KIDNAPPED

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 235, 3 October 1936, Page 16 (Supplement)

KIDNAPPED

(By NANCY FLETT.)

SUMMER had at last come, and the sun was shining with unusual fierceness on the rambling farmhouse and its surrounding luxuriant fields. i>et us become acquainted with the pfccsple of this beaittiful farm, by taking into the kitchen. Standing at the hot range we see Mrs. Adair, a rather tall, medium-sized woman, with blue eyes and fair complexion. Sitting at the table sipping a cup of tea is Mr. Adair, a tall man with fair hair and blue eyes, and skin tanned with his healthy work in the open fields. They are the mother and father of seven brown and healthy children, who \Wor.e then occupied at their various ■ tasks. We learned later that their tidmes and ages were:—Mary 18, Will 16, Pat 15, Denny 13, Winnie 11, Len 10, and Meg 8.

Their farm is situated in the King Country and quite close to where Tim White and Red Jake, the most notorious horse rustlers of the country, used to have their branding enclosures, but they had been gone for many years, and although it had been reported at the police station that these two men were back again they had not attempted td steal anyone's horses.

Mrs. Adair had just informed the children that their old friend May, aged 17 years, from the city of Wellington, ■was coming to spend her holidays with them. There was a chorus of "Hoorays!" and "Won't we have some fun now!" from the children, and it was decided that they should all go and meet her at the station on the following day. The next day dawned bright with 6unshine and a cloudless sky overhead. The children were all ready at half past nine to meet the train at ten o'clock, and as it was only a quarter of an hour's walk from the farm, they arrived in plenty of time at the station. Sharp at ten o'clock the Auckland express steamed into the station and pulled up with a jerk. The children decided to wait together and all watch in different directions, so that they "would not miss May. , "There she is," cried Will and made a dash along the platform to where May stood with her luggage. The others soon followed and came up to. where they stood. 'Twas easy seen that they would all be having capital times together 'ere long. When they arrived home May was greeted with no less enthusiasm on the part of Mr. and Mrs. Adair. After a cup of tea the children showed May around the farm. There were all the children's special pets to see, such as Will's two horses, Tony and Darky; iWinnie's pony Rex; the calves belonging to Denny, Pat and Len; and two pet lambs belonging to Mary and Meg, and the collie dog, Laddie was the faith, ful friend of all.

An Exciting Tale of a Holiday Adventure in the King Country