INTO THE MISTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19391, 28 July 1926, Page 18

INTO THE MISTS.

BY E. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM.

CHAPTER XXXI; —(Continued.) " It do seem to me as though you two vrere crazy sometimes," Bessie declared, replenishing the teapot. "It s a good thing for you both I ain't a curious person. for two more mystical men about your early days I never met with. "Why, we've been married now goodness knows how long, and Reuben hasn't as much as told me where he was brought up! Might have dropped from the skies into Noiwich, or been let down in one of them aeroplanes. And now there's you, Samuel, very nearly the same. It s a gkeery business!"

Reuben leaned over and patted her hand. There was a quality of earnestness in his face which made him almost good-

looking. " That doesn't need to worry you, Bess, old 'girl," he assured her. "'I he great thing is that you and me are husband and wife. We've got the youngster to start with, and if I'm a bit- hazy about my folk we'll soon have a family of our own. Ave and a fortune too. " If he isn't off again!" Bessie laughed. " Whv, who's this? That don t seem right 'for any one to he walking in. on us so casual." The front door had been opened and closed. There were steps in the passage. Tile door of the room was opened. Joseph stood 011 the threshold, looking in upon them. , " Good evening. Ernest, good evening, Samuel," he' said. "I thought I.should find vou here." There • was a moment s awed silence. Both Reuben and Samuel had risen* to their feet and were staring at the newcomer. There was no surprise in their only a curious anticipatory interest. Bessie was frankly bewildered. "It's dad," Reuben exclaimed. " It's Uncle Joseph," Samuel echoed. "Your child, Ernest?" Joseph asked eagerlv, making his way round; to the other 'side of the room and bending- over the bassinet. " Mine," Reuben assented. My .wite Bessie, dad—the best in the world." Joseph handled the baby for a moment affectionately and the child responded to his advances with spirit. .Then he replaced it gently in its bassinet, turned to Bessie and kissed her on the forehead. "I'll fake a cup of tea, niy dear, and a plate of fish, Ernest, it you've got it to spare." •-■£.. , • .. . "His name's ' Reuben,' ' Bessie protested wonderingly. "Why do you all Oiill him ' Ernest ' Samuel, did when he first came." "'Reuben Ernest,' he was-christened, my dear," Jus father explained. "We didn't care so much for ' Reuben ' as he grew up, so we generally called him Ernest.' ' Klask' was my name a long time ago. I changed it. This is good fish, Reuben, and well cooked, daughter-in-law."

She was trembling a little. This middleaged man, with his general air-of haying sfipped so naturally into the place, baffled her completely. Reuben had sometimes seemed to her a mystery Samuel and his coming had often perplexed her; but this way the most amazing happening o£' all. Nevertheless, she remembered her first ■duties. She" made his tea carefully, and cut him bread and butter. Have you come far?" she asked.

I don't know. I'm in a very curious position. I was somewhere—perhaps it was in London—when I suddenly felt " that I must find Ernest. Now we're all three here together—Samuel too. Capital! We might start'some business. I've brought money with me, Ernest." ; . "Thank heavens you all bring a bit!" Bessie gasped. " But I wonder how many more there are oi you?"

"Yes, quite a little money A Joseph continued eating his fish all the time with appetite. " Dad," Reuben intervened abruptly, "there's someone I want to ask about. It doesn't quite come back to me. It hurts because I want to know." "Your mother, of course," Joseph declared, skillfully filleting his last piece of fish. " Your mother and Judith. Your mother has been ill, Reuben. She troubles a great deal for you. Judith too, is troubled. But what can one dO? : There they are and here we are." -• ""Why can't they come,arid-see Reuben or why can't he go and ' see them ?" Bessie "demanded. • " Of' alt " the mystical creatures!"

" They're over on the other side, my deai'," Joseph explained kiftcily. " Perhaps we shall be able to lei .them know some day. It doesn't depend upon us. Or they may come, too. We never know." "You talk of yourselves as though ycu .v'fcre ghosts!" she exclaimed. "I should be properly scared, only I don't reckon that ghosts could eat fried fish." "Ghosts?" Reuben repeated vaguely. " Now, what does she mean by that?" Samuel asked.

