WATCHING EYES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21462, 8 April 1933, Page 12 (Supplement)

WATCHING EYES

' By T. C. BRIDGES Author of "Messenger. Million," "The Price of Liberty." "The Other Man's Crime," Etc., Etc.

(COPYRIGHT)

ABSORBING NARRATIVE OF LOVE AND ADVENTURE

CHAPTER I

c I'm sorry," said Jim quickly. Is —is it serious?". " Very," she answered gravely, but she did not explain the nature of tho illness. The stairs ran up out of the living-room, and suddenly a sharp querulous voice came from above: "Cyn' Cvn! I want you." With a word of apology, Cynthia hurried away, leaving Jim to toast himself by tho lire and gaze through the window at the steady downpour. " He's not too ill to shout," he said thoughtfully to himself. " Nor to be in a nastv bad temper. Funny how a girl like that can havo such a brother." In about five minutes Cynthia came down again and Jim rose from his chair. " Time I was going, Miss Carrow," ho said. He had learnt her name from Mrs. Haft. Cynthia glanced through the window. " Impossible," she said with decision. " The weather is worse than over. You must wait a little while longer." " I'm afraid it's no use waiting. It's settled in for the night." " In that case you had bettor stay here, Mr. Silver. We have a spare room." Jim was so overcome that for a second time he was struck dumb.

TH"B GOLDEN GIBJj : The roar of the flood warned Jim gaver what to expect, but when ho (reached the bank the reality was worse jghan the roar. The stepping stones, by which he had crossed the ford a few ih~our3 earlier, were covered a foot deep fry an flood and tho [Barlo was rising every moment. For a moment the idea flashed across 'Jim's mind of stripping and trying to swim across, but the long foam streaks on the surface and tho speed at which 'dead . branches and broken timbers swirled by, warned him that any such attempt would be equivalent to suicide. / ~ " And no bridge for five miles, groaned Jim, " and—and more rain coming." The words were hardly out of his mouth before tho surface of the flooded river was starred by tho splash of heavy drops and a mutter of •thunder' rolled hoarsely from behind the tall beacon to the north. An unaccustomed frown crossed

Cynthia smiled roguishly. " If you can put up with my company?" she added. ' I —l can't imagine anything I should enjoy more," Jim said, and he was so intensely in earnest that a faint flush rose to Cynthia's cheeks. ' Then that's settled," said Cynthia as she seated herself in tho chair opposite, " but you needn't think the favour is all' on one side. I'vo had a very dull day, and a little masculine society is a pleasant chango." Jim looked, up.

'Jim's lean, brown face. Ho had been tramping all day, and was tired and hungrv. He had been keenly looking forward to. dry clothes and hot tea at Jhis comfortable lodgings in old Mrs. Running's house at Flittercombo, a distance of barely two miles as this byroad wont, but now tho only way to get there was by walking 12 miles yound by Thimble Bridge. " Well, it's no use grousing," he said to himself, and turning back, up the? track made for the main road, which ran eastwards parallel with the river. As he neared it, he heard tho honk of a klaxon. " A car—a lift," ho iexclaimed, as ho started to run.'

" Then please think what it means to me, Miss . Carrow. A bank clerk on two hundred pounds a year does not have much opportunity of mixing with ladies."

" And what do you do in your spare time?" Cynthia asked with interest. "I read a good deal, in summer 1 swim, and in winter I do bit of boxing." " Is'o dances? •

\ car was coming from the* west. So far as Jim could see there was only one person in it, tho driver. Jim reached the road Just as the car came opposite. He shouted and graved and tho driver, a large, floridfaced man with a heavy yellow mousjfcaclie, turned his head. But that was fell. Without paying any further attention he drove straight on.

