The KING of GREENHAVEN

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 233, 1 October 1932, Page 11 (Supplement)

The KING of GREENHAVEN

By RICHARD WAYNE.

CHAPTER XIX. A Prisoner. Joaii honoured Muriel with as little attention as she seemed to deserve, and went 011 with her preparations for departure as though she had not heard what her mother had said. After a moment's hesitation, Muriel left the room, throwing over her shoulder a curious backward glance, which Joan might interpret as she pleased. For a considerable time the girl was occupied with the collection of her Oelongings, and with stowing in her trunks the things she would most immediately require on her return to Greentaven. It was not possible to accommodate in her bags all the purchases she aad made eince her coming to London, end presently she rang for the maid, l/ucie, intending to give her directions for the packing and forwarding of these expensive possessions. No answer being obtained to repeated ringing, Joan becamo angry, and determined to go and find the maid. And (hen she made the humiliating discovery chat she was locked in her room. The discovery, unexpected as it was, Bad the ealutary effect of restoring her Co au even temper and a balance of inind. She sat down in a comfortable ;<hair and lit a cigarette, while ehe thought the whole matter over. ' Wilfred Chance and his wife had evidently determined to keep her from Greenhaven, even if the employment of euch crude methods as restraint and imprisonment were necessary to their purpose. They had also planned to marry iher to Rodney Grange, and were actively concerned in keeping her apart from her former friends, including Roger Merriman. Joan did/not suppose for a moment that this solicitude arose from any affection for her; it was due to the fact that she was, for some reason, a valuable- asset to Wilfred Chance and hie wife. Isobel. Heritage had deliberately implied that Muriel and her husband were under some social disability, eo that it was a matter of surprise to find, as the gueat of the Chances, anybody in whom Roger Merriman could take a personal interest. And Joan, who was far from devoid of natural affection '. fpr. hex mother, found that all her suspicion and resentment was directed to Wilfred Chance.

She had distrusted the man at sight, in spite of his attractive appearance and ingratiating manner. And now, 6he wae sure, ehe had to thank Mm for the crowning indignity of being locked in her room, like a naughty school child. Joan had. reached this stage in her meditations when a knock at her door was followed by the click of the lock, and Wilfred Chance appeared in answer to her call to enter. "I think it is time that we had a talk, Joan, and.cleared up your position here," he began. ' "I am sorry Muriel resorted to such primitive measures, but—" "If you are eorry.* Joan interrupted, "perhaps you vrill give me the key of my door,, as assurance that •these primitive measures."will not be repeated." ."The key is in the lock," ho said. "May I sit down?" "You may, if you will answer one or two simple questions," Joan agreed. "In the first place, why did you and Muriel invite me to visit you, after all those years of neglect? Would it not have been kinder, and better for everybody concerned, to allow me to remain in the belief I had always held, that Norman Wedlake was my father?" "You hare touched the very crux of the situation," Chance eaid. "You have a fine intellect, Joan. I will try to answer you as directly ae you have questioned me. I made careful inquiries, and considered it. Muriel , * duty and my own, to remove you at once from the possibility, almost amountaing to certainty, of danger arid disgrace." "To me, thafc is not at all plain," Joan eaid. "On. the contrary, it sounds so ridiculous that it is not even, mysterious." "Yet you are wearing a very foeautiful frock, which was bought with money supplied by Wedlake," Chance said. "Women do not trouble themselves, as a rule, with the source of the money provided for their necessities, so long as the provider occupies a. position,, in regard to v them, which permits the acceptance of the gift. You are entitled, of course, to accept Wedlake's generous provision; but he ought not to have offered you euch money. ,, "What do jou mean?" "Wedlake went to Greenhaven, a man without any means or occupation. Ho sends you to the most expensive schools on the Continent, and enables you to meet and associate with girls of the highest social position. He gives you a thoueand pound* and teD3 you to drawon him for more, if that ahorald be necessary. Knowing what you. must know of Greenhaven and its activities, can you not draw tie inference which, forces itself upon me?" "It is easy to suggest such an abominable thing, but what proof have you?" "JNbne at all, or I should have spoken sooner. Come, Joan, be reasonable. Put yourself in Muriel's place, and in mine. Assume that your mother has a great affection for. you, in spite of what has happened. Take it that I,feel responsible for you, to say no more. Add to that the circumstance that, feeling as we do, we admit a great debt to Wedlake for his care, of you." "Where is all this leading?" "Why, in common decency, we are bound to- keep our grave suspicions of Wedlake to ourselves. We could not go any further in the way of obtaining proof of what I have already too good reason to suspect. But, if my fears are justified, eurely you must see that your mother and I are forced to make every endeavour to remove you from his charge." Joan hesitated, on the brink of a passionate declaration of her unshaken, trust in Wedlake and of her determinatfon stand by his side, even if the suspicions outlined by Chance with. euch. cold deliberation proved to be justified. But her native shrewdness prevailed against her impulse to declare herself, and she sat in silence, considering what to say. "We both, noped," Chance ' went on smoothly, "that Grange might have jroved the beet of all reasons for a severance of the ties which have bound you to Wedlake. He is a- good fellow, Joan, and he will amount to a great deal in a few years' time." "Does he suspect my father of lawbreaking?" Joam demanded. "Wedlake has never been mentioned between us, ,. Chance replied* "Grange has been content to ask no questions, but to accept you. A3 Muriel's daughter.", "Well, he does not come into the question, 5 * Joan said. "Except that Muriel,

