THE KING OF GREENHAVEN

Evening Star, Issue 21316, 21 January 1933, Page 3

THE KING OF GREENHAVEN

[By Richard Wayne ]

A Story of Modern Smugglers

(The characters in this story are entirely imaginary, and no reference to living persons is intended.)

CHAPTER XIX. A I'JIISONKIt. , Joan honoured Muriel with as little attention as she seemed to deserve, and went on with her preparations for departure as though she had not heard what her mother had said. Alter a moment's hesitation. Muriel left the room, throwing over her shoulder a curious backward glanee. which Joan might interpret as she pleased. For a considerable time the girl was occupied with the collection of her belongings, and with slowing in hoi' trunks the things she would most immediately require on her return to Greenhavon. It was not possible to accommodate in her bags all the purchases she bad made since her coming to London, and presently she rang for the maid, [mcic. intending to give her directions for the packing and forwarding of these expensive possessions. No answer being obtained to repeated ringing. Joan became angry, and determined to go and find the maid. And then she made the humiliating discovery that she was locked in her room.

The discovery, unexpected as it was, had the salutary effect ol restoring her to an even temper and a balance of mind. She sat- down in a comfortable chair and lit a cigarette, while she thought the whole matter over. Wilfred Chance and his wife had evidently determined to keep her from Grccnhavcn. even if the employment of such crude methods as restraint and imprisonment were necessary to their purpose. They had also planned to many her to Rodney Grange, and were actively concerned in keeping her apart front’ iter former friends. including Roger .Mcrriman. Joan did not suppose for .1 moment that this solicitude arose from any affection for her; it was duo to the fact that she was, fern some reason, a valuable asset to Wilfred Chance and his wife.

Isabel Heritage bad deliberately implied that Muriel and her husband were under some social disability so that it was a matter of surprise to find, as the guest of th? Chances, anybodyin whom Roger Mcrriman could take a personal interest. And .loan, who was far from devoid of natural affection for her 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. she was sure, she had to thank him for the cro’ . ;, ig 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.

“ J think it is time that wo had a talk, Joan, and cleared up your position here,” lie began. “ 1 am sorry Muriel resorted to such primitive measures, but

“If you are sorry,’' -loan interrupted, " perhaps you will give me the key of my door, as assurance that these primitive measures will not bo repeated.” ” The key is in the lock,” ho said. 11 Mav I sit down?”

” You may, if you will answer one or simple questions.” Joan agreed. ” In the first place, why did you and Muriel invito me to visit you. alter all those years of neglect? Would it not have been kinder, and better for everybody concerned, to allow me to remain in the belief 1 had always held, that Norman Wcdlake was iny father?” “ You have touched the very crux of the situation,” Chance said. ” You have a fine intellect, -Joan. I will try to answer you as directly as you have questioned me. 1 made caret ul inquiries, and considered it Muriel’s duly, and my own, to remove you at once from the possibility, almost amounting to certainty, of danger and disgrace. ’ ‘‘To me, that is not at all plain, Joan said. “On the contrary, it sounds so ridiculous that it is not even mysterious.” •' Yet you are wearing a very beautiful frock, which was bought with money supplied by Wcdlake,” Chance said. " Women do not trouble themselves, as a rule, with the source of me money provided for their necessities, so long as the provider occupies a position, in regard to them, which permits the acceptance of the gilt. You arc entitled, of course, to accept Wedlakc’s generous provision ; hut he ought not to have offered you such money. ” WMiat do you mean?” “ Wcdlake wont to Greenhavon, a man without any means or occupation. He sends you to the most- expensive schools on the Continent, and enables you to meet and associate with girls ol tlie highest social position. He gives you a thousand pounds and tells you to draw on him for more, if that should he necessary. Knowing what you must know of Greenhavon and its activities, can you not draw the Jnferenco which forces itself upon mo?”

“It is easy to suggest such an abominalilc tiling, but what proof have von?”

