INTO THE MISTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19389, 26 July 1926, Page 14

INTO THE MISTS.

BY E._ PHILLIPS • OPPENHEIM.'/ ; j

CHAPTER XXYin.—(Continued)/.

A girl who had -been watching the proceedings with disapproval, pushed' her way through 'the crowd.' •- y • " You ain't 'going to do nothing' with him," she declared' resolutely. ' " Get along, all of you ! Can't you see he: ain't the sort a grown lad could knock about. The first of you boys who touches him has got to hear from me that" he sa" dirty coward.' Get off'home with ydu*!" ' V* •'

They affected terror and 'fled. After all, Reuben Klask was a weak.little'creature, thoroughly terrified. There was small chance of further sport with him. The girl lingered. * Reuben, 'with his - knees shaking, moved toward the door of hj s cottage. The girl watched him with growing interest.' ( J 'Z "You're a queer'one to be about,without your mammie!" ' "I'm not so ba'd as all that,'', he "replied, gathering courage >as the others turned the corner. " I ain't. here -to do anyone any harm. I just want to make a living." " '7 . • ... .* - * "They were just sky-larking,"_she ob-; served.

"I don't like rough people." " Where do you come from.?" "I forget the name .of the place, ..he admitted/ "I got a ; good/business here, though—good business if I can sell enough. Come "in-and'.see my drugs." She hesitated.- He opened'the door and she passed in. She was a pleasant-looking girl,' neatly 'dressed,, pale, through overwork and under-feeding, but with,a,mass of brown hair arid' a humorous 'turn to her "lips. She looked round ' the .little*, room into which ho ushered her. '• Old Mother Cnjrton used'to live here —a bad lot she was, too." **.:; />.

i "It. was empty When I tookit/'he said, "You see,'' He went on,, proudly .opening the door of the deal cupboard, "i got; over twenty bottles here. I made these all myself." 1 ■ ' " Where" do you mix ;.'ein':_up," Jshe inquired. ' ' " v ' . ' " In the back kitchen," 'he answered, with his finger at' the side.'of; his nose. " I don't let anyone see me."do it.. That's my secret. ' All 'of'- those bottles,-" very good. You try, my famous ' East Coast Tonic.' " .. , , - • " Are you going to-give me a .bottle ?" she demanded. ' , - . , ' " Young lady," he said earnestly, "you were very kind to me, very kind indeed; but you - get good wages at your, work. I am very poor.' What wages •do you get?" he asked. ■ -• ;v j. " Forty-five bob a week. I've-just been made a forewoman."

" Forty-five shillings a week tis • a great deal of money. . You're.very-much-richer than l am. I can't afford to give.you a bottle of, my tonic, but I'll tell; you, what I'll do. I'll charge you. half price. It will do, you good;",-hecontinued eagerly/, "give you: colour, make; yotir©yes spErkls* <■ " You're' a queer one," <sho. ihurmurcd. " How much 'is ~h alf price ?", v> , " Ninepence," he replied. "I won't: deceive you; young lady .'I might; nave said a shilling, and it would ; have ; been ; very cheap, but ninepence'is half: price." ' - . She .counted out ;,the 'money,-'accepted the bottle lie gave ber and slipped; it into her pocket. . <•■ . " Don't suppose i; shall ever take-any,. she said. * * 1 * " You take it," he. begged. "You-take it -anti tell;, the other ' girls factory that you're' feeling . better. ■ You, bring them here to buy more bottles and perhaps we do something, eh ? I allow. ,you a little or .we go out together. • If we sell enough bottles we might be abje *to ;go to the pictures.":: ~ * - , " There's plenty,of 'em : arixious, enough; to take me to the pictures '.without.;'' me. paying anything,", she, rejoined. " Everyone earns, such '«goqd "money ,y ( he complained, " and not enough-.people^yet >come to mo for .my medicines. • When. more' people., come I shall have - more monoy. You tell all the.people' about me, miss.." . " Bessie,, is .my;.name,"".she. to«lr him. " Bessie Pank. -That's my uncle, -the bootmaker over the way.-You're a queer, soft, you are! What are you'doing tp-nigb't V Reuben Klask considered. ■ • *' I think I mix up-two more-bottles, of corn lotion's" he replied. : " I just, sold- one to' your uncle. Afterwards .I sit in library- for an hour, get . a 'fried : fish supper at the. corner of the street and come home to bed." - ■ ' " Pretty, riotous evening ! ' the ..young woman observed.'' "Do you go.on like that all the time?"' " If you haven't any- money, you,got;to be careful untifyou'v< saved' some:" ..i "Y.ou-go in arid- mix'-your medicines." I'm off home to- clean up.. Afterwards I'll come'and treat, you s to the'pictures." How'll that do?" , , / ~ " How.much are-the cheap seats : he;, asked. *■ " J ~ ' ~ < "1 don't" never go .in _ the cheapest," she . answered, " I; pay. ; ninepence.", - " Maybe -I pay- for .my own," .he- decided slowly. 1 " We'll see about : that/' . she replied.; " .You put on a clean, collar and >be ready wheal come back. I ain't got no further, to go' than across the way. SoiongJ"' Reuben',Kksk.'mixed his two bottles . of medicine, washed,! changed his collar for one a degree or. two cleaner, -■ fed canary, and with- some scraps of .tobacco, rolled himself another cigarette! Romance was finding.it's way into -his life! :

