BETTER THAN GOLD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22142, 22 June 1935, Page 14 (Supplement)

BETTER THAN GOLD

CHAPTER XXl.—(Continued)

" Tom was tolling me wo needed «i book-keeper. I say —would you consider work of that kind? I'm afraid the pay wouldn't be much, but—but it might be a sort j>f stop-gap while you looked for something better." " I should bo very glad of the chance," Aline said simply. The fact is that 1 am pretty nearly at the end of my resources "

" I know what yon can do. I'm on my way back to Roborough, to the garage where I work. Mrs. Sperrj T , wife oi: one of our mcjjk, will be delighted to give you a bed for the night, and to-morrow we can talk things over." As Dave spoke he started the car again and without waiting for an answer drove away up the broad, empty road. Aline, too utterly weary to think and only too grateful to be in good hands once more, lay back in the deep cushions, pulled the rug more closely around her chilled body and closed her eyes. The car, old but powerful, which Tom Trevor had bought second-hand for his hire work, was roomy and fast and it seemed hardly any time before Dave drove into the yard which he and Trevor had. fixed up as their headquarters while the new garago was being built. . "Sam!" Dave called, as ho jumped out, and Sam appeared from the office. " Sam, this is Miss Kingscote s companion, Miss Kerr. She was going to stay the night with Miss Kingscote, but didn't know the lady was away. It was too late for her to go back to London, so I brought her on. Do you think your wife can give her a bed?" Sam took one glance at Aline and nodded. " That'll be all right, Mr. Dave, he said promptly. "I'll run across and toll her. You can bring Miss Kerr sdong in a few minutes." " Is there a fire in the office, Sam? " Aye, a good one. And a kettle. I were just brewing a pot of tea." "Good man! That's exactly what Miss Kerr wants." Sam hurried off and Dave helped Aline out. The little office looked cosy, with a bright fire in the open stove and a kettle hissing on top. Dave drew up a chair and Aline sat and held her chilled fingers to the blaze. " You'll have a cup of tea," Dave said.

Dave sprang up. " I'll see Tom. That'll be fine." He was gone all in a rush. Aline sat where she was. There was a rather delightful smile 011 her lips.

"Just a boy," she said to herself. " But —what a dear boy." Dave found Trevor in the offico. " M iss Kerr wants a job, Tom. She understands book-keeping. What about taking her on?" Trevor smothered a grin. Being in love, himself, he thoroughly understood the situation and was sympathetic. But ho was older and more cautious than Dave.

" Do you know anything about Miss Kerr, Dave?"

Dave stared. " Why—why, sho's a gentlewoman Anyone could see that."

" Quite so. But what about her business capacity? Have you anything to go on?"

Dave looked rather blank. " I expect Miss Kingscote would tell us," ho suggested. " Caryl's away, and I don't fancy Miss Kerr did any book-keeping for her. She drove her car and acted as companion."

" She might drive for us. There are lots of old ladies who like a woman driver."

Trevor shook his head

" It's a book-keeper we need, Dave. See here, I'm quito willing to give Miss Kerr a trial, but I must have someone who can do the job properly. Things are looking up. The fire gavo us an advertisement. I've sold two cars this week. We really need a book-keeper, but she must be up to her work." " Give her a trial," Dave begged.

Trevor permitted himself a smile. " All right, Dave, I'll do that. She shall have a week. But I can't pay more than two pounds. Will you toll her?"

" Thisre is nothing in the world I ehould be more grateful for," Aline assured him, " and.—and a biscuit if you have it." " Why, you're hungry!" exclaimed Dave.

"I'll tell hor," said Dave jumping up. " She can live at the Sperrys. They'll take her for twenty-five shillings a week."

" Which leaves her fifteen shillings for clothes, spending money and everything else. It's not a lot for girl like that, Dave."

" Starving," she said ■with a smile. " I've had nothing since lunch." Dave looked horrified. " And it's nearly ten," he exclaimed as he ladled tea into the old brown pot and poured in boiling water. Leaving the tea to brew, he opened a cupboard and fetched out milk, sugar, a tin of biscuits, some potted meat and a cake. He and Trevor always kept food in the office, for very often they were back too late for a regular meal in their lodgings. It was a joy to him to see the natural healthy colour come back to Aline's face as she drank the hot tea and ate biscuits, but all the time he wasi wondering what could possibly have brought her to such a plight. And Aline realised his thoughts and thought the more of him that he asked :uo questions. She asked the first.

