THE FOREFRONT OF THE BATTLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21159, 16 April 1932, Page 12 (Supplement)

THE FOREFRONT OF THE BATTLE.

By MARTEN CUMBERLAND. Author of " Behind the Scenes," " Loaded Dice," " The Perilous Way," etc., etc

SPLENDIDLY-TOLD STORY OF GREAT HUMAN INTENSITY.

CHAPTER I. As David Teesdale's big limousine drew into the kerb, Simmons hurried forward to open the door. " Good morning, Sir David. A nice morning!" " Fine, Simmons." David stepped briskly to the pavement. "How is the little boy?" he asked. " Much better, Sir." The commissionaire's red face split up into a grin. With his ono hand he dexterously closed the door of the car. "My word! But he liked those toys and books you sent him ! Given me a rest from telling him tales of Afghanistan !" David smiled. " I know 'cm. Got a boy of my own, you know. But he's a big fellow now; twenty next birthday. He's studying in Paris. Going to show Rubens and those fellows where they went wrong!" With a nod, he climbed the broad marble stops, and went straight to his private office. His secretary met him at the door. " Mr. Dent would like to seo you as soon as it is convenient, Sir David." " All right, Miss Roberts. In ten minutes." Ho hung up his hat, and went to his desk. Thcro were two piles of letters, private and business. A bowl of red roses filled the big room with their perfume. Tlio sun camo through across tlio Embankment Gardens, and touched the roses to a ruby red, and shone 011 the silver framo of a largo photograph. His boy. Twenty next birthday. Ho was knocking out a good time in Paris, tlio young rascal! Still, he was working hard, too, ho was not a slacker. David's blue eyes travelled round the. room with its enlarged photographs of the company's ships. The Anacleto, she had been torpedoed during the war; the, Torcualo, a fine boat, only launched last year. Ho turned to his private letters. Hortiek appealing for money again. Fellow was a bit, of a waster, and be drank. Still, we all have somo weakness! Send him a fiver. There was Herrick's wife to consider. The Salvation Army. Self denial. They did good work; jolly good work. He scribbled on the letter, " a hundred guineas." There came a knock at his door, arid Dent, the general manager, entered. " Good morning, Sir David. I wanted to see you about that new floating dock at, Yala."

" Morning, Dent. Take a pew. Smoke ?" Thanks. I'd rather have a cigarette." Dent, dark-haired, clean-shaven, and efficient, seated himself at the other side of tho desk and helped himself from a tin of David's cigarettes. " Things are ready now at Yala," said Dent. " We've secured the land, both sides of the river. It is necessary that wo have docks between Manaos and Iquitos, as you know. It only remains to send out an engineer, and get the construction started " "Montero?" David suggested. Montero is certainly tlio man," agreed Dent. " He's by far the best engineer we have, and, of course, he knows both Spanish and Portuguese, which helps considerably. He's very keen on going, too." " Well ?" " It's his health," said Dent. " Montero is rather a wild fellow, I imagine. Clever engineer but queer kinks in his character. He's not a Latin by birth for nothing. Strange! He's married to ono of tho loveliest women in England, and yet—" He broke off. Don't think I want to knock Montero. He's a magnificent engineer, but his health is bad. You know what Yala is for any white man." David nodded. " The upper reaches of the Amazon are pretty hellish !" he observed. " Still, if Montero wants to go—? We certainly haven't anyone as good." "Of course," said Dent doubtfully. " Perhaps Montero is all right." " Get old Grant to look him over. That's Grant's job. Tell him to report to me. If Montero wants to go out, and the doctor's report is 0.K., then Montero goes." " All right."

" It will be about Grant's last job for tis. He retires on his pension next week. He's only fifty-seven and as hard as nails. He'll have a good time." " He's earned it," David declared. " A good man, Grant. Thoroughly knows his job." " He's another queer type! Miss Roberts declares she saw him last year spouting in Hydo Park, on somo social grievance or other. Hard old nut! Uncompromising and dour; little sense of humour, but a good man." " Ho is a bit queer, but very likeable when one knows him. What a man does outside these offices, as long as lie doesn't fall foul of the police is no concern of ours. I've always worked on those principles. Get decent men who know their jobs, then trust 'em, and give 'em their heads if you want to get the best out of 'em. Montero may have his weaknesses and -Grant his eccentricities, but both men have served the Green Funnel Lino well. It's understood then? Grant examines Montero and reports to me. I'll see later. Unless the doctor's report is bad, Montero goes to Yala." " Right. I'll see to that." Dent rose. " Lunching at home ?" David asked. " If not, we might go to Simpson's together ?"

