WATCHING EYES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21463, 10 April 1933, Page 16

WATCHING EYES

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

(COPTIUGHT)

ABSORBING NARRATIVE OF LOVE AND ADVENTURE

SYNOPSIS Jim Silver, 011 holiday in Devon, is caught in a thunderstorm, and asks for shelter at a lonely house on a hillside. "Little Doward " is its name, and the blueeyed, golden-haired girl who opens the door invites him in. He learns that tho girl, Cynthia Carrow, her invalid half-brother, Noel, and their servant, Mrs. Raft, are the only occupants of tho house. As tho storm does not abate, ho gladly accepts Cynthia's invitation to stay the night. He is awakened by a faint crackling and smells fire. Dashing into Noel's room, he finds that it is well alight. Ho saves Noel in. ■ the nick of time. CHAPTER ll.—(Continued) " Time we got out," said Jim. " I'll carry Noel." Noel's eyes were open, but ho was still in a queer, dull stato and helpless as a log. Ono arm was wrapped in bandages and most of his hair had been scorched off, but otherwise ho did not seem to have been badly burned. Sirs. Raft had lighted a lantern, and, carrying that and tho blankets, led tho way to the stable, which was about thirty yards behind tho house. Jim followed with Noel, then Cynthia with her two cases. The stable was a dusty old place, long disused, but at any rate dry and weather-proof. " I'll get some hay down from tho loft," Cynthia said. "And I'll go back to tho house and find some food," Jim added. " Be careful," begged Cynthia. " The kitchen is still safe enough," Jim told her as he hurried off. Tho fire was gaining with fearful speed. Flames were leaping through tho windows, casting a ruddy glow on tho surroundings, the sitting room burned with a steady roar, but the kitchen and larder, though full 9f smoke, were still intact. Jim quickly collected bread and butter, tea, sugar, some cups and a kettle, and a few other odds and ends. He dumped them all into a big dishpan and was looking for milk when there was a crash that mado the whole place tremble. The door between the sitting room and kitchen burst open and Jim picked up his pan and bolted just in time to escape the blast of flame which licked through. Cynthia's face was white and strained as Jim camo plunging back into tho stable. "You said it was safe," she reproached him. "And so it was," declared Jim. "And I have the things. How is your brother? " " Safe, thanks to you." She shivered. " What should we have dono if you had not been here? " " You'd have got him out all right," Jim answered cheerfully. He realised that she was suffering from reaction after the strain and that she must not be allowed to think of what might have happened. " See here, there's a fireplace of sorts in the old harness room, and wood in tho yard. What about making a pot of tea? " " That's a good, idea," said Mrs. Raft briskly. " If you get tho wood I'll see to it." Jim got the wood and Mrs. Baft soon had a fire burning, on which she set the kettle. There was no need for light, for by this time the farmhouse was blazing to heaven. Tho roof fell in with a rumble like a small earthquake and a volcano of sparks rose rocket-like against the dark sky. " That ought to fetch up the neighbours if you have any," Jim said. " There is none except those in the three cottages in the Hollow," Cynthia told him, " and it would take nothing short of an earthquake