Those Lucky Pullens

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 232, 1 October 1929, Page 20

Those Lucky Pullens

I By MALCOLM DUART

THE STORY SO FAR,

that she "is going to do something desperate." The mother has tried to break off the love affair between Julia and Sam Carlile, a neighbour boy. Mrs; Pullen herself, innocent and romantically minded, has been "cut" by the women of the neighbourhood, after numerous costly gifts, have come to the Pullen home. A reward of 080,000 dollars is offered in China for the return of seven great diamonds, concealed and shipped to America in a Chinese lacquered chest. The Pullens have had such a chest for a brief time. As the last chapter ends, Mrs. Pullen, distracted by the disappearance of Julia, starts to run to her husband's office, hatless. CHAPTER LVIII. As Mrs. Pullen hastened along the sidewalk her lips were moving, and now and then she gave a little anguished cry. She was panting heavily when she reached the car line, and automatically felt for the wrietbag in which she carried her purse. She had forgotten it. "What'll I do?" she cried. Turning she started to run back toward her home. Two women were standing at the next corner chatting. As she approached, she recognised them as neighbours who had declined to speak to her, but she did'not hesitate. She came to them with her hands outstretched. "Julia's gone," she said, tremulously. "I'm trying to get down town, and I forgot my carfare." For one startled moment they gazed at her. Then, hastily, both dipped into the shopping bags they carried. "Here, Mrs. Pullen," said one of them. "Here's a dollar. You poor dear! I do hope it's nothing serious." "You take tins, too/-' said the other. She extended some small coins that ehe had gathered from the bottom of her purse. ''Thank you." Mrs. Pullen accepted both contributions, and without further words started back towards the car line. The women hesitated, and came after her. "We've heard so much about your good fortune," said one, pufling in her effort to keep up. "I'm so sorry if anything's gone wrong. Is there anything we can do?" "I wish you could find Julia," Mrs. Pullen said, over her shoulder. "I'm almost frantic." The second woman cried out and grasped Mrs. Pullen's coat. "Stop!" she said. An automobile- horn sounded, and a moment later a large sedan drew-up to the kerb. Pullen was in it, and his perturbed face was thrust through the open window. "What in thunder's-the matter?" he called. It was one of the neighbours who answered. "She was running down the street without any money and we gave her some." , Mrs. Pullen was tugging at the door handle. "Fred," she falttred, "have you any news of Julia ?" "I have," he said briefly. "Get in." He swung the door open for her, and ehe climbed to the seat beside him. "Is she all right?" she continued. "Yep." His face was twitching. "You come home with me." She remembered the women who had aided her. "Let the ladies in too," ehe told him, laying her hand on his arni to halt the shifting of the gears. "You speaking to them now?" he demanded, impolitely. The women drew back, but Mrs. Pullen motioned them to come. "They're my old friends," she protested. "Get right in, girls!" Rather doubtfully they obeyed, and sat stiflly in the tonneau as t\u car drew away from the kerb. "Weren't such friends of yours that they'd speak to you when you were in trouble," he said, loudly. "Why, Mr. Pullen!" exclaimed one of the passengers. "How can you talk so!" "Wo always loved Mrs. Pullen," asserted the other. "Fred, don't say anything more," his wife ordered. "Suppose they've heard you're rich i now," he eaid, rcbelliously. j "They've been very nice to me. They | lent me money to go down town," she told him. "Here." She handed the money she had borrowed to its owners. "Where is Julia, Fred?" "Let you know in a minute," ho said. The women alighted with the Pullens, and bade Mrs.-.Pullen an effusive goodbve. I *"I do hope Julia's well," said one. "And you must come and see me," the other added, brightly. k Pullen turned his back and went up the- steps. "Hurry up, 'ftlsie," he said. "I've got something I want to show you." Before the two neighbours started away, the door swung open ' ii ml' Julia, radiant and laughing, appeared in the doorway. "My baby!" called Mrs. Fullen, hurrying up the steps. The girl and her mother fell into one another's arms. "I was so scared. Julia," said the older woman, between laughing and crying. "Why did you leave me that awful note?" "I said I was going to do something desperate—and I did," said the girl. "Look here, mama." She reached behind the door, and drew Sam Carlile into view. "Mama, meet my husband," she said. "Your what?" Mrs. Pullen fell back a step. The young man much embarrassed, put his arm around the girl. "She's my wife," he explained. "We got married this morning." The rocking chair still was on the porch, beside the doorway, and Mrs. Pullen collapsed into it. Her chin moved, but she was unable to produce the words that' sounded fornilessly in her throat. Pullen, with a quiet laugh, came and patted her on the cheek. "Aren't you going to congratulate this newlyweds?" he asked. "And you can kiss the groom, offered Julia, leading Sam nearer. "But," said Mrs. Pullen, her amazed eves fixed upon her daughter, "aren't we going to have a wedding? Is it all over % "Signed, sealed and delivered," said I er husband! "Go on—kiss the kids." Mrs. Pullen complied, as the girl ami vouth stooped over her ill turn. "And you're Mrs. Carlile now?" she addressed Julia, as if there might have been some mistake after all. "You bet she is," Sam said. "Know what she did?" He beamed with pleasure. "Saw me on the street this morning, aud hopped out of Mr. Pullen's j car, and grabbed me by the arm. Told i ine we were going to get married right- j away. And so we did! Telephoned Mr. j Pullen as soon as it was over. Wanted j him to break the news to you." j The mother rallied her forces, and • arose. "But why did you do.it that j way?" She appealed to them each in | turn. I

"So you wouldn't carry me off and marry me to a millionaire," Julia told her. "Did you get the roses I sent?" "Oh, yes." Mrs. Pullen hastened into the house, and returned with the spray of flowers over her arm. "Aren't they wonderful? But what did you mean by that card—that I'd be famous ami happy V "You are happy, aren't you?" asked her daughter. "I will be pretty soon, when I catch my breath," confessed her mother. "And you're going to be famous, too." This was from Sam. "I don't want to be famous," she protested. "But you young people needn't think you foolod me, for one minute. I knew all along you were planning to get married." Sam and Julia smiled at one another, and both looked at Pullen. He grinned. "You needn't simper, Fred Pullen," said his wife. "I did know it. A woman understands those things. Just because you can't see what goes on under your nose, don't think a woman can't." She stooped to rescue a rose that had fallen, and in doing so she caught sight of her coat and dress. "I'm a sight!" she exclaimed. "And with a. wedding in the house!" She fled indoors, and a moment later was hastily changing her dress, calling disjointed phrases to the two men and the bride below. When she reappeared she was dressed for the street, wearing her caracul coat, her hat and gloves. "We're going down to look at our new house," she said. "There's got to be an addition on it now."

"What for?" asked her husband. "Beside there is'nt any house to look at, yet." "You have more simple ideas, Fred," she observed. "If I don't look at tho lots how can I tell where the addition iis to go? There's got to be more room I with Sam and Julia living there and ! babies coining later on " "Mama!" Julia blushed hotly. "Certainly you'll have babies," her mother said. ' "I'd like to have the place loaded with 'cm. I could show you how to bring them up." The youth and the girl gazed at one another, and Sam nodded, j "Can't we live in this house, after you've moved into the new one?" Julia asked. Her mother sat down with a bump. "I never thought of it!" she exclaimed. "I can have both houses, can't I? And we'll both have some place to visit whenever we want to!" A discreet ring of the doorbell interrupted them at this moment, and Sam jumped to answer it. The Pullens stared in amazement. In the doorway was the figure of young Mr. Parks. (To be continued daily.)