A Story of Modern Smugglers.

knowing that I did not desire Ms,attentions, encouraged them. When I came to London I did not expect to have an unwelcome suitor forced upon me, or to be locked in my room as though my personal freedom were a matter of no importance. I did not think such things happened nowadays." "They needn't happen. Give me your promise that you will not rush off to Greenhaven, and you may please yourself about everything else." "No, Mr. Chance. I will give no promise Wder your threat of restraint. You can keep me locked up for some little time, possibly; but inquiry will surely be made, and you and Muriel will then find it inconvenient and impossible to account for your conduct towards me." "1 said you had a good intellect," Chance agreed. "What you say is inconteetably true, except that I should take the steps necessary to obtain proof that Wedlake ie not a fitting associate for you. Then, our explanation would be inconvenient, as you say; but the inconvenience would be experienced by Wedlake. There would be a public scandal, but he would bo deprived of his authority of your guardian. That is all." "Then what you have to say is that if I return to Greenhaven you will make I all the trouble you can for my father, and the people down here? I am not afraid for my father, Mr. Chance; but I admit that you could get the poor fishermen into serious trouble." "Muriel and I consider it our duty to end your association with Wedlake; and we intend to d'o our duty." "Thank you, then, for making yourself so clear." "Is that all you have to say?" "What more, can I say? I am not accustomed to interference with, my liberty. When I feel sure that your restraint is at an end, and when I have made myself familiar with your etrange suggestions about my father, I may be able to eay something more. What does one 6ay to people who threaten?" Chance walked to the door, removed the key, and handed' it to Joan with, hie most effective smile. "Muriel should not have done that, of course," he said- "If she had consulted me, she would not have treated a girl of your spirit in such a provocative way. Now that you know what will if you carry out your intention of leaving us, I feel confident we can rely upon your own common sense. lam glad we had,this talk, and must thank you for the admirable temper you have shown, under difficult conditione." "You understand that I make no promises," Joan said, accepting the key. "While you must understand that I am not in the habit of promising less than I can perform," Chance said: "Good night, Joan; be as kind as you can to Muriel when you see her to-mor-row. She is your mother, you know; and very fond and proud of you." When he had gone, Joan selected the smaUeet of her bagej and packed in it the few necessities it would hold. Then she changed into walking dress; and opened her door, and walked out. She disdained any concealment of her purpose. If anybody should try to prevent her leaving, she would provide a great deal of trouble, but she did not expect anything of the kind to happen. People were playing bridge in the living room, and the maid Lucio was an amazed witness of her exit from the flat. The elevator man seemed equally surprised and interested; but Joan .was able to call a taxi, and drive away, without anything in the nature of a scene. Her request to be driven to a comfortable hotel, where she could obtain a room for the night, was interpreted by the driver in such a fashion that Joan faced the inquiry clerk in a vast and very popular caravanserai, where bed, bath and breakfast were provided for what she considered a very inadequate sum..

