Christmas With Jimmy Penfold

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

Christmas With Jimmy Penfold

The Story of a very Exciting Christmas Eve

(By

Arthur Groom)

«It’s awfully good, of you fellows to opine,” murmured Jimmy, greeting his chums at the tiny station close to. his home’. “I’m at my wits’ end to know ’what to do with myself.”

Ronald Blake and Gerald King grinned cheerfully as they linked arms .'with their friends and "left* the-station. t-.,.-: < • ‘

•' 'dealt.'you worry ’ any/more, Jimmy,” said Gerald. “We’refgoing to have-a top-hole Christmas. Lead the way to the ancestral home.”

■ Jimmy made-towards a Jong, low, rakish-looking • ear standing in front of., a milk. float,'-• “It’s only '■ two minutes’" drive;”-he. said, as he. leapt into the ; driving seat, “but.l thought you’d- like to have a ••run" round fiVst.” . - • ; : <

■■■ \ — ... ' ■ . Ronald arid Gerald whistled with surprise. *"ls this .your, pater’s bus.?’’\.asked - Gerald; „ •.' .- .-■■ ."One of them, ’’ -came' the. reply ; ,“he[s got four.”. The, others made" no reply .fo- tjis. .They merely, looked’at one another and piled into''the machine •which Jimmy soon; .had tearing down, the village '. strfeeti at'well over 40 m.p.hr ■.. :• “ 5 ■. Jimmy Penfold was the son-of.a very rich -man, but he often said he would’much prefer his father to be a poor man with a sense of humour, than a rich, one without. Mr, Penfold was a hard business man and, although he left his son very much to his own devices, Jimmy found lifer in the huge, lonely house* very dull indeed. He had no brothers or sisters, and his mother had died when he was but a baby. ! ••■...- •/''

This being so. .it was not surprising that he was delighted when his two school chums agreed to get their parents to let them spend Christmas with him?' ’ " ’ ■ ' ' \

•During the terrific drive .around the quiet roads, arid later-when the boys were changing for dinner, and later- still when they were comfortably installed in Jimmy’s own room, Jimmy did nothing but thank his friends for coming.

“Oh, for goodness sake stop it!” roared Ronald' at length. “We’re glad to come. We’re going to .have a. fine time guarding your pater’s safe.” The speaker* paused. “Did he really mean what he said at. dinner?” he asked at/length. ‘ “About all that money being in the safe, I mean-2” . ••■X’' •' '■

Jimmy looked serious. “Yes,” he answered, “it’s true enough and I often wish father wouldn’t: be so silly.about having someone to guard it.” . The boy’s face cleared.. ‘‘Oh,, well,” he added, “nobody will break in this dismal looking place on Christmas Eve* . I’ll warrant. Worse .luck.” [ ... Ronald'and Gerald agreed that a burglary would liven things up a bit, but Jimmy quickly changed the subject and presently three huge yawns indicated that bed , was calling. As Gerald was shown into his room, he glanced around the panelled walls and looked at his host. , :“I say,- Jimmy,” -he whispered, “is this where , I’ve. got .to sleep?”: , / . .. /-The other nodded and.winked at Ronald. “Yes,” he said. “What’s the matter with it?” . “Nothing,”. answered Gerald slowly, “except that it/strikes me as-being a trifle gloomy.” >. Jimmy and Ronald grinned, thumped their friend on the ..back by, way of bidding him good-night, -i/indt went' to seek their; own rooms. ; Once alone, Gerald produced a> revolver from his - / pocket,-and, after making sure that it was fully - ' loaded/, talked over .to the window. .y . , 7 ..- ”, ..Tlipging open the old-fashioned 'leads, he leaned out'and- uttered a low whistle. Instantly an. answering whistle came from the darkness jand/not d.WOijnainutes later, a figure clambered up'the ivyclad/wall and joined him in the bedroom. [■‘’lVell?”^demanded Gerald, ’ “Everything is, , fixed,” came , the whispered reply. “Where’s Ronald?” ' v .. ; “Other side’ of the corridor,' folir'- rooms down,” /.murmured Gerald, “but . . . .[.'. “Sjhusht”- Cautioned the man" who’ had, climbed up the ivy, • “I’ll do all the. 'talking. Quickly! Give me the lie of the land. iPosition of the -safe, W-. elder Penfold's bedroom, and everything.”

