BETTER THAN GOLD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22100, 4 May 1935, Page 11 (Supplement)

BETTER THAN GOLD

By T. C. BRIDGES

CHAPTER VI. FIRE Dave stared. " You think—?" " Suspect—that's the word, Dave. The fellow may be right as rain, but you're not going off alone with anyone, let alone a bird who has every look of a professional pug." " But hang it all, Tom," Dave remonstrated " Sam can't drive him. It's his evening off. And as you gav, we can't afford to turn down good money."

" I'll drive him," said Trevor, quietly, but when ho spoke in that tone Dave knew it was 110 use arguing. Still, he did make a protest. " He might turn on you, Tom. I don't liko the looks of him." Trevor laughed.

" He's not going to murder me for the ten shillings odd he'll find in my pocket. And the old bus isn't worth a killing either."

" Well, take a gun," begged Dave. Trevor laughed again. " I'll do that if it'll ease your mind. Tell the chap I'm getting out a car for him." Dave did so.

" Are you going to drive me?" the man asked.

" No, Mr. Trevor will drive you," Dave replied. He was watching the other keenly, but could not tell whether he was disappointed or not. The stranger's face had about as much expression as a lamp-post. Five minutes later Trevor and the queer fish drove off. Sam came up. " Like me to stay a bit, Mr. David? I can quite easy." " No need at all, Sara. The rush is over, and if anyone wants petrol I can see to it. You go home to your missus."

" You'll 'phone me if anything special comes along."

" I'll do that," Dave said, and Sam departed. He lived in the village barely half a mile away, and Trevor had installed a telephone in his house so that Sam could be called up in case of urgency. After the rush came a quiet period, and presently Mrs. Hibbert called Dave to his supper. The room bad a window opening over the entrance to the garage, so that, if anyone came in, Dave could both see and hear them. But he ate his snpiier in peace, and it was nearly dark before the next car drew in. To Dave's surprise it was the one that Sam had sold at lunch-time.

"Hullo!" he said. "You've brought her back. Nothing wrong, I hope." " Nothing wrong with the car," replied Salter, who was a very ordin-ary-looking, rather pasty-faced man of about forty. " Trouble is with me, personal, so to speak. I've been spending the afternoon with friends near Northampton. I felt a bit queer when I started, and now my head's aching fit to split. Migraine, my doctor calls it. I don't feel I could drive another mile, so I'm asking you to put up the car, and I've got a bed at the Swan. I'm going to turn in right away and take two aspirins, and I'll, be all right in the morning."

" Very good," said Dave. " I'd drive you down to the Swan, only I'm alone here."

" It don't matter," Salter answered. " 'Tain't far, and I'll go quietly. Likely the fresh air'll do me good." " What time will you want the car in the morning?"

" Round about eight," said Salter. " Looks like there was room in the very place the old bus came from," he added, and slipping in the clutch, drove in. Dave noticed that he handled the old car like an expert, and backed her in between two others as neatly as he could have done himself. Then he said good-night and went slowly off towards the village. It was dark now and getting chilly. Dave looked round to see that all was right, then closed the inner doors and went upstairs. Being alone, ho could not go to bed until Trevor returned, so he changed his shoes for slippers, and his coat for a dressing-gown then stretched himself in a long wicker chair, lit a pipe, and picked up a book, becoming so absorbed that he quito forgot his surroundings. Suddenly he heard the bell, and the headlights of a car blazed outside. He jumped up rapidly, exchanged the dressing-gown for his coat, ran down, and unlocked the door. At first he had thought it was Trevor, but the car outside was driven by a liveried chauffeur. An elderly gentleman put his head out of the window.

" Sorry to disturb you at this hour," he said courteously, " but we aro short of petrol and I have to get back to London to-night." "No trouble at all, sir," Dave answered as ho lifted the hoso. The chauffeur, a strapping fellow, jumped out and unscrewed the tank cap and in a very few moments the tank was filled. The cap had been screwed on and the owner had handed Dave a treasury note in payment when, from within the garage came a sudden burst of crimson flame followed by a thundering explosion. " That's a bomb, mister," said the chauffeur, sharply. " I'll move the car." Dave for the moment was completely stunned. He stood staring at the garage. The whole roof was down and already the interior was burning fiercely. There were half a dozen cars in the place, all with petrol in the tanks. Next moment the chauffeur was with him again.