CHAPTER'XXIX. • Bessie Pank listened to ; her escort's exceedingly half-hearted, suggestion •. concerning refreshments, as they left the picture, with sojpe scorn. She. placed; her arm ; firmly in his. . - " You just come' along. with me,' young fellerj" she enjoiued., '' If you. got tie money- I'll 'treat " you. 1 If, .you have, you- ought to know • that you can't "take a"lady, out and send Key home without offering her . a glass , of. wine. Come, right. down this street • and I' 11 "show you. one of the; cosiest places: in .the city." * ? They turned down a narrow., thoroughfare with .office buildings- and .warehouses on. either' side, now closed "for the night.' A gleam of light -came; from; a publichouse at the, first., corner, and was thrown across the pavement. : Bessie stood «on tiptoe arid peered in. at the'window. v : " It's' all 'right," she told 'her "escort. " Come along—this. door." _ > They stepped almost' '.directly into.' a little sitting room leading - off the- bar. A stout: lady .with many, parcels, in front of her, w , as seated before' a small'table with hef feet/upon the fender. Bessie and her companion seated themselves on the opposite side.The?room; was cheerful and a bright fire 1 Svas>burning. ..The host looked round from' his place behind the liar and nodded. , ;> Good eyeriing,. Mips Bankj" 1 he said; " I'll be ther.e directly. .What'll'it. be ?". " Glass of port, glass of. beer arid :two sandwiches," the ' girl' replied " You can drink beer, suppose 1 ?;" she added to her companion. < " me you're.one of those lemonade chaps."; " Of course, I can drink-.beer,", he assured her, " and I can fcrr your port, too. I ain't mean—only, you.-see, there's not a great deal of money in selling herb iriedicines," he went on, " and. one has to - be careful:" « ' ; .. ' ' " I'm not blaming you—not for "a single second," the yoiirig.,lady declared; benevolently. " I'm sick of these lads ~who :go splothering their money; about and expect a girl to be at their beck and caU-all the time, and at the end t of the year' they, haven't a bob for. the savings bank. A girl needs to settle down, arid for settling down I'd rather choose someone."who looked twice at their money. - You haven't told