" Very seldom," said Jim with a smile. " You see, I know hardly anybody in Plymouth, and in any case, I don't like' accepting invitations when I can't do anything in return." " You are too conscientious," smiled Cynthia. " Young batchelors in your position aro not expected to entertain. I know plenty of people in Plymouth who are only two glad of a personable young man who will dance. There are too many girls in these days and too few dancing men." The two became so deep in talk that they were both surprised when Mrs. Raft came in and lit lamps and began to set the table for supper. Cynthia took Jiin up to the spare room, where ho found hot water, hair brushes, pyjamas, all he could want for the night. " I"ve been raiding Noel's possessions," Cynthia told him. " When you are ready you will find your way down." Supper was simple, yet perfect. A roast chicken with home-cured ham and green peas, a junket, stewed pears and cream. A cup of hot coffee and a glass of good port to top up with. Then the two settled over the fire with cigarettes. Outside the rain still streamed down., but neither noticed it. They had so much to talk about. Twice Cynthia was called upstairs by her brother, but each time she came down again. It was past eleven before she said good-night. Tired with his long day in tho open he was soon asleep. And then all of a sudden he was awake. For a long moment he lay wondering why, for it was still dark. Suddenly he sat up and sniffed. Smoke —yes, there was no doubt about it. He listened. A faint crackling sound came to his ears. In a flash he was out of bed and had lighted a candle. Waiting only to thrust his feet into a pair of slippers, he flung open the door. The landing was thick with smoke which was pouring out from under the door opposite. "Fire!" Jim shouted as he dashed across the landing. CHAPTER H, RESCUE A 'blast of heat met him as he opened the opposite door. The room was a fog of smoke through which red tongues of fire curled and twisted ominously. The draught fanned them, and as they rose and glowed, their light showed Jim a man on the bed. The bed-clothes were alight and it was evident there was not a moment to waste. Dropping his handle, Jim plunged straight into the room. Three strides brought him to the bed, and seizing the smouldering blankets he tore them off, jerked up the motionless figure and slinging it over his shoulder staggered back to tho door. Blinded by the smoke, coughing and half-suffocated, ho stumbled, but someone caught him and steadied him with unexpected strength. " Is ho —is he alive?" asked Cynthia quickly. " I think so," Jim managed to answer, but his voice was almost gone. Cynthia dashed into her own room and came back with a glass of water. " Drink this. Then wo will get him downstairs," The cold water was just what Jim's choked throat needed. " I'm all right now. I can carry him down.'

" Of all the surly swine!" snapped 'Jim, who was about as angry as he tad ever been in his life. " He saw mo bnd deliberately left me. Gad, 111 have B few words to say to that kind gentleman if I ever meet him again. Hut tho few words wero not going to be Eaid at present for already the car was out of,sight. And now came a blue glare of lightning, and with the thunider the rain began in earnest.

Jim had a light waterproof, it tad been through one storm already, and very soon the drenching downpour Jjegan to leak through, and he felt cold, damp patches on his shoulders. pHis legs were already wet to the knees, jand his shoes squelched at every step. " Twelve miles in this!" he muttered 'disconsolately, then a third flash showed; up a house standing on the hillside a little above the road. An old-fashioned farm house built of grey granite, but- a red glow that was certainly from a fire shone through one tof the narrow downstairs windows. Jim pulled 'up short. Rather a shy man, he did not quite like invading a (strange house, yet the thought of warmth and- shelter were baits beyond resisting. He opened "the gzite, walked up through a drenched garden and knocked at the heavy door. A farmer's wife or perhaps a fanner's daughter, that was what Jim expected, but the girl who opened to Jim was obviously neither. The firso thing that struck Jim was that she had the clearest blue eyes ho had ever Been in any vfoman's face, the next that her complexion was absolutely perfect, the third that her hair was true gold—not flaxen, not auburn, but the exact colour of newly-minted gold. .And the combined effect of these three discoveries was to render him absolutely mute. " Yes?" said the girl gently. " I—l beg your pardon," Jim stammered. " I —l thought this was a farm." . . • " It is a farm. Little Doward it is called J' she answered, and her voice was just as delicious as the rest of her. " B-but I mean I thought a f-farmer lived here. You see I was going to ask for shelter." < " Then why:not ask for shelter? You couldn't think I should refuse it to any fellow being in a storm like this?" She smiled, ahd her smile completed Jim's confusion. Another flash, brighter and nearer than the last, lit the sky, and the thunder shook the hills. <l Come in," she added quickly, and Jim /walked straight into a large, lowceiliuged room, lit by a pleasant log fire.

