SNOW-BOUND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21579, 25 August 1933, Page 19

SNOW-BOUND

A BRILLIANT ROMANTIC STORY

'CHABTJiIt IV.—(Continued) 01.1 ladies are apt to exaggerate a tit, when they're startled," Ford observed when Constantino had finished. " She inn.v very well have imagined the mask. l' m sorry our American friend fetched up here. Half the crooks in London must have had their eye on those stones of hers for ages, and it'll bo a nuisance if some one does have a shot at them while she's hero. I don't suppose the village bobby's very efficient, and we're effectually cut oil from any other police station." " The whole thing was probably just a scare," put in Soames gruli'ly. " 1 hope so. 1 don't want mv sisters frightened. "Constantino looked amused. " 1 can imagine your sister Angela welcoming a littlo diversion of that Bort," he remarked. " 1 remember hearing a delightful story of the way she dealt with a navvy who threw a brick at her during the strike." Ford laughed. He was evidently proud of his step-sister and not ashamed to show it. Stuart began to realise that there was something likeable about this grave voting man. " No, it was Victoria I was worrying about," he said. " She's not strong and apt to bo nervous at the best of times." Ford turned to Stuart with a friendly Emile. " The problem of the moment, according to my sister Angela, is how to spend tho time until we can get away," he said. " Sho asked mo to find out whether you. played bridge and to say that she's discovered from the landlord that there's an old ping-pong set stowed away somewhere, and lie's offered to rig up a table .in one of the attics. I don't know whether you are a bridge player, Mr. Soames? I know it's no use asking Dr. Constantino." "It is not!" tho old man assured him heartily. , " I'm afraid I'm no good to you," answered Soames. " Never could play cards. That Major Carew. now—" "I ran into Major Carew on his way tip to bed,last night," said Ford drily, "or rather he fell into me. I think .We'll give him the miss." Soames whistled. " So that's his little trouble, is it? " ho exclaimed. ''One of them, at any rate." His tone was venomous. It was obyious that Geoffrey Ford did not like Major Carew. " Tho pretty lady looks as though she might be a bridge player," remarked Constantine thoughtfully. Ford turned quickly. " The pretty lady? " he demanded. " Mrs. Orkney Cloude, I think her name is. She arrived yesterday. You passed her on the stairs just now." Ford hesitated. " I don't think wo can very well approach her," he said at last, decisively. "I don't mind asking her," volunteered Constantine. " I consider my white hairs a guarantee of respectability." " My father or Victoria will make a fourth if necessrtry,""s<ifd Ford, ""though they're neither of them very keen players. Thank you all the same. As a matter of fact, Angela's set on getting up a ping-pong tournament, and her mind's probably entirely absorbed in that." " It would be more in my mind, I must adriiit," said Stuart, who was appr.lled at the thought of playing bridge in the company of Lord Romsey. " I'm a rotten bridge player, I'm afraid." " Then I'll give 3*ou a call when jye've settled up something," concluded Ford as he turned to go. Constantine looked after him meditatively, but he did not give voice to thoughts. Soames showed no such reticence. " The Romsey lot doesn't seem to have cottpr.ed to Mrs. Cloude," he observed. " Yet. I should have said she •was more their sort than any of the rest of the crowd. What about a spot of billiards, Mr. Stuart? " They found, as Soames afterwards put it, " the whole blooming Noah's Ark " in the billiards room, and it was obvious to the meanest intelligence that at least two of the inhabitants wished themselves most heartily elsewhere. Angela Ford, curled up in an armchair with a book and a cigarette, was turning a determinedly deaf ear to the very audible and somewhat one-sided conversation that was going on between Mrs. ran Dolen and a thin, colourless middle-aged woman whom Stuart rightly placed as Angela's stepsister Victoria Ford. She had a book on her lap, but Mrs. van Dolen evidently had no intention of allowing her to read it. From tho Mild look in Miss Ford's eyes it would seem, that she had reached that acute state of boredom at which the vitality of the victim is so sapped that ehe has neither the strength nor the energy to free herself. Mrs. Van Dolcn on the contrary, was in her element. She was describing a house party to which she had been, and as the names of her fellow-guests rolled unctuously off her tongue, Stuart was irresistibly reminded of tho " from tho left to right " inscriptions under the photographs in the Tatler.

