THIN ICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21580, 26 August 1933, Page 13 (Supplement)

THIN ICE

A NEW ZEALAND STORY

BY H. E. STAN AW AT

" To use an appropriately.wintry expression, girl dear, you're skating on thin ice every minute you are with that tailor's dummy."

" Why? " Cynthia Maynard thrust her little chin over the heavy fitch collar of her jacket and stared defiance into the blue eyes of Jerry Monaghan. " You're asking a question, Alanah, and making it a contradiction at the same time. You'll be having your own way in spite of the devil. Very well, then—make your own discoveries! " " You're just jealous," accused Cynthia.

"And well I might be so," laughed Jerry softly. " 'Tis the best part of a month since I saw you alone for more than an hour. Ana this Hannah man from the city—"

" Whose fault is it that you haven't seen mo alone for more than an hour in the last month? " demanded Cynthia. " Where were you the night of the dance? Where were you the day of the skate at Oturehua? Where have you been every week-end ? Business in town! Always business in town! I don't matter at all! It's only business that counts with you. I don't believe you love me, anyway! " . Jerry moved quickly and his strong arms closed around her waist.

" Let me go! " she cried hammering on his shoulders with her clenched hands. " Jerry Monaghan—l'll never—ump! " Jerry raised his head, a happy light, in his clear eyes and his lips tingling pleasantly. " Hold still! " he commanded lightly. " There's no use whatever in fighting. I'm not leaving you this time without something to sustain me during the two weary days I'll be gone! " Cynthia became suddenly still. " I thought you said you would be back to-morrow to take me to the big skate on the dam? "

"The deuce 1 Now, what made you think that? I said I would try to be back, but that I was not struck on my chances." " Oh, you beast! You said you would be back! " Cynthia started to struggle savagely. " Let me go—and get away to your old business. You don't care — you don't care—" Again the strong arms conquered, and Jerry's chin sank into the deep, goldenbrown collar. And, like a wise man, the moment he loosed hiß hold he turned and leaped into the little car that stood by the roadside. \ Cynthia struck out wildly, but only succeeded in disturbing the crisp, morning air. " Beast! " she spat, recovering her balance.

Jerry laughed softlj and the car engine sang. Gently he let in the clutch.

" Alanah," he called softly, " if I'm not back there's no need in all the world for you to be missing the skate; but please be picking a partner that's capable of looking after you—for, remember, you're all the world and everything that's in it to mo." " Rot! " cried Cynthia; but it is very doubtful whether Jerry heard the savage exclamation, for the little car was gathering speed. For a long time Cynthia stood looking down the muddy, snow-skirted road. Slowly the scarlet flush drained from her cheeks, leaving them a delicate, desirable pink. The angry half-pout on her lips faded and in its place dawned a wistful smile. Jerry Monaghan was the best man in the world—no doubt about that! A man to bo proud of, a man to be loved. And didn't sho love him? But it was very provoking to see so little of him, to be robbed of every opportunity of showing him off. In her heart Cynthia knew that those business trips to town were a part of Jerry's bid for fame—a fame that it was the ambition of his life to lay at her little feet, along with the rest of his worldly possessions and his loyal heart. But in Cynthia's blood was a wild, surging life that demanded a continual vent in tho form of movement and excitement.

She turned to look up at the big house at the head of the snow-carpeted drive and then turned back to the road again. With a sudden upthrust of her little chin, she started to walk briskly in the direction taken by Jerry. She would go to the post office and, if by any chance she met Mr. Hannah and he asked her to go to the dam—as he most certainly would —she would go. * • # » • • The whirr and clack of ice skates filled the crisp, invigorating Otago air. For miles back up the gorge-like basin the dam waters were frozen over and the wide skating area was speckled with vivid colours. Colour and life—healthy, happy, moving life —twisted and gyrated over the silver sheet of ice. At the far end of the field a more sombre costumed crowd had collected around tho curling rink, and it w;as out of this group that a slim figure, clad all in white, suddenly shot forth. Almost on the heels of this first figure came a second, clad in dark trousers and a bright red jersey. With scarcely a yard between them, they sped out on to the field, skates clapping and whirring harmoniously, shoulders bent and bodies swaying rhythmically. But the white figure steadily drew away, until at last it collided gently with an' overhanging rock on the opposite Bide, a good 20 yards away. The second skater glided over the last 10 yards and scraped to a standstill beside the rock.

