CHERRY FAYRE

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 27 June 1935, Page 11

CHERRY FAYRE

By LESLIE FARGILL Author of 'The Yellow Phantom ’

CHAPTER XVIII. “NERVES” BEFORE THE RACE George Dallas was prepared to walk under unlimited numbers of ladders, to spill salt until further orders or to flout the hundred and one little taboos that have grown up through the ages. But he hated things to go too smoothly from the beginning. This was much too easy for his liking. He would have preferred some minor, trouble, intervene—nothing serious but just sufficient to satisfy him that destiny had played one little jest, after which there need be no further cause for anxiety.

Melhuish, too, w,as beginning to get on his nerves. After their optimistic discussion the financier had started to enumerate every possible catastrophe he could think of, with his companion countering each gloomy prognostication by praising his charge. They were bickering all the way down to Brooklands. And all the time the inventor was Teally getting more and more nervous. If only a sparking plug would 1 - fail, or the carburettor need adjustment he would consider the gods of chance had been appeased. Without mishap they, came to, the examination, pits. Mechanics took over the car aifd they then went to complete the official formalities. Reporters) swarmed about the place, craving interviews. More.photographs and poses for the newsreels were' insisted on until neither of them knew whether they were standing on their heads or their heels. Lionisation can be. a great ordeal. “I wish they’d let me. alone,” George grumbled. “Who’d. have thought inventing a cai’. would lead to this sort of thing?” “Stick it out, old man,” Melhuish retorted. “Providing everything goes well the advertisement is going to be stupendous. They tell me there is a record crowd already.”

Among, the. thousands of eager spectators there was one more important than the rest of them put together. Cherry A'ance, with a flash of extreme feminine insight, had determined to let George know' that she wished him success, expecting this w:ould encourage him above the plaudits of the crowd or : the exhortations of his friends.

Teddy came, with her, crashing through human and inanimate obstacles uqtil they reached the jealously guarded haunts of the competitors. A r incent had gone away to interview, the first rejay' of his drivers and the girl’s brother also tactfully' left them together after he had murmured a few complimentary remarks. She placed a slim hand on the young man’s arm, and he was astonished to find that it trembled violently. “Good heavens!” he exclaimed, “I believe you’re in a worse funk than I am.” “Yes, George, that’s probably true. Y-you must win this race. I want you te—more than I can say.” “It might have bteen so much more important,” 'he retorted bitterly. She made no pretence of misunderstanding. “I know. Take it chin up. I want to. feel proud of you.” “Thanks, Cherry. That helps.” “Then I’m glad I came. I had to see you and talk to you. After we parted that day I think I was the most miserable girl in the world. I-it’s been hard to shut myself away.” George shuffled awkwardly'. “What about tjie date of your wedding. Have, you arranged it?” Cherry nodded. “Less than a month from now.” “Ah! Well, success to-day' will .make a nice wedding present for your.future husband.”

THE SENTIMENTAL VIEW “Do you think, is my reason for wanting you to win?” “No,” he answered honestly. “Since we talked- it over. I’ve done a lot of hard thinking. What is the use of cry--ing for the moon. Alelhuish isn’t a bad sort. I rather like him—now. You’ll have no cause to regret your action.” “None, George?” “Oh, you’ll soon forget me.” “You think so?” “From a sentimental standpoint, I mean. Years from now we shall bo able to meet as. friends . . . perhaps to smile together over a certain romantic episode -in our lives.” . “So you imagine that, do you?” Under the steadfast gaze of those softly lovely' pools he could not lie deliberately. “I-I expect so,” he said lamely. “George Dallas, you may be a good inventor of some tilings, but you’re a mighty' bad one of others. Neither of us are the sort to forget easily', are we?”

Cherry, you must not harbour these ideas. It only makes things worse.” “That is a man’s viewpoint. A woman cherishes a tender memory always. Do pity' me. I couldn’t bear that. There will always be wonderful thoughts . .” “Disloyal to the man who will be your husband!” “You don’t quite understand.. It is difficult to explain. Any' woman who has loved would know what I mean but I suppose you can’t be expected to.” “I don’t,” he said bluntly’. “Poor George—and poor me as well,” she murmured under her breath. He not to have., heard.

