The Girl at the Gables

Taranaki Daily News, 25 March 1931, Page 10

The Girl at the Gables

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HERBERT GALWAY and ANN NEVERN.

SYNOPSIS. Philomel Sutton, who lives with her Munt Amelia, sees an advertisement for a lady chauffeur wanted by Mr. Martin Dreever, The Gables, Marshfield. In a mental hospital, in the West of England are two men who are great friends, and have (periodical attacks of insanity, but curiously enough never at the same time. One is Reuben Dreever, who has been placed there by his brother Martin; the other is, James Bantry. ' These two make their escape together. Reuben’s one idea is to have his revenge on his brother Martin, who Is a money-lender and miser. He is known all over for his meanness and merciless treatment of his victims. The two men make their way to The Gables, and taking Martin prisoner, lock him up in a room on the fourth •torey. Reuben then impersonates his brother, taking his name, and lives at The Gables with Bantry. They advertise for a lady chaffeur. T CHAPTER Vl.— (Continued.) After climbing the hill known as Ijyestbury Ring, because of a circular Wump of pine trees with which it was crowned, they had a long descent to the plain that gave Marshfield its name. Obeying her employer’s instructions, Phil turned to the left, down an apparently little-used byroad. Assuming that he knew the district, she allowed the car to boom along at full speed. As they passed a farmhouse standing back from the road a woman came running out, waving her arms and shouting something which they could not hear, as she pointed ahead. “Go on I Never mind her!” commanded Dreever.

As the country opened out once more Phil saw the reason for the woman’s agitation. The car was approaching an open level crossing which was used only as an accommodation by the local- farmers when passing from one side of the property to the Other. There was no protecting fence or gate; the railway simply ran across the open fields. Two hundred yards away came thundering an express. < Phil’s heart thumped as though it would break loose when she realised their danger. She attempted to put the brakes hard on, but Dreever was lying, apparently overcome by excitement, in such a position that’ she could not properly reach to exert any pressure.

■ A J hundred yards—.fifty yards had. yet to be covered before the line was reached. To attempt to stop now would be hopeless. The driver of the train had also evidently seen their predicament. The engine screamed a warning, and .the wheels grated as the speed slackened & little. ■ .

Phil, taking a big breath, jammed the clutch on to top speed, and the car bounded forward at racing pace. There was just a chance, she thought that.they might get clear. If not. . . The rest was a confused noise of escaping steam, throbbing motor, grinding wheels, piercing whistle, and shouts. Twenty yards—ten—the car bounded over the railway like a sentient thing just as the express thundered past. They had cheated death by inches. ' ; • How Phil (Sutton survived that shock she never knew.. She did not remember what happened, after crossing over. She only knew that about a quarter of a mile along the deserted by-road the brakes were applied and 'the car stopped. Dreever lay half-conscious across the seat, and Phil never felt so much like, fainting in her life. “What’s happened?” asked the man as he slowly opened his eyes and passed his hand across his brows. “■Happened?” commented the girl bitterly. “Happened?. We’ve just miraculously escaped being smashed 1 ' to pieces.” 7 ’‘Couldn’t you stop?” “How-could I when you had fainted in such a position that I couldn’t use the brakes?" ‘Tm sorry,” he answered with unusual humility. “I don’t recollect anything after that woman stood waving her arms.” “You ought to have taken heed of the warning.” . “Yes. perhaps we ought, but I love speeding. It seems to—to fill me with—with a sort of —a—power. To. gash along. ...” “Yes, that’s all very well, said Phil curtly, “but when people give one a warning it is wise to take notice of it, however much one may love speeding. But what made you faint?” “I’m sure I don’t know. My heart is weak, I believe, and when I saw that train. . • .” He shuddered with an- eloquence that rendered further explanation unnecessary. “I think we’ll go back to Marshfield,” remarked Phil at length. “You are not well,' and I could do with something less exciting. Please sit in:the rear seat and give me room to use any levers I might happen to want. In future I must insist on Mr. Bantry coming with us when, we use the car. I can’t manage both you and the machine.” As Phil had her way without any further trouble, it was evident she had succeeded in managing both man and machine .on this occasion, at >?ast» . ' ....... .

CHAPTER VII. '■■■?

Phil saw him walk up the drive — a tall, lithe, young figure, a little arrogant, perhaps, in his youthful assurance. Every sinew in his body looked at taut as steel as he swung forward towards her with the easy grace of an athlete. When he caught sight of her in the doorway he raised his hat. “Good morning! Are you the lady who was driving Mr Dreever’s car?'’ he asked. , , „ “Yes. What ‘do you want, please “ •1 want to speak to your employer. My car was damaged, you know.” “Are you claiming?” •‘I can’t discuss my affairs with Mr Dreever’s chauffeur. I want to see him personally.” Phil flushed with anger at his cool Insolence. “Oh, do you?” she said, ana he

noted how lovely she looked with the heightened colour in her cheeks. “You cannot see him to-day; he's not at all -well. He suffers a great deal, poor fellow.” “Oh, my hat! ‘Poor fellow!’” cried Jack Preston bluntly, “I’ve never heard anyone call old Dreever ‘poor fellow’ beforel’ Upset him? I guess not! I’m going to see him whether he is ill or well. Would you mind telling him I am here, or shall I step in and announce myself? My name’s Preston.”

