PINGAROO.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1799, 29 August 1906, Page 10

PINGAROO.

(By J. H. Kirby).

It Avas in the Parliament of Arborea. The Hon. Air Bowler, Minister of Agriculture and Products. Avas finishing his speech. The* Estimates Avere up, and the Minister was justifying an item :—“Special grant to Mr Geo. ChepstoAV, £2000.” “I ask the Committee to pass this item without a dissenting A*oice,” concluded the hon. gentleman. “The country has never been served by any officer better than by Mr Chepstow, our specialist, Avho has expended both time and money unsparingly in prosecuting those scientific researches which have mot only won for him fame in Europe, but have enabled this Government to deal Avith the blight peeks in a manner never before possible. Sir, I maintain that the fruitfulness of our trees, the succulence of our grass, the fatness of our mutton, and the admirable quality of our produce generally are due in a very great measure to the labour®, the patriotic labours, of Air ChepstoAv, and I ask the Committee to pas® this item, in justice to a- most valuable and well-tried public officer.” The Alinister sat doAvn almost perspiring, glancing up at the Chairman of Committee of the Whole” Avith a contraction of the lid AA’hich indicated that the immediate putting of the question would please the Alinister in charge better than anything. A city member got up to catch the Chairman’s eye, Avith a vieAV of proving that the rival interests were bleeding the country, and that the unemployed problem was challenging attention as the winter approached, and that the £2OOO Avould be better spent in relieving the distress of the “real backbone of the country”-—the working men in the t-OAvns. But Boanerges in the chair had his cue and did not miss it. “The question is that the item do pass.” Carried on the voices. Going into the Cabinet room a few minutes after, the Alinister was met by Frampton, his private secretary. “Air Baltimore Avants you to give him an appointment in the morning, sir.” “A r es—lie’s staying at the ‘Meridian,’ isn’t he ? . Take a cab, Frampton, and drive dovTh there and see him. Tell him I’m going to Stoneycroft to-mor-row by special, and he’d better join me. We’ll do our business in the. car. You needn’t come back to-night, Frampton. I’m due at the ball uoav. Meet me at the station in the morning, with those* Stoneycroft papers 1 . Good-bye!” And the* private secretary, with _ a courteous reply, Avent his way,, wh-ilef the Alinister stepped into his carriage and was driven to Government House 1 .

CHAPTER 11. The Alinister and liis visitor, Air Baltimore, were comfortably seated in the snug smoker attached to the Alinisterial car. „ “Yes. the prospects are excellent, Baltimore wa® saying. “The idea has

caught on. We have allotted 20,000 shares to your step-son. But we must get hold of a big area somewhere, and there is none like that Lexington property. The very place for us! I’m blessed if it wouldn’t pay us to buy it.” ‘‘Lexington! Ha, yes—well, better wait a little. Let that question hang 9,up for a little.” * By the time the travellers had reached Stoneycroft, they had satisfaetoidy arranged matters in oonneotaon with Pingaroo. Only the affair of the Lexington property 'remained apparently in abeyance; in reality it was not so. The Minister was working secretly to brine - about the result which Mr Baltimore had spoken of as so highly desirable. Not even in his confidential man of affairs did the astute Bowler confide this. The story of Pingaroo was a simple one. Mr Chepstow (for whom Mr Bowler had just secured a handsome gratuity) had a year before, assured the Minister that a certain grass, Pingaroo, which would flourish best on soil with special mineral ingredients, would make a new sort of' compressed food for stock, a thousand fold mDre nutritious than the best of foods hitherto in use. He was anxious to give it to the world; but Mr Bowler was struck with an idea, and when Chepstow and. he were talking over the matter he said: “No, Mr Chepstow, just now I’d rather you didn’t introduce things of this kind on your own initiative. We’ll let the matter stand over for a bit: and by and by we will filter it through the Department. For the present, mum is the word. By the way, I may tell you Mr Chepstow (in confidence) that the Government are highly pleased with your work, and grateful for diligence and research; and it is intended to offer you some substantial proof of the fact. You may rely upon my doing the best for you.” “Indeed, Mr Bowler, it is good of you to eay so, and I am indeed pleased to have given satisfaction : I can’t express my gratitude to you, sir, hut you may command me at all times.” “That’s all right, Chepstow—goodbye! Oh! by the way, no.t a word about this conversation: understand?” And the Minuter shot a glance at him, and a responsive gleam appeared in the sunken eye of Chepstow, and lo! the eomimunication was complete! “Sure thing? You 'feel certain?” added the Minister as they parted. “Sure? —rather! I wish I had a million to invest. I’d put every penny of it into Pingaroo!” And that is how the Pingaroo Compressed Food Company came to be started.

