Precious Burden

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 157, 4 July 1940, Page 20

Precious Burden

Short Story By Sandford Ilton

T'HE train was drawn up in readine-39 * for its lony journey, and Dandy Bell was surveying his fellow passengers as they came hurrying through the platform barrier. He was looking for a likely victim. Presently a trolley appeared, piled with cases whose brilliantly coloured labels bore the names of half the pleasure resorts in Europe. Shoving the trolley was a perspiring porter; behind the porter, two women. The first was fat and elderly, and wore a magnificent fur coat. Her face was heavily painted, and her gold hair shone with a false, metallic gleam. In her arms she carried a half-grown Persian cat, into whose ear she murmured sweet nothings as she walked along. The second woman —obviously the maid —was young and plainly dressed. Her left hand clutched a roll of magazines and illustrated society papers. In her right hand was a small, green case with chromium fittings. It was the green- case that focused Dandy Bell's attention. Long experience told him that the lady's jewellery should l»e in there. He followed the little procession. If the lady had booked a whole carriage, things would be difficult. Too difficult, perhaps. However, luck was with Dandy Bell. Corner seats only had been reserved, and the rest of the compartment was empty. He hovered nearby until mistress and maid had settled themselves, and then he strolled in and sat down. A haughty stare came from the mistress, who was still nursing the cat. Dandy Bell gathered that his presence was not considered an honour, but that didn't worry him. He glanced at the corner opposite the mistress. Here, in attitude respectful, eat the maid. And by her side was the little green case with the chromium fittings. Dandy Bell crossed one knee over the other, and leant back comfortably. The train began to move. "There, Toto, my precious! Off we go! Does he like the puffer-train, then? Does he want to look out of the window ?" The lady. Dandy Bell realised, was addressing the cat". "Sweet Toto! Is he going to love his mother?" was the next inquiry, followed by seductive lip noise*. Glancing round, Dandy Bell saw the cat caressing one of the lady's chins with a velvet paw. Next minute. "Toto, my angel! Don't poke your naughty little tongue out at your mother!" And so it went on. The maid smiled obsequiously whenever she caught the mistress' eye. They both ignored Dandy Bell, who was speculating on the value of the jewellery in the little green case, and wondering when his opportunity would come. After about half an hour he heard: "Bless hie little heart! He's so tired! Go by-byee, then, my lovely." A long nilence fallowed. Then a queer, whistling noiee began. Dandy Bell turned hie head.

The maid leant across and picked up one of the magazines, apparently ishe was short-sigh ted, for she held the print very close to her eyes. Wearily, Dandy Bell glanced at the snoring niktrese, and then at the green ca««e. If he stood up and rented one hand on the opposite seat, he could just reach the case. But would he be able to elip out into the corridor without rousing the maid's attention? It was risky. Very ririky. Just then, Toto, the cat opened ite orange eyes and stared at Dandy Bell. Winked. Twitched one ear. Yawned. The podgy hands of its doting mie-tre-ss had relaxed in slumber their close embrace. Toto got up. The lady did not stir. Toto (stepped lightly down from the capacious hr[> on to the eeat. Still the Lady did not stir. With a friendly, inquisitive air. Toto made his way across to Dandy Bill. A euddrn idea struck the Dandy. He wa<s in the corner seat next to the corridor. Stretched out hU hand, he quietly released the catch and slid the door back a few i :ivhes. Toto watched, head on one side. A few second* later, with a whisk of the ytail, he disappeared. Dandy Bell gave the animal a good start, and then leapt to his feet, flung the door wide open, and called: "Puss, puss! Come back!" The maid dropped the magazine; the rnietress awoke with a cry of anguish. "Toto. my darling! Where are you? What's happened?" "He ran oiit into the corridor," explained the Dandy. With an agility remarkable in one eo stout, th«» mifitnw* epran-g up. Dandy Bell stood aside. She passed him like a whirlwind, the maid close upon her heels. Pausing only to finatcli th<? little green ease and hide it under his coat, Dandy Bell went after then. The maid had turned left in the corridor; the niistreAs right; Toto wae nowhere to he seen. Dandy Bell followed the maid. When ehe halted at the open doorway of an adjacent carriage, the Dandy slipped by, and pa&sed rapidly down the train to the last coach. Here he entered an envpty carriage, opened the farther door, and. watching his opportunity, jumped out. The jump was =o expert that, although he rolled over and over on the grasey 'bank at the side of the track, he was able to pick 'himself up unhurt. Clutching the little green caee with the chromium fittings, he disappeared into a nearbv wood. •*• • • Five minute* later, Toto's mistress, her errant pet in her arms, returned to her carriage, and discovered that the littie green case had gone. "Toto, my angel!" she wailed. "Somebody's taken your darling cat'e meat!" THE EXD.