Joseph, who had finished his fish, helped himself ' toofebtead and butter. Ufc stirred his t'ea 'noisily and drank if. Then he leaned over and patted 'Bessie's Wart,lS * ' C V" ' " You're a''very nice girl, Bessie," he said. " I like it that mv son should have married you, and you have brought him a beautiful baby. I think we shall be very happy together.' " I like you,' too," she confided. " I have always been ready to welcome Reuben's father. I should like to know his mother, too. Why doesn't she come?" Joseph smiled at her quite kindly. " We. none of. Us know," he declared with the air of one who has finished the argument.

CHAPTER XXXII. The vagneness had entirely departed from Joseph's maimer on the following mocning when he had studied the list of " Klask's Remedies."., admired the Ford motor-cat, been* conducted to the newlyacquired factory, and been allowed a cursory 1 examination of Reuben's much-prized ledger. • ./ "We make a little business together, me and you two boys : " They were seated on cases in the, as yet, unfurnished office.

" That's all right, dad," Reuben declared. " We'll make use of you very likely, Samuel and I, we've got some money in this.". ;

"And why not?" Joseph exclaimed. " You two boys don't think I'd propose coming in with you unless I brought my share do you ? I've got money, too," he went on, tapping the place where his poc-ket-book obviously reposed. "As much ■as you lads very likely."

" That makes it easier," Reuben acknowledged. " Makes the thing sound better to me." Samuel achoed. " You see, dad," Reuben continued " relatives are relatives and all that, butbusiness is business. I started this first —made up small bottles in a four-roomed cottage down in the city and took them out to sell 011 the bicycle with a wicker trailer behind. Then" 1' married Bessie, and she had money. We made more money.. Then Samuel arrives. Ho brings money. Samuel has worked very hard. We make good profits. The business is good."

"I can make it better," Joseph assured them. " There was never anyone who knew how to sell medicines better than I did—and as for money—well let's hear about. What have you boys got? " Samuel brought two hundred pounds," Reuben confided, ".and I reckon that his share of the profits up-to-date come to close on another hundred. You might put Samuel down at three hundred." " What's his share of the profits, and how much does he draw a week ? " Joseph asked. "He gets a third and he draws two Sounds a week, out of which he pays ■essie thirty shillings for board and lodging," said Reuben. " And what about you, Reuben? " his father inquired. " My own capital was two hundred " Reuben explained, " but as well as that I jput two hundred of Bessie's in. That's

(COPYRIGHT). four hundred and I got my .two-thirds of the profits to add to How mucJi money have you got, dad ? " I got five hundred pounds. I'll put that in with vou other boys and we all go together, eh? You keep me at home, Reuben, and 1 draw one pound a week." " And me ten shillings! " Samuel protested loudly. " Not likely! "•. * " You've forgotten the goodwill dad," he pointed out. " I worked like a slave to start this business. After me comes Samuel, and he works, too. He got a small share in the goodwill, but I got a bigger. You haven't any. " Ain't I to stand iirt a third ? " Joseph asked. ' " Not likely,". Samuel objected once

more. . ~ , " Seems to me a quarter would bo fairer," Reuben propounded, Joseph looked thoughtful. There were some tilings he ought to be able to saysome things from the past which he ought to be able to remind Reuben, but they were gone. There was that black-pool which remained just behind, and a lot of things down at the bottom of it. Reuben was a little hard. Had he been like that when he was young? Still, it was the principle he had taught them. Every man must look after himself.