“ None at all ; or 1 should have spoken sooner. Come. .loan, ho reasonable. Put yourself in Muriel’s place, and iu mine. Assume that your mother Ins a groat alfoctiou for you. in spite of what has happened. Take it that 1 feel responsible for you. to say no more. Add to that the circumstance that. Iceling as we do, wo admit a great debt to Wndlakc for his care of you.” “ Where is all this leadingP” “ Why. in common decency, we are hound to keep our grave suspicious of Wcdlako to ourselves. We could uot go any further in the way of obtaining proof of what 1 have already too good reason to suspect. But. if my tears arc justified, .surely you must see that your mother and 1 arc farced to make every endeavour to remove you irom his charge.” .loan hesitated, on the brink of a passionate declaration of her unshaken trust in Wcdlako, und_ of her determination to stand bv his side, even if the suspicious outlined by Chance with such cold deliberation proved to he justified, 'Hut her native shrewdness nrovailed against her imniilse to declare herself, and she sat in silence, considering what to say. “We hoih honed,” Chance went on sinool'dy, “ (hat Cl range might have proved the hesi of all reasons for a severance of Urn tics which have hound you to Wcdlako. lie is a good fellow, ■Joan; and lie will amount to a groat deni in a few years’ time.”-

“ Does lie suspect my father of law breakingsH'' Joan demanded.

“ Wedlake has nevoi' been mentioned between us." Uliana 1 replied. “ Grange has been content to ask no questions, but to accept you as Muriel’s daughter."

" Well, he does not come into the question," Joan said. " Fxcept that Muriel, knowing that I did not desire his attentions, encouraged them. W 1 ion 1 came to London I did not expect to have an unwelcome suitor forced upon mo or to be locked in my room as though my personal freedom were a matter of no importance. J did not think such things happened nowadays.” "They needn't happen. Give me your promise that you will not rush olf to Grcenhavcn. and you mav please yourself about everything else. 1, " No, Mr Chance. I will <jive no promise under your threat ot restraint. You can keep me locked up lor some little time, possibly; but inquiry will surely be made, and yon and Muriel will then find it convenient and impossible to account for your conduct towards me.” " 1 said you had a good intellect." Chance agreed. " What yon say is incontestably true, except that 1 should take the steqis necessary to obtain proof that Wedlake is not a fitting associate for you. Then, our explanation would he inconvenient, as you say; hut the inconvenience would be experienced by Wedlake. There would be a public scandal, but he would he deprived of his authority as your guardian. , 'That is all."

11 Then what yon have to say is that if I return to Grcenhavcn yen will make all the trouble you can lor my father and the people down there ? I am not afraid for my father, Mr Chance, but 1 admit that you could got the poor fishermen into serious trouble." " Muriel and 1 consider it our duty to end your association with Wedlake. and wo intend to do our duty.” " Thank yon. 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 1 feel sure that your restraint is at an end. and when 1 have made myself familiar with your strange suggestions about my father, I 'may he able to say something more. What does one say to people who threaten ?" Chance walked to the door, removed the key, and handed it to Joan with his most effective smile. ".Muriel should not have done that, of course." he said. "Jf she had consulted me >he would not have treated a girl of your spirit in such a provocative nay. Now that you know what will happen if you carry out your intention of leaving us. I feel confident we can roly upon your own common sense. I am glad we had this talk, and must think you for the admirable temper you have shown under difficult conditions.” ’* " 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 loss than ! can perform." Chance said. "Good night, Joan; he as kind as you can to Muriel when you see her tomorrow. She is your mother, you know, and very fond and proud of you.”

When he had gone Joan selected the smallest of her bags, 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 ef the kind to happen, People were playing bridge in the living room, and the maid Lucie 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 bo driven to a comfortable hotel, where she could obtain a room for the night, was interpreted by the (Inver in such a lashion that Joan faced the inquiry clerk in a vast and very popular caravanserai, where a bed, bath, and breakfast were provided for what she considered a very inadequate sum. There she spent the night, wide awake, and thinking things over without reaching any definite or satisfactory conclusion. But on one point she was decided; nothing could possibly induce her to return to Muriel and Wilfred Chance. (To he continued.}