CHERRY FAYRE

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 18 June 1935, Page 8

CHERRY FAYRE

By LESLIE FARGILL Author of ‘The Yellow Phantom '

(Coutiuucd.i < <Tiie WedgeS ..was. exceptionally unusual as an entrant. > In the first place it did'-mut'-conform 1 -to ..accepted standards an(l in the second it was not a racing car at all, with its luxui} eejuip jneut and passenger-carrying capacity. The effect was that of a boxer entering the ring in full evening dress, deliberately contemptuous of opposition. Soon’“‘The Wedge” was showing that there was no need to strip. could stand against this remarkable competitor. Publicity followed in plenty. Newspapers delighted in the novelty of the affair and there was talk of establishing fresh rules to meet the menace of this competitor for if vehicles like “The Wedge” were to be turned out in quantity the tracks would no longei be the preserve of crack drivers. “A racket.” complained one expert. “This new product of the Melliuish company is unfairly competing with other entrants. Although looking like a -pleasure vehicle it is evidently intended purely for racing purposes, and the:camouflage is both regrettable and unsporting.” Clcorge countered the attack by w ithdrawing entirely from track events and attending only road trials, where the

success was even more surprising. People were already beginning to ask eagerlv how soon it would be before they could purchase similar cars. “ the Wedge”.had started the revolution that was to. alter the whole complexion of

the motor-engineering business. Before long that rather crudely finished experimental model was joined by > six- gleaming new ‘ ‘ Wedges ' —the perfected product of one of the finest automobile manufacturing concerns in the wtirkf.\ So far as initial publicity was concerned the great, European Trust was ivpll behind. Was right- to dominate might:from the beginning. Mplhuish and his associates hoped so, but were not taking L tuo much for granted. At any moment the enemy might strike a shrewd .blow. ■

CHAPTER XV: > - SPRING MEETING. Sprittg 'had come round again. Time, had passed so quickly during those amazing weeks of thrill and en j deavour that George Dallas was caught napping one beautiful morning "hen Cherry Vance telephoned him to say, "To-day. is'am important anniversary.” “Is it?” he retorted vaguely. "Battle —great man born —not your birthday by.aity fortunate-chance?” - - "No, just the occasion l of an aviation disaster, A year.ago Teddy crashed on your roof and broke his leg.” “'Weir; Ggcijv,) isn’t .that celebrating. I. m.ust call anil see your brother and ’congratulate him.” ‘ ‘-You can’t--• He’s . away gone •abroad. But-the sister is available. She is rather brazenly asking the owner of the roof-top to take her out fur a. drive this perfect spring day,'*' • ; “I’d latlrc'r you brought along the old ‘Wedge'’ herself. It will be much more ’ t .. '■ .• "Delighiedi ATI . get hold of one o i the new buscs. und be round in luiW an hour.” ; :V* * t /\\ George was not insensible to (lie sentimental influences at work. ..Cherry had-mot him scvchtl times of kite/ Together they had gone through some organised motoring trials and the girl had always thrilled to every new demonstration of the prowess of "The Wedge:” r What was Vincent Melhuisli thinking about it?

The man must be blind it’ he did not realise wl\at tyaS happening. Slowly but surely the. apparently defeated suitor Mas gaining new favour. To make matters worse'Cherry had prevailed on -Vincent to postpone the wedding day. Originally it had been fixed for the previous autumn, Preparations had been well advanced and then Various objections see mod to materialise all at mice. Alelhuish was tolerant but disap’f pointed. “My dear girl." lie had said, “my sole desire is to make you happy so far as it lies ,in rny power. Your parents have approved our arrangements and'it may inconvenience them to set them aside.' But have it your own M'ay.” “.Vincent, you really are a darling," she had exclaimed in relief. Hp had shown one of his rare expressions of , pleasure. Whatever methods the man hart brought to bear to bring about the engagement there ■was not the slightest doubt- ot the genuineness of; ,;his regard. Nut even the possibility of losing her again, when the winning had seemed so assured,! would induce him to hold her to the promise of an expedited wedding.

Tllcn George's renewed acquaintance ship had introGuccd additionally disquieting factors. Neither by word nor deed !, did Melliuish betray the faintest signjj; of jfcalouswjs Cherry hardly recognised him a* tbe pompous individual of a year or more ago. During the iiitervppiiig qipnth'S'lre had mellowed. She wontlcred if if y>-as because lie thought lie could evcmCltally:. e;apture her affection i that M-ay. Even the postponement of the wedding drew from him only mildwprutests.' ‘ \ ' , •Ajirti matter of'fact Vincent Alelhuish was'fora between his M ill to M in and his love for (’lufi'Ty. M’hirli was greater limn"anyone suspfcfed. Eduard Vance senior imagined that ruin faced him if l his daughter rfefused, to fall in the