" Dock me ten bob and make her's fifty," Dave suggested. " Don't be a fool, Dave," retorted Trevor, gruffly, and luckily Dave still retained sufficient sense of humour to laugh. Aline gratefully accepted Tom Trevor's offer, and within forty-eight hours had proved herself perfectly capable of handling the simple books. She did more than that. Before the two days were up she had become the most popular person in the establishment. Sam simply worshipped her, Bert, the other mechanic, obeyed her slightest wish. Trevor wrote to Caryl and told her that he didn't know how she could get along without Aline, who, Caryl always excepted, was as nice a girl as he had met. He added that Dave was a lucky devil. The village people also took Aline to their hearts, the children especially. As for Dave, he was in the seventh heaven, but, perhaps luckily, too busy to see very much of the girl to whom he had given his heart. Trevor's staff was but a small one, and Dave was driving all day and, often, part of the night as well. Aline herself, though happy in her work, was not without her worries, of which the chief was Mark. Sho knew Mark well enough to be quite suro that he was not going to lose a million without putting up a, fight, and although she had warned her sister-in-law against giving him her address she was afraid that, sooner or later, he would track her down. And then there would be the devil to pay.

" Hew came you to be driving up Watling Street just at the right moment?" , " Oh, the usual thing. A customer had missed the last train to town and I ran him up to Belsize Park." He paused. "I'm very happy I came when I did," he added in a grave tone. " That fellow was dangerous."

She shuddered. "A terrible man! It was my ring. That rras what he wanted. It was my mother's."

Dave nodded. Before he could speak again here was Sam. " Thought you wasn't never coming," he said with a grin. " My missus is ready and waiting, miss. You better drive her up, Mr. Dave. It's Still raining." The distance was little more than a quarter of a mile, and Dave dropped her at the door.

She would have liked advice as to what best to do, but did not know where to look for it. Naturally she was not talking to Dave on the subject. Of course, she knew that Dave was in love with her, and she could not possibly explain to him how Mark had treated her. Dave, quiet as he was, had a hot temper, and she shivered to think what might happen if he heard the whole story. She decided at last that the best thing she could do was to wait until Caryl Kingscote came home, then run over and consult with her. Caryl had heaps of common sense, and knew her way about the world. Her advice would be worth having. Unfortunately for Aline, the climax came sooner than she had expected. On the Saturday morning following the Sunday on which Dave had rescued her, Aline was busy in the office when a car drove into the yard. Cars were coming in and out all the time. Aline did not even look up. " I say, my man, is this Mr. Trevor's garage?" came a voice, and Aline started so that she dropped her pen. She got up quickly and went to the window, and there was Mark's big car and Mark himself standing beside it. " Yes," Sam Sperry answered gruffly —he hated being called "my man." " Yes, this is Mr. Trevor's place." " Ah, then, where is Miss Kerr?" demanded Mark.

" I'll come for you after breakfast," he said. " Sleep well." Aline gave him her hand. " Good-night, Mr. Hallam. And thank you a thousand times for all you have done for me." Her voice shook a little, and Dave realised that she was very near to breaking down. " Don't think of it," he said earnestly. " Just go to bed and to sleep." He hurried away and Aline obeyed. In j pit© of all she had been through, that night spent between Mrs. Sperry's clean, lavender-scented sheets was the happiest and most peaceful she had known for a long time past. Dave, too, was extraordinarily happy as he sat in the office smoking and u-aiting for the man who would relievj) him at twelve. Of course, it was - lust luck, meeting the girl like that, yet if he had arranged the whole incident it could not have turned out better.

" She's prettier and sweeter than I ever thought she was," he said aloud. " And plucky, too. Any other girl would have been in hysterics." " Who'd have been in hysterics?" came a voice, and Dave started round, to see Tom Trevor at the door. He did so much explaining that it was nearly one before he got to bed.

Aline looked round wildly, but the office door led straight into the yard, and there was no other way of escape. It was no use trying to avoid the interview. She walked straight out into the yard.

CHAPTER XXII MARK AGAIN "It was silly of me," Aline admitted. " I quarrelled with the people I was staying with, and suddenly made up my mind to go back to my sister-in-law with whom I am living in London. Then I found I had no money, so decided to walk to Caryl's house." Dave looked up from his toast and marmalade. He and Aline were breakfasting together—Dave by special invitation from Mrs. Sperry. " I can't imagine j T ou quarrelling with anyone," he declared. Aline laughed. She was herself again after a good night's sleep. " It's plain you don't know me, Mr. Hallain. I have a terrible temper." " I'll bet it was their fault, not yours," returned Dave doggedly. Ho had already reached the stage when a man does say that sort of thing. " Well, the quarrel was none of my seeking," she answered gently, and that was all. If Dave had hoped to hear more he was disappointed But he did not show it. " And now you will like a lift back to London," he said. She made a little face. " I suppose 1 must go back. There's nothing else for it." Dave was puzzled. " Don't you want to go, Miss Kerr?" " What I really want," said Aline earnestly, " is work. Since Caryl Kingscote could no longer afford to keep me I have been hunting in vain for something to do. But, you see, I am fit for so little. I have no degree.'' " You don't want a degree to drive a car," Dave broke in, and Aline laughed " No, but there are so many men looking for work of that sort that women are at a discount." Dave's eyes were eager. " Can you koep books, Miss Kerr?" " Simple ones. I have learnt ordinary double-entry." Dave laid down his cup and gazed at her Jk