" Simpson's it is," said Dent. " About one? Right!" When the door closed behind tho general manager, David rose to his feet, and began to pace the floor. His large head was sunk a lit tle forward; his faco was abstracted, the blue eyes unseeing. Presently lie returned to his desk, but he had accomplished little work when Dent returned at one o'clock. After lunch, Dr. Grant came to see David. The doctor plunged into the room after tho briefest of knocks and spoke in his usual brusque manner. " I'vo examined Montero." " Good!" said David. " Well, Doctor, and how did you find him?" " It's not, good." Grant's shaggy grey eyebrows frowned over his long aggressive nose. Bony fingers combed through his ill-kept heart). "Tho man's not well at all. Constitution ruined. 1 mean he's been fooling about! Late, nights, drink, women. Ho | can't go to Yala." " But. he's about the only engineer who " " Cosmo Montero can't, go to Yala. Not unless you tvant to kill liini. He's been fooling about, and, he's living on his nerves. H<S never was strong. If ho went, tn Yala, T'd give him eight months." Tlio doctor leaned forward across tlio desk, and his fierce, grey eyes added emphasis to the repetition. " Givo him eight months. Probably wouldn't last that long." There was silence. David took out his cigar case, and, when the doctor had refused, lighter! up himself. He drew at the fine Havana tobacco. " Very well, doctor," he said quietly. "I don't doubt the accuracy of your judgment. 1 shall be seeing Montero this afternoon. 1 will make somo excuse to put him off this trip. Of course, you didn't give him a hint that " " I know my job," broke in tho doctor. "I warned him, of course—that's my duty. If he doesn't pull up he'll kill himself without going to Yala. If he does pull up he'll be as right as a trivet. The wages of sin! He may he a clever engineer, but he's a fool, and a sinner.

(COPYIIIGUT.)

A married man, too, with a bonny wife. I warned iiim, hut he only laughed. That's my report." "Thank you, doctor. By the way, 1 believe you are retiring next week. lin glad. A" man doesn't want to work all his life. I hope you'll have a very pleasant time in your garden among the roses. I expect you lnivo a fine show of 'em at Harrow now. And your daughter ? How is she ?" , The doctor's face softened visibly, though his voice remained the same harsh hark.

" Irrna's well. Growing as pretty as her mother, 'lhero was a time, I thought) the poor girl would resemble me. The roses are pretty fair, too, and they'll bo better when I can givo more time to them. Well, good-day! I'll probably look in and see you now and then." Left alone, David puffed at his cigar for some minutes, and then, rousing himself, began on arrears of work. Tt was nearly five o'clock, and he had signed his letters, and was thinking of going, when Cosmo Montero came into hi"l- - Good afternoon. Sir David. I believe you want to seo me?" _ " Yes Moritero. Conic and sit down." " Thank you, Sir David." In the oliicc the Spaniard was always punctilious. When David visited the engineer's house it would bo " Teesdalc " and " Montero," or even " David " and " Cosmo." In business hours, however, the engineer never forgot that lie was talking to his managing-director. Friendship and business acquaintanceship are two different tilings, and the former is sometimes only retained when it is never unduly mixed with the latter. The engineer pulled out a chair and seated himself. He was looking eagerly at David with dark, intelligent eyes. The two men were physically very much of a contrast. Both were handsome in quite different ways. David Teesdale's fine, strong face was of sanguine complexion, clear, and healthy. The. light brown hair was plentiful, though cut .short to his well-shaped head; the blue eves were keen, shrewd, and kindly. To use a term that, aunovs the modern anthropologist, Davifl looked a typical " Anglo-Saxon." Cosmo. Montero, on the other hand, was essentially Latin. Though born and bred in England, no one would mistake him for nn Englishman. The sallow face, dark glowing eyes, and mop of black hair were un-English. Despite a public

school education, his gestures were more unrestrained than is usual in Britain. Whereas, at forty-three, David looked his age, though, of course, young and vigorous enough, Montero. at about the same age, looked a mere boy. His slim figure, mobile, features, and 'impulsive moments, gave a queer impression of youth.

