THE MYSTERY OF THE COMMON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17234, 9 August 1919, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE MYSTERY OF THE COMMON.

(A STORY OF ADVEi>TTTJRE)

BY JAMES BLYTH.

CHAPTER XIV. THE KKKNICK3 ARE CUQIOTJS.

On the following day Ronnie Randwall had a short interview with the colonel and informed him that considerable building operations were to be at once commenced on the common and that the whole open space was to be enclosed with a wire fencing electrified in certain places. The road through the common would no longer be a public way, and all wayfarers would have to take a longer route further inland if they desired to get to the South from Lowestoft.

Ronald was a little more curt and busi-ness-like than he had previously been in his relatione with his father's old friend. But the old Boldier understood. He knew what the tightening up of the nervous system does when there is the stress of war straining at the conaitution. Moreover, since Dick had betrayed his friend's love for Majorie the kind old gentleman sympathised with his visitor's abruptness, ami his apparent eagerness to get awav witnout seeing the darling of his heart. " Once, it is true, before he took his farewell, Ronald hesitated in his speech, his eyes softened as he looked at the colonel, and his lips opened as though to say something of a more intimate nature than he had yet said. But he checked himself, and with a brief leave-taking returned to his hut.

For the next few weeks the common was a scene of activity. Buildings rose as though by magic. Mighty machinery-cam* in on huge grey motor lorries with •'W.D." marked in great letters upon them. The pickets at the entrances and the men on sentry-go around the enlarged enclosure were all picked men.

Only one or two things had happened which were significant and material to this story. The first of these occurred a fortnight or so after the occupation of the common by the men in khaki. Sir Julian _ had been much away. He had given his consent readily to the engagement between Dick and his daughter. But when the colonel had suggested, rather wistfully, that " if we'd known this perhaps my girl's marriage with your sou would not have been necessary," the baronet reddened. " I don't think I understand," he said. "I thought I made St clear to you that it was because my son ' was passionately devoted to your daughter that I made the proposition I did. But for that, as things were then., I should have felt bound to insist on my legal rights. It is true that now I have refained most of my losses. But Ernest as not regained his heart. lam cure you do ncit wish to tell me that your daughter is not pleased. Indeed, Ernest asked me to see if I could not arrange an early day for the marriage." " That is impossible just now," replied the colonel. " Marjie is eo occupied with her Red Cross classes that I am sure she will not consent to an early marriage. And fche girl is doing so nobly that I could not presjs her to cease her solicitude for the wounded."

"The wounded!" cr'ed Sir Julian. "Why, there are hardly any here yet! Wait a bit before you talk of the wounded! Ah, my friend, it would be better for all of ne if the war were quickly over How unfortunate it was that we had to enter into it! How unfortunate ! If (the marriage is to be delayed till there is no more work for nurses" " I don't say that," said the colonel, a litt'e alarmed. The financier had some power of m iking him feel ill at ease, as though he were not master even of hie own soul. " I don's, say that. But I assure you that it would not be for anyone's happiness to press on the marriage now."

"Remember this, my friend," said Sir Julian, bending forward and touching the colonel on the knee, an act which the latter resented by alt once withdrawing his knee. " H my boy gets killed before it, well, what then?"

" Why, there* are Dick and Minna!" cried the colonel.

" Ah, yes, that is true. Still, remember that our agreement was for my boy and your girl. But don't think I am other ; than your best friend. I'll tell Ernest, and perhaps he will be able to persuade 'your girl better than either of us, hay? : Young ones, young ones, hay? They can ; arrange better without us old fogies, ;hay?" It was curious how both Sir Julian and his son had occasional fits of saying I " hay," with a nasal intonation, at inter- ( vals.

" I've just given ten thousand for an ambulance train," said Sir Julian, as he took his leave. " What a waste of money is this war! What a waste! I cannot understand why we did not let the Continental Powers fight it oat! What a waste! But as we are in it," he added, " of course I am only too pleased to help." The financier's gifts to the war and Red Cross funds were becoming famous. Already there was talk of a peerage at the new year for a man who had opened his purse so magnificently in aid of his oountry.

Dick was still at Baxeacre, and he often ' billeted himself at home. Ernest and his , patrol-boat, with the three other men he had chosen to be with him, wore now well known about the coast. And he, too, seemed &o bare unusual success in fretting leaves to spend a nipht or two or even a week or ten days at home. Ronnie was so busy in superintending the new works that Dick now saw little of him. But Bill Bailey had been introduced at Bareacre Hall, and the beauty of his face and the charm of his voice ! and manner had made Marjorie regard his ' deformity as rather pathetic than horrible —a great concession for a girl of her type, a girl who loved health and vigour and who comforted herself by remembering that Ernest was a fine physical specimen . of his species aft ail events. ; It was a day or two after Sir Julian's ' call on the colonel that he and his son made their way to the entrance to the enclosure of the common. At first the ! picket refused them entrance. But on ; their sending in, their cards to the captain, who happened to be on duty, they , were aft once admitted. Indeed, the hos- ' pitality of Decoy Manor towards either the military or the naval services wae known for a radius of ten miles round. Few of the officers, whether in blue or khaki, but had dined at the splendid table of the millionaire, had smoked his famous Corona Coronas, and had appreciated the charm of Minna. Though Sir Julian had consented to his daughter's engagement with Dick, ho had stipu ated that it should not be publicly known. Of course the two families at Bareacre Ha'.l and Decoy Mano were aware of it. But no public announcement had been made. Ronnie knew of it by Dick's confession, before the latter had seen Sir Julian on the matter. But the I officers who were always being entertained at the Manor believed that the girl was free. And no doubt this added to her charm in their eyes. Captain Rivers, a local volunteer, who had a'ready obtained bis rank in the new army, went himself to welcome the Kennicks at the entrance* to the enclosed common.

