Sir Vagabond

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 264, 7 November 1931, Page 14 (Supplement)

Sir Vagabond

By DOUGLAS BUCHANAN.

Chapter XIX. Eileen Storey at Windrush. Although Paul Mallam was not as yet aware of the actual arrival of Eileen Storey, he knew that her coming could not be long delayed. As he eased the body of his employer to a full-length position on the thick carpet, his nimble : brain immediately perceived that Fortune, that fickle jade, was playing into his hands. With the gov'nor in this state the danger could be kept at bay until some plan could be made definitely to avert the disaster with which they were threatened. . Dr. Somers would refuse to allow anyone to visit the sick man until he had recovered, and then the changes wrought by the illness could be made to account for a lot. The secretary looked down at the white, haggard face and drawn mouth, which had ceased its inutterings, and realised that his employer was indeed a very sick man. Stepping swiftly across the room, he rang the bell for Trim, the butler, and then, going into the corridor, picked up the house telephone and called Widdicombe.

The latter was the first to arrive, and he had some startling information to impart:

"Trim is in the hall," he said. "There's a young lady just arrived. Miss Eileen Storey, I think."

Mallam barely suppressed the exclamation which rose to his lips. "Oh, she's come, then," he replied. "We were expecting her. Guess the excitement has been too much for Mr. Storey. Give me a hand, and we'll get him tc bed at once. Then go and give instructions that noone must see him until Dr. Somers arrives. That does not apply to Miss Violet, of course," he added.

Between them they carried the unconscious man to his room, undressed and put him in his bed. Then Widdicombe went in search of Violet Dale, and Mallam did some quick telephoning.

Dr. Somers fortunately was in London, and after giving detailed instructions of what should be done, promised to come at once.

"Don't worry," he concluded, "keep him absolutely quiet until I arrive."

"I will," said Mallam, with quiet determination as he rang off.

A moment later Violet was standing by his side, her anxious eyes gazing into his own. Very tenderly he drew her to him.

"It's all right, darling," he said soothingly, "I've just telephoned for Somers, and he's coming right away. Mr. Storey must be kept very quiet, he says; there's no danger if that i 3 done. You go along and stay with him while I make sure that no one is likely to disturb him."

Violet Dale grasped the lapels of hi 6 coat:

"Paul," she almost whispered, "Eileen Storey is here."

"I know," said Paul grimly, "leave her to me."

As the secretary came slowly down the stairs he encountered Trim, looking somewhat agitated.

"If you please, Mr. Mallam," he blurted out, in a manner quite unusual for the dignified butler, "there's a young lady just arrived who claims to be Miss Eileen Storey." Mallam smiled as he nodded: ; "Bit of a surprise to you, Trim, but true, nevertheless. "I'll go along and see her now while you make sure that no one disturbs Mr. Storey. He's had another attack and is in a bad way. Send Mrs. Parkyn along and have a room prepared, and all that sort of thing."

Paul, the victim of an uneasy conscience, braced himself for the task before him. He had seen the photograph of Storey's daughter and knew what she looked like. The knowledge did not add to his confidence.

"Now for it," he muttered, as he turned the handle of the door.

Eileen Storey did not hear him enter. As he came into the room she had a little box open in her hand and appeared to be taking a tiny pinch of white powder it contained, after the manner of snuff.

Paul stared at her in some surprise, and at the same moment she became aware of his presence in the room. With a little start, which was somehow a guilty one, she hastily pushed the box into a concealed pocket of her cloak. "Say," she drawled, in a soft musical voice, "is everybody here cat-footed? That butler fellow glides about like a ghost. Now, just who may you be?"

Paul's first impression was an unfavourable one, but he succeeded in mustering the charming smile which at one time had made him the pet of certain ladies at Oxford.

"I'm Mr. Storey's secretary," he began, when the girl cut in: "Oh, and where's pop, anyway ?"

Paul looked grave: "I'm sorry to tell you, Miss Storey," he replied, "that your father has had another attack and is lying seriously ill. Dr Somers, his medical adviser, is on his way here, and in the! l ' meantime Im afraid it will be impossible for anyone to see him." The girl's dark eyes flashed angrily: "Anyone, eh; that means me. If you think, Mr. Secretary, that you're going to keep Albion Storey's daughter from seeing her pop, dead or alive, let me say right now that you're making one large error. AVhat'-s the matter with him, anyway? He hasn't bothered to write a single stroke of a pen, and never replied to my S.O.S. for a few miserable dollars to get me over to this benighted island. Lord, he's changed. Seems his head is affected these days." Paul Mallam listened to the torrent of words in shocked silence. Eileen Storey wheeled on him in blazing anger: "Sak'es alive!" she exclaimed, stamping her foot, "what's the matter with the guy? Can't you answer a lady?" Paul flushed and a deep frown creased his forehead. "The malady from which your father is suffering is certainly mental. His head, as you suggested, is affected, and for the present, at least, he must have absolute quiet. If you went to him now you would probably kill him with the additional excitement. This is not the first attack he has had, and it has only been through the devoted attention of Dr. Somers and his ward, Miss .Violet. Dale, that he has pulled through." Paul thought he had introduced Violet very neatly. Eileen Storey was, of course, quite unaware of her existence. The girl raised her eyebrows in a manner which added considerable charm to her handsome face.

"Miss Violet Dale?" she asked, in her slow, drawling voice, "my father's ward ?"

Paul nodded, feeling distinctly uncomfortable us lie scented trouble ahead. But the girl merely shrugged her shapely shoulders and musmuredi

"Oh, in-deed, that's a new one on me."

The arrival of Mrs. Parkyn saved him from any further embarrassment. He introduced the girl, and the kindly old housekeeper made a curtsey as she beamed with pleasure.