"My dear young lady," he exclaimed, a trifle breathlessly. " It was worth losing the race to get such an excellent view of you. Believe me, your costume suits you to perfection." Cynthia looked down at her white trousers, tucked in to the tops of her white boots, and frowned slightly. " Urn—! no doubt. But I wish you wcro a better skater, Mr. Hannah." Hannah laughed. " Would you have mo a champion in a season?"

" I'm not worrying much about tho season," said Cynthia. " But I wish you could manage to be one for to-day. I'm not enjoying myself a bit. I thought you said you had done a lot of skating at Mount Cook?" "So I have. But never with anyone as perfect as yourself." " Oh—" Cynthia wriggled uncomfortably. " Your skate strap is slipping. Better fix it, and we'll have another run."

Hannah didn't so much as glance at his skate strap. Instead ho moved closer.

" Couldn't we make it a doublo this time. You know—"

" No," Snapped Cynthia. "We couldn't. Fix that strap." " But, my dear young lady—" " I'm not your dear young lady," cried Cynthia angrily, " Fix your strap—and, for heaven's sake, hurry. Tho ice will be worn out before we get started." For a second Mr. Hannah seemed to debate the advisability of taking hold of affairs with a firm hand, then, with a rather, watery smilo, ho stooped to fix his skate strap. Cynthia looked out over the glistening field with hiiserablo eyes. If only Jerry had been her partner. Sho would never have slipped away from Jerry, liko that on a raco across field. He would have been at her side all the time, urging her on, and then, when they had crossed he would have taken her by the shoulders and made her breathe deeply-in order to ease the strain on her lungs. Jerry, the best man in—

"Potffl Jerry—nothing 1" she exclaimed to herself. ." Why isn't he here!' 1 .The gurging life ia .Cynthia

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was not getting a wido enough outlet) and it was noting on her _ mercurial temper. If Mr. Hannah didn't, step lively for the rest of the day there was a fair chance of a rather bad storm breaking over v his conceited head. "Thank heaven, ho isn't here!" she murmured again. " He'd die laughing at me with this goofy thing for a partner."

Scarcely was the simple thanksgiving registered when the whirr of skates sounded from behind and a soft yoice broke in on her consciousness.

" Good-day to you, Alanah. 1 see you're enjoying the fun," Cynthia turned in a flash, two bright crimson spots appearing on her cheeks. Jerry's blue eyes were flecked with laughing lights.

"Jerry Monaghan—when did you come home?" the little spots spread until Cynthia's cheeks were suffused a burning red.

" I arrived in the early hours of the morning," said Jerry. And called for you about ten —but you were away. Good-day to you, Hannah. 'Tis a great skater "you are. I saw the race across field!"

Hannah straightened stiffly. " Ah —good-day, Monaghan. You saw the raco. Pretty good, this young lady, eh?" " Not so bad—so long as she keeps clear of thin ice," said Jerry. Cynthia bit hard on her lip to keep back the outburst that was welling up in her throat. Just at that moment she could have shot Hannah with all the pleasure in the world. And Jerry Monaghan—shooting was too good for him!

" What did you come up here' for when you found I was away?" she demanded hotly.

The laughing lights died in Jerry's eyes.

" I was thinking you might be lonely, Alanah. You see, I did not consider the possibility of your having Buch an entertaining partner." " Well, you see you were wrong." "I'm seeing it —clearly." There was the least ever-so-bleak note in Jerry's voice that jarred on Cynthia's nerves, and by some strange contradictory process, fanned her wild anger into flames.

" Well, what are you waiting for?" she demanded.

" The deuce might know, for I'm sure I don't," he replied, with an abrupt, hollow laugh. " Unless I was thinking that maybe, you would enjoy a turn round the field?"

" I wouldn't!" blazed Cynthia. " Not with you now, or later. I have a full programme for the day. I am going round with Mr. Hannah now -double. Your arm, please, Mr. Hannah!" Hannah nodded to Jerry, and obediently encircled Cynthia's waist. Jerry touched his black beret.

