HER WILD OATS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20761, 2 January 1931, Page 15

HER WILD OATS.

CHAPTER XVlll.—(Continued). They found a couple of unoccupied armchairs, anrl the liqueurs were ordered. Frank was glum and distrait, and watched the entrance in silence until Corven appeared and want to the cloak room to leave his hat and coat. " I'm not going to leave you," Frank said doggedly. " You could not be so rude as to leave Miss Furnival alone.'' she said reproachfully. - - . " You a'-p quite right." he agreed with her promptly, and hurried back to the ballroom. " Come along," he called peremptorily, to A'iola, and she rose in surprise at his tone. " Inez wants you," he prevaricated, and they reached the lounge at the nJoment that Dick was approaching. When the latter saw Viola he paused abruptly, but she went straight to him. " Mr. Corven, you and I have to have n little business talk, a.?d we may as well get it over at once," she said to him, and then turned to Inez. " Will you excuse us for a few minutes?" she added politely, and received a nod in answer. Viola led the way to a quiet corner and sat down. " It's about the cheque that was sent to me yesterday afternoon. Of course, I can't accept it," she announced curtly. " And why not ? " he asked with a smile. " You are » keen woman of business, and you are hot living up to your reputation in refusing the handsome profits of a shrewd deal." " When I bought up your debts 1 was rot contemplating any business deal," she said steadily. " Purely ail act of philanthropy, I suppose ? " he sneered. " Friendship might he a more appropriate word to use. I felt that I had done you a great injury, and I wanted to make amends so fur as' I could." " You must take me for a ' mug ' to think that I could follow such a fairy talc." Viola grew white beneath the insult, but succeeded in maintaining her composure. " As I told Mr. Carstairs, I will accept the amount that I am ' out-of-pocket,' and if you insist, interest at the bank-rate." "You shall'have your pound of flesh —or it shall be nothing," he cried contemptuously. " Then I prefer it to bo nothing," she replied, and putting her hand to her breast drew out a slip of paper. "Theie's the cheque," Jie went on, arid quickly tore it to pieces. " A melodramatic action, and very like a woman. It will be easy enough to write cut another cheque. You've only destroyed a mei'2 —twopence," he jeered. " At least I thought you were a gentle man," she said, and jumped to her feet. "I believe I was one till I met you," he rejoined, and they stared into one another's eyes —eyes that were flaming with anger. ' , Inez had followed very slowly, accompanied by Carstairs, and had been an interested watcher of the little scene. So she "hastened toward them, and slipping her hand undet' Viola's arm drew her along;. "Mr. Corven. I will leave Mr. Carstans to entertain you. Will you please tell Miss Furnival that we are feeling very tii;ed and are going back to the Albion ?" A'iola stared at her resentfully. " I don't' want to go back —with you, ehe said dully-, " Don't be a little fool," whispered Inez, and then turned to the two men. " Run along, you boys, and do as jou are bid." , , . r Corven looked at "V iola, and his face vas still grim and stern. " I think we'd better do what Miss Campion savs," Carstairs intervened. " -Ml ri^ht," -'agreed Dick, and then addressed Vioia. " I'll see that a cheque is sent to you the moment I get back to town," "he said curtly, and turned away.

CHAPTER XIX. Corven and Carstairs returned to their hotel together and nothing was said until they reached the sitting-room,.when Dick poured out whiskies and soda, and settl himself on the Chesterfield -hen, looked deliberately at irank, and b~g. to quietly to himself. "1 don't know vrl.at your plan* are but I'm going to clear out of heie e.nly ,fth, nfornilg. Those gn!s are mating complete fools of us. > believe they are hand-in-glove and p.y£to each 4er's/hands/' he sa.d gnm j "Why should they do that. a 5 1 J ure' X devi'hnent—an adequate reason "ong. Viola is honestly anxious to he friends with you. indeed, the girl loves you, and if you were,, t so furious with her-you d see it, l'iank maintained stoutly. "I'm not angry with Miss tun vaonly disgusted. Indeed, tin led up with women generally, and, in the futuie.