(COPYRIGHT). -V .* v '*■ j • i - •

me. how you liked my; fur coat; Mr. Klask. It's paid' for—all out of-my own earnings, tQo/ - '' * ■ • . .j '" It's beautiful,", lie acknowledged, r : The landlord brought in their order on a, battered, salver.. The lady .opposite,; after a few cheery remarks,;and a, .regretful glance'into'the bottom of her glass,;picked up her r parcels; and. took her .leave. ;"' What I like abobt' : you is. that you ain't rough, like most-of the lads.. Inever saw such hfind's in- my life. Where did • you get them-,finger nails?" '' I don't, know. I' suppose they were alw&ys'like that.'' • : ' .'. -,, V, 1" Haven't, you never any -work ? ! " Not'-wliat. you'd, xall, work;" he admitted.. ;SI-;.nllx r those medicines/ -If I could-seli enough of them I should.make money.'' v .',,. , .> _ ,-. • • ■ . . : ' ■ And what would you do then ? _ ; " I should? buy more drugs, more herbs, and make.; more money," -he , replied. V Maybe I get'a larger shop. P'raps after a' tiftiei I ■ build ..a small-'factory;_ • a ';" You're ,all ■ for getting rich,..ain't you ? Wliat'a the good of '.it ?" . . - i of. it'.!" he./repeated, almost reverently,money is just the best-thing in life.'.-I-should'.buy a beautiful house in one of th6se'-new roads just outside the city i and' have > mahogany furniture and thick pictures in• gilt frames and maybe. a. servant. But, I t spend-'too much. I like to save. V-How .fnuch-have .you got?" : " Veirv-little'indeed/*'\» ; *•' ' ; . r " ¥ou'-11-"g9t. it: all right," - she remarked, studying'him thoughtfully. ""You're got look of a' money-maker about you. Should'yoii .like' td keep company with me, •Mr, "Reuben «* ? , I He looked at her, a little startled. She laid her hand against ;his cheek.. It was a soft- caressing hand, although the fingers were rough. She had very nice. and a becoming'hat. . • ■ " If you're quick about it," she whisdon'.t:'like'anything of .that sort,.,but. he knowsTm Straight and, he ain't looking. 'Reuben -kissed' her '- several -times. She rearranged her hat vand-'smiled 'at him approvingly; ', , • > i .You're, afnice lad., ' How much do you make, a week with'those bottles of,yours ? ■ '"Not;'much,'." ,he groaned. " Two- poun'ds a week,?.' 1 , ; f( .' . ."A ■ "'Some -weeks," he admitted, ' but I,; gptto save.; When'-I have-more/Capital I buy-the drugs cheaper..". V", # . • ! How'milch have,you saved ? • '■ 'Very little," he assured her,-hastily, ■ 4 ■ ' I, got a'Savings* Bank account," she confided, -after a : moment s pause. ; There was "a marked increase of interest in "his 1 manner-;' ; ' V v , ■ Ti " pood; girl " he. declared' approvingly. " How much^you 'got Bessie ?" ■ • • "'More than you, I bet," she,answered carelessly. " You, see. my aunt left me a bit last .Christmas. Like to guess ?" " A hundred voiinds?"-he ventured.> More than.that. V ' .. . >~ ; Reub'en became', c'onscipus a sense .of excitfcnifent..' : " Hundred and fifty?",: , '••' . ; " TW.o hundred/' she annuonced, in a of triumph. "JBeside-that I got a furniture left me at the • same time. "Bessie,"' he asked;-- ".were ( you inearnest about keeping company ?" "Kind-of.' I'd like to-know,a bit more ! about you—where • you. come from, and ;ivho.-ryoiir':folks are." < r, ■* ... ; He ;sf*t . quite still, gazing through" the • walls-'.of tho little apartment. ;• "got any -folks." . "I don't know .as that matters. I'm none too fond of 'in-laws.'Where d'you conie - j ; '"S6me>vhere round there," lie admitted. ; "You've never been in trouble_?" lookat. him keenly. , "Troubje'?" he-repeated; .