Serial Story

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 9 February 1927, Page 8

Serial Story

CHAPTER lll.—Continued. For the moment Jimmie was tempted to reply that he had come at 'his unelfj’s bidding and he would be quite pleased to leave, but better thoughts prevailed. After all Sir John Fairfield, as the head of the family, was entitled to respect. ‘‘l bn sorry, ’’ he said. ‘ 1 It was certainly not my intention to annoy you— I give you my word that it was not. I was- simply talking as thoughts came to me. I’ll be more careful.”

"Thank you,” answered Sir John. "And now,* perhaps, you’ll explain to me why you allowed our family name to be dragged into the police court?” For the moment James Fairfield was silent. Then he replied: "Look here, uncle, you quite understand that it was a very unfortunate matter, but really, there was nothing so bad in it as you imagine. Night clubs are not the terrible places that some people believe. A number of them are quite decent, and, this w'asn’t really bad. It just happened to be the birthday of one of the proprietors, and there was rather a spread—champagne and so on—and, of coursj, the police would choose that evening to come in.” "I’d rather you didn’t attempt to explain,” said Sir John, forgetting that he himself had invited,the explanation. I am extremely displeased, but I hope that a short stay in this beautiful old house in which your ancestors have lived Will open ymir eyes to your responsibilities as a member of one of the oldest families in England, I hope I shall sec an improvement in you whilst you arc hero, both in regard to your relations with, my servants, and also in other ways. ’ For instance, when you were last here I noticed a tendency oi yours to become friendly with the Romanies. I must ask. you not to attempt to revive the connection with them.”

"It was nothing, sir,” said Jimmie. "I simply saw Miss Billie Romanic a few times, and 'she’s a nice girl, and, so far as I can see,'her father’s quite a nice jnan.”

"You must leave somebody his own age to judge that.” retorted Sir John. "I have a very different opinion. I will not go into details; I must, leave it to you to understand that I should not speak like this without very good reason—very good reason, indeed. I will say no more.” After some conversation of a general character, James left the austere presence of Sir John, with the intention of taking a walk in the grounds of Beggar’s End. Such was his intention; he was, however, waylaid by Hargreaves, who emerged like a lizard from the butler ’s pantry.

CHAPTER IV

MORE CONFIDENCES.

Hargreaves had his own reason for insinuating himself into the notice of James Fairfield, whilst at the same time bearing in mind the injunctions which he had received from Sir John. Personally, he cared little whether Mr Janies Fairfield addressed him as "Slippery Sam” or anything else. He had never found Sir John’s nephew lacking in the matter of tips; in fact, like -most butlers, he had formed a shrewd idea of the means of every guest, and knew that a pound from James Fairfield was equal to five from other guests at Beggar’s End. In this nice appreciation he typified the attitude of the gentleman’s servant who is never so uncomfortable as when receiving a rich tip from a poor guest. Hargreaves was no paragon; he would conscientiously have stolen flies from a blind spider, yet he would at least have appreciated the fact that ho had taken advantage of the spider. When he saw that James Fairfield’s intention was to take a walk, he hurried forward and opened the door.

"The chrysanthemums are looking very nice, now, sir,” he said, as he f followed James down .the steps, in an apparently well-meant attempt to direct the latter to the chrysanthemum house. [ Fairfield stood looking upon the scene j before him. In the near distance were j well-kept gardens, with evergreens and-'

oak hedges so cunningly arranged that even in the depth of winter the garden was colourful, for the oak was of that type which retains its dead brown leayea until the following year. Beyond the wardens was the park, over which the evening mist was slowly creeping from the stream which on one side confined it The scene was good to behold. Hargreaves stood deferentially beside him. "I trust your stay will be pleasant here, sir,” he said. How did you find Sir John! "About the same, Hargreaves. StiU bubbling over with that good humour fur which he is so famous. ” Hargreaves laughed discreetly. ‘ Ver£ good, sir, very good, sir,” he said. "I quite understand you talk in opposites, so to speak.” , , „ ~ "You must judge that for yourself. ” replied James.' "Meanwhile, how are things going? Last -time I was here you had been getting into trouble with Sir John about something, if I remem-; ber rightly. ” , ' "Perfectly true, sir, answered Hargreaves. "But begging your pardon, it was because of me letting you. and your friends put it across half a bin of. his favourite wine. Perhaps you forgot that, sir?” "Quite right, to be sure,’ said James. "I had forgotten. Anyhow, Sir John has been all right since then, I suppose ? ” "Well, as a matter of fact, he has, sir. Indeed, I feel flattered, sir, at the way he’s treated me. Of course Mr Bum-pus, as you will have observed, is growing old, and Sir .lohn rarely speaks to him except as to liis duties, but, with me. sir, things is different.” "Really!” remarked James. "You must think at last he is beginning to appreciate the sterling qualities of Slippery Sam.?.” . ' Hargreaves eyed him narrowly. "Yes and no,” he said non-committally. "All the same, -Sir John is reposing great confidence in me. He discusses many things with me, Mr James. Why, it was not so very long ago, sir, since I actually witnessed his will.” "M’m, that’s rather interesting,” commented James. "I hope you saw your own name prominently in it.” "I’m afraid, sir, I Can’t tell you what I saw in it,” replied Hargreaves, "but I daresay if I did tell you” — and here Hargreaves came a little closer to Fairfield —"if I did tell you,” he repeated, "you’d be surprised.” "In -what way?” asked James. "Well, sir, I can’t give away any of Sir John’s confidences, though I should very much like to be able to tell you, sir. Pardon me saying it, Mr James, but I like you better than the others.” "Which others?”

"Well, sir, I mean the other three relatives, Mr Gales and the two ladies.” "Ah, my cousin Reuben,” muttered Jimmy. "A good man, Hargreaves. A good man, and an upright!”

"Yes, sir, he seems to have some what you’d call high moral principles —not that I’m always in favour of. these holy men, sir. I’ve known some of ’em do queer tricks at times.” "Ah, you mustn’t confuse, Mr Gales with such wildfowl.”

"You will have your joke, sir,” said Hargreaves. "I think you understand Mr Gales pretty well. Anyhow, as I was saying, I wish I could tell you a little about the will, it would please you very much, I think.” A light of real interest showed in James’s eyes.

"That’s rather more than I anticipated,” he said. "I hardly expected to be in at all. ’’

"Well, you arc,” replied Hargreaves. "And I wish I could tell you about it. Meanwhile, sir, I know you will think I’m taking a great liberty, but as you know, I follow horses a bit, and—” "And you’re going to give me the winner of the November Handicap!” "Ah, I wish I could, sir,” responded Hargreaves, "but that’s just the point. I haven’t found a winner for a very long time; in fact, sir, I have run myself very short of money through it, and I was wondering—l was wondering, sir—whether a small loan of live pounds would be a serious inconvenience to you. ” (To he continued.)