ANNOUNCER'S HOLIDAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23033, 10 May 1938, Page 21

ANNOUNCER'S HOLIDAY

Bv VAL GIELGUD

(COPYRIGHTJ

V/ell-known radio dramatist and author of "Beyond Dover," etc. A VOICE, KNOWN TO MILLIONS OF 8.8.C. LISTENERS, BELONGS TO A YOUNG MAN WHO HAS BEEN GRANTED A MONTH'S HOLIDAY. * ON THAT VACATION MANY THINGS HAPPEN.

CHAPTER Xll.—(Continued)

- The grin died off Charles Bland's lips. "j say, Moresby," he said, "I believe you're- being serious. And if you are, hadn't you better think again ? Thero's pothinjr against old Geoff here—bar his being in the 8.8.C., of course—but I'm rather an ass, -as you know very well."; • "

"I don't think I can help it, at this gtage," said Moresby. "You two are so far i n 3' oll cau 't come out without raising a number of most undesirable suspicions. Besides, you've jnade contacts —with the girl Lucia, with Greta Mahler, and with Casimir Konski, which might prove invaluable. —you'd better come right in. I shall have to mention the matter to tho Chief Constable. And from to-morrow You'll temporarily attached to the Specials Branch of the C.1.D., to do exactly what you're told." "Well,"" said Charles Bland, "I'll try B ny drink once!" Geofirev Allardvce merely nodded. Not for worlds would he have revealed tho seething excitement . which possessed him at that moment. "Very well." said Moresby, "and from now on you're under my orders. That's understood, eh? Good." "Spill the Great Secret!" said Charles dramatically. "Just this, Mr. Bland. That five weeks from to-day a conference is being held ip London, to bo opened by His Majesty in person, at which International Disarmament is to be seriously tackled once more." ] "But .hold on. Moresby!" expostulated Charles:,, "People don't plot to shoot at the King in this country. It's simply not done." "I know, Mr.. Bland. And His Majesty is not in danger this time. What is not known, and is a very secret piece of information indeed, is that two of the best known of European Dictators, who hitherto have never quitted their own countries, are on this occasion to make the journey—as a compliment to His Majesty, and as a proof of the sincerity of the conferring Powers. Now, do you see?" - "You -mean that—" "We won't mention any names, please. Mr. Allardvce. Tf it's absolutely necessary, 'we'll call them A. and B. They are really cominc. And it's the business of the English Government, and more particularly my business, to see that tliey go away as safely as thev come." On a simultaneous impulse, Charles and Geoffrey's eyes, swnng back to the bullet-spattered wall. "We -would seem." said Charles at last, "to have taken on something of a job of work." ''Yes." said Geoffrey. "And this. I'd have you remember is officially my holiday—and that I won't have another'like it for ten years." ''You'll probably have cause to remember this one," said Superintendent Moresby, grimly. And he led the way back up the atone stairs to the level of the street.

CHAPTER XIH. AFTER CURTAIN-FALL Three days passed before Geoffrey 'Allardvce could muster, up sufficient courage to do what he had been longing to do from the foment when' "he "had first caught sigTff'bf Greta Mahler. And when at last filer acted, he "did so on impulse and Without any of the- preparations dictated fiy common sense. He asked for no advice from Superintendent Moresby. He did not ring up Lucia to make his path smooth. And he took caro to find out that Charles Bland was well and truly engaged elsewhere before confessing to him that he, Geoffrey, was paying a second visit to "The Girl From Vienna," and- that Miss Mahler was BUpping with him afterwards. 'Tou're a bit of a cad, Geoffrey," was Charle's slightly sardonic comment. "You might have made it a foursome and given me a chance with the fair —or rather the dark —Lucia." •* Geoffrey made no reply. He was busy tying a white .tie with all the care in the world. It gave him a good excuse .for not trying to explain that what ho really wanted was to see the little yiennese actress -alone. When at last, after what had seemed interminable hours, the show ended, and he presented himself at the dressing room door, he felt as nervous and as clumsy as any undergraduate. His