There she epent the night, wide awake, and thinking , things over, without reaching any definite or satisfactory conclusfon. But on one point she was decided; nothing could possibly induce her to return to Muriel and ' Wilfred Chance.

CHAPTER XX. Away Into the Night. Wedlake's forecast of an early cargorunning did no more than confirm Merriman's intention ol devoting himself steadily to the bird, sanctuary, and the opportunities of observation which it afforded. He' felt himself in a, very delicate position with Wedlake, and was very anxious not to be indebted to the king of Greenhaven for any piece of information which he might have to use in fulfilling his official duty. He .wished to discover for himself the date of the next smuggling adventure, because lie had arranged that the lorries which carried away the smuggled goods should be followed by another agent, and traced as far ae their final destination. Since information from Wedlake was supplied under a- tacit understanding of personal confidence, Roger considered it an actual necessity that he should be able to forestall the news from his own , observation. His relief was the greater when, on the second day; after his excursion in Wedlake's' power 'boat, he found the lorries once more hiddfen in the remote corner of the woods, where he had first discovered them. Once more, too, a close observation was being kept, from this distant spot, on Roger's movements in the sanctuaryi as he had expeeted would be the case. That meant that it was necessary to spend the whole of the day in the usual fashionj making,use of the camera, and making , an excursion across the landspit, among the seabirds now busily preparing , for their spring mating. There was plenty to do, and it was almost dusk before Merriman drove away in his car. As he passed Shell Cottage, Wedlake stepped out from the gloom and stopped the car. "I'll take you out to-night, if yau are still in the mind for it," he said. "All the arrangements for running , a cargo have been made. You had better come down here about nine o'clock, and smoke a pipe or two, and be on the spot when I'm ready." - "That will suit very well," Roger agreed. "About nine, then." In his own cottage he found a rarity for Greenhaven in the shape of a telegram; and, as he tore open the brown envelope, wondered who could have been so thoughtless and troublesome as to bother him in that way. But his eyes widened as he read: "Ring me up when you get this. Urgent. Joan." The telegram also- gave the number in London which he was to call, and Roger neglected hi? waiting dinner to drive

three miles to the nearest available telephone, outside that controlled by his landlord, Ben Joad. He had no desire to advertise to GreenhaverL the fact that Joan had made this call upon him, though he rather suspected that the nature of his telegram was being discussed in the village, even before it had j come to his hand. There "was a long wait, while the trunk call to London was being put through, and Roger tortured himself with useless speculations. The time on the telegram showed that it had been dispatched early in the day, and he wondered what emergency had arisen for Joan. At last he got through to London, and on inquiring for Miss Wedlake had only to wait a few seconds before hearing Joan's voice, reassuringly calm and clear. "Is that you, Roger? You've been away all day at the sanctnary, of course. I was afraid that would be the case, when I sent my wire; but I've been, waiting here all day for your call." "Where have you been waiting?" Joan named her hotel, adding: "I've left Muriel, and decline to return on any terms. And it might make troxible for other people if I had come down to Greenhaven. Don't ask me why, if you cannot guess for yourself." "I think I can make a correct guess, or nearly. But you cannot stay at that place, alone," "Why not, Eoger? It is not the place where they would look for me, and I have plenty of money." "But—Look, Joan, I would come at once, but it is impossible for me to leave Greerihaven, on "this one night of all nights in the year. But if you were to ring up my aunt, Mrs. Heritage—" "No!" Joan, cried, with, startling vehemence. "I met.lsobel Heritage, Roger, at the house of a friend. She is not sure that she approves of me, and I cannot blame her in any way for that. In any case, I do not want strangers to me to know that I have- left my mother." "Of course," Roger agreed. "I see that, but—"