Eileen Storey acknowledged the greeting with a curt nod.

"Mra. Parkyn will show you your room," said Paul, "and then you'll be ready for a meal, I expect."

"I'm ready for a stiff cocktail or something of that "breed right now," replied the girl, as she followed the housekeeper from the room. "Send it up to me—l guess I need it."

Paul sank into a chair and mopped his forehead:

"Pliew!" he breathed. "What a charming little girl! If that's what they turn out of American colleges I don't want to meet many of them. But, by gad, she's a stunner for looks."

Anxious that she should not force her way into the sick man's room, an action of which he fully believed her capable, he rose from the chair and went quickly up the stairs. Passing Trim he gave him orders to send the cocktail along, and could not help smiling at the expression on the dignified old butler's face. He had visions of many surprises being handed out by Miss Storey in the near person more unlike Violet Dale it would be impossible to imagine, the one a product of an ultra-modern American university and the other of an oldworld convent—two absolute contrasts which were certain to clash.

Paul was with Violet, mounting guard over the unconscious Yorkie Dale, when Dr. Somers arrived. He hastened down to meet his friend, but, quick as ho was, Eileen Storey forestalled him.

As he came down the stairs he heard her drawling voice in conversation with the doctor, and swore softly beneath his breath. He had intended having a word with his friend immediately he arrived. "Well, doc," he heard her saying, "I intend to see my pop. I've come half across the world for the- purpose, and I'm not going to be put off by anybody. Get that. If his daughter can't see him. who can?"

"Quite, Miss Storey," answered Dr. Somers soothingly, "but you must realise that your father may be in a very grave condition, and the least little additional excitement may have very serious consequences indeed. Nobody wishes to prevent you from seeing your father, of that I am sure. Just be patient until I've made my examination, at least." The doctor's cultured voice held a hint of reproach, but Miss Storey merely shrugged her shoulders as she lighted a cigarette and blew a cloud of smoke through her nose in a practised manner.'

"Then you cut along and see him, doc. I'll be waiting right here," she said. Dr. Somers glanced up and saw Paul. A look of relief crossed his face, and he smiled.

"Ah, there you are, Mallam, I'm coming up now."

"I say," whispered Paul, as they went up the stairs. "I've had the deuce of a job keeping her out of the gov'nor's room. She's dead set on bursting in and Cain. What are we going to do about it? He's worse than he was last time, I think, and- any fuss like that would be disastrous."

Dr. Somers nodded

"She's a very determined young lady," he agreed, "but she must be made to see reason. It is, of course, only natural that she should want to see her father. Perhaps if he is not too bad we might allow her just a peep."

"But do you think that she would be satisfied with that?" asked Paul anxiously.

"Oh, yes, I think so. After all, we shall be there."

Violet Dale rose quietly from her seat at the bedside as the two men entered. Yorkie Dale had not recovered consciousness, but he appeared to be sleep-., ing quietly, and Somers murmured with satisfaction as he examined the patient.

"H-m, more heart than brain, thia time," he said, as he straightened up. "His daughter's homecoming has caused him more excitement than he could stand."

"Do you think he win recover, doctor/' asked Violet, her voice betraying her fear.

Dr. Somers smiled reassuringly and patted her shoulder: "While he's got such a capable and devoted nurse, he has every chance, Miss Dale. But I'm afraid that he will have to go very carefully in future. He is far from being a strong man. But we won't discuss that now, eh? Let's get him over this first, and then we'll see what can be done to make him fit again. Don't worry, my dear, the great thing is to keep him quiet." Violet breathed a sigh of- relief and offered a little prayer of thankfulness that so great a man was attending her father. She had absolute confidence in the pathologist and felt that if any living person could save his patient that ■man was Dr. Henry Somers. Eileen Storey was awaiting him in the hall as he came down the stairs: "Well!" she drawled, "what's the verdict?" The doctor's eyes were grave as he replied 1 "I cannot disguise from you, Miss Storey, that your father is in a serious condition " "Oh, shucks!" broke in the,girl, with an impatient stamp of her foot. "You've said all that before. I know he's sick. What I want to know is when do I see him. Play the game, doc., i years since I saw pop. I'm anxious about him, anyway."

Dr. Somers did not reply immediately; he was watching the girl with a curious little pucker on his high forehead. Those suspicions which he had first entertained on meeting her were stronger now, amounted almost to a certainty.

"Your father is sleeping," he said slowly. "But if you promise that you will be very careful and not make the slightest noise you may see him now, just for a moment."

"That goes," smiled Eileen Storey. "Gee, I'll be quieter than a mouse."

Paul Mallam followed them up the broad stairs wondering /'what the outcome would be. Would she be deceived? He had to admit that the circumstances were favourable. The darkened room, the changes which might reasonably have been wrought by illness, and the period which had elapsed since she last saw her father, then a strong, healthy man. If the impostor did not pass muster now he never would.

Dr. Somers motioned to tliera to wait as lie softly turned the handle of the sick-room door. In a low voice he ex-

plained to Violet Dale that Eileen was seeing her father. Violet nodded and stood away from the bed, scarcely able to restrain the trembling in her limbs. Very quietly Eileen Storey entered the room, glanced sharply at Violet and then down at the sleeping figure. For a long minute she stood regarding the unconscious man, then, stooping swiftly, kissed him gently on the forehead. He stirred slightly, and Dr. Somers touched her on the shoulder. "Come, now, Miss Storey," he whispered. "You must not wake him." The girl turned from the 'bed and walked to the door: "My God, pop," she murmured, "you've altered." (To be continued Saturday next.)

Lindon nodded,