been snubbing him steadily for tho last half-hour and it only makes him worse." " Who's going to ask her? " asked Stuart nervously, shyness descending 011 him like a blanket. " 1 will, if Mr. Soames doesn't mind." Soames, appealed to, did not mind at all. Ho had cast 111010 than one appreciative glance in Mrs. Orkney Cloude's direction and was heartily of the opinion that she ought to be rescued at all costs. Miss Ford strolled over to tho fireplace. Stuart could not hear what sho said, but, he saw Carew spring heavily to his feet, with the evident intention of joining tho party, only to remain rooted firmly to the hearthrug whero tho two women left him. " I was hideously rude to him," announced Miss Ford cheerfully. " .1 think 1 must have a talent that way. Do you think I ought to go and exerciso it 011 Mrs. Van Dolen before 1 settle down to enjoy myself? It would bo a fine, knight-errant thing to do." " You saved my life, I think," Mrs. Orkney Cloude assured her. " The man's insufferable! He forced an introduction 011 tho grounds that he knew a distant cousin of mine, and, short of going to my room, there was no way of getting rid of him." Tho colour had returned to her cheeks and tho brightness to her eyes, which kept returning to Angela Ford's faco as though it were a loadstone sho could not resist. It struck Stuart that there was something more than admiration in her gaze, an intensity 110 could not understand. So interested was he that they had played two hundred up and the morning was well on its way to lunchtimo when ho discovered that tho pertinacious Carew had transferred his attention to Mrs. Van Dolen's secretary. In his desire to stand well with Mrs. Orkney Cloude he had no doubt limited his attentions to her to the heavy gallantry peculiar to his type; but, from tho hot flush on his second victim's face, it was obvious that ho had not considered it necessary to show any such consideration to one so low in tho social scale as a mere secretary. " It looks as though you would have to go again to the rescue," murmured Stuart to his partner. " I know," sho answered indignantly. " I've been watching them. It's an abominable shame. She's the sort of nice girl that hasu't got a chance with a man like that, and that old pig she works for hasn't moved a finger to save her, though it's been happening under her nose for ages. If this goes on we shall have to form an anti-Carew league. Hello, that's torn it! " Evidently the man had gone too far at last, for the girl had risen to her feet, her cheeks flaming, and, after a moment of hesitation, during which 1 it looked periously as though she were going to bnrst into tears, hurried from the room. Angela Ford threw a glance at Stuart over her shoulder. " Action postponed," she said. "But never mind, we'll get him yet." Stuart's was easily the most cheerful countenance at lunch that day. Indeed, he was probably the only member of the marooned house-party that did not desire actively to get away. Now that he had entered into so delightfully intimate an alliance with Angela Ford, he could afford to watch the ever-in-creasing snow-storm with equanimity. It became more and more clear as the day wore on that the Anti-Carew League might of necessity become a very real thinsMajor Carew had started the day with tho firm intention of cementing himself to the Romsey party, but his efforts so far had met with little success. Before the afternoon was half over his principal objective in life had become the unfortunate Mrs. Orkney Cloude, and by tea-time ho had driven her to the seclusion of her room. Failing her, he was prepared to put up With Miss Hamilton, Mrs. Van Dolen's secretary; a more defenceless, if less distinguished quarry. The three men and Angela Ford held a council of war over the fire in the lounge. " At this rate he'll be either helpless or fighting drunk by the evening," said Constantine. " We can only pray that it will be the former." " Where is he now?" "In complete possession of the bil-liard-room," answered Angela Ford bitterly. " The unpleasantest room in the house.* When I went in just now 1 met the nice Trevor boy coming out. His face was the colour of beetroot, and that great beast was sprawling in front of the fire, muttering about ' twopenny excursionists in their stinking charabancs.' He'd evidently been insulting the wretched boy. 1 fled before he had time to see me, and waited 10 minutes on the stairs being positively fulsome to the poor Trevor thing, trying to soothe his wounded pride." "How did you get rid of him?" asked Constantine with interest. It was not tho first time he had observed Angela's methods with appreciation. " 1 poked him into the little sittingroom," sho informed him guilelessly. " You see, Miss Hamilton was sitting there alone, and 1 suggested that lie might keep an eye on her and see that she didn't get into the clutches of Carew again." " And now 1 suppose you consider that you have done your good deed for the day?" mocked Constantino. She blinked at him through her long lashes. " Well, they would make rather a nice little couple, don't you think? she suggested, unabashed. They ordered their tea in the lounge and sat chatting casually, till Angela Ford remembered that she had promised to read aloud to her father till dinner-time. She had risen and was about to go upstairs, when tho door opened and a man was blown in. bringing a flurry of snow with him. "Geoff!" she cried. "You might have told me you were going out! I'd have come with von." He slipped out of his overcoat and shook the snow off his cap. Its pitchdark and the snow's too heavy to be pleasant," he said. " Walking's impossible, but if we'd got some skis here we could have a gorgeous time. We shall have to got some exercise somehow." His sister nodded. " I know," she said. " I'ather s cetting goutier every moment, and short of taking him out snow-balling 1 can t think what to do with him." Constantino chuckled openly at the thought. ~11. ,1 " I'm going to sleep," he announced, "and if 1 wake with a liver it 11 be 110 one's fault hut my . Constantino followed Angola up the wide staircase, but when she turned down the passage to her father s room, he did not pursue his way up to his own floor. Instead, he stood for a lew minutes motionless 011 the lauding, nis hands lightly clasped behind him his eyes fixed on the carpet at his feet. Then ho glanced down the passage to his left. Angela had already disappeared and there was nobody to watch his movements as he made his way thoughtfully along the passage to the foot of tho short flight of steps which led, as he now knew, to the back stairs. The trail of wet on the carpet, emphasised here and there by a little clot of melting snow, was easy enough to follow, and it led as he had expected