" I am here, Mr. Roston," she said with that calm dignity which was natural to her. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

CHAPTER XXIII dave's hopes aiie dashed Mark Roston was completely taken aback. He had had all kinds of trouble in tracing Aline, and had been forced to leave his business to look after itself for nearly a week. He had arrived at Roborough, full of righteous indignation, for he had convinced himself that Aline had treated him very badly, and that she owed him a humble apology. Instead, he was faced by this tall and perfectly composed young woman, who spoke to him like an ordinary customer, and asked if there was anything she cruld do for him.

" i—l came to take you home," ho blurted out. It was not in the least what he bad meant to say, and his words gave Aline an opportunity of which she was quick to take advantage. "Home?" she repeated, slightly raising her beautifully-arched eyebrows. "But this is my home" " 1 mean back to Faraway," returned Mark, trying hard to keep his temper. " Oh, to your home! Isn't it a pity that you did not think of that earlier?" Mark bit his lip. " I've been looking for you for a week. My mother has been quite ill with anxiety." Aline remained calm.

" Is that m.v fault or yours?" she asked, and Mark had the grace to blush.

" You might have known that what [ did was only on the impulse of the moment. I didn't mean to be rude. I wouldn't do it again." Aline seemed to grow taller. Her voice had the chill of one of her native mountain peaks as she spoke again.

By T. C. BRIDGES y .. ..patching Eyes." *' The Other Man s etc., etc.

( COPT RIGHT )

A FINELY-DRAWN STORY OF LOVE AND ADVENTURE

" One experience of the kind is enough, Mr. Roston." Mark grew desperate. " You're not going to turn me down for good just on account of a moment's foolishness. You can't mean that. Aline?" Aline made a little impatient movement. "I ain not turning you down on that account. 1 had already explained to you the reasons why I could not and would not marry you. Nothing has occurred to make me change my mind. And now,' since I am busy, perhaps you will leave." Mark went quite white.

"So you prefer my cousin?" he said in a very nasty voice. Aline looked at him rather as if he were some unpleasant kind of insect.

" Your cousin? Oh, you mean Mr. Hallam. Yes, certainly 1 prefer him to you. He is at any rate a gentleman." Mark had asked for it, and lie had got it, but the taunt made him even more furious than before. "The man who refused to marry you," he sneered. " Oh, yes, it's true. Uncle James offered you to him before I came 011 the scene, but David wasn't having any." Aline remained—outwardly at any rate —perfectly composed. Mark glared.

" No doubt he had his reasons. At any rate, he has made it plain that money is not his god." She turned and went back into the office, closing the door behind her. Mark was not a man given to strong language, but now ho swore with such wholehearted fury that Tom Trevor, who had, himself unseen, been watching from within the workshop, dame out. " You seem annoyed," ho remarked. "Is there anything we can do for you?" Mark glared. " You can go to blazes!" he told him.

" I shall have a good pilot," he suggested. Mark's big fists clenched, and for a moment it looked as if he were going to attack the other. But he had just sense enough left to keep him from this extreme of foolishness. Turning, he scrambled into his car, started his engine, and drove off. Trevor watched him.

" Sweet creature!" ho remarked. " Who the deuce is he, and what did ho want with Aline?" He chuckled softly. "Gosh! —the way that girl handled him! I only wish I could have heard all she said."

Still smiling, he went back to his work. Aline, too, had gone back to her work, but she was not smiling. She sat 111 her chair with her elbows on the desk, her chin propped in the palms of her hands, staring blankly in front of her.

met Mark, let alone stayed at Faraway. He himself would hardly have recognised his cousin if he had seen him.

" Tell you what, Tom," ho said slowly, " I shouldn't wonder if ho was one of thoso people she was staying with before she came to us." Trevor nodded.

" I had the same idea. He probably proposed to lier and she turned him down."

