“Judy Says No”

Taranaki Daily News, 31 July 1931, Page 10

“Judy Says No”

CHAPTER 111 (continued). The Other Girl. Nicholas turned to go back when suddenly he remembered Judy’s artless little face. Why, there was a silver lining. Oddly enough, this brave little person, who had the intention of facing his grandfather, and lecturing him about the trap, had reminded him of it. Nay, rather she herself was the silver lining! He smiled rather reluctantly as he thought. Here was he, determined never to have anything more to do with the feminine sex', allowing himself to, be cheered by one of them! What a droll way she had of smiling! She could be serious, too, and she had real pluck. The way she had endured that very nasty cut on her foot had told him that she Had courage. Why, Enid would have been laid up lor a. week if a thing like that had happened to her. : His face hardened . again as. he •thought of Enid. How could anyone have been so cruel? Almost unconsciously; he found himself doubling on his tracks, and walking' up to the ■servants’ entrance. He pulled up as he got to it, wondering what on earth his intention was. Then he realised that he wanted to put a word in for i that funny little Judy, with her laughing purple eyes and roguish little [face. ■ He’d get old Rapson to keep a Ikindly eye on the girl. Now, what was ‘her surname? Bother, he had only heard the crowd of villagers speak to her as Judy. A bit difficult to buttonhole old Rapson and say: “Now listen ihere, be decent to that new maid, jJudy, and don’t let Mrs Cratvford scare her out of her wits.” A rueful look clouded his face, but he decided he would do his best. i She had cheered him considerably. 'lt was only fair that he should do his •best to help her. “The lion and the mouse,” he 'thought. “I’m a bit battered for a lion,” he said to himself, half bitterly. But one couldn’t think of Judy for long and be bitter.

Winifred Carter.

H& rang the bell, and was touched at the way the man’ who opened to him showed his pleasure. A moment] later Rapson herself stood there. Grim old woman that she was she; adored Nick. “Oh, sir,” she said fiercely. “It makes my blood boil you coming to this entrance, when by right ’’ He stopped her witn a laugh. “By rights I ought to be set at by the dogs, so don’t get indignant on my behalf; grandfather is quite,within bls rights to do as he likes.” “I don’t agree with you there,” said Rapson, folding her hands together decisively. “You are a good sort, sir, and I’m one of your friends.” ' “That’s right,” said Nick, his face softening. “But I wouldn’t be here at all if it wasn’t that I wanted to put in a good word for one of the staff, a newcomer, a girl ”. He ended up rather lamely, for it Was more awkward speaking for Judy than he had thought it would be. “I don’t think we have anyone fresh on the staff,” said Rapson, pujzzled. i “Oh, yes, you have,” said Nicholas, 'decidedly. “She’s here all right, and if you get a chance 1 want you to 'smooth things over for her, there’s a good sort. You see, I came across her in a railway accident —there was no one hurt,” he added hastily, seeing her startled face. “But she was so plucky that I’d like you to befriend her.” “I’ll look out for her, sir,” said Rapson. “I haven’t heard that we’d! got anyone new. What’s her name,j sir?” - “Well,” said Nicholas, thrusting; his hands into his pockets and going! a trifle red; “I don’t know what herj surname is, but the people who were; with her called her Judy.” He turned away swiftly, leaving Rapson more puzzled, than before. The only person who had lately come to the house called Judy was the girl Mr Harmer intended to make hist heiress. Rapson couldn’t think of herj without feeling ferocious. ; Meanwhile Nicholas, feeling more! good-humoured than he had done for! many days, went along back. “I’ve done my good deed for the day, evidently,” he thought, his eyes twinkling. . “It’s done me good, too.” And then he paused. Where he was there was but a narrow margin of grass between the servants’ way in and the main drive. Nicholas Harmer; stood as though turned to stone. At; the big entrance stood a big car, an! opulent Rolls Royce; the sun shone on; the’silver fittings, giving an air of' luxury, and wealth that was aimostj offensive to . the practically penniless; young man. It was Roger Bourne’s, car, and Roger Bourne had been a. trouble to Nicholas in the old days,; for once or twice Enid had flirted with: him. Roger Bourne was tremendously, rich, and though he was considerably older than Enid Nicholas knew quite.; well that he . had had his eye on the' lovely girl. Nicholas hated him, hated him for, daring to have one thought of Enid..; He clenched his hands and gritted his' teeth. Roger Bourne could go on calling at Hanner House without; being shown the door! Roger Bourne, had not been jilted because he was in disgrace 1 For the first time the situation as it affected himself and Enid came home. It struck him as though he had been dealt a physical blow. Enid had jilted him 1 He loathed the word, but it was the only word he could use; yet she had frankly admitted that she still cared for him. He had believed that it was impossible for her to be gracious to another man, especially Roger Bourne! ' And yet, even as he watched, knowing the very bitterness of death, Boger Bourne came out, and Enid was With him.