Facing thorn, on the other side of tlio fireplace, was an equally ill-matched couple. iles. Orkney (Jloudo had, untortunntely for' herself, omitted to provide herself with even a hook, and possessed no more adequate protection than a Rolrl cigarette case. She was smoking furiously and presented the pathetic spectacle of an essentially gracious and kind-hearted woman trying her hardest to be rude. Bending over her, his face rather more flushed than tho heat of the room warranted, and gallantry in every curve of his somewhat billowy figure, was Major Carew. In a chilly corner, well removed from the fire, sat the fair girl who had arrived with Mrs. Van Dolen, and who presumably acted as her secretary or companion. She was reading a hook with unnatural absorption, and Stuart, as lie helped Soames to remove the cover from the billiards table, noticed that nor and again her eye roamed nervously in the direction of the gallant major. Ho was Engaged in choosing a cue when ho heard a voice at his side and turned to find Angela Ford at his elbow. " Please, may 1 play, too? " she begged. V Unless you're going to have > a really serious match. You don't know * how deadly it is over there." , "Of course," he said eagerly. " AVe f can take on Soames. Ho beat me hideM Oils! v yesterday.'' § " Let's get a fourth," she suggested. \£ " There's that pretty woman over there, g Mrs. Cloude, isn't she? She looks a || good sort and slie'H have screaming hysterics in a minute if someone doesn't yjfoscue her from, that awful man. Sho'a

By MOLLY THYNNE Author of "The Red Dwarf," "The Murder on the Enriquetta," etc.

(COPYMGHT)

