A SHARK AND A TICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 109, 10 May 1941, Page 2 (Supplement)

A SHARK AND A TICKET.

Jack and Len Vernon stepped into the tiny station of the Black Rock Miniature Railway. Len took the tickets while Jack seated himselt with the rest. The little car. like a small oldfashioned tram, ran swiftly upward pa-;t many sights new to them, including some great holes a few yards on the land side of the track. When they passed a particularly large one Len leaned out excitedly. Then, to his horror, two cards fluttered to the ground. He had lost their return tickets! At the Black Rock they set out to descend the cliff to the caves below. They found a long cave which went far into the earth. It was getting dark when they turned to come out again. It seemed they would never reach the open, then at last a small opening appeared, but, to their dismav. the way was under water. "Help!" wailed Jack. "The tide has risen and cut us off!'' 'Let us go as far back as possible " said Len. "We shall be drowned if we stop here." They turned back and lit a fire with the aid of rubbish and dry seaweed; and by this time the entrance had dwindled still more. "There's no use moping." said Len: "we may as well swim around while we wait for the tide to turn." And in they plunged. "We'll plav Frog in the Water." said Jack. "You sit on the bottom while I time you." Jack began to count, then gasped, for facing him in the water was a great shark. Lens back was to the monster and he placidly watched his brother. But he heard Jack's scream, and as he leapt out of the water the shark turned on its side, with its horrid teeth gleaming. As the creature thrashed in baffled rape they both cringed against the wall In doing so they dislodged a number of rocks which crashed down, and as the waterway here was shai low the pile almost reached the surface, so blocking the shark's wav Seizing their chance, the bovs dashed past and left It to its fat* At the far end of the cave tlicv suddenly caught sight of a shaft The;.- climbed up thi- and inimd themselves at the side of the tramway. As they rested the wind fluttered two green cards. Len put out his hand and clutched them—they -were the lost railway tickets.

But that wasn't the end of i' l ail. A wonderful thing was going w happen. 'Girls." .-aid .Miss Hurst, after prayers about a week later. "I have a piece of splendid news ft>r you. The manager of a very wellknown cinema company, which is •» rehearse this summer for a neff Kim. has made an offer to Mi* Barnes to rent her house for s« months for Ihe use of his player.Mrs. Barnes has. with my consent; accepted—for the offer is a very P 0 0" one: and now she will be able '" start away u> the seaside at oncf with the baby. In a short time. K" 1 - so I hear, her hu.-hand is to joi" her from the hospital. I am f" rf you will all agree with me that Un? is a splendid piece- of news." It was more than splendid; it Tr? - ? wonderful For it was the in the wood who had arranged itwas perfectly sure of that I turned to look for 8.-nrv. and as soon a» Miss Hurst had" left the platform she came hurrvtnc over to n* ••Stella." she said'. -Stella—the have dor.e it. haven't they? had my letter and it's them that;; put things right, isn't it? Only and her lips quivered a hW 8 - ••Steila. I thoueh! ihtv d come MS* selrcs and take Mrs Barnes and B* tmv babv to ■;■.,■ -..:, With n«pc gift lik.. ■:. •..• ■■>»-" SW stopoed for a iv • • .•■ ■\\- ; i : u'l • I .'air!:!'!:. ' saai The -.„,.■. h,x.- !' And r..v.a "..> ; .. :< - a«* • ; ,. rr .,i y, ,i M . ~. .. , ones &l -• ~ . ,:,,• v wc o° r '' „,.,.,] '~ . , '~,', _' ■ .„_• . ... . n then- ' "ror that.- wi...i i '■• suddenly i"* - out. "Thar.-- what I think"" said