1 intend to give them a miss, you are wise, you will follow my example. I suspect that. Miss Campion is P' anm "fc to lead you a pretty dance. Move o> with me to Eastbourne m the mom U '- \ot on your life. >( I'm going to eee the thing through. n-ii-"Have it your own way. bye about the cheque you sent to .Miss l-urnival. I Suppose you saw what Happened to-night?" Dick asked quietly. " Not exactly. "I could see you weic having a bit of a rumpus, but I didn know what it was about. V fc'he • refused to accept the cheque, arid tore it up. 01 course tte ac ion was absurd. We f can't accept a gitl of money horn her. i, " I'm not a business man, but it doe.,n t Kceni to me that it would be a gift ' the's paid back wha> it cost her to get

hold of the 7 debts." "Slio's legally entitled to receive tho full amount of wlial the firm owed. U she accepts less, it would be puic philanthropy. J presume you J' 011 r "" like to benefit by a present from a woman?" Dick asked giimly. "Not when you put it in that w. , old cliap. I leave you _to handle the Affair as you. think best." "Good. Then I'll deal with lurnival. I doiv't anticipate having ,my. ditticulty with him. Now Irn going o turn in. Good-night," horven n ■cheerfully, and disappeared into his bed Jn the meantime, Viola and Inez had picked up Furnival, and h.s s.stet, and had . returned to the hotel, the older pair' going straight to bed, son f. plainly that they were not too please

.with their charges. ~ "I don't feel a tiny bit sleepy, announced Inez/ as slip took ' a eigare e from her case. " And you ncedn t pretend that you want to go to bed. you do you won't sleep for hours, bit down and get,it- off your chest, my dear." „ " I'ou are an amazing girl. Have you DC reticence at all, Viola asked co y- " What's the use of it ? Ivc heen nsod to speakilig my mind freely, anc I ,shall continue to do so. A pretty way you and Air. Corven were carrying 011—and in public, too. It was a gooc Job we camo along and put a stop o jour slanging I hope you ieei

(COPYRIGHT.)

By PAUL TRENT. Author of "The Craven Mystery." - Baxters Son," - Th« Vow." etc.

A SERIAL BRIMFUL OF PATHOS AND HUMAN LOVE

the better for letting yourself go. I suppose you will call it vulgar curiosity it 1 venture to ask you what it was all J bout?" " 1 dare say your friend Mr. Corven will tell you if you ask him," said Viola dryly. 1 dare say he would, but I would rather hear it from you, my dear. Please don't glare at me in thu.t angry way. 1 know you are thinking that ■1 in a litile beast when, as a matter ot lact, I'm trying to play the part of a real friend." Viola felt ( that if she remained she would be unforgivably rude. 8o she went to the door and opened it. " (Jood-riight, Miss Campion. I'm afraid we shall never- understand one another," she said quietly. Stay. 1 won't tease you any more," inez cried hastily. I don't intend to* give you the chance," Viola answered, and closing the door, disappeared. She turned on the light in her bedroom and viewed with (i.,taste, her reflection which she chanced to glimpse hi a minor. What a wretched evening it had been, and she had looked forward to it with some hope of effecting a reconciliation between Dick and herself. And the result had been the reverse of her expectation. Indeed, with each succeeding meeting, their estrangement seemed to increase rather than lesson. To add to her distress, she could see, plainly, that both Furnival <uid his sister were displeased with her behaviour during the last day or two. Altogether, her position was becoming tinbearable, and she must find a way of clearing up the muddle. Inez was a complete puzzle to her, for she could not guess what the girl was aiming at. On the face of it, she had fallen in love with Dick, and was making a dead-set at him, but Viola was not altogether satisfied with that explanation of her conduct, inclining to the idea that she was an arrant coquette, who was ready to flirt with any man who came in her way. One thing was becoming very clear to her—that site must abandon all liopa of winning back the man she loved. In spite of the humbling ot her pride she had received nothing but insults and rebuffs, and self-respect would not allow her to go fmther. After all, she had nearly everything that a woman could desire. Furnival and his sister were ready and willing to spoil her with affection, and work in the city would provide her with the necessary mental stimulant. All she needed was the strength of mind to forget Dick. It was with this determination in her mind that she fell asleep, and it remained with her when she went down to breakfast in the morning. " Uncle Robert, I don't believe you and Aunt are enjoying the change a little bit. Shall we go somewhere else ?" she suggested, as she sat down at the breakfast table. " I nevei' did like Brighton. But 1 don't think it's the place that s wrong. I'm inclined to like young Carstairs, but—"