CHAPTER in. “By the way, Bella,” said Mr Biowler to his wife next morning at the breakfast table, where they were lingering -after Harry Barrington (the lady’s son of a former marriage) had left the room, “how are things going on between Harry and Annie Doncaster?” “Well, I really believe it is developing into something serious. I was going to speak to you about it. What is the girl’s real position?” “Position ? Excellent: she inherits) the Lexington estate, you know,, in three years’ time. At present it is managed by a couple of imbecile trustees, who don’t know what to do with it, ai\d are making nothing out of it. I’ve got a plan, Bella—and what you say about the affair between the girl and Harry makes it more feasible. You see,” he continued, “I want to get a three years’ lease of that property for a company I’m interested in, and if Y/e can demonstrate to the trustees that tilings are as you say boween the young peonle, I can get the lease without any trouble. I wish you’d arrange a musical evening or an informal party some time next week, and invite those two fossils and their wives, I mean Bungle and Slop-pit: and be sure to have Annie here. And then, just in your artful and delicate way you can introduce just a ghodt of an idea into the minds of +he old ladies, that such-and-such a match wouldn’t be a bad one for Annie. I leave that negotiation to you, for really in any affair of this kind you beat the devil.” “Thank you, dear,” replied his wife laughing comfortably, “its nice to have your approval, for you’re no fool yourself in diplomacy.” And so it fell out, that one evening during the ensuing week, there was a delightful party at the Minister’s house. The great man himself put in an hour, pleading 'parliamentary business as his excuse for not staying longer. He knew thiis part of the scheme would mature best in bis wife’s capable hands. That Harry Barrington and Annie Doncaster were really being drawn together by the mysterious power of affinity could scarcely be mistaken, and Mrs Bowler felt entirely srtidfoed. “How beautifully their voices blend!” she remarked incidentally to Mrs Bungle, when the young pair had finished a duet. She had paved the way by a cosy little chat with Mrs Bungle, into which she threw a confidential element, which flattered that artless lady exceedingly. _ “Indeed they do, my dear Mrs Bowler; I fancy their spirits are beginning to blend, too. Annie seems to be quite taken up with that handsome boy of yours.” , . , “Nonsense! Mrs Blungie,” exclaimed

the Minister’s wife. 'You don’t say so! But you know you are so observant. Now I really hadn’t noticed it. I wish I had your detective powers, my dear.” “Oh, I’ve noticed several tilings* that point that way, Mrs Bowler; I’m never deceived in matters of this sort,” replied the lady, her dull eyes quite brightening at the artful compliment to her astuteness, which in reality was quite a minus quantity. “I declare you’ve given me quite* a shock, Mrs Bungle. I wonder whether Mrs Sloppit has noticed it too. You muefc find out for me. You see I can’t speak to her as I can to you, but you know her so well, you see. Excuse me, dear; I see a servant at the door, with a message.” And so saying, the hostess, with a radiant smile, left the eide of her admiring and flattered guest. The Bungles went away early, and Mrs Bowler continued to have a few words with the other trustee’s wife. Mna Sloppit was a woman of vastly different calibre to Mid Bungle. She was romantic, dreamy, poetic. Her husband was a dry old solicitor, without a Scintilla of sentiment, and she enjoyed therefore the proud isolation of these human flowers that “blush unseen.” “Now my dear Mrs Sloppit,” exclaimed the Minister’s beguiling wife, “what delightful- reverie are you enjoying? I wish I had that beautiful vein of poetry and romance that you have. Positively I don’t believe your mind is here at all. I believe you are soaring away in some celestial sphere.” “No, my love, I am not eto dreamy as that, though I confess I am a good deal abstracted—too much so, I’m afraid,” she added with a sigh. “Nobody sympathises with my temperament. lam not understood, my love.” “I understand you, dear,” said Mrs Bowler in a low and tender tone, patting her guest’d hand affectionately. “You musn’t indoctrinate your ward, Annie, with too much poetry though,” she added with a smile. “Ah! my clear, I just thinking when you sat down, that Annie Is beg:lining; to make her own romance. How delightful it is to be young. I know! I see what is looming in the distance.” And she smiled, a languishing dmile. “What, Mrs Sloppit? Has she an affair of the heart already? You - quite aeton’sh me!”

“Ah! my dear, I have a sure instinct in these matters. I wonder you haven’t noticed how Annie and your son appear to he getting on together.” “My Harrv! Good gracious! You don’t say so!” “My opinion is they are completely in love with one another.” rerdied Mrs Sloppit. “And a most delightful pair they make,” she added in a tone of conviction.

“Well, you surprise me indeed, Mrs Sloppit. Do you think Mrs Bungle has observed it too?” “I really cannot say. Mrs Bungle and I do not exchange confidences. In fact she is too horribly vulgar and matter of fact for me.”

“Yes, I know, dear, she hasn’t your refined tasles and sensibilities. But I must see further into this. You needn’t tell her that we have spoken on the subject.”

“As I told you, I have no confidences with Mrs Bungle. But my dear I don’t think you need obiect to the match, if a match it should be.” But the, conversation was here n terrupted by the hustle of further departures. Later, Mrs Bowler was able to tell her husband that tlongs were in train, and when the politician kissed his wfe, he did so with renewed admiration for her diplomatic talents as well as her personal charms.