-'"What" sort ?" • course ' you haven.'t. I;, could; see you weren't' that -sort. Now listen, here. Supposing instead of wasting time keeping comply w/? wero to get married ?" "Get- raarrie'd.," he muttered vaguely. | "Yes; .you ■ booby; married. You , talk about saving money. I'll show you how to' do 'it.:. Tt" must''cost' yoU' something to lTvci; Uncle, and aiinfc don't want me. They've got : two other nieces and, we're crowded out as "it' is.'" Supposing I .mpve my bite ;of ' furniture .into your . cottage ! and' keep' on.'my job., 'What do you do in the daytime?" . ' ; '"!• go' outside the- city 'sometimes with my' mediiines,"; he tbld her. /'Some of the-, villages' :round >;re "fine. I 'sold 11 "bottles.in'one:small ; -rilace yesterday.',' . T; ' "That'li do:! ' Weill get* our<dinher.'justf as maybe and I'll be back in tirhe;{o cookthe supper. What with .what you make and my .forty-five shillings and to'lo&k after you, -we ought to get along all right;" . , .-■ /•' - . i,-'. " . .'-I'd like.'to think it"over," the young man-Vbeggedj aWttle nervously.. ■ "I won't 1 tell ;y'ou no lies,""'jMiss Bessie Pank. .continued. "1 .going to keep a bit back in case you weren't .so straight as you : seemed, but I won't do ' it. jt's tfro hundred'iand. fifty pound's, and; not a . penny- less. - ";I can show you the ,sav- j ings book to-morrow. • If you want fifty pounds .of- buv' some of your herbs with,' it's yours 'right; awayi" .. y' ' There' for' a .moment,-an expression in his-face almost of ecstasy. - • pounds!' ;I get, all. my. things cheaper:and cheaper and" cheaper. ; I, get better bottles if Tpay cash. But, Bessie," he weint'bn earnestly," if -we; make a little j monty,'; you won't! want 'to spend, it—you're. sort, eh.?" : • .. _ i,"Not- to- begin".with,"- she assured him' -indulgently!. "I was always" one for saving, . myself. This furi' coat.. is my only extravagance;"' .. . ' - .- / • " , •He. passed, his:hand.over it gently. ■ .'.'Beautiful": he murmured." "Some day ' I-!buy • '<yoa &; diamond' 'ring.' •.- • > ; T "A diamond ?" she; demanded, f .'-'Of - course,i them,^''imitations' .are ' just a waste of money. I like .to buy something cheap that's. ailwayS; : worth•• a, little 'jnbre than" I gave' for it. That's ' the - way .to do,in"life, Bessie."'.,' ' • - .; r ; looked- toward; them. "Closing, time jn T .ten : minutes;; Miss /Pank;Snail;l fill Jem up ?"' ' • . It was a'hard-struggle for Reuben. He was spared the pain, • however'/ of making an; actual decision. • The' man '.tctok their silence for consent and, turning fa way, disappeared for: a .moment; • ; "That port j Svas a glass," Reuoen' whispered " a little, anxiously. | "That'sl right, .Reubens", she .said.' "Always, think of .what-: things, cost.... After to-night I'm : going -to - drink b : eer." '.- . .! The refreshments were brought and presently the ' two, young people, departed arm-in-arm.. Oiitside, :the.night.was frosty' shd'-a.light pojydery.snow' ; had be'en-falling. Ine, tops' of ;the - .sP.mbre : .- houses.^were shiarply defined against a clear There was something.: snappy:"-in thel'aiir. which brought" the colbur into' the; girl's cheeks, as they r. walked .'briskly.' along.. 'T always;wanted, to;be married, Reu-ben^"'.-sbe; confided, "and,to bei'married; quifikly, the' onelihihg -I .was determined. about was, I' didn't'-want-to .marry.any o| ( these :wasting - louts'"..who'd" .spent} ? my money in the public house.,and make me' york all'the nothinjg. to'it. You may "have faults^'Reuben, but*y6u're not-that, !sort." ■ / - - ' ' "I -Qon't waste .money.'' ; -Th'ey paused outside her house. "Now kiss me,"-, she directed.. HTs salute-was a little- hesitating. Bessie" turned- away „«with'a slight, grimace.' ' "I supppse one can't have it all ways," she reflected - resignedly. - : ■(To -be" cpntinuedi daily.)• j