How lovely she looked! The beauti-i ful little face was smooth and untroubled. She smiled at Roger Bourne, and that smile seemed to pierce Nick’s heart. A moment later the magnificent car. glided round the bend towards the main gates. So close was it to ; Nicholas that he could see right into, the car. Roger Bourne was not, driving himself. That was enough further to enrage Nicholas. He was behind. Alone with Enid! And Enid was smiling at Rogen Bourne as once she had smiled ail jjim. Facing Henry Harmer. The moment Judy got inside she Went straight up to her grandfather’s room and knocked at the door. His man Waller opened to her. “1 want to see my grandfather, and at once,” she said. “He is in bed,” said the man, rather astonished at this apparition. “I’ll see her, Waller,” said the old man crustily. Without a word Judy came in and gifted up her foot. Gashed with the Jagged teeth, it looked a nasty place, and he stared in alarm down at it. tllis man vanished, almost as surprised i*s his master. L .‘‘However havo_ you done that.

fQy

.Judy? Been in the wars already?” said her grandfather. i “It’s all your fault,” said Judy fiercely. “Do you know how I got that? I went out into the woods this morning and a trap did it. If it had ■ not been for a young man who has taken a cottage called ‘Harmer’s Rest’ I’d be in it now. It’s the most scandalous thing! How dare you let dreadful things like that be there?” “Hoity toity, my girl! Game must be preserved,” said her grandfather, greatly scandalised. “Gaine must be preserved!” said ■ Judy scornfully. “I never heard of such a thing! Preserved for what? For you to go out and shoot when it suits your pleasure. Grandfather, I tell you those traps must be taken away. I telb you I can’t stay here if there is such unkindness going on.” There were tears in her eyes. “Just think if a rabbit had got in, or a cat or a dog. It might suffer for hours. 1 I just can’t bear it. You' seem to forget that where T have come from we would rather suffer ourselves than let a dumb animal be hurt!”

“So you're making out that we are more heartless than, your people at home?" “I know it is true,” said Judy. ■ “It must be. Why, none of them would set a trap like that. If you had seen its great teeth tearing at my ankle, and had had an ounce of imagination, you would have determined never to use such a hideous thing again.” “I tell you the game must be preserved,” he said obstinately. “Then I can’t help it; I must go home. I simply, shouldn’t have a peaceful moment if I thought in those woods there were dumb animals crying out in pain. I could never I’d have to be going round all the time to put them out .of their misery. Oh, grandfather, think of a ■ little fluffy brown rabbit or a furry cat. You couldn’t do it." - . ■ He lay there looking at her from under his bushy brows with an expression that was one of exasperation. ’ ■ “Are. you declaring an ultimatum?” he said. “Indeed I am. Daddy would quite understand, and he would not want me to stay here under the circumstances —none of them would.” “Well, I’m blest!" said the old man. “I can see that if I am not jolly careful you will be in command here before I am in my coffin.” She did not speak—she just looked at him. She was far too much in earnest to see anything humorous in the situation. But, fortunately, Henrj Harmer had a sense of humour, and it rather tickled him to think that this girl was bearding the lion in the den in this cool fashion. Then he pressed the bell and Waller appeared. “Is Dawson’here?” he demanded. “Yes, sir. He is waiting to know if you have any orders.” “Send him in.” “Dawson is the head gamekeeper,” he told Judy. Judy nodded gravely. Dawson came in and. stood looking inquiringly towards the grim old man on the bed. He looked good-natured and phlegmatic, and not the sort to be easily surprised. But when old Harmer shot out the command that all the traps were to be collected and broken up he blinked as though he thought his master had gone out of his mind. “I may as well tell you that I am being ruled by a young autocrat who is quite probably going to come into possession b.ere when I am gone.”

Into the gamekeeper’s face came that look which Judy had surprised once or twice on the domestics’ faces —almost a resentful look, it was. She guessed that they counted her an Impostor, trying to take Nick’s place. They were all fond of Nicholas, she had already gathered that. “This young lady’s foot has been caught in a trap.” Judy held out her gashed foot mutely. It spoke for itself. “She does not like the idea of traps, and they have all to be broken up.” “Very good, sir,” gasped the gamekeeper. CHAPTER IV. Old Ambitions. “It’s not because I care a rap about my foot,” said Judy firmly., “It’s just that I am not going to have things like that anywhere where I may go. It is wicked to give animals hours of suffering. I hope you will see that there is po more of that kind of thing goes on on this estate.” She was mildly surprised when the man bolted, a look of dazed surprise on his face. But her grandfather chuckled. He was going to get rather more amusement from Judy coming for six months’ probation than he had thought. 1 “No one has ever spoken like that to a servant of mine before, my dear,” he said thoughtfully. “Oh, grandfather!” said Judy in dismay. “I hope I haven’t been rudel”' “No; just firm; and as a rule the only firm person in this house is myself.’’ Judy dimpled. “Not room for too many masters, I know,” she said He chuckled again, thinking over the look on Dawson’s face. . There’d be more shocks for them all, he guessed, before Judy was through. Then there came a resentful voice at the door. “When you have quite finished with dear Judy, Henry, I shall be glad. I have been waiting already for the best part of an hour.” Judy jumped, and looked at her grandfather in dismay. She had completely forgotten Mrs Crawford. XTo be continued.).