessly. It was evident that any romantic visions of Mr. Murty had gained Sam's entire disapproval. "I don't think Julia ought to work in an office with an old fool like that," he declared. The- girl laid a cool hand upon his mouth. "Do hush," she commanded. "He's- not an old fool, and he's not in lovg> and he's never been in love, and nexer will be. He thinks women are a nuance, and has told me so plenty of tirrfes." '£He ought to be ashamed of himself," announced Mrs. Pullen. "It's only wohian's sweetness and goodness that holds the world together. I heard a lady one time in a lecture. Besides, Mr. Murty.has deceived us.". "How!" asked Julia. "By leading us on the. way he did. He let us think he was the one who sent the furniture and fur coat and everything." "But, mama— —" "He did'so!" her mother interrupted. "But I suspected him all the time. I've got a good notion not to send him our diamond." • Carlile shot' a mirthful glance at Julia, who giggled. "Now what's- the matter?" inquired Mrs. Pullen. "I—why, I was just thinking," said the girl, "how astonished Mr. Murty will be when you send him such an enormous diamond to take care of." ''Hum!" said her mother. "He'll know we're rich then, won't he? All right— you give it to him, but you can tell, him I was suspicious of him from the first. The idea —an old man like that trying to take the credit from Sam! Has he had any word yet from China — about the general?" ■"China's a long way off," Julia said. "I'm pretty sure he sent a cablegram, and we ought to hear something in a day or two. He wanted to find out if the reward wa3 genuine, and whether the diamonds really belong to General Tin." "If they don't, is this one ours, then ?" Mrs. Pullen looked at the stone hopefully. "Probably —I'm not sure. But I don't know who else it would belong to." They had been standing throughout this conversation, but now Mrs. Pullen took a seat. "I'm so tired, working all day and standing looking at those lots to-night, and then Sam bursting on us like a bombshell," she said. "I got your father out'••of here, though. He makes it so hard for Julia to entertain callers," she added, to Sam. Thefgirl'and youth sat together on the couch, and waited for the older woman to go on. * "He nearly snapped Mr. Parks' head off the other night," she continued. "Oh, yes," said Julia, hastily attempting to ward off the coming narrative. "Mr. Parks has been gone from the office two or three days now. I think he had some kind of dispute with Mr. Murty. "I wonder where he went ?" inquired Mrs. Pullen. She talked on contentedly, speculating over the disappearance of Parks, reviewing the ' character and disposition of Parks' .employer/ and returning now and then to v the" mystery of the great gem that lay in her lap. It was late when Carlile announced that he must go. "It makes me so happy, to see you young people together and enjoying yourselves," said Mrs. Pullen, as slie told him good-night. "It reminds me of my own girlhood days." Julia followed the young man to tie porch. Her mother waited in the hall until she returned. ; "He's asked me to take dinner with him downtown to-morrow night, and then we'll go to a show," said the girl* as she closed the door* "Why-dbean't he come here to eat asked'pe mother.. /"We'll have a better dinnersihanayou can get in a restaurant. And then I've got my new evening dress that •i Wyen't had a-chance to wear 7 Julia only shook her head, smiling, and started up the stairs. ' n - "I'd enjoy going to a show, too, called Mrs. Pullen after her. Pullen's voice came from the- kitcnen. "I'll take you to a show," he said. "But you haven't any dress suit, returned his wife. "Neither has Sam, said Julia, from the upper, hallway. _ , Next morning, greatly to Mrs. Pullen s distress, the girl declined either to come home to put on her new red dress, or to carry it with her in : order that she mi"ht change her clothes at the office. °This little suit is plenty good enough," said Julia, rising from her breakfast. . "But what's the use of our having line clothes if we don't wear them?" The mother appealed to 'her husband.. You make her take that new dress with her, Fred." "Nix," said he. "When two _ young folks are out together, they might, as well be dressed in - overalls. , They're happy." Mrs. Pullen surrendered, after a brief further struggle, but she wagged her head disconsolately as she watched Pullen and her daughter drive away. ; Standing in .the doorway, she thought a moment, and then went up the stairs. From Julia's closet she took the dress that she had bought for the ;girl, and spread it on the guest room bed beside her own new evening gown. "It's too bad," she whispered, patting the delicate fabrics. "Nobody, wears them!" She left them lying while she made the beds and straightened the rooms, returning now and then to look. "And I do so love good times," she said aloud, on one of these trips. She was preparing to return the dresses to their hangers when the front doorbell summoned her. Taking off her apron, and hurriedly patting her hair into place before one of the mirrors, she rap, down the steps. Through" the curtained glass in-the front door she could see the outline of a familiar figure. "Mr. Parks!" she cried, throwing the door open.

The young man took off his hat, and bowed. "I apologise for coming so early," lie said, as he entered the hall. "But I teas anxious to find you alone." I "Sit down," she said, hospitably moving one of the chairs. '"Lay your coat ton the couch. I'm all upset, doing house- ! work. I must look a sight." "Not at all. Not at all, he said. He waited until she was seated, and then drew his chair close to her. He was not wearing his nose glasses, and there was a, briskness in his air that Mrs. Pullen had not seen before. "When I called here several nights ago, Mr. Pullen found it advisable to treat me with great discourtesy," he began. "I feel so bad about that," said Mrs. Pullen. "Julia and I " He held up his hands. "Permit me to do the talking," lie said. "What I have to say is important." He leaned forward, leaning his elbows on his knees and looking up into her eyes. "Many very handsome gifts have come to this house recently, Mrs. Pullen. You will observe that I use the word 'gifts.'" He paused and looked at her significantly. "Your husband until recently was a clerk. Now, suddenly, he becomes the head of a thriving business. He rides in an expensive car. He negotiates for the erection of a fine house." Reaching out one long arm,'he tapped Mrs. Pullen on the knee.. "Such things as that, madam, attract the attention of an observant man." The woman, at first mystified by his remarks, was looking at him with dawning terror.. "You speak so—so coldly," she said, moving away from him a little. "I am speaking about cold business," he said, slowly raising his body until he sat erect. He placed his fingertips together, and proceeded. "It may interest you to know, Mrs. Pullen, that I have Severed my connection with Mr. Murty's firm. lam opening an office of my own." "I congratulate you," said his hostess, timidly. "No congratulations necessary," he said. "I have been away from San Francisco a day or two, and madam, I have learned the mystery—" there was a pause, and then he repeated the word —"the mystery, I say, of your sudden— your peculiar prosperity." Mrs. Pullen was sitting with her hands clasped so tightly that the knuckles were white. "I picked up certain chance remarks," he continued, his eyes fixed on the woman's frightened face, "and made it my business to visit Mrs. Hamilton, at the resort where she is resting." "Mrs.—Mrs. Hamilton?" faltered Mrs. Pullen. "Exactly." He crossed his legs and leaned back. "From her I have learned the little story—the entertaining little story of the fat gentleman, and your acquaintance with him. In brief, Mrs. Pullen, the source of your sudden wealth." After one appalled moment, in which her face took on a waxy whiteness, Mrs. Pullen drooped forward and slid from her chair to the floor in a faint. (To be continued daily.)

COMMUNITY SCHEME SUGGESTED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) MATAMATA, Wednesday. At last night's meeting of the Matamata Chamber of Commerce, Messrs. G. G. Bell and F. E. Schofield were appointed to draft the chamber's views on legislation to meet the needs of growing districts such as Matamata, in the matter of hotel licenses. Members expressed the opinion that popular. feeling was in favour of the placing of licenses in growing districts, and that Matamata was an ideal town for experimental legislation. The subgestion was made that legislation should provide for new hotels to be run on a community basis.