[““When this is all over I shall go j abroad.” “Not shooting lions in Africa?” she returned, suddenly ini,pish. “Vincent deserves that .much,” he answered, with dignity. Cherry frowned. “You put me in my place. Jt isn’t a laughing matter. Yes, travel. See fresh places and different peoples. You'll be a rich man, able to do things you want to do.” “Except one.” There was no opportunity for further intimacies. Melhuish returned with details of much work to be done, and Ted-dv joined the group. The time was near for the race to begin. For a second Cherry’s ungloved hand lay in George’s as she said good-bye. Was there really a tremulous movement about her lips as she looked up to him? Vincent was regarding her sharply, and Teddy began to chatter. Everyone of the quartet was ill at ease. MELHTJISf' TALKS FRANKLY Suddenly the teT».s*on lifted. Close at hand a bable of excited voices gave place to subdued applause. The “Euro,” pushed by a group of attendants, was coming into view. Cherry and her brother went back to the.public stands. “A w r onderful girl,” Melhuish said, looking back admiringly. “Yes, indeed.”

Again came that unexpected friendly j pat on the shoulder. Whatever his faults, Melhuish had a largo measure of sympathy and understanding. It was an incredible situation" to Dallas that he could still think well of the .man. who was, by apparently dubious means, taking from him the girl he loved. And this same individual, marked almost as the villain of the piece, was straining every effort to ensure fame and success for the defeated rival. Was ever a more paradoxical situation? “You should get some sleep before taking your turn,” Melhuish advised. “Thanks, old man. That’s a sensible notion. After the race is under way I’ll try and snatch a few hours. Now I’m much too excited.” “Naturally so. You’re not the only one. Tell me, arc you feeling less pessimistic?” “Why, I hadn’t any idea that I was. It was you who began to worry on the way down.” Melhuish smiled. “You can’t deceive me. Something was on your mind for all your brave words.” “Only that we did so well I wondered if it would keep up.” “I see! Well I trust that Cherry has made you regard things in a brighter light.”

Now what the douce did he mean by' that remark. George wondered. He was not long to remain in doubt. “You used to be more than good friends, I believe,” the other went on. “For sonic reasons you’ve cause to dislike me heartily.” “What are you driving at? I don’t understand where this talk is loading.” “Oh yes you do. Next month Cherry and myself will be married. It might have been you if things had turned out differently'. Make.no mistake about it, George, that girl is my' whole life. For years I admired her. Then you came along just as I was beginning to think she liked me enough to be my' w r ife. Probably' she has told you of certain —or —reasons why' the tide turned against you and in my favour . . .” “Yes.” “And you think me an unmitigated cad?” “That,” George answered, “is the most extraordinary' part about it. Theoretically I ought to. Actually I appreciate you more to-day than when we first met. You’ve treated me more tlian decently from a business angle.” “Good of you to say' so! Put it down to selfishness. Don’t forgot I get more out of this than y-ou do.” “Proportionately that isn’t accurate. To begin with you were a wealthy' man and a prominent manufacturer whereas I was a struggling inventor without any backing whatever.” “Let that pass. What I wanted to impress on you was that I made up my* mind to marry Cherry, and whenever I set my heart on a thing I am prepared to go to any' lengths to attain it.” George had heard that before. Clicrryhad even warned him that the financier would get hold of his invention at an costs if it interested 'him. Bui when it came to the point there had been a stopping short of actual dishonesty. For all his assertions Alelhuisli had his limits.

This was the first time they had discussed the footing on which they stood. In some ways it smoothed the way, though the complications were still bewildering enough. Alore olearly than, before George saw that he would have to get right out of the way. Had Vincent Arelliuisli laid himself open to downright hatred it would have been easier. This half-and-half business was unpleasant. It put George in a false position. After the. wedding it would lie intolerable. How on earth could he accept the hospitality and co-operation of Cherry’s husband and still retain his self-respect? (To be continued.)