" Lucky for you, you wasn't inside, mister," ho said and Davo realized that he was right and that, but for tho chance of this car calling for petrol, ho would have been roasting in that inferno of petrol-fed flame. " You're right," he Baid as he plunged into the office. " Got to save the books," ho cried. Tho chauffeur had an extinguisher from the car. It was only a small thing, yet enough to check the flames for a moment. Then he rushed in after Dave and between them they got most of tho stuff out of the office. They were only just in timo for, as between them, they managed to roll the small safe out there was a fresh crash and the rest of the roof came down.

" Ain't a thing to be done," said the chauffeur. " All the fire engines in London couldn't save tho place. Hope as you're insured " " Not enough to cover it," said Dave. He turned sharply to the other. " You said a bomb." " And ] meant it I've seed and heard too many of them things to make any error." He paused. " Know anyone who's got a grudge against you, mister? "

" Yes," said *Dave, grimly. " But proof's another thing." The chauffeur shrugged. " That's true." He pointed. " Here's the fire engine." The engine from Koborough was coming, drawn by two horses at a gallop. " Not that they can do a lot," he added. " You've done a lot," said Dave " I'm very grateful to you." " Don't mention it, sir. I'll be pushing off now The boss wants to get to London. His namo is Robert Earle in

case you wants us as witness. You'll find the address in the London telephone book.'"

Dave shook hands with the good fellow and just then Jim Holcoto. chief of the volunteer brigade, sprang off his engine and came running up. " Here's a pretty job!" he exclaimed. " Too late to do much I'm afraid. Mr. Hallam. Still I'll get the hose rigged." It was far too late to do anything, and, as the chauffeur had said, all the engines in London could not have saved the place. The only thing left was to keep the tire from getting at the petrol in the tanks under the pumps. Holcote questioned Dave as to the cause of the fire. Dave simply told him that he had heard an explosion inside the garage, and in a moment the whole place was in flames. He was careful not to mention, any suspicion of foul Play.

An hour later Tom Trevor drove up to find his smart garage a heap of smouldering ruins. Yet when he saw •Dave his anxious face lit up. " Thank God, they didn't get you. Dave. When I came over the hill and saw the glow I knew well enough what was up. I tell you straight I • never expected to see you again. How did they do it? " " A bomb," Dave told him and explained exactly what had happened. Trevor nodded.

" Salter, of course, with Fame at the back of him. He'd planted a bomb with a delayed fust* or something of the sort in the old bus. He meant to get us both."

" And all the time we were suspecting the other chap," Dave said. " He was all right. If it hadn't been for him Farne was bound to have got one of us. Only one would have come "down to the punjp." Dave nodded. "I've saved the papers from the office," he said. " The insurance will be all right, Tom." Trevor shrugged. " The insurance* won't cover half of it. And there were three private cars inside which weren't covered at all. Farne hasn't managed to murder us, Dave, but he's ruined us all right." CHAPTER VII THE MATCHMAKER Ford came into the big, sunny room where his master lay in a long chair by the open window. In the morning light James Kirkstall looked even more gaunt and cadaverous than on the previous evening.

" Miss Kerr to see you, sir, by appointment."

" Show her up," replied James. " And see we are not disturbed." " Very good, sir." A minute later and he was back ushering into the room the very' charming Scottish girl who had dropped David Hallam at the house less than twenty-four hours earlier. " Miss Aline Kerr, sir," said Ford. Old James's deep-set eyes kindled as he saw the tall, graceful figure of his visitor, and Aline flushed a littlo under the keen gaze.

" Come ye in, lassie." The old man's creaky voice was :almost soft. Ho pointed to a chair near his own. " So ye are Ronald's daughter. I'm glad to see ye." Aline's smile lit up her rather grave face most charmingly. She took the chair, and sat upright, facing James. " Ye mind me of your mother," James went on.

"You couldn't say ' anything nicer than that, sir," Aline replied in her soft rich voice. " Then you knew her as well as my father?" " Her and your good father both." Ho paused. " I'll no be saying that, if your father had na been my best friend, I might not have asked Bella Maclean to be Mrs. Kirkstall." Ho smiled grimly, yet Aline saw beneath that smile, and realized that this hard old inan had actually been in love with her mother.