; "I'll be very comfortable here to-night, now that I've epoken, to you," Joan went on. "Can you come to-morrow? I want somebody to consult; somebody who understands. There is nobody but you, Roger, because dad happens to be out of the question." "I'll bo there early," Roger said. "And; it is an arrangement with Wedlake which prevente my leaving now. When I am able to explain, you'll approve." "I think I would approve anything you did, without needing an explanation," Joan said, softly. That confession sent Roger away, warm at heart on hie own, account, but sorely distressed on the score of the girl. He added one more score to his account against Wilfred Chance, and went to keep his appointment with Wedlake, making what show of unconcern he could. "You are punctual, Merriman," Wedlake said, puehing a decanter across, and backing it with a. jar of tobacco. "Do you know that some fellow has been hanging about the village, asking questions about Joan I He pretended to be a hiker, and made the blunder of inquiring at the Lobster Pot the name of the pretty girl he had seen in the village." "What was he told?" "Xothing at aIL The Shamans fell back on their usual disguise of invincible stupidity, and le was seen out of the neighbourhood without a word or act of his having been missed. Coming on this particular day, he ran risks which he probably never realised." "Yqu think ..." "I' think that he came from Mrs. Chance or her hueband;-and I am concerned a.bout Joan for that reason. I've rather been expecting the girl to turn up, since I heard the news. If ehe catches the last" train from London, she may still come. I'd an idea that ehe might fall out with those people, all along, and this makes me think it has happened."

"Shall I take my car and meet the train 1" Roger asked, feeling unpleasantly conscious of duplicity as lie proposed the useless act. "Oh, no. It's just guesswork on my part. In any case, Joan can get a conveyance without any trouble. If she had wished to be met, you see, it would lave been easy for her to advise Uβ." "I suppose so; and it is always possible .. I mean to say that Joan is supremely capable of looking after herself." "That is why I assume that she is no longer a- guest with the Chances," Wedlake said stolidly. "Have you been among your birds to-day? They are wonderfully plentiful this year, I notice." For some time the talk ran on these lines, and then Wedlake deliberately shifted it t& the smuggling activities of the villagers. "They've always been concerned in contraband trtflie, ever eince IVe known the place," he said. "But at one time it was conducted on old-fashioned lines. Mostly brandy and wines, with a good 3eal of tobacco. Since the first safeguarding duties were- imposed on silk goods, Merriman, with a prospect of more protection to follow, the bueinees has been conducted on very methodical lines." "And very openly," Roger commented. "Those fellows are audacious to the verge of recklessness." "You will say so, after our run tonight," Wedlake agreed. "Suppose we make a start. There is nothing to hinder us." He began to drees himself very warmly as he spoke, and pressed on Roger a thick coat, and heavy waterproofs to be worn over it. "A wet, cold business, it is," he> said musingly.' "But I have the feeling, if ever I should absent myself, that eomething untoward might happen. • As you eaid, the men are reckless. They are also very resolute, as anybody who ventured interference would discover. If that ehould happen, I ehould blame myself." "How could you prevent it?" "That I propose to explain, when you have witnessed their operations for yourself. And, in case anything should ever interfere with me, Merriman, I hope that you will etep into the gap. The king of Greenliaven, ypu see, is concerned about the eucceseion to the. title." "I'd be at some pains, I confess, to stand between those fellows and trotible," Roger said. "I know." They walked through the village, which was dark, but buzzing with activity, jvtei the same. At the pier, a group of dark forms loomed against the black night, but though the two men passed within a few feet of them, no word was exchanged and no notice was taken on either side. When they came to the boat, and Wedlake stepped aboard, asking Roger to cast off when he gave the word, Merriman was conscious of apprehension, as well as excitement. Would the men of Greenhaven permit hint to take observation. of them so openly, without making any kind of demonstration T (To be continued Saturday next.)'