" Look here, Sir David," he said. " I hope you've decided to let me. go to Yala? 1 know exactly what's wanted. I know the job thoroughly, and I'm as keen as mustard."

" I don't, think it can be managed, Montero. We want you here. It's about, time, 100, that young Higgins had a chance, to show what he can do. I think it will have, to he lliggins." Higgins! Listen, Sir David. Higgins is all right, but he'll mess up that job. He doesn't know tropical conditions; lie's had no experience of a river like the Amazon. He doesn't speak Spanish, and how will ho get on with the peons? You don't really want me here. I'm wasting my time at Tilbury." David looked at the keen, dark face, and then looked away again. "You're veiy anxious to go?" "Of course, I'm anxious. It's the kind of job to make one keen." " And you don't mind leaving London, and roughing it ? You don't mind leaving your wife? What will Paula say?" Again, David's eyes avoided the other's face. Montero flushed. " I don't mind a bit. Paula won't mind either. She has plenty of friends. You, yourself, are one of the best of them. Paula and I understand one another. She knows I'm not a very domestic kind of chap, and when we married she knew I'd have to go abroad to places where I couldn't take her. She will be all right, and 1 expect I shall only be away a year. No, Sir David, I like the fleslipots well enough, but I'm more keen on my work than anything else. I'm not so soli as some people think." He shot a keen glance at David. " Grant has been examining me. He didn't say anything to make you hesitate about sending me out,?" " Dr. Grant says there may be serious risks for you, if you go." Montero filing out his lean, brown hands.

" The old fool! I'm sorry, Sir David, but really he tries my patience! In some ways he's not a bad fellow, but in others —~ He lectured me; wanted to scare me with death and brimstone! He's one of the ' unco guid,' and to him I'm a brand just falling into the flames!" " But still." said David. " Dr. Grant has been with us. . .

" Too long, Sir David. A good thing for the old boy to retire. He's prejudiced against me; though my private lifo is no concern of his. His prejudice makes him report unfairly. I'm as fit as a fiddle. I've been up the Amazon before, and I can go again. Now, please, Sir David, let me have this job. It will be ruined if young Higgins is left to do it."

David rose to his feet, and walked ovej to tho windows. He looked down at the gardens below, and at the river with its small craft drifting on the brown Thames waters. He spoke without turning his head."

" There may be grave risks, Montero." " Good lord! Sir David, there aro risks everywhere. I may be run over at Charing Cross, to-night! I know all about Yala. But 1 want to go. If that is all there is troubling you, please let mo go. The Torcuato is sailing on Wednesday. I could manage that." David turned from the window, and.

for the first time during their interview, looked straight into the other's eyes. " A'ery well, Montero," he said. "If you want the job, you can have it." " Thanks awfully." Tlio engineer jumped to his feet, and glanced at his watch. ' " Tho shops aren't shut yet. I'll go and buy one or two things, and tlieu hurry along and toll Paula. On Wednesday, I'll ho ready, Sir David. And, thanks awfully!" When Montero had left, David went to his secretary's room, and dismissed her " You can go, Miss Roberts." ho said. " 1 shan't need you any more to-night." Slowly lie came back to his own office, and locked" tho door, behind him. He took some keys from his pocket, opened a drawer of his desk and took out a faded envelope. With tho envelope in his hands, he crossed to tho windows. Opening tho envelope, David's fingers trembled as he drew out somo snapshot photographs. Paula Montero. Paula Woodhouse. as she had been when some of these photographs were taken. That was many years after David had married Lucy. Poor Lucy had died seven years ago, a year beforo David had met Paula as tho wife of Montero. His shaking fingers raised (lie photographs into the full light of the window. His faco was very pale. His eyes were bright. Paula at Deauville. Paula playing tennis at Vichy. Paula skating at St. 01 fa. He remembered how lovely she had looked, and even then Montero was beginning to fool about with other women. David's face grew harder in the pale light. Montero did not mint} leaving her. Probably ho had mado her unhappy already. Her beautiful faco sometimes showed little lines that should not show on a woman barely thirty-three. Abruptly he turned away from the window, put tho " snaps " into the envelope, and locked them securely in the drawer. A minute later he was descending tho marble steps to where his car was awaiting him. (To be continued daily.)