bands were clammy.-His voice was unsteady. And it was only when Greta took his arm, and laughed straight in his face with an absolute lack of selfconsciousness, that he could hope for the occasion not to turn out an unrelieved disaster. "You know, I shall not bite, -Mr. Allardyce," she said gaily. "And I' am so hungry. I hope you do not mind if I eat ever so much?" Geoffrey assured her that he did not. With the touch of her hand op his arm, which had set his pulses racing, he felt he would not mind if she ato doughnuts with her champagne, or peas with a knife. He told himself that he adored her. He was quite content to sit beside her in the taxi, intoxicated with faint perfume that came from her hair, bewildered by the beauty of her profile against the lights and shadows of the streets. He armost forgot why he had given her the invitation —until at the end of their supper in the grill room of the Cosmopolis Hotel she asked

him casually herself. "You are very silent, Mr. Allardyco. Tell me—you must forgive me for a little foreign, girl if I am rude but tell me why you wished to meet me again." "Is it so unusual for people to want to meet you?" parried Geoffrey clumsilv. . _ She shook her sleek, fair head. "No. But you are not the kind of man who .regards an actress as something on the counter of a shop. You are young, and I think you are simple and kind. And you were so very much afraid of me when you came into my room. Are you really a friend of Lucia Beichen berg's?"

"Whv not?" ... "Geoffrey !jou must not play with me, or I shall" be cross with you. \\ e are friendlv, arc wo not?" "I .hope'so," said Geoffrey. It was impossible, eyes could he quite as blue, as deep, as unfathomably sapphirine. Tho occasion must bei a dream. . . He sought reality in the touch of the champagne glass against his lips. "Well then, Geoffrey. Tell me! "You'll trv to believe me?"

"Why shouldn't I?" Geoffrey looked over his shoulder before he replied. The grill room was very full, and almost uncomfortably n°' s yHow right the man was who chose the centre of a noisy restaurant to do his plotting in! Overhearing was out of the question. ."You're in danger," said Geoffrey at last.

Greta Mahler laughed gaily. "From you? Is this a new way o telling-.'me that vou are in love wit) me?"

"Heavens, no!" . , lam sorry,'' said tho girl- You are not in love with mo?" Jeffrey faced those sparkling, rather •cckless eyes, and flung prudence to winds.

"Yes," he said quietly. "I am. I know it's absurd of me; butrr-"

"Is it absurd, "Geoffrey?" "You mustn't say things like that to me, Greta. You're a star in two countries. I'm a poor devil with a job in a radio station. Don't worry about me. I shan't worry you. But I foel it does something to explain what I'm going to tell you now—" "You know," said Greta, gravely, resting her chin on one hand, and leaning forward across the table, "you are a dear—but such a very silly dear." "Greta!"

"It exists, you know —lovo at first sigjht, Geoffrey. Not many times, but onco now and again for the lucky ones, like you and me." He fumbled for a cigarette.

"You're not just playing a game?" he stammered. "Lucia told me—Prince Xavier and vou—"

The girl sat up straight in her chair. "Listen, Geoffrey. When you said I was in danger you spoke the truth. I am in danger from Xavier. People have said many things about him and me. It was said openly in Vienna that he was my lover. It was not true. He has followed mo for years, ever since he first saw me as a little ballot girl. Ho has always had his own way, and it maddens him that with me he cannot have it. I left Vienna and came hero to —to have a holiday. For though he is fond of me. I think he is also a little mad, and then he frightens me. It was only when I arrived here that I found out that he had bought an interest in the play, so that ho could have the entree always behind the scenes. I cannot break away from him. He has been kind to me before, and very kind to my mother until she died. Ho was a good friend to me. But now he is no longer a friend. He says he must marry me, or something terrible will happen—to me or to himself. I am frightened, Geoffrey—and then I met you, and I am not frightened any More."

Sho stopped, lojvered her eyes, and went on eating. Geoffrey sat dazed, incredulous, the cigarette smouldering between fingers not quite steady.