" I'm not fib to come in," said Jim ruefully, looking down.at his wet footmarks on the flagged floor. " Shed your coat," she said briskly. Then come through into the kitchen; fend 1 will find you some dry socks and slippers.- I think my brother's will fit ;you." " You are too kind," said Jim gratefully as he obeyed. A tall, angular, •capable-looking woman was busy in the Jritchen.

" Wait. Your pyjamas are afire." Cynthia beat the smouldering stuff from Jim's sleeve with her bare hands, and Jim, collecting himself, carried Noel down into the kitchen. Cynthia's brother was no light-weight but Jim, slim as he looked, had plenty of strength. Mrs. Raft was already there, wearing a thick dressing gown over her night garments. Slie had kept her head and was busy getting flour and lard to dress burns.

" This gentleman has been caught in jthe rain, Mrs. Haft," said the girl. " I jam going to find him some socks and fehoes. Then be will stay to tea while Ihis are dried."

" Very good, Miss Cynthia," replied jfche maid, and Cynthia hurried off, to [be down in a minute with socks and .slippers, into which Jim changed •quickly. When he had washed his hands in a bowl of warm water provided by Blrs. "aft, he returned to the sitting :room, where his hostess ordered him 'ito sit close to the fire.

"Lay him here on the floor," Bho said. "I'll "see - to him. You'll have to try arid put the fire out, Mr. Silver. There's buckets by the pump." " I'll help," 'said Cynthia, as she began to work the pump handle. With two full buckets Jim ran back upstairs, but even in the time bo bad been away the firo had gained terribly. The flames were eating into the floor and' Noel's room was a furnace on which tho two buckets made hardly any impression. As he turned he found Cynthia with another bucket and a jug.

" You're tired," she said with quick .sympathy as he dropped thankfully into a basket chair.

" I should have been but for you," •'Jim replied. " It was that first storm," he explained. "It brought a spate ;down tho 13arle and I couldn't cross. 3'm staying at Flittercombe." " And you will havo to go all tho Twav round by Thimble Bridge?" she asked//

" It's no use, Miss Carrow," ho told her. Ho had to shout to be heard above the snap and cracklo of burning wood. " Nothing short of a firo-engino would make any difference."

" I shan't mind that, once I'm rested," he declared. " And have had some tea," she added, as Mrs. Raft brought in a tray and set the table. None of your ordinary iivo o'clocks with thin bread and butter and a madeira cake out of a '.tin. There were scones, rich and flaky, hot out of the oven, a big pal of golden Devonshire butter, a bowl ol' cream and a lordiy dish of strawberry jam. There were also rock buns and a great fragrant home-made eTike full of Qpcel and plums, such a cake as Jim had nob seen for years.

" There's no firo-engine within seven miles. Do you mean we can't save the house? "

" I'm sure of it. These old timbers burn 'like tinder. The only thing is to save what we can. If you havo any jewellery—" " I'll get it." In spite of the danger Cynthia was perfectly cool and collected, and she ran straight into her own room, ! to come out in a very brief space with a suit-ease stuffed with things and a dressing-bag. " Be quick," Jim warned her. " The floor won't last much longer, and once it goes—" Then you come, too, but bring the blankets from my bed. Wo shall have to spend the rest of the night in tho stable." " What a girl! " was Jim's thoughts as he hastily obeyed. Ho got the blankets from Tier room and from his, too, and stumbled down with them through tho smoke into the kitchen. He had hardly reached it before there came a dull roar as a great beam, burned through, crashed into tho living room beneath. < (To be continned daily)

Outside tho lightning flashed, the thunder roared and tho rain drummed on the roof, but Jim cared for none of these things, for ho was enjoying tho nicest tea- in plcasantest company he >ever remembered. He soon forgot his shyness. It was impossible to be shy with this girl, and presently he was telling her all about himself, about his work in the Admiralty Bank at Plymouth, and of his holidays spent tramping or fishing on Dartmoor and ISxmoor.

" I don't know Dartmoor," said the " but, I'm very fond of Exmooor. This/zis the second time I have rented Little Doward. I have brought my brother Noel. He is nob well." A shadow ipassed across her face..