to rouse those folk before daylight. Oh, hero is our tea. How splendid of you to think of it, Mr. Silver! " "And how splendid of Mrs. Baft to make it," said Jim, and was rewarded by a smilo from that rather stern-faced lady. " What about your brother? " he asked. " Will he have some? " " I'll try," said Cynthia, but Noel pushed the cup away. " I want my medicine," h.o said in his sharp, querulous voice. Jim looked at the young man and noticed that his face was dead white, while his eyes, blue as his sister's, had a queer, pasty look. His appearance touched some queer chord of memory in Jim's mind, but for tho moment lie could not tell what. CHAPTER IH THE MAN WITH THE RED FACE " There is no medicine, Noel," Cynthia answered soothingly. " Drink some tea. It will do you good." " I hate tea. You know I hate it. I must have my medicine! " " It is burned, Noel. You will have to wait till morning." " Burned. Why didn't you save it? I see," ho added nastily, " you got your own things out." " You forget, Noel," Cynthia spoke with a patience which astonished Jim, " it was your room that caught fire, and if Mr. Silver had not been as quick and plucky as ho was, you would have been burned as well as your medicine." "How long have I to wait?" demanded Noel harshly. " Why can't someone go to the doctor and fetch me my stuff? 1 " " The doctor is seven miles away. It is still dark and raining hard. You must be patient, Noel." " Patient! " Noel's voico was almost a scream. "And suffering like I am? You must do something, Cynthia. Go over to Harmer's and borrow his car. It's only two miles." " I will not borrow Mr. Harmer's car. You know that, Noel." Cynthia spoke as quietly as ever, but Jim noticed the ring of determination in her voice. "Just your beastly selfishness!" snapped Noel. " You'd rather let me suffer than ask a favour of a man you don't like." By this time Jim was fairly boiling. Ho broke in quickly. "I will go for the doctor, Miss Carrow." " You most certainly will not, Sir. Silver, You have dono enough for us already to-night, and Noel is not so ill that 110 cannot wait until morning." , " I can't wait! I won't wait!" cried Noel fiercely. " Don't mind what she says, Silver. You go!" Cynthia spoke. " Noel, be reasonable. Try to remember that Mr. Silver has already saved your lifo to-night, to say nothing of mine and Mrs. Raft's. It is only two hours to daylight. Then tho milkman will come, and we can send him to Barracombe. Meantime, drink a little tea and try to sleep." It was no uso. Noel refused to bo pacified. " You want me to die so that you can have my money," ho snarled. "All right, but I'll tako jolly good care you don't get it!" This was a bit too much for Jim. He got up and stood over Noel. " Shut your mouth, you ungrateful young cub!" he ordered in a voico that almost frightened himself. It frightened Noel, who subsided, muttering. Jim turned and glanced nervously at Cynthia, but she showed no sign of annoyance. Indeed, ho thought sho looked relieved. As for Mrs. Raft, it was quite plain to Jim that sho thoroughly approved. " You lie down, Miss Cynthia," said the woman. " I'll watch Mr. Noel. And it wouldn't do you 110 harm to tako a rest, Mr. Silver. There's plenty of nice soft hay." Cynthia obeyed meekly. She rolled herself in a blanket and lay down, and Jim, aftor a little hesitation, did tho same. But ho could not sleep. All the time be was .conscious that Noel Carrow was