Phil was about to refuse, when Dreever himself appeared. “Who is there, Miss Sutton?” he asked quietly. “It’s the young man we collided with yesterday. He says he must speak to you. I have told him you are not well, but he refuses to believe me,” replied Phil with suppressed anger.

“Ask the young man into the library, Miss Sutton, please. I will see him there.” And Dreever entered the room on the left of the spacious hall. Phil turned to Jack, and in a cold little voice said, “Follow me, please. Mr Dreever will see you.” As they walked to the library Jack noticed how her spun-gold hair shone; it lit up the gloomy house like a ray of sunshine. He admired too, her perfectly lissom body, and laughed, to himself when he remembered the anger in her glorious eyes. What an experience to kiss those proud lips! But only if they were yielded voluntarily; now they would be cold as ice, he mused.

“How long have you been here?” he asked abruptly.

“Mr Dreever’s chauffeur doesn’t talk to rude young men!” she replied coldly. “Quits!” he laughed. “You’ve had your own back 1” “Oh, no. I’m sure I’m not sufficiently interested in you.” “Fibber!”

Phil raised her eyebrows disdainfully. “You think so? How nice to. have such a colossal conceit of oneself!”

“I say,” he gasped, “you’re some chauffeur.

“You mean I can’t drive? Is that it?" “You know what I mean.’’

“Perhaps I do, but it doesn’t matter. I shan’t see you again. Here’s the library. Mind the step!” Jack looked at her squarely. “You little thoroughbred!” he muttered between his teeth.

/ “Thank you—for nothing! Go right in, please," and as she stepped back he entered the room. Dreever was already there, and Jack Preston gave a start when he saw the did man sitting in a revolving \ chair. The whole atmosphere of the place was even more ancient than he had thought. There could be no doubt (he reflected) of the truth of the stories of secret passages and hidden chambers. The young chauffeur in petticoats, however, seemed calm and cool enough; the place had evidently no terrors for her. j-

“Well, Mr Preston, what do you want?" broke in the voice of Dreever. l

“I want to tell you that I am claiming damages for the collision with my car. The little bus is smashed tc bits. Wiiat ttie deuce you were thinking of to butt in deliberately as you did on the wrong side of the road, I can’t conceive!"

A queer, constrained look crept over Dreever’s face. He looked hard at the young man before him, then clutched the arms of his chair; he seemed to be making a great effort to. control his feelings. In a few moments, he breathed a sigh of relief. Phil saw the beads of perspiration on her employer’s forehead. She looked angrily at Jack and noticed that his face wore a puzzled expression. “I told you that Mr Dreever. vyas ill," she began, but the old man patted her hand gently. “Never mind. Leave everything to me; lam better now. I forgot for a minute what Mr Preston was talking about. Did you drive on the wrong side of the road?"

Phil looked at him with worried eyes.

“Yes; you told me to do so. Don’t you remember? In,fact, you did it yourself. Yau caught hold of the wheel.”

“No, I cannot remember, but I believe you, child. My head aches terribly.” He turned to Jack. “I am not answerable to you, Mr Preston, and I do as I like! Stay, Miss Sutton,” he interjected as Phil was moving away. “I may want you. I feel tired, and this young man vexes me!”

The girl returned and stood at the man’s side. The puzzled look grew on Jack Preston’s face. Old Dreever looked different (he told himself). He looked strong enough, and yet—■ yet there was that indefinable something in his eyes that almost aroused one’s pity. Rot! (he mentally concluded), the old devil’s shamming! He forgot all feelings of pity and remembered how his good old father had suffered at the moneylender’s hands. (

“Well, what are you going to do about my bus?" he asked doggedly. At this moment Bantry came quietly into the room and walked unobtrusively to the window. Dreever did not introduce him to the visitor, bjrt went on quickly in a tense voice. “I will do nothing, Mr Preston! You can sue me, but not one penny will I pay 1 There were no witnesses besides ourselves, and this young woman is my good friend, so you cannot expect her to side with you against me. That is right, my dear, is it not?”

.“Of course,” answered Phil. “You ought to be ashamed of yourself," she half-whispered indignantly to Preston. “I told' you Mr Dreever was not fit to see anybody!” Jack looked at the man and the girl. They made a striking contrast, and evidently the girl was fond of her employer. She seemed one whose sense of loyalty would drive her through fire and water in his service. He turned away and walked to the door.

“You’ll hear from my solicitors next," he said. “I think my word is as good as yours in a court of law. They will probably blame your chauffeur, sir,” he added blandly when he had reached the door. He knew that would draw Phil, and he wanted to see that sparkle in her eyes again, . . .(To be continued.),