THE UNEXPECTED GUEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20087, 26 October 1928, Page 22

THE UNEXPECTED GUEST.

A SHORT STORY.

BY WALTER R. BROMLEY.

That event' do not always happen as expected was the experience of Higham J ones that night, at the Pelican Inn. " Gad ! What a storm !" he exclaimed, as the ram beat in wild gusts against the inn window.

He had just dined and dined well. Old Wirisoy, landlord of the " Pelican" at Railton, several miles from Loamton knew how to cater for his patrons.

Ou that particular night tho inn was deserted bv its usual habitues, and Jones was the only guest. He had just planted himself in a chair before the blazing fire, resigned to spenditi" au uncongenial evening in his own company, when suddenly his attention was attracted by the sound of voices in the passage. Presently came a knock. Ihe innkeeper stoon without. " If 1 may be so bold, sir," lie began, " this young lady is stranded and nigh perished with cold. I lie lire in the barjiurlour is out," and ho hesitated —" as you've the only sitting room I thought—" •' That's all right," broke in Jones, heartily, as he caught sight of the slight dripping fo»m behind, the landlord. " The lady is ve.'y welcome." " Allow me, madam!" ho said gallantly, and relieved her of her cloak. Ho looked admiringly at the charming picture she made as she held out numbed hands to the fire. Decidedly handsome face, but rather palo and pinched with the cold, he thought. Her hair was dark brown. Her eyes, dark blue, with heavy lashes, were her chief attraction. Just then they held a questioning look, as though their owner were considering things.

After a nnriule or two she turned to hiiri with a sinile, revealing white, even teeth.

" It is very good of you, Mr. —" Iligliani Jones, and Very nint h at your service, madam." lie said, instantly liking her deep, rich voice.

" It is very good of you) Mr. Jones, allowing me to join you. I really couldn't have gone. on a yard further." She looked gratefully at the tall, burly man. He had a full, fleshy face and lips, and was slightly bald. Anyone could seo he liked the good things of life. " Not at all, Miss —" he ventured.

' Miss Downing is my name," she Brniled, and accepted the chair he offered. The man drew up his chair beside hers. He liked pretty women. The girl let him do most of the talking. She laughed and glanced at him now and then, but kept him at arm's-length. After a while he became confidential. He was a stock-breeder staying for the night, and had an important appointment in the morning to buy cattle. Suddenly, with a little cry, Miss Downing looked at the clock. "Oil, dear] I must be going. I didn't know it was so late!"

' Going! Where to?" he asked, trying fOl the fourth or fifth time to capture her hand.

.' Oh, to Loaniston, to catch the last train to Birmingham. My brother is ill, and has sent for me."

Jones pulled out his watch. "I am sorry, my dear, but the last train left ten minutes ago." Then, observing her look of distress, he added: " I'll tell you what you must do. Stay the night here. I'll get old Winsey, the landlord, to prepare a room for you and light a fire. I'll run you up in inv car in time for the first train in the morning. Besides, tny dear," as she looked doubtfully at him, " tin's is no night for you to be out in. Hark at that!" as a furious gust of wind and rain rattled the window. Then, after a moment or two:

* If you will excuse me I'll go and arrange about your room." Shortly after his return they heard nriother sound, other than the wind, that of a motor-car drawing up. The girl glanced at her companion in alarm, hut his head was turned to the door. They heard a man's voice asking questions in a commanding tone, and the landlord's in reply. Then came the stranger's voice raised angrily, and old Winsey's apologetic tones in reply. Miss Downing looked nervously at Highum Jones. " What is it, little girl?" lie asked.

" Oh, nothing!" She recovered herRelf quickly and smiled rather timidly, lie thought ' It must he my nerves. I'm afraid mv brother's illness is upsetting rue, especially as I'm stranded here for the night ' the voices outside ceased. The tiouriri of the car starting again reached their cars: after that came silence, except lor the storm which still raged. Dining supper Jones asked the innkeeper what the commotion had been about. Old Winsey explained that a motorist had called asking for accommodation for the night. " I told him both my bedrooms were taken, and he seemed somowhat put out." lie chuckled as if it wero a joke. " Funny old stick," remarked Jones after he had left the room.

After supper, the girl's spirits seemed to revive, and thinking it the right course to make the best of the situation, she became quite gay. She allowed h'.rn to hold her hand, a thing he had been unsuccessful in so far. She sat on the arm of his chair and smoked cigarettes. The man had a bottle of wine brought in, and they indulged freely, he more than she. The stockbreeder was thoroughly enjoying himself and congratulated himself on a inost interesting evening. What a lucky chance the galo had been to bring in Miss Downing. But curse it! What a particular little girl she was. Still, he was certainly a luckv fellow.

Onco he tried to place his arm round her nock, find draw her to him, but slic repulsed him gently yet firmly. She •was quite agreeable, but showed him he must riot go too far. .At midnight she said lie must excuse her, and thanked him prettily for the very pleasant evening she had spent, and reminded him of his promise for the not row.

Jones rose and stood with his back to the fire, yawned, stretching out his arms. They wished each other good night. Suddenly he. tried to kiss her —almost succeeded in fact—and she felt his hot breath on her cheek, when the landlord knocked at. the door and entered as .Tones quickly released her.

The inn-keeper coughed. " Beg pardon, sir, but at what time do you require breakfast served ?"