" Swine." growled Dave. " I wish I'd been here." " You needn't worry," said Trevor drily. " I was keeping an eye 011 the proceedings. But I'm sorry he upset her." Dave shook his head. "Ho upset her properly, and the funny thing is that she seems to want to take it out of me." " I wouldn't trouble too much," Trevor consoled him. " Girls are like that. Leave her alone for a bit and she'll come round." Dave knew the advice was good and did his best to follow it. He kept away from Aline all the rest of that day. Next morning she was in the office at her usual hour, and Dave, hoping that all was right again yet feeling rather nervous, went in. " Good morning. Aline," he said. She raised her head from her work.

" Good morning, David," she answered, and that was all. If Dave had been wise he would have seen that she was still all on edge and gone out again. But he was too much in love to be sensible.

" Are you all right again?" he asked. She turned. " Why do you say 'again'?" she asked in her coolest tone.

" I—l thought j'ou weren't very tit yesterday," stammered Dave. " So you did not believe mo when I told you I was perfectly well," said Aline, severely. If Dave had said he was sorry and then gone off all might yet have been well. Instead he tried to argue.

" That man who came yesterday— Tom thought ho had worried you."

Aline's fine eyes flashed. " So Mr. Trevor was spying? And you and he have been discussing mo and my visitor." Dave was almost paralysed. He had not dreamed Aline could s]K?ak like this. It never occurred to him that she had passed an almost sleepless night and that her nerves were strained nearly to breaking point. The thought that she had been used as t i sort of pawn by James Kirkstall irked her intensely. Indignation came to Dave's aid.

" You know very well that Tom would never dream of spying on you. It is absurd to say such a thing. He did not hear a word the man said; he does not even know his name. After all, Trevor is your employer, and he and I are to some extent responsible for you." "Y011! What have you to do with it?" Twin patches of red glowed in Aline's cheeks. '' I am responsible to Mr. Trevor for my work. Neither he nor you have any right to pry into my private affairs." By this time Dave was as angry as Aline, but he had his nerves under better control.

Aline Kerr was a girl with more common sense than most, but even the most common-sensical of young women is apt to feel hurt when she hears that the man to whom she has given her affection has refused to marry her. It must be remembered that so far Aline had been told nothing of Dave's connection with James Kirkstall. She did not even know that Dave was his nephew. Having herself dropped Dave at the house in Brook Street, she was, of course, aware that there was some connection between the two, but it had never occurred to her that Dave was Mark's cousin. The two men were so totally different. Dave himself when talking to her had never mentioned his uncle. That was natural, for the last thing he was likely to tell the girl he loved was that he had been offered a million to marry another. A modest fellow, he hated the recollection of that interview, and had done his best to put it out of his mind altogether. Nor had he ever spoken of Mark. He hardly knew him —had not met him for years.

" 1 don't know why you are talking to me like this," he said. " I can't think what I have done to offend you?" He stood watching her a moment, but she did not speak. And just then came a tap at the door.

" Air. Trevor wants you, sir," said Sam, and Dave followed him out. The angry colour faded from Aline's cheeks, her eyes filled with tears, but she brushed them away quickly and turned again to her books. CHAPTER XXIV. THE HIDDEN HAND

During the three days following Mark Roston's futile visit to Roborough no one suffered more than his elderly secretary. Mark had never been what might be called a genial employer, and was always more apt with blame than praise. But Miss Seager knew his ways, did her work well and, if she got few kind words, had so far escaped harsh ones. Now all was changed. Nothing pleased Mark, he found fault with her every hour of the day, he had even sworn at her. On the Thursday morning following the Saturday of Mark's interview with Aline things had reached such a pitch that Miss Seager, sitting trembling at her desk in the outer office, was wondering whether she could possibly stand another day of it. Jobs were not easy to find, especially by a woman of Miss Seager's age. Yet the poor lady had begun to feel that she would prefer an almshouse to this constant nagging and abuse. Mark was in his office and even through the closed door she could hear him muttering angrily. Then came a crash as he Hung a ledger or some heavy book on the floor. Next moment lie would stride out. Unfortunate Miss Seager was positively shaking when there came a knock at the outer door and in walked Gerald Fame. It was a warm morning and Fame was in a well-cut flannel suit. His brown shoes were dark mirrors, he wore the tie of a famous cricket club. Of the blow which Dave had dealt him there was 110 longer any sign. " Is Mr. Roston in, Miss Seager?" he asked in his pleasantest tone. It was part of Fame's creed to be civil to underlings. It cost nothing and often paid good dividends. " He is in, Mr. Fame," said Miss Seager, hesitatingly, " but—but 1 don't think he is very well." " Late nights," smiled Fame. Then he laughed. " No, of course not. Mr. Roston never indulges in that sort of thing. Tell him I have some business for him and perhaps he will feci better." Miss Seager was a little cheered. Mark could not well swear at her in the face of this fine gentleman. She knocked and went in. Mark scowled at her. " What do you want?" he asked harshly. " Mr. Fame wishes to see you, sir. He told me to say he had some business for you." " Show him in," snapped Mark, and Miss Seager escaped thankfully. "Morning, Roston," said Fame in his most cheerful manner as ho came in with outstretched hand. " I wanted to see you about Consolidated Copper." Ho broke off. " What's the matter?" he asked sympathetically. " You don't look up to your usual form. Working too hard?" " It's not work," said Mark heavily. " Whatever it is, it's not doing you any good, my dear fellow," said Fame in his most honeyed voice. It was, of course, the purest humbug on his part, j for he cared no more for Mark than he did for Miss Seager. But it was part of his policy to learn all he could about those with whom he had dealings. Long ago he had realised that knowledge is power. Not only power, lor frequently it could be turned into solid cash.