44 Shall we go to Eastbourne ?" Viola intervened swiftly, not wishing to hear the anticipated condemnation of Dick. " I like Eastbourne. I haven't been there for many years," Miss Furniva! said approvingly. " Ail right, my dears. We'll start as soon as that minx Inez appears. I suppose she'll lie in bed till the luncheon hours," Furnival said disapprovingly. Rut at that moment the girl appeared and slowly approached them, greeting them collectively and individually with the sweetest of smiles. " Good-morning, people. I've been up for hours. I thought you were never coming down. Breakfast ? I had it ages ago. What's the programme for the day? I've been looking round and find the place depressing. What about making a move ?" she asked lightly. " That's what we've decided to do. Will you see about your packing ?" Miss Furnival said to her. " That won't take more than a couple of minutes. May I ask where we are going ?" " Eastbourne," grunted Furnival. " Excellent. I've never been there, and I'm anxious to improve my knowledge of England. Isn't it comforting that we all seem to have the same tastes as to places. I'll run along and gather together my bits and pieces. May I know where we are going to stay?" Inez asked demurely. " The Grand Hotel," he answered. " Thanks so much," Inez said airily, and went away. " Yes, she is a minx, but I can't help liking her." he said grudgingly. Inez did not go straight to her room but sought a quiet corner of the hotel where she had seen Carstairs sitting. She approached and awarded him a brilliant smile. " Why have you hidden yourself away ?" she demanded peremptorily. " You have managed to find Corven," he grumbled. " And he was like a bear with a sore head. You don't seem to be much better. I was going to give you a little information, but you may not be interested." She gave him a teasing glance, and he roused himself. " We are leaving here, at once." " Where arc you going ? Not back to town?". " Wouldn't you like to know " Please tell me," he pleaded. " Well, we're going to the Grand Hotel, Eastbourne." " Ye gods, we're going to Eastbourne. I don't know where we are going to stay. That depends on Dick." "Start away immediately, while my little lot are packing. Don't let thorn suspect I've told you where we are going. Arrange with t.he head waiter to give you a table near ours. Now, you can cut along and pack up. I'or heaven's sake don't let Dick guess that we are going to be there." " All right. He's only leaving here to get away from you people. Inez, tell me. Have you told me because you want—?" f ... ~ " Because I wished to tell you. J hat s all. Hurry up, or some of the others will see us together. I'm going straight to join Viola to play the. innocent," she cried gleefully, and hastened away. On The way to her room she passed Dirk, at whom she made a mono, and his answer was a scowl. Until they left the hotel, she was careful to keep in touch with Miss Furnival, and kept that lady upstairs as long as possible so that Caistairs shoultl have more time to get Corven away. Before starting, she managed to find out from a porter that they had left, so she was in the highest spirits when she took her seat in the car. As luck would have it. she sat next to I'urnival, and she went out. of her way to make herself as pleasant as possible to ' ,irn - Newhaven was passed, and it was Inez who declared that she was h"ngrv, so the journey was broken at Scaford, where they lunched at an hotel on the front. After the meal was over, the girl transferred her attentions to Miss Furnival. speaking seriously and with decorum, so that she succeeded in dissipating the somewhat unfavourable impression that that ladv had of f er '. .Z'" ' 1 watched the little by-play with interest and wondered what the object of it could | ie —she was beginning thoroughly to distrust the girl. (To be continued daily.)