Gerald hastened to obey, and presently the newcomer left the room, telling Gerald King to keep a keen look-out from the window, and to bo ready to" come to the study downstairs should ho be ‘ summoned by whistle.

An hour passed in complete silence.' Gerald's head was beginning to nod when a shrill whistle pierced the night air, to be followed by two others in quick succession.

With one bound Gerald cleared the gap which lay between him and the door. As he burst into the corridor, he crashed full into Jimmy Penfold, a bewildered figure in purple striped pyjamas. ‘"Good heavens!”* yelled the amazed Jimmy. “What are you doing with that revolver?” “I’ll explain it all later,” snapped his friend. “You do what I tell you for a few moments. Get .to young Ronald’s room, and keep him from coining •downstairs. Go on!” He pushed the thunderstruck Jimmy airing the corridor. “Oh, no," you. don’t,” cried Jimmy; suddenly wheeling- about.' "“I’m ..wise-to your game, young fellar! You’re-Gerald King all right, but you’re a different chap from ftie'ohe I know.” -The speaker made a dive >at his chum’s Tegs. .. . . -■ ’ ■ No one at Welling College had ever seen Gerald King move., so fast as he did at that moment. He was much too quick for Jimmy, who soon found . himself stretched full lengtli' on his back, staring up into his friend’s purposeful face. , “Do what you’re told,” snapped Gerald and, turning on his heel, he raced, away towards the head of°the great staircase... With his weapon grasped firmly in his right hand, he tore down the stairs. Silence greeted him in the hall, but he did not . hesitate' for an instant. ■ H 6 made straight for the. study, and, .with,one thrust from his heavy shoulder, flung open the door. ■ The scene that mist his gaze was, terrifying in the extreme. Two men were in . the- midst of a desperate struggle for . possession, of a. revolver which lay oh the floor near the door of a modern ■safe.,' . . ' *< ' ' . “Put them up!” snapped Gerald. “Sharp now.” "Instantly the figures ceased to struggle, and presently the nian who had climbed up the ivy was busily engaged in slipping a pair of handcuffs on to the other-mail's wrists., •/ ; : '

“Phew!” whistled'Chief, Inspector King, looking at his son. .“You were'late.!- He .nearly had. me.” /.‘I know,” began Gerald, but he stopped suddenly as the lightly clad figure of Mr. [Penfold appeared in the doorway. . “What does this mean?” ho • demanded, “Who are you, sir?” He turned, to the Chief Inspector. “My name is King, Mr. Penfold,” came the brisk reply, ‘‘and I am an inspector Of police. I have jul-t managed to prevent this man,” he indicated his prisoner, “from rifling ybur safe. My son has-been assisting, me for months past' to captyre the man and his young accomplice, Ronald Blake. You see, when we got wind of the fact that young Ronald was to go to Welling ‘College iii order, to make friends with your s6n so that his accomplice could rob you, I decided that my edri should go to school as well.” The speaker broke off suddenly. “Where is Ronald?” he demandedi . , 1 '/

Gerald grinned. “Jimmy’s preventing him from leaving his room. He doesn’t know what for, but he’s doing it.” ’ _ ; . ■ “He’s not!” earns Jimmy’s voice from behind..his father. “He’s here. Master RonaM. turned, nhsty So I had to—er—biff him over the head. - Haft- we better send for a doctor?” \

Two. hours later -the two Penfolds, father and :- son,„ were listening to the full story of .the. qilpt • and coUnter-plot from''Chief Inspector King.- When • it was finished, the cider of ' the two rose to his feet and shook: hands very-, solemnly ..with the‘two [Kings. . . [ / '“l’ve been a pig-headed old fool,” he said slowly, '“biit I’ve learned my lesson.' Listen!. It’s Christ- : mas .morning and, if money.-cun get anything,, we’re - going to have a- really good .''old-fashioned' Christmas. Jimmy,” he added,, “get; out -the. car after breakfast and see what you can. do -to liven- this. ■ place up a bit/’ . ' ’ ’ , ' [ “Righto father!” cried Jimmy.' And Christmas, with ■Jimmy Penfold ;was merry ;as couli"foe,