" Glad you've been able to come." he said. "But where is Miss Kennick ? I thought she was coming too. She seemed so interested."

" She is at home looking after soma naval and military guests," replied Sir Julifcn, laughilng. " Oh, &he is jverv keen. She loves to bear them talk of their work. Espe-ia'ly the naval men, for of course they h-iv» had a greater chance of seeing real service than any of the army at home. She said eh© thought Lieutenant Squire's tales of his destroyer would be more interesting than anything to be seen on -what she called that old common.' He! He! He!" " Well, perhaps she's right; and perhaps she's wrong," said the captain. " Bulb come in and I'll take you to Captain Randwall. Yon know ho baa extraordinary powers here. In fact, within the enclosure he is our 0.C." "So I gather, so I gather," said Sir Julian. "I know him too. He has been at my place, though I saw but little of him. By all means let us see what there it to be seen."

The captain hesitated. He knew that he himself had not seen all there was to see, though he had naturally obtained an inkling. For the Gull mads flights on suitable nights, and now already Gulls were being built as fast as possible in the new factory by the expert mechanics sent down by the Government. Captain Rivers knew little of aeroplanes, and was a discreet man. He had been warned that the service on which he was detailed was one of secrecy, and that no curiosity would be likely "to advance him in his profession. But Sir Julian,- the man who seemed to have so tremendous a pull at both War Office, Admiralty, and Home Office, if report were even half true, probably had some special permit to see what there was to be seen.

As soon as it came to the hangars and aerodromes the captain's responsibility ceased. These were entirely under the conltrol of Randwall.

Rivers was about to despatch an orderly to ask Randwall to come to eee his visitors when he saw the man) himself approaching. "Hallo, Randwall," cried Rivers, " here are some friends of yours come to see what you have to show them." Ronnie came forward, smiling outwardly. He did not refuse the hands of ft he two Kermicka which were offered him, but he barely touched them. "You are a rascal," said Sir Julian, genially. " You've never been to look us tip after that tennis fiasco. I suppose you were so disgusted at the way! it foozled that you would have no more to do with us. So as you wouldn't come to us, we've •come to you. You'll show us round, won't you?" " With pleasure," said Ronnie, with an inward smile. "Come with me." He looked at Rivers, and the latter understood. Be had already learnt to interpret some of Ronnie's glances, and his orders were that ho should regard them as though they came from a colonel, or even a general, provided! they were connected with Ronald's special work. »

" "Wonder what the devil I've do:v wrong now," he thought. " Hang it! He can't object to show Sir Julian round!" Bonnie, with Ithe utmost courtesy, conducted Sir Ju'ian and his son round the enclosure, took them down to his wharf and little mole which made a protection from the north-west winds: introduced them into his living but, and gave them a drink of eome of the finest Sootch whisky they had ever tasted. "Where d'you get this stuff?" asked Sir {Julian. "I pay. eighty shillings, a doasen for mine, buft it so -good as thjs."*^ " Oh,'* said Bonnie casually, " it* is a present." He took them ant again and they went all round the further wire enclosures. He pointed out to them how the dynamo was connected with the wires. " Not all at once, you know," he said, with a laugh, " but you never know your luck. And if anyone missed the current there is something else which I am not at liberty to mention. You eee, we have very strict orders now," He led the discomfited pair round the common, which was now entirely enclosed, and showed them the outside walls of a huge building which was rapidly rising, and the outside shapes of several hangar* which were closed. As they drew near the exit Sir Julian became impatient, •' But," he said, where is the mystery, the mystery of the common?" "Oh," replied Bonnie, laughing. "I'm that. It was only because I and my assistant always used to go out disguised in goggles and other motor-bike garments that fciey called us the mystery."

"Oh, come," said Ernest, "that wont do. We know you've got some wonderful invention here. My father has heard, all about it at the War Office."

"Then that's all right," said Ronnie eenially. "If be knows, there is nothing 1 can tell him."

"I should like to see, though," said Sir Julian. " And, my young friend, I have heard that you want capital. Well, I've rot & little. If it's likely to serve the Allies Til put in what you like if yon can convince me it is of use."

'It is awfully good of you, Sir Julian," said Ronnie; "but Tve sold my rights. No doubt I should have done better if I had waited for yon; but I've done fairly well a* it is. You see the secret, if there is ci.e, is mine no longer."

•'You'll let me see, though, won't youi" urged Sir Julian. "I might be induced tc give the War Office a hundred thousand or so to assist in development."

"I will convey your most generous offer to my people," said Ronnie. "As it is, vou see, I have not the right to show it to anyone. I'm awfully sorry. Of course if you had asked before I'd sold—"

•'But you can't have sold it outright. Surely you retain some royalties or powers of some kind," said the millionaire very smoothly. "See here, my dear young friend, I don't want it known, but it might be worth twenty or thirty thousand pounds to me to see it. To be frank I've been offered another invention which I like the look of; but it is possible that yours may take the shine out of it; see? Anyway, no doubt I can Bee the designs at the Patent Office."

(To be continued on Wednesday next.)