" Now, for heaven's sake, skate," said Cynthia, in a suspiciously shaky voice, as they clipped down the field. " Let yourself ge—loosen up a bit. If you make one mistake, I'll. . . push you through the ice!" Hannah did his best to loosen up, and with the supple young body at hiß Bide to guido him, succeeded in putting up a reasonable display. But he was not the man—physically or mentally—to take charge, and before they had reached the turn Cynthia was ordering the pace and direction. Bather she was controlling it, for sho was skating through a misty atmosphere that was shot with rainbow colours, and there waa no room in her mind for thoughts concerning pace and direction. Clipping and whirring in unison, they sped past tho turn.

" We've overshot the turn," called Hannah. " We're not turning!" cried Cynthia. " But it is rough ice ahead, and not too safe. Here, I say, you're crying. What's wrong? Come round. . . "

Hannah made an ineffectual attempt to take charge of affairs and swing across field, but be found the slim arm around his waist like a narrow band of steel. Tho ice was uneven and dotted with little hummocks of frozen snow. He floundered badly and had to give his whole attention to keeping his feet. " I say. . . " " Oh, shyt up!" cried Cynthia, leading blindly into the mist that curled before her eyes. " But. . . the.ice " Crack! the ominous crack resoundod across the field and brought a cry of warning from a hundred throats. Hannah yelled and tried to turn. Cynthia was pulled off her balance. And then came the splintering crash. Cynthia felt the frozen grip of the water close around her ankles and. race to her head. She heard Hannah's frantie cry for help and the the breath was torn from; her body. Fighting with all the wild instinct of a trapped animal, she thrashed through the dark water to the surface. But the cold was cramping muscles, and the air seemed to burn her lungs. It was agony to breathe —burning, searing agony. If only. . . " Mr. Hannah "

Cynthia felt a leaden deadness creeping up through her legs and her arms seemod weighted and stiff. If only someone would hold her up for a minute. Mr. Hannah —where was he? Mr. Hannah. Mr. Hannah. Somewhere behind her someone was crying out and breaking sticks. Breaking sticks was it? Yos, dry, brittle sticks. " Air. Hannah!" With a last call on her superb young strength, Cynthia swung herself around, and, as her vision adjusted itself on the red object at the far side of the pool, a faint cry broke from her lips. That was Hannah —at the opposite side of the wide break—frantically thrashing at the ice with his clenched fists, and crying for help. "Oh, my God!" Something snapped in Cynthia's brain and a little, broken laugh'sobbed from her lips. The bitter cold water licked around her throat.

Far out over the ice, the crowd had broken into flying groups. Some rushed one way in search of ropes and poles; others, fearing the extension of tho break, fled for safety; others again skated toward the scene of disaster. But well in tho load of these raced one figure, bent almost double, and skates clapping on the ice with the regularity of machine-gun shots. Suddenly this figure seemed to shrink. Lower, lower, until it resembled a flying ball, and always the scurring skates bore it closer to the edge of the dark waters. A faint creak and a tremor of tho ice, then, like a flash, it straightened and soared into the air. Up and over the place where the white boret had sunk. Down beneath the waters. Down, with a splintering crash, five yards beyond the frantic, shrieking Hannah. The dark costumed figure disappeared and the ice crackled and snappod, breaking a clear track almost to the land. * # f * * «

Fifteen minutes .later Jerry Monaghan was following the caretaker's buxom wife up to her front parlour. The good lady opened the room door for him and shut it ngain behind him. Over in front of the lire sat Cynthia, drying her hair, and blio looked very small indeed, in the good wife's nightdress and kimono. The shadow of a smile lifted tho corners of .Jerry's lips. Cynthia's eyes wero suspiciously bright behind the veil of fair hair that fell down over her face as sho lowered the towel.. , " Go on," sho said huskily, " say it; ' I told you sol' " Jerry moved quickly and dropped on his knees beside the chair. " Why should I be sayin' it Alanah, when the ice has already said it for me?" » " Gee," whispered. Cynthia. "You're the fcest mm in ftll EPSld*-Jerrz<"