ONE RAINY NIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20898, 13 June 1931, Page 4 (Supplement)

ONE RAINY NIGHT.

By ELS IK WAKING, D.M.B.G. (nco 15 years), Great South Road, Manurewa. It was raining lieavily, when, with collar turned up, tho young reporter boarded the tram at Wyndham Street. He was a rather conceited young man and at tho ago when he was trying to grow a six-a-sido moustache. Through the rain rattled the tramcar, draughty, yet close, with breath-dimmed windows. The city lights twinkled outside and a senso of drowsiness stole over the passengers. At Silver Road, Epsom, a charming young lady entered, her dark hair blown by the wind, a worried look in her brown eyes, her coat shedding drops of rain. She sat down by Godfrey and said, Do you think you could help me ? I am very troubled." " Certainly, if I can," replied our hero, then introducing himself, " I am Godfrey Bone, a reporter on the Herald staff. " Godfrey Bone! But can it bo possible that you are Godfrey Bone?" she gasped. " From your work I had imagined that you were a grumpy old man with sidewhiskers." Godfrey coloured with embarrassment. The conversation was really too personal. " But what can I do to help you, Miss-cr, Mns-er," he said. " Mary Jeans," she finished. Please get out with me at this stop and I will tell you. Well," she said when they had alighted, " the old lady who lives next door to us knits bed-socks for tho old men's home, and she is supposed to be very wealthy and when I was in our garden one evening, near the front wall, I overheard two men plotting to rob her. She is very forgetful and often goes to bed with tho doors and windows wide open. However, she keeps a good watch dog, and ono of the men, to see what it would do, went into the grounds. The dog barked once, llien all was silent. I discovered afterward that the man had thrown it a piece of poisoned meat. I sent for my two brothers, not liking to call in the police, and they have both wired to say they are not able to come, so I asked you. Here we are at the house, now," pointing to an old-fashioned, low building surrounded by trees. "It is now ten-thirty and the men planned to arrive about eleven o'clock." Godfrey Bone felt in his pocket for his reporting notebook and pencil. It was there! What a story would be in the paper next morning. He saw sudden promotion. "Wo must fix a ropo across the doors and watch the windows," he said. They had hardly stretched a rope across the back door when they heard soft footfalls down the passage. Leaving the windows, they hurried quietly to the spot, just in time to see a dark figure carrying something come out. With a smothered cry " the thief" tripped ever the rope and fell throwing the contents of a basin over Godfrey. " It's the maid," called Miss Jean to Godfrey, as he bravely prepared to tackle the burglar, " She stays hero every Thursday night." Godfrey wiped his face and shoulders free from the water and muttered rather ungentlemanly things. Just then a hoarse grunting sound was heard from the front garden " A signal." said Godfrey, " Quicklv! We must —" "Tickets please!" said the conductor loudly, " And you might shut the window, sir, and stop tho rain from beating on. your head and sholders." Godfrey awakened with a start to find himself still in the tram. Gone was to-morrow's story— Gone was the charming lady! And gone was his dignity. He knew only too well what had caused (ho amused expressions on tho faces of his fellow passengers; for Godfrey Bone had snored !