The lime soil led, ho loft f lie room. Miss Downing turned to her companion, and said reproachfully: "How dare you! Spoiling our jolly evening like that!" and went out leaving the man staring after her in astonishment.

Highani Jones awoke suddenly with the uneasy feeling that something had happened or was about to happen. He sat up in bed, rubbed his eyes and listened. But everything seemed quiet as death. The storm had ceased and the light of tlie full moon came through the window and cast ghostly shadows on the walls. A clock in the house struck three. Suddenly, he heard a slight movement which seemed to come from the far end of the ■ t ?i' !in , uT st ' beforo 1,0 1,0,1 vp!llis «l V t^ C sll l? bt forin of a man emerged out of the shadow, opened the door, and van bed hJr 1 ' no , t . bcfo ; , ° ,llp staled man in bed had caught a ghnipse of the face vh rVT I '' °l 1( ' ne(l t,l(: «loor, Jh ch the intruder had closed, and which lock „ 7 n° Un H> '!" ,s neither he\r' . 1 ° «P a"* down the passage, hut there was nothing to be

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seen. He re-entered his bedroom. Ho wondered if he had imagined it all. Nothing appeared out of order. His coat lay spread out open on the back of his chair just as he had left it beforo he retired for the night. He could see his wallet — which contained £3OO in notes —showing out of the inside breast pocket. Completely mystified he again got into bed He jumped up as he heard knocks on the door. " Six o'clock, sir!" came the gruff voice of tho landlord. " All right!" ho grunted. All Ihe time while dressing and shaving he had a vague idea that something had occurred during the night, but what it was lie could not recall and decided he must have dreamed it. He descended t<> (lie little room to find Miss Downing already there, standing at the window looking out. It was quite light, and a fine morning. The girl .turned as ho entered. Ho thought she had rather more, colour in her checks than on tho previous night, which still further confirmed his opinion that, she was a very handsome woman. " I'm down before you," she smiled bewitchingly, holding out her hand. " I hope you had a good night." He assured her that, except for a confused dream, which he could not recall, ho had slept soundly. The girl laughed lightly. " I slept like a top. No dreams for me."

Suddenly she grew' sad, and before Jones could reply, sighed, " I wonder how my brother is?" Then, anxiously: " You won't let me miss tho train will you—lt was good of you to take pity on me. I shall never forget your kindness." She did most of the talking during the meal and the man somewhat surlv at the early rising ate almost in silence. But Miss Dawning did not seem to mind. Presently, ho left her and went to see to his car. Left to herself she glanced quickly round, then went to the mirror over the mantelpiece. " I must keep out the early morning cold," she remarked half aloud as she applied her powder puff. The sound of the motor coming out of Ihe inn yard reached her ears. Hastily putting on her hat and coat, and picking up her satchel she awaited Jones at the door of the inn.

He helped her into the car. He seemed much moro affable. Ho would not allow her to settle her account with tho inn-kceper, and after a short remonstrance she gave in to him. Telling tho landlord he would return shortly he started the car. The man glanced at his companion and thought she looked somewhat flushed and excited. "What is the matter, my dear?" he asked. " I was thinking. . . of my brother," she said slowly. "We arc so fond of each other," sho added softly. " Lucky fellow!" muttered Jones. They turned out of the lane into the main road. In a few minutes they would bo at tho station. - " I say, little girl." he said after a moment or two. " What a splendid time we had last night." " Yes," came from her shyly, her head bent low.

" Lucky thing that storm to bring you in, eh?" " It was very lucky—for me," agreed tho girl. "Well, that's nice!" He laughed delightedly. "We must see each other again." " I don't know," in a doubtful tone. " But we must!"

" If you insist, perhaps we will," she replied in a muffled tone which caused him to glance sharply at her, but a tit of coughing had seized her.

They had now reached the station. Be. fore sho could stop him he had procured her ticket.

Standing at the door of the first-class empty compartment he called: " Don't forget your promise," as the train began to move. " Perhaps," sho called sweetly back. " Anyway, thanks for your help." And the man on the platform could have sworn the sound of uncontrollable laughter came from that compartment. On return to the inn the landlord mentioned the fact that a police inspector had called while he had been away. It appeared a daring burglary had taken place on the previous day at Lady Ucar's mansion, twenty miles distant. Her ladyship's well-known pearls had bmi stolen, and they were Searching for the butler who had disappear about the same time the burglary was thought to have occurred. " There's a report in this morning's paper, sir." said old Winsey. " Perhaps you would like to see it." "Thanks! I hopo they catch the blighter." He was still thinking of his fair companion who by that time would be at Birmingham. It was not until a little while later, therefore, that he opened the paper. Suddenly he gave a gasp of astonishment. Under tho heading, " Daring Robbery of Lady Ucar's Pearls" was the photograph of a man. Where had he seen that face before ? Slowly it dawned on him. Why, of course, in his bedroom the previous night. _ A suspicion of the truth grow upon him as lie thought things over. It could not have born a dream after all. Were Miss Downing and tho burglar one and tho same person ? lie remembered little things now. Her voice, which he had thought rather deep; her rich colour, and then how particular sho had been. Then with a curious fcpling as if tho full realisation of tho truth had come to him, lie pulled out his wallet. And at, its contents he swore loudly arid fluently, for instead of the wad of notes, he drew out a thick wad of—plain thin paper.