to the loot of the steps. He turned back along the track, crossed the landing, and went down the passage to the right of the stairs. At the door of the. next room to that of Mrs. Van Dolen, he paused, and bonding down, passed his hand lightly over the wood of tho door jamb. It came away wet. On tho carpet was a little lump of snow, as though someone had brushed a sopping coat against the door, and knocked tho snow off in tho passing. Geoffrey Ford was not the only person who had decided to bravo tho weather that evening. Humming a little tuno softly under his breath, Dr. Constantino passed on up the stairs to his room. Half an hour later, Stuart, finding himself nodding in front of tho hot fire decided to follow Constantino's example. He was standing near the door of his bedroom, cutting the pages of the book with which 110 proposed to read himself to sleep, when a sound outside his door made him pause. There was tho noise of a scuffle, then a girl's voico raised in evident distress, followed by another sound so unmistakable, that ho made a plungo for the door, and threw it open, feeling very little doubt as to whom ho would find outside. But swiftly as ho had moved, someone olso had been quicker. The boy, Trevor, was already standing between Carew and tho shrinking figure of Miss Hamilton, his fists clenched and his face ablaze with anger. Then, before Stuart could interfere, Carew lurched sideways and brought his arm, with all the force of his heavy bodv behind it, across the boy's face, hurling him clean off his balance and against the wall behind him. Stuart stepped neatly in between them. " Look here," ho said. " We can't have that sort of thing here, you know." He spoke quietly, but there was an edge to his voice that penetrated Carew's drunken fury. " We've 6tood as much as we intend to stand from you, to-day," pursued Stuart, " and it's as well you should know it. Your room's at the other end of the passage, I believe. If you'll take my advice you'll go to it." " Who aro you—?" began Carew angrily. Stuart's answer was to tako a step forward. ' "Are you going? " 110 asked, without raising his voice. Carew fell back, stood glaring at him for a moment, and then suprisinglv, collapsed like a pricked bubble. " No offence meant," 110 muttered vaguely. " Was annoyed, naturally— Misunderstanding —" His voice trailed into silence as he turned and stumbled away down the long passage. Stuart watched him turn into his room before he transferred his attention to the couple behind him. " So that's that," 110 remarked cheerfully. " I came out of it better than you did, I am afraid. He hasn't broken your nose, has he? " Trevor removed the blood-stained handkerchief from his nose, and felt the bridge tenderly. He looked as he felt piteouslv humiliated, but he managed to achieve a rueful grm. "No damage done," he muttered. " Afraid I made rather a fool of myself." "You were splendid!" gasped Miss Hamilton. She looked exceedingly pretty and very futile, Stuart thought, standing there with her hands clasped, the ready tears still wet on her long lashes. " I don't think he'll bother you again." 110 said re-assuringly. " If he does, let out a screech. One of us is sure to bo handy." Then, feeling that he was 110 longer needed, he retired, leaving Trevor to the grateful ministrations of Miss Hamilton. Carew did not appear at dinner. " Let's hope he's sleeping it off," concluded Stuart, after describing what had passed. Soames took a more pessimistic view of the situation. " I've been having a word with Girling," he said. " He's pretty sick about it, I can toll you, and he tells me that the beggar's got a couple of bottles of whisky up in his room. Ho sent for them, this morning, and Girling had 110 excuse then not to let him have them." There was no sign of him that evening, and Girling ; who had made an excuse to go to his room, reported that he had found him asleep on his bed. In spite of which, Soame's forebodings were verified. He and Constantine had sat up late, playing chess, in Constant ine's room, and it was close on one o'clock when they were disturbed by a series of suggestive humps in the passage. Constantine got up and opened tho door. He was immediately confronted with the congested profile of Carew. He was being propelled down the passage by Geoffrey Ford, whose usually sedate features were convulsed with rage. " Wh ore's this fellow's room, do you know? " he rasped over his shoulder. " The last one on the right, next to Melnotte's," Constantine informed him, with an appreciative eye on the operation. Soames slipped past them and opened the door of Carew's room. " Want any help? " he asked, with a cheerful grin. For an answer, Ford profiled his victim through the door and drew back into the passage. A heavy bump from within suggested that Carew had reached his destination on all-fours. Transferring the key to the outside, Ford slammed the door and locked it. " If lie shouts I can't help it," he said. " There's no other way of dealing with the brute." They stood listening, but there was no further sound from within. " What happened?" asked Constantino, who had joined them. . Ford turned on them, a faco white with fury. " The foul beast tried to get into Mrs. Orkney Cloude's room," he said shortly, and swung away down tho passage. Soames stared at his retreating back. " What with the weather and Carew," he remarked sapiently, " there'll be a blue murder here before Christmas! " (To he continued dnily)