" Father always called me Bella," she said softly.

" Then I'll call ye Bella, myself," said James. " And now will ye tell me about yourself. It's little I've heard of Ronald Kerr since I left Dundee mair than thirty years gone. He wrote me once some years ago and sent me a picture of his daughter Bessie, but that's all I've heard from him. I didna even know ho was dead until I got the letter ho wrote me just before lie died. How did he como to bo losing his money?"

"Ho was crushed by business rivals," Aline told him. "He tried hard to keep things going, but after my mother died ho seemed to lose heart. He was ill, himself, and before he recovered, tho crash came and he went bankrupt." "He should have written to me before," said James with a frown. " Why did ho no do that?" "I*think he was too independent," Aline said, gently. " He was never one to ask for help." James nodded. " That's true. I mind him well. For all that I'd have helped had I known he needed it." " I wish I had known," Alino said, simply. " Ye have a brother, have ye notr James asked. " I had two," Aline told him. " Both older than I, and two sisters. Bessie, the eldest, tho one you have the photo of, died when she was twenty. Kenneth was drowned at sea live years ago. Jock went out to tho Malay States and did well until his firm closed down and he lost his job. He is married and his wife and littlo girl are in England." " And what will they bo living on. " Lisbeth teaches in an art school and gets a very small salary. 1 help all I can." . " And what are ye doing yourselt t " I have been di'iving a car and acting as secretary to Miss Caryl Kingscoto. But Caryl has lost money lately, and though sho wants me to stay on with her, I know sho can no longer afford my salary. So I thought perhaps, you could find mo another post." The old man looked at her very kindly. Every minute he liked her better. Her soft Scottish accent was music in his oars and her manner was perfect —quiet, respectful yet so frank it charmed him. J' Tell me," he said at last. "Have yo ever thought of marrying?" Aline looked up, quickly. For tho moment sho thought James was chaffing her, but when she realized he was perfectly serious soft colour again tlooded her cheeks. Yet her eyes wore quite steady as she answered. " I suppose every girl thinks of getting married some time or other." " Are ye engaged then?" Tho sharp dismay in James's voice made Aline laugh, and her laugh was as charming us her voice.

" No, indeed," sho answered. James drew a long breath, evidently of relief, and she eyed him curiously. What in the world was this strange yet kind old man driving at now? Suddenly he looked troubled again. " There'll be someone ye have a fancy for. A girl like you now. You'ro a pretty woman, Bella." - " Thank you, six - ," she said with a little bow. " But, no." Then all of a sudden sho flushed again. Davo

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Hallam's face had suddenly flashed into her memory. James did not notice the added colour. He was delighted with her little touch of coquetry, but deadly serious in the plan that had come, full-fledged, into his head. " Ye have sense, Bella, as well as good looks. Now listen to mo. I am minded to find ye a husband." " I'd rather have a job," Bella protested. " I must earn money so as to help Lisbetli. Jock, too, if I could." James leaned forward. His expression was so serious that Aline felt a little frightened.

" Do ye know what I am worth, my dear}"' he asked.

" X know you're a rich man, Mr. Kirltstall." " I'm mair than a rich man. I'm a millionaire, Bella. And I'm no long for this world. My doctor tells me that." " But you're not old," protested Bella. "Not if you and my father were boys together." " I'm older than he. I'm nigh on sixty-four. But it is na years, my dear. I'm an ill man. I canna digest my victuals. But never mind that. What I have to say to ye is this. If ye will be guided by me in choosing a husband ye need have no fear for your people. Will I go on?" " If you please," said Aline, sedately.

James nodded approval, " I knew ye were a sensible girl. Then here is the gist of the matter. I have a nephew and I am minded to leave him my money. But the lad knows no mair of business than a baby, and it is na my thought to have the millions I've worked for scattered and wasted as they would be in his hands. But if he had a good, sensible wife the caso would bo deeferent. Now what have ye to say, Bella?" A little colour had come into his sallow cheeks, his deep-set eyes were very bright, and Aline, again feeling a littlo frightened, realised that he was in deadly earnest.