Aline sitting there alone in the quiet little office, was putting things together as best she could; but, of course, with very inadequate knowledge. Knowing nothing of Dave's mistake over the name Bella and the photograph of her sister, she could not help but believe that it was herself that Dave had refused to marry. In a way she sympathised, for, like Dave, she hated the money side of the bargain, yet all the same, she felt very sore. She was much too honest to hide from herself that she was already very fond of Dave. In point of fact, she was almost as much in 'love with him as he with her, and it was just that fact which made her unable to reason with her usual clearness.

If she -was annoyed with Dave, that feeling was nothing compared with her anger against old James. Her checks went scarlet as she put things together, and realised that James had first tried to get David to marry her; then, when that failed, had turned to Mark. "Horrible old man!" she exclaimed, passionately. "First David —then Mark. If I ever "meet him again " She broke off, for the door was opening. Dave came in. He was just back from the station and had not seen Trevor. "Aline—" they already called one another by their Christian names " Aline," ho said cheerfully, " it's my evening off. What do you say to a drive?"

" I don't think I care for one," replied Aline in such a cold, impersonal tone that Dave was staggered. "What's the matter?" he asked anxiously—"got a headache?"

" I am quite well, thank you," Aline replied. Dave moved forward so as to get a sight of her face. " You don't look it." His voice was full of solicitude. "You spend too much time cooped up in this little office. I'm sure it's bad for you. Try my prescription. Tea on Beacon Hill. Gorgeous view. Lots of fresh air." "Not to-day, thank you," said Aline, and now Dave realised that something was very wrong. What it was he had, of course, not the faintest idea. " What's the matter, Aline?" he asked in a voice that was so unhappy that it made Aline angrier than ever. She was perfectly aware that she was behaving badly but, woman-like, took it out of Dave.

" I have told you there is nothing the matter. Cannot you take no for an answer?" Her voice was positively sharp, her manner so utterly unlike anything that Dave had known before that he was taken completely aback. He was hurt but he was also a little angry.

" I'm sorry," he said shortly and went straight out of the office. Trevor was alone in the workshop cleaning a plug. " What's the matter with Aline?" Dave asked him.

" I suppose it's that big lout who came here about half an hour ago, who upset her." " Big lout—who was he?" demanded Dave.

" I don't know him from Adam," replied Trevor. "He turned up in a closed car and asked for Aline. She came out and met him in the yard. 1 didn't hear much of what they said, but I gather she dressed him down properly. He was like a lunatic by the time she got through with him. Swore like a trooper." Dave frowned. " You don't know his name?" " I tell you I never saw him before." " But what did he want with Aline ?"

Mark gazed at his visitor. A cold, reserved man, he would usually have been the last to confide in one who was, after all, merely a business ac- ( quaintance. But there are times in the' lives of all men when a confidant is necessary, and the tragedy of the life of a man like Mark Hoston is that ho has no friends. He felt a sudden irresistible urge to talk. " It's not work," he repeated. "Business is pretty good. Might be worse, anyway." Ho paused. Much as ho wanted to talk, he did not know how to begin. Farno helped him. " You're not well, Hoston. You liook as if you were not sleeping." Mark gave a bark of a laugh. "Sleepl I've hardly slept an hour on end the past five night." (To be continued on Saturday next)

" What's the use of asking questions 1 can't answer," said Tom, impatiently. " All I can tell you is that they evidently knew one another, and I gathered be thought he had some claim on her." He grinned. "Shouldn't wonder if he was your hated rival." Dave did not smile. Ho looked worried. That the " big lout " was his cousin Mark never entered his mind. He did not even know that Aline had