"And still you have not told me -why you first came to see me with Lucia," said Greta, suddenly. Geoffrey blurted out the story of the mistaken identity, and of the commission with which Casimir Konski had entrusted him.

"But 1 do not understand," cried the girl, when he had finished. "I would never marry Xavier. I would rather die!"

"Well," said Geoffrey, a trifle abashed by such vehemence in a public place, "that seems to settle it most satisfactorily, doesn't ft?" "And is that all?" "Of course not. Now we can think about ourselves —" He broke off A waiter had come up to tho chair, and was holding out a note on a silver salver. "Miss Mahler?" he asked. Greta took the note. Geoffrey looked on," and felt the first stirrings of that most hateful and sterile of all feelings, an odious jealousy. Greta's eyelids fluttered. "I will be back in three minutes, she said softly. The waiter, officiously thought Geoffrey, draped her fur cloak round her slim shoulders. She blew Geoffrey a kiss 'anct'Wittlrcd entrance. He watched her disappear, finished his glass of wine, ordered coffee, and began to wonder what ho should say' to Lucia, and indirectly what he should report to Casimir Konski. Would he ever bo able to make them believe that he had succeeded -with such ridiculous ease? He doubted it. , . n What the devil could Greta he doing? He fidgeted uneasily in his chair, lighted a fresh cigarette, glanced at the watch on his wrist. Greta had said three minutes. Women had no idea of time, but she had been out of the restaurant for ten. For another five Geoffrey curbed his screeching nerves and ignored the choking sensation in his throat and the throb of his pulses. Then he pushed back his chair violently and went himself to the door. Heedless of the commissionaire's raised eyebrows, Geoffrey asked him whether he knew Miss Greta Mahler by sight. "Of course, sir," with a gnn. "And you saw her come out just now?"

"Yes, sir." Geoffrey slid half-a-crown not very expertly into the huge palm. "Miss Mahler went away in that big car as always calls for her —car with a coloured chauffeur. I expect you know it, sir.'Belongs to some foreign prince so they say." And there followed the suspicion of a wink. Geoffrey found himself grinding a half smoked cigarette into the expensive carpeting of the Cosmopolis. A party just leaving the grill room stared at the voung man, and wondered what lie was doing—he looked so white, and his exprcksion was so queer, almost as if ho raight be going to faint. Perhaps one too many cocktails earlier in the evening. Geoffrey Allardvce walked stiffly back to his table, and asked for his bill.

CHAPTER XIV. CHARLIE TAKES A TURN "And the next move is quite obviously up to, me," said Charles Bland, when the following morning ho had heard from Geoffrey an incomplete but fairly Accurate report of the happenings of the previous evening. "You can do what you darn well choose," said Geoffrey. He felt savage and miserable and nervously exhausted, and did not bother to hide his feelings. "It's all very queer,"* said Charles meditatively," .and, quite by the way, I wish I knew what old Moresby is up to 011 the quiet. Where the deiice are those official instructions of his? I was dying for my commission as a plain-clothes cop! Copper, where art thou?" "0 shut up for heaven's sake!" "Liver worrying you, Geoff? Or just normal bad temper?" Geoffrev scowled. "Oh, all right, all right. I'm not. going to bother you much. I only want Lucia's address or telephone number. "My dear Charles. I haven't got. either f" "Then how do you propose to communicate?" "I don't!" snapped Geoffrey. "And 1 hope I'm through with the whole business —" "But look here. Geoffrey. I gather that the Mahler let you down rather last night—but if you back out. don't forget what old Reichenberg-Konski promised." "She's obviously quite capable of taking care of herself, Charles." "Because she was capable of making rather amass of you?" "Tf you put it like that—yes." "You don't think that —well, you may have asked for it? Or even that she might not have had any choice?' Geoffrey turned angrily in his chair. "She walked out on me in the middle of supper at the Cosmopolis Grill! And —I may as well be the complete cad while I'm about it—she had pretended to have fallen for me, just as I'd fallen for her. I don't think she's in need of much in the shape of worldly protection 1" (To be continued dally)