" I —l don't know what to say," she stammered. " To tell you the truth, I don't think I could possibly marry the sort of wastrel you describe." " I would na say he was a wastrel. He does na drink to excess. I dinna think he has any vices, and he is no a bad looking lad." Aline laughed.

" Is that all you can say for him, Mr. Kirkstall?"

" I wish ye would na call me Mr. Kirkstall," said the old man with sudden irritation. "Canna ye say 'Uncle James ' ?" Aline was touched.

" I'll be pleased and grateful to. But it sounds as if I were going to be your real niece, and I am not going to make any promises until I have seen this young man. Besides, he might not like me." James snorted.

" If he didna like ye, he'd be a bigger fool than even I take him for." Aline could not repress a smile. " What is he like?" she asked.

" I have na a picture of him," said James, " but he's a fine, strong-bodied chap. Healthy, too. I'm told he's good at games and that he's a fine dancer." Aline laughed outright. " I can't congratulate you on your powers of description, Uncle James. There must bo somo thousands of young men in London who are big and healthy and good at games. What coloured eyes has he?"

James frowned thoughtfully. "They'll bo blue if I'm no mistaken." " Then ho's fair?"

" Aye, and brown hair." " And what about his disposition?" " Oh, it's no so bad. He's no bad tempered anyway, and—and ho likes dogs." " That's the best thing you've said about him so far," declared Aline. "Then ye will meet him?" said tho old man, eagerly. " If you wish it," Aline answered, " but—but I don't suppose for a moment he will like me."

" And why would ho not? Any man with eyes in his head would be apt to like you, my dear." " But 1 might not liko him," said Aline. " Ye canna tell about that until ye have seen him. And since yo have no objection to that I will arrange it as soon as maybe. Whore will I write to you, Bella P" She gave him an address in Mecklenburg Square, then got up to go, but hesitated a moment before she said good-bye. " You will not say anything to him, Uncle James?" she begged. " Set your mind at rest about that, Bella. I will na mention you to him at all. All I will say is that I wish him to marry a girl I have chosen for him. After that you two can settle it for yourselves." Ho fished out his pocket book, and took a note from it. "Will ye take a little present from your undo that hopes to bo?" She remonstrated, but be made her take five pounds, and Aline went away with tho happy feeling that she had found a friend. , ~ , " And the nephew," she said to herself with a little sniile. So was wondering if ho was David Hallam. CHAPTER VIII. THEIR LUCKY DAY Tom Trevor sat in Sam Sperry's little house writing letters. His face looked pinched, and though he was only thirtyeight tho grey was showing in his dark hair. Thirty-eight isn't very old, but it is no age to make an entirely new start in life, and that was what was facing Trevor. Every penny of his savings had been spent building the garage, and he had gono into debt to equip it. The insurance would be littlo more than sufficient to pay his debts. A car drovo up. Trevor, deep in thought, hardly heard it. Tho door opened and lie turned to see a girl in tho doorway. No, hardly a girl, for slio was quite thirty. Small, trim, compact, with dark brown hair and dark eyes, she was extremely pretty. Trevor s tired faco lit up. " You, Caryl!" " Oh, Tom. I'm so sorry. I only heard an hour ago and I camo at once." " It's liko you," said Trevor, taking both her hands. " You always were tho kindest girl." " Kindness won't rebuild a burnt building," Caryl Kingscoto answered. " What are you going to do about it? Will the insurance be enough to rebuild?" Ho shook his head. . " No, I shall have to find a job and start again." Her face fell. These two were not engaged, yet were something more than friends. As soon as ho was on his leet from a financial point of view Trevor had meant to ask Caryl to marry him, and Caryl know that as well as he did. Now sho took her courage in both hands. ... " Tom, in spite of my losses 1 still have £3OO a year. I—l want you to marry me and use my money to rcstait your business." The smile that lit up Trevor's tired face made him look quite voting again. . " Caryl, you're tho sweetest thing God ever made. Sit down, my dear. Sho shook her head. " Not until I've had your answer, Tom." Ho took her by the shoulders and gently pushed her into a chair. " I can't possibly argue with you it you stand over me liko that, Caryl, ho remonstrated. (To be continued on Saturday next)