wishes of the.man who held so powerful augfip'oii him. Alelhuish played that card for all it was worth, though lie knew in his own heart that in the last resort he would not force his advantage. He wished above everything else that, the girl would come to him willingly. Failing that he was satisfied that she should‘ be driven into his arms. Afterwards he could comfort her and make her forget there was anyone else. George Dallas had complicated matters. When lie came on the scene Atelhuish quickly appreciated that his stock was on the slump. That was why lie had pressed tne girl's father more strongly than before. Cogs began to slip within cogs. First of all there was the problem of getting control of the invention. When Cherrv broke with Dallas it helped towards* that end. Everything seemed to )m> revolving quite smoothly and that was why Vincent made no effort to put an end to the revived friendship • between his fiancee and the lover she had, technically, "jilted.’ Psychologically his reasoning was perfectly accurate. Dallas was not the sort of man who would act in an underhand way against one who had done him a great service. One day there might be a temptation to push aside the unwanted. party, in which crisis tlie strong sense of honour which was inherent in the make-up of young Dallas would operate. Melhuisli considered that it would result in the rival leaving a clear field. Dallas, according to his calculation, would go right away when lie realised where circumstances were leading him. Of Cherry’s reactions he was not so certain. M omen were difficult to understand at any time. He hoped, however, that with George out of the way the future would stretch ahead as a roadway to happiness. Altogether the scheming of Vincent Melhuisli was much more subtle than any of the melodramatic methods of ''tradition. By an intelligent • adaption of the cruder means he stood a reasonable chance of gaining his desires without seriously damaging anybody unless there is any truth in the idea of broken hearts when two young people cannot be together for life after having dreamed dreams of married bliss. Such a notion made Melliuish smile. He had ho fear that Cherry would pine away. On the contrary, forgetfulness would come soon enough. She might even be glad of a husband to comfort her during the first pangs of regret when there was realisation (hat the vision had faded'for ever.

Meanwhile Cherry was thinking along different lines. So long ak she was single there was hope. Womanlike her summing up of the situation did not take into account George’s sense of honour and duty. But \ ineent Mas quite right, as they were to find out before long. That was where the. gorgeous May day came into the matter. CHERRY REVIVES MEMORIES “Good old 'Wedge,’” Cherry exclaimed ecstatically, as they slipped smoothly through the crowded streets towards the country. “We hadn’t thought of pet names this time last year . . . lor the car I mean.'’ She gave a soft laugh. “Certainly not between ourselves. You Mere tin awful bear at first.” “Yes, 1 remember it well,” lie answered. “Wanted to spank you, didn’t I?” “You did. And no doubt I deserved it.’’ “Oh, I don’t think I came to the point of actually administering punishment.'’ “Only verbal.” She sighed. George concentrated all his attention of controlling the car. The talk was drifting into dangerous channels. ’Chat was the worst of anniversaries. They were so apt to lead to sentimental remi nisceneos. “I suppose you’ve forgotten all about t lie jolly limes at the bungalow?” “Indeed 1 haven't." he exclaimed, stung to retort. “But they turned out to have a sting in the tail at the end." “A bit mixed in metaphor,” Cherry said, getting a firmer control over the subject. “ Still . you’re entitled to be sore about the wav 1 treated you.”

“I’ve forgotten you ages ago,” he assured her, as airily as possible. “You needn’t' make up stories like that because I simply know they are untrue. Forgiveness simply isn’t in your nature. 1 know better than you think J do.” “ Kude young woman!” George said snappily. “How' I love to hear you talk like that. Remember what, Teddy said?” “Yes, lots of tilings.” “ L mean about, my liking strong, silent men and all tbat sort of thing?” “There's far too much reminiscing about this trip, young lady.” “Done deliberately,” she assured him Calmly. “I feel in the mood for it. There's something about revisiting the glimpses of the moon that appeals strongly to me this anniversary morning.” “Oh!” he said meekly. Matters “were getting out of his control. If Cherry wanted to recapture some of the spirit of their last romance it was going to be tin impossible task to dissuade her from her set purpose. “What," he asked in a desperate attempt.to steer the talk out of the danger zyne, “do you think of the car?”

“Weak,” .'he retorted critically. “What? You don’t mean to say the bus is falling oil'?” “Certainly not. But your linesse is. 1 meant that your question was a grim attempt to change the conversation. Considering that I’ve travelled in the ‘Wedge’ dozens of times and in the improved models as well, there isn’t much object in discussing it.” George thought, he was groaning inwardly, but the little spasm of sound was not lost upon the girl. Her eyes | twinkled with merry appreciation. That spirited urge of the chase was upon her. What did it matter if she was engaged to another fellow? Beside her was the only man who really mattered. She was under no illusion as to George’s feelings, but tangled as had been the skein before, it: was now so ravelled that it seemed impossible to sort, things out again. One barrier was no longer a serious problem, but others had been erected to form a positive obstacle to the happiness Cherry longed for. The j smile died out of her eyes. “It's no use,” George said, after driving some distance in silence. “We have got to make up our minds to a permanent parting. These meetings have become too dangerous.” Cherry nodded miserably. “I’ve known it all along. There is something 1 feel I ought to tell you, though it is difficult. . . .” (To be continued.)