CHAPTER bV. Mr Baltimore succeeded in getting the lease granted. The two trustees were glad to be relieved of the task of management which was not congenial to either of them ; and what their wived had told them inclined them- still more to consider the proposal with favour. The Minister threw all his influence into the formation of the enterprise. He induced his Government to acquire a large estate, adjoining the Lexington property for close settlement. . The consequence was that Lexington became more and more valuable. the company was boomed everywhere. One day Mr Bowler was closeted with the Governor. Hie Excellency proposed to give a dinner some day in the next week; anS he was consulting the Minister about invitations. “I think you should give the consuls a turn this time too,” said Mr Bowler. “The consuls? Ah! yes, there’s Spuhr, and Ravaillac, and Pinciati — anybody elee ?” “No, I don’t think so, unless you ask .Chepstow. He’s fine company and a ciever fellow—worth his weight in gold to the Department. His Excellency locked up with an inscrutable smile and jotted down Chepstow’s name. “Wonder what’s in the wind now?” the Governor asked himself. He read his Minister pretty accurately. A whisky and soda "nd cigar, a-nd five minutes’ political conversation brought the interview to a close. His Excellency touched the hell, and the

Minister relapsing into formality, made obeisance and was shown out. The party was a success—more so than such functions usually arc. Mr Bowler was very chatty with the consuls, and as he spoke French and German with facility, some very pleasant conversation took place after dinner. The Minister gpt Chepstow into the divim of it by some question about the crops. Suddenly a thought occurred to the French consul. “Mr Bowler,” he said, “do you know anything about Pingaroo?” “Pingaroo? Oh, Chepstow can tell you all about that! It’s his hobby. I’ll leave you to him.” And then he went over to the Bishop who was sitting alone, with a benevolent smile. A week after, Mr Baltimore had a visit from M. do Ila vail lac. “I am authorised by my Government,” said the consul, “to enter into a contract with you for a Supply of your Pingaroo, for our army horses. I am (satisfied about the merits of it-. And before lie left Mr Baltimorel’s office be had agreed to take delivery of an enormous supply of Pingaroo on board French transports. Mr Baltimore lost no time in acquainting his chief with the news. “I shouldn’t wonder if Germany doesn’t take it up too,” remarked MiBowler. “And look here—war is going to break out in two or three places shortly. Keep your eyes open Baltimore and get yourself in touch until all the national representatives you can. By the way how are shares?” “Gad! They can’t go much higher, Mr Bowler. We’ll be able to declare a 30 per cent, dividend. Oh! I forgot, the Governor’s after a few shares.” “Oh, let him have them Baltimore.” When Mr Baltimore returned to his office, he found a letter from the Governor’s Private Secretary, asking him to call upon His Excellency when convenient. “Have you got the share list with you?” asked the Governor, after some preliminary oonverelvtion. “Ah ! thanks,” and His Excellency, adjusting his pince-nez, read the list. “Who’s this Phrrington with the 20,000 shares?” he inquired, looking up. “Is that Bowler’s step-eon?” “It is, your Excellency, in confidence, if you please.”

“Oh! or course,” laughed the Governor. “Got any foreign orders?” “Yets, a big one your Excellency, from the French “Government. “Ha! ha! ha!” roared the Governor. Mr Baltimore, for all he looked on respectfully, had hard work to prevent himself from exploding too. For the telepathic apparatus was at W< But the Governor resumed hie) mask, and the interview ended in his agreeing to take a couple of hundred shares, if Mr Baltimore could capture that mtmbef for him.

CHAPTER V. * * * It was a year later. A stylish wedding had just taken place at the Cathedral. Harry Barrington, barrister (just “called”) had taken Annie Doncaster, heiress, to wife. The wedding breakfast was a big society function, which His Excellency attended in person. He had also consented to propose the health of the young couple. “Ladies and gentlemen,” said the august personage, “I claim your indulgence for a few moments, in order to propose ‘Health, happiness and long life to the young couple’ whose wedding we have just witnessed. I am honoured by being asked to perform this most pleasing duty, and my personal) feelings towards the pair are of the wannest character. The lady, now Mrs Barrington, is well-known to you as a young lady of exceptionally beautiful character .and countless charms, who has made troops of friends. Mr Barrington has been a fortunate youth, in that he has had the advantage of a mother of rare qualities, and the closest association with a gentleman of whose intellectual calibre most people are aware. I have enjoyed a long and intimate acquaintance with Mr Bowler, and I can testify to his high qualities, not the least Conspicuous of which .s his shrewdness, which he hos exercised equally to the country’s benefit and to that of his family. And now, ladies

and gentlemen, before I sit cliwi I ghall ask you to honour this toast—< with an addendum: ‘Long live Pingar noo!’ for Pingaroo, I assure you, has been a very powerful agent in bringing about the joyful event which wo are met here to-day to> celebrate.’’