"Maybe I make it six hundred and fifty," he announced. " What, you got more than five hundred, dad ? " "Cheese it, uncle!" Samuel cried. " Trying to come it over us ! " " How much have you got, dad ? " " I got eight hundred pounds, less the price of a cup of coffee, a bun and a fourpenny cigar, he confessed, spreading it upon the table. " You don't want to be too hard on me, you boys. I'm not so young as I was, and I like to keep a fivepound note tucked' away in case of a doctor being needed. I get giddy fits, and I have an empty feeling, at the back of my head." "Sure you want to work at all, dad?" Reuben asked. " With that bit of money yOu could stay with us quite a long time. Bessie'd be glad of someone to take the : baby for a walk now and then." 1 Joseph was silent. Reuben laid his hand upon his shoulder. " Sorry, dad i What's the good of your talking sick? You're as strong and well as we are." " I'm agreeable to let the old man have his third," Samuel conceded. " After all, it's in the family." • " A third it shall be," Reuben pronounced. " We'll go down to the bank now; and afterwards we'll buy some wood cheap—l know where there's a factory being broken up— : and we'll get this place into shape durselves. Then we'll plan our rounds. We'll make some money here. Yon watch our banking account. We none of us ain't going to spend. You watch." Joseph passed his hand across his forehead... , Hff seemed worried. ' " All "the while I keep thinking it's the second time. Ain't that queer, lads?" It was a little later than the usual hour when the evening meal was served at the house of Klask. The three men were tired but cheerful. Bessie was still as neat and attractive as ever. She smoothed- htfck her abundant hair and drew the tfwipot toward her. • Wait! " Joseph enjoined. " you got any wine glasses ? " " There's five belonged to my aunt in that cupboard 'there," Bessie replied. Joseph stooped down, and from between his feet lifted up a black bottle which;he placed upon the table. " Port! " he announced reverently. " Bought it at the best wine shop in the city. Fetch the glasses, Bessie." His daughter-in-law obeyed promptly, and Reuben produced a corkscrew, while Samuel eyed the bottle. " You boys don't need to worry," Joseph, assured them as he filled the glasses. " I bought this out of that fivepound note you let me keep. I ain't going to be sick, and this day when we all start in business together, I got a new daughter arid a new grand-child there—why, it's a great day! You don't need to fear, Reuben, that I'm extravagant. This is the first and last time, and I got a gold watch ji'nd a diamond ring we ain't said anything about yet." " That's all right, dad," Reuben assented, as he stretched out his hand for his glass of wine. "I tell you what •Bessie, if you just put that tea into a bottle and cork it up tight it will do for breakfast, just as though it had never been made." ' ' ~

r. "You don't (suppose I was going to waste that, Reuben Klask', I hope!" she observed. . > : " Not you, my dear,'' Reuben rejoined. " Anyway, I feel more comfortable about it now." •- •.

Joseph raised his glass. He looked at them all, but longest at the infant. "To ' Klask V Remedies,'" he proposed. " May we make money! "

• CHAPTER XXXIII. Joseph, appointed orator for. the day, paused for breath, to remove his hat and 'wipe the perspiration from his forehead. As usual, the stall-holders were almost in a state of revolt. Practically every lounger and most of the purchasers in the Fakenham weekly market were gathered around the Ford car, from the back of which Joseph was addressing the crowd. In "the intervals of his eloquence, Samuel and Reuben were fully occupied in dealing witK a line of customers on either side. Presently, the oracle recommenced. " I want you all to understand this," Joseph proceeded. " I want you to get it right here," tapping his forehead. "I am anxious to make my living; and to_ help my son and nephew make their Irving, but believe me, there's more than that to it. Ancestors of mine have sold medicines —sold them to the rich and given them to the poor—since the days when we Jews lived in Palestine. We make a living by it, but we sell you good medicines and we sell you medicines which do what we claim for them." 'Why, I could cover the sides of this car with testimonials received . in 'one morning from people who've been rheumaticky all their life and who've thrown away their sticks now and given thanks to the Lord and • Klask's Remedies.' It ain't miracles we work, but it's something like it. We've kept the secret in our family of how to mix these things, and there ain't anybody else can do it just like we do. Is there anyone here with corns ? Speak to my son Reuben there, and you need never have another. Anyone with a bilious attack? Well, we'll ..keep .you free from biliousness for a month. Have you got any form of nerve trouble ? We're handling a little preparation behind which beats all the phospherine which was ever made—Something which will make a new man of you. Tell us what's the matter. with you. Stick to us, and we'll cure it. We ain't hucksters. We've been medicine men since the days of the Old Testament,, and we're proud of it."

A quaint figure Joseph was in the spring sunlight, as, for a moment, he lifted his hat-—a silk hat which had lost its first glossiness. His untrimmed beard gave him an almost patriarchal appearance, his cheeks sagged no longer, he was thinner by a couple of stone. His pause was the signal for a rush toward the car. Just "Tit that moment a great touring car turned the corner and swung into the London .road. Joseph stood there still, one. hand stroking his beard, the other holding ;his hat. Across the little crowd of people Judith looked at him with eager, , penetrating eyes. She .leaned forward. The last glimpse she caught as the car turned the corner out of the Square was of the two voung men dispensing their bottles on either side, and of an elderly huckster of pleasing appearance, who Strongly resembled Joseph Bern ham, second Baron Honerton. ! " I, 01 !, sa , w something that interested ; you . Paule asked politely. . I I thought that I saw a vision—a quaint vision, too, in this old market I place." | He held her hands under the wrap. She ; leaned back. : (To be continued daily.)