watching him, and he had the unpleasant knowledge that the brother of this wonderful girl hated him . bitterly. There was no mistaking the nasty glare in the boy's glassy eyes. The question that bothered Jim most was what was the matter with Noel. Was he really ill, or was it all imagination? Cynthia had said ho was ill, yet the_ follow bad energy enough to make himself horribly unpleasant. Quite suddenly the solution came to Jim. Noel was a drunkard. He remembered now that there had been a faint smell of spirits about him. Yes, that accounted for his pallor, his glassy eyes It accounted, too, for the fire. What was more, it accounted for his fierce desire for " medicine." No doubt the doctor was giving him some drug which would soothe his shattered nerves and at the same time wean him from alcohol. Cynthia's brother a drunkard! The thought made Jim sick, yet his chief feeling was of profound pity for the g' r '- The stable was growing lighter. It was not the fire, for by this time the farm was a mere heap of smouldering ruins. Dawn was breaking, and the rain at last had stopped. He glanced at Cynthia, and was thankful to see that she slept. A sound came to his ears. It was the purr of a motor approaching from the east. He heard it stop below the farm, and climbed out of his hay. The dawn air was chill, and ho drew a blanket round him and went to the door. Cynthia was still asleep, Mrs. Itaft dozed, but Jim was acutely conscious of Noel's eyes fixed on him. Ho could actually feel the wave of hatred emanating from the boy. Steps came across the yard, and Jim saw a big man wearing a thick overcoat and a brown felt hat. Ho caught sight of Jim and quickened his pace. " Where's Carrow?" he demanded. "Don't tell mo he's burned!" Jim stiffened. He greatly disliked the newcomer's voice and manner, and ho had recognised him as the red-faced, yellowmoustached man who bad refused him a lift on the previous evening. " Mr. Carrow is quite safe," he answered in a distinctly chilly voice. " And so is Miss Carrow." "Harmer —is that you, Harmer?" cried Noel. " That's me, Noel," replied the big man loudly as he pushed past Jim into the stable. " Gosh, when my man told me Doward was burning I was properly scared. I jumped into the old bus and camo along in a hurry." " I'm jolly glad you came." Noel said. " I'm fed up with this hole, and all my medicines went up in the fire." " Rotten luck, old man, but never mind. I'll take you round to my place and fix you up all right." Cynthia stepped between Harmer and Noel. In spite of the fact that she had only a dressing gown oter her pyjamas and that her lovely golden hair was rough and tumbled, Jim thought she looked like a princess. "Thank you, Mr. Harmer," she said, and her voice was like ice. " But Noel is not going with you." Harmer "swung round. " Nonsense, Miss Cynthia. He can't stay here. No more can you. I'll take 3011 both to my place in the car." " No," said Cynthia, flatly. " Nothing would induce me to go to your house, Mr. Harmer." " You can stay hero if yon want to, Cynthia," snapped Noel, " but I'm going." He scrambled to his feet. Cynthia camo a step nearer. " You aro not going, Noel. And you know the reason as well as Mr Harmer does." " iTou try and stop me," sneered Noel. " Give me an arm, Harmer." Cynthia turned and looked at Jim. That was all Jim had been waiting for. Ho stepped in briskly. " Stay where you are, Carrow. And [ you will kindly leave, Mr. Harmer." Harmer swung round on him. " Oh, will I?" he asked in a very ugly tone. " Are you going to make mc CHAPTER IV ORDEAL BY BATTLE " I might try," Jim answered. He spoko slowly and very quietly, but if Harmer had known Jim he would have been aware that this was a danger signal. Jim's voice always dropped a tone when his feelings were deeply stirred, and quite apart from Cynthia's dislike of their visitor, the mere sight of this large, insolent, red-faced man filled him with an extraordinary aversion. Harmer's thick upper lip curled. " Try, and see what happens," he sneered. With a quick movement Jim flung off the dressing gown, and stood up slim and straight in Noel's blue silk pyjamas, but Cynthia intervened. "Don't, Mr. Silvre. Don't try it," she begged. " He—he is terribly strong." " I'm sure I don't want to try anything," Jim answered. " And I won't if he will go." " I'm not going without Noel," retorted Harmer, " and Miss Cj'nthia's right. If you try to stop me, you'll get hurt. Come on, Noel." He stepped toward Noel, but before ho could reach him Jim was between them. " Asking for it, aro you," snarled the big man aiming a terrific blow at Jim's head. It was just what Jim had been expecting. He ducked lightly to one side, and sent his loft to Harmer's jaw. Harmer went back and Jim followed with a right that was too high. Next moment Harmer had his arms round Jim's waist and lifting him clean off his feet flung him to the floor. But Jim had not spent long hours in the Cosmopolitan gymnasium without learning how to fall. He came down on his right thigh and hand, bounced up liko a ball and was ready again. Harmer scowled. In spite of his extra weight and big muscles, this was not going to bo so easy as he had thought. " Better take your coat off," Jim advised mildly. ' It's your skin's coming off, not my coat," Harmer boasted as he jumped forward and drove in a right which would certainly have mado his threat good if Jim had not nimbly sidestepped. Harmer crowded in and Jim was so busy blocking and sidestopping that, before he knew it, he was driven back into tho anglo of the two walls and corner. Ho drove in a left with all his strength, but could not quite place it; ' then Harmer clinched again. Jim was not happy. The fellow weighed at least two stone more than ho, and onco 110 got him down Jim know it would spell finish. He did the only thing possible—got his forearm under Harmer's chin and put forth all his. strength to Jjreak his hold. For some seconds the two swayed together, panting. Harmer panted more than Jim.' Strong as ho was, 110 was fat and out of condition, whereas Jim was fit as any man could be. After a terrific struggle Jim tore loose, but Harmer was not to bo denied, and Jim only just managed to block a right swing that landed with paralysing force on his left arm. Before he could get clear he caught another blow ill tho ribs that made him gasp. There was an ugly grin on Harmer's face. Ho thought it was finished. He got a nasty shock when Jim slipped away and landed a heavy punch over the heart. He grunted and made a fresh attempt to corner Jim, but Jim was wiser now, and sprang lightly out of danger. (To be continued daily)