The HAUNTED PA

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21714, 22 February 1936, Page 7 (Supplement)

The HAUNTED PA

WHAT HAS HAPPENED During their summer holidays the Cameron children and their cousins become involved in an exciting mystery. Pym visits Hakawaka with her aunt's housekeeper. While Mrs Beade is shopping she stays with Mr Glum at the store where she meets the Maori with the one eye-brow. Chapter X. The Maori's Strange Story Neither Mr Glum nor the stranger noticed Pym's momentary confusion. "Well, my man, and what can I do for you?" asked Glum in his cheery voice. The Maori slouched across to the counter and seating himself in one of the chairs mutteredi "Packet of cigarettes." "We sell only one brand here," repliedV the storekeeper as. he handed him the packet. The customer did not answer but pocketed the cigarettes and threw the money on the counter. "You look tired," remarked Mr Glum with a glance at the man's dusty clothes. "Come far?" "Yes, miles," mumbled the Maori, staring curiously round the store. "I slept in the bush by the river mouth, and -I spent a terrible night I'm clearing out as soon as I can." "You slept near the old pa!" Glum exclaimed, his face lighting up with interest "A terrible night, you say. Why, what happened?" The Maori gazed deep into the storekeeper's eyes as if he would read his very soul. Then as if satisfied he said slowly, "All night I heard wailing. I could not sleep. I saw a ghostly figure in white and bright lights flashed through the bush. Not far from where I lay sounded the clink of a spade. It was ghastly!" He shivered and a furtive look crept into his face. "Have you heard of such things before in that neighbourhood?" he asked. Pym saw him watch the storekeeper closely. Glum wiped the perspiration from his forehead. "Well." he admitted, "I did hear of similar goings on a night or two ago." "Ah!" breathed the man. "Some poor unfortunate like myself, may"No, it was a boy, but I did not altogether believe him. The folk round here, however, are very superstitious and when I repeat your story—." He. paused. "Are there any other tales of this old pa being circulated throughout the district? ". asked the stranger slyly. "No, since the old chief of the tribe died the place his been shunned practically altogether," Mr Glum answered. - "The majority of the people left years ago and only a few'of the younger generation now remain. I was not popular with your race because I made the **st *te» m infcfidjigg Ma&tftksm i

parts. My store was often raided in the early days." "But, you are well known here," urged the stranger. "You know more of Hakawaka's history than anyone else alive." "That I do," asserted Mr Glum proudly. "What I don't know about the place isn't worth knowing." "And no one has found money lately in this township?" questioned the Maori. "Money! Huh, I like that," laughed Mr Glum. "Where would anyone be likely to find money here without working for it?" "Of course." agreed the stranger. "Not in these hard times anyway." "If it's-money you're after," Mr Glum replied, "you'll have to work for it here." . ... "Oh no, I'm going back down south.. I'm rather interested in gold-mining, that's aIL Good-bye, sir." With these words he left the store. Mr Glum scratched his head in perplexity. "Strange, very strange!" he muttered to himself. "Must be something in the yarn!"

"I don't believe a word of.: his story," declared John. Tie was only trying to frighten Mr. Glum. And why was he so inquisitive about the old pa? That's what, I'd like to know." • " ■".'-■;, i "They must have caught the train after all,". Bobby gasped. "I was sure I saw them on Thorndon station." "I-wonder where his companion is," remarked Barry. "You say they were both together?* Jim nodded. "One thing is clear," said John. "Mr Glum is evidently,ignorant of the old chiefs request concerning the treasure. We have at least that fact to work upon.*' <...,, "How about a trip across to the pa to-morrow!" suggested Jim. "It would be great fun and .we might discover something." "Good idea," cried Barry. "What do you say?" he asked turning to the girls. "We're with you!" replied Pym. Just then the bell rang out its summons to tea.

"Do you believe in ghosts?" broke in Pym. Mr Glum started. "Why, my dear. I had forgotten all about you. Ghosts! Why, noJ No such thing!" At that moment Mrs Beade entered the store. "Are you ready, Pym?" she asked. "It looks stormy outside and we shall have to hurry." Pym thanked Mr Glum and said good-bye. As'they left the store she heard the old man mutter to himself. "I'm not so sure, Fm not so sure. I've seen many strange things in my time." Chapter XJ. Fym's News . "You don't mean' it!" cried Jim with a look of awe. "Surely you don't mean to say you actually saw that man in Hakawaka!" "I certainly did," replied Pym, "And I believe he is still wandering about" . The five children were sitting In the boys' bedroom before going down for tea. Outside.it was raining heavily and the dark frown of storm pas acrnss-£h£ fecft of ths sky.;

Chapter Wn*t wa* H? After tea they usually all went into the sitting-room where the boys played chess and the girls and Aunt Lou either sewed or read until bedtime. That night Miss Ageford seemed restless. Above the deep boom of the waves as they broke on the cliffs, rose the-wild shriek of the wind. This tumult together with the ceaseless pit-pat of. the rain on the galvanised roof of the homestead made conversation impossible. Pym moved uneasily in her chair as the house shook under the strong breath of the gale. Suddenly the sitting-room door flew open and Mrs Beade burst in upon them. There 'was a look of terror in her eyes. He face was drawn and colourless. "Miss Ageftflrd," she cried, "there's something going on across the river. I've seen strange lights flashing over there;"-w-j i „-..., . With a' : startled iook Aunt Lou rose* &e4£h]jng iron* her, chair.

' ' Bit ** : Mw^^^mm^m

"You probably two of Jiig^tiua& x j^Mi^nHHß log /•tones. "Sit do«sNrail|H| fend' «alm -wAiiwrtf." Al night tilts upset tbfe housekeeper ing Ihe pa, Bai^^StiJwß—l tint "and see A' : |^^MHH^H the- others ,-«Rtteied:'^^S9|H light," is pitch #ark outside. to glance oat ox is always goiaetttiag' .iwmrilfCTlMHl stor&wMch terrlfierme. -fri»«lMi the point of turning -Wißr9fHi when a bright light flaabM'qrilHßH the side of the cliff across theiitißJ I did. not' imagine it,* anfrtMJMi "for it was two..other flashes." - y-JMH "Probably wildfire," -Js*s||§jnEg Mrs Beade looked al UhHI dignantly. It was sort," she retorted. lightning here many a had just finished Barry re-entered the'rootn.T^flHH "Well, did you, notice aoJMJMi peculiar?'' asked Aunt£^n?]9Hi "Nothing," he replied shO*tt)gf|w| pitch black, outside." SiMHH - ."There you are, SartWPlHM| play tricks. I quietly off to bed and more about it FU coxaeIHHH Mrs Beade made no tiiioinHHfflßHH went slowly up to her iqmi -19|H| night, children," called AmMI as she followed her hoosekMiWipßfß "I say, Barry, do .yoti raHHI really' saw Jim after the girls had gon£3l^H "I don't know," Bixxf:'mSKSM with a puzzled frown, ?Btjj||§MH ever it was," he added!' • certainly not lightning." . : \&§|§n WHAT WERE THE Jf^SllH OUS LIGHTS WH"C|M FLASHED ACROSS /^|HN ANSWER TO PU223^tSH CITIES OF THE WoflH Washington, Madrid, \l|9Hl i Wellington, Bagdad. nipeg, Madras. . '^lfHHi ANSWERS TO F«| j Ernest Puzzle—Clues? Midge, spa. no. roses, on, ££§SnH she, ship, tag, stem, "*?r*|PHHHH Clues down: Inn, do ».]^H9HH Who is Hidden Hei^?^ltM|Hß I Georgy 1 Birthday £u^,^Wg§jHH|