“Judy Says No”

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1931, Page 14

“Judy Says No”

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Winifred Carter.

CHAPTER IX (continued) j

f '‘Then I think it's too bad of you,’*' ijaid Judy. “And, anyway, I did not feo to see Nicholas for any reason but to comfort him for his horrid posi:|ion.”

“If you ask me, I think you are a little attracted to Nicholas," said Enid Sharply. She felt a queer longing to hurt Judy. The girl’s great blue eyes sverc fixed on her reproachfully. “You lire a constant irritation."

“I don’t understand you," said Judy, drawing back a little. "Well, it’s easy enough to see. Girls as a rule don't go, running after people unless they are ° attracted. [You mark my words, Judy, you are In love with Nicholas and it seems to ,me to be rather an indiscreet thing." “I never heard such a thing," said Judy. “I think you are most unkind, Enid."

She broke away from the girl and fled upstairs to her bedroom and sat down scarlet with confusion over what Enid had said. How preposterous it was, saying she was in love with Nick! And she had only met him two or three times. No, she certainly wasn’t in love with him, but she was going to fight for him.

As 'She passed Enid’s door a sudden thought came. It was neck or nothing to get that photograph, but get it she meant to. She hurried in, and there on the dressing-table was a silver frame, but it was empty. Evidently Enid had taken the photograph out. Judy could not but believe that once upon a time a photograph of Nicholas Harmer had been in that silver frame. She picked up the frame, but underneath there was no manly, prepossessing face to smile up at her, and she did not drcam that Clive had overheard her request and had slipped up and had confiscated it. The Photograph. ‘ On the day of her next singing .lesion Judy stopped at the leading photographer’s in the High Street spellbound, because right.in the centre was a photograph of Nick. Without a moment’s hesitation she went in and Interviewed the proprietor, and made her artless request. “What I want is a whole lot of photographs of men," she informed him. “Also that one of Mr Nicholas Harmer.” He looked a little surprised at her request. ’ “I really only want to borrow them but I’ll pay you well for the loan of them," said Judy beseechingly, r . "If it’s anything that’s going to harm that young Mr Harmer it’s no 'good asking me. He’s a favourite of Itnlne. Got pluck,’’ said the photographer. “I’m having my milk and 4ggs from him,” he added, with a touch of defiance that endeared him .'to Judy for always after. - -“l’m glad, and what I am doing I "hope will help him," said Judy softly Quite won over by Judy's violetblue eyes the bld man gave her what Bhe asked for, so that Judy went back ilnto the car - with a packet of 'photographs in her bag, and a secret. I glow at her heart. But although one ‘part of her mission had been attained :there was the difficulty of getting up ,to the farm. She did not intend to enlist Clive’s aid. As a matter of fact, Clive had become Just a little bit too ' jlmportunate. She was always dodging tilm nowadays; she was too busy to hink of sweethearts. ■ When she got home she found Lord Kenway there. . Lord Kenway was, naturally enough, full of the Carnival which was giving an anticipatory thrill to the neighbourhood, and seeinjg that it gave 'him a good excuse for calling, he was inot Blow in taking it. Her grandifather had given him permission to take her to Kenway Court to see if she approved of the lighting arrangements of the grounds. ■i . The many coloured lamps were being put in position when she arrived. i “Lit up they will be beautiful," she Said. “Ohi~ Lord Kenway, it’s going to be the most wonderful dance.. I’ve never dreamed anything could be so beautiful. Grandfather has given me a perfectly scrumptious frock. Of bourse, I shan’t' look anything .like Enid, but I shall look quite nice.” i He /wanted to tell her that she would surpass Enid, a thousand times. I It was then that her idea came. ’ . “Going back would you call at Mowbray’s Farm?", she said anxiously .(‘‘Oh, Lord Kenway, I wonder if I could confide in you?"’ a ■ “Why, of course, Judy," said Herbert Kenway, wondering what had Overcast the sparkling little face. t-., “You know my cousin, Nicholas Harmer?" she said.. ■ “Yes, Judy, quite well." i. “Yet you believed everything that Was said against him?" ' “Well, as for that I was convinced that Henry Harmer would n‘ot have been misled." “And yet I come here and I don't believe any of the story,” said Judy. “Although I never even knew him, 1 was sure Nicholas wasn't that sort of man. I am going to find, out, but I must have someone .to help me, First, I enlisted Clive’s aid." He gave her a half-jealous look. It had not been difficult to guess where Clive Crawford’s hopes were. If no one else had guessed, Lord Kenway knew that he was in love with Judy, or if not in love, determined to win her. Well, he vyas not the. only one in the field, thought Herbert Kenway, looking at the earnest face gravely “That's why I want to go to Mowbray Farm. There is someone I Want to see there." “Of course. I'll take you. There’s nothing I would not do to help you, Judy, in any project upon which you had set your heart." “You are a Wear," said Judy, with & sigh of relief. z She was rather serious as the emoothly-running car took its way to Mowbray Farm. “Stay here for me,” she said, half shyly. “I won’t be long." Then she set off to find Marion Jackson. The girl was in the dairy, churning. She looked up and flushed in confusion as she saw Judy. “I have come to see you," said Judy. “There is something I want to ask you. It is very important.” “I am sorry mita,” said the girl sullenly, “but" if 1 stop my butter Won’t come.” “I am quite willing to wait,” said Judy, and she sat down on a stool with every intention ,of waiting until the girl could give- her her attention. t Marion stopped churning abruptly. “What do youwant?"... she. .said . ilkily, the smouldering eyes glowerg under dark brows.

CHAPTER X. “I want you to look at these photographs and Hell me which one is Nicholas Harmer," said Judy, spreading out on the stone bench beside the great pans of milk the photographs she had obtained from the photographer.. Quite noticeable to any-, one who knew him intimately was the photograph of Nicholas Harmer. “Now look at them carefully and tell me which one is Nicholas Harmer," she said firmly. The girl looked frightened and shook her head forbiddingly. Judy seized one.

“Is that Nicholas Harmer?" “No," said the girl uneasily. “Or that? or that?” said Judy. “Or that? or that?"

“No," said the. girl. She was too slow-witted to realise she was being cornered.

“Then there isn’t a photograph of Nicholas Harmer among these” said Judy swiftly. “No,” said the girl. “And if there was I wouldn’t say so." “Yes, you would,” said Judy, “because this thing about Nicholas Harmer isn’t finished. You can’t say the sort of thing you have said and expect to get off so easily. You have never met Nicholas Harmer in your life. Why did you lie about him?" The girl began to cry. Judy rose in w/ath.

“Now tell me the name of the man who has been making love to you. I know exactly what happened. You see I come from a place where I have been the one to find out all about love affairs. There has been a man making love to you and your father discovered you, and you gave the wrong name, and got Nicholas into terrible trouble. What is the name of the man who really made love to you?" But Judy could not mike Marion Jackson speak. Already she was scared, afraid that one of those photographs might be Nicholas Harmer himself.

“I shall find out," said Judy, sternly. “I am going to keep at this until it is found out, and then you will get into trouble. Now I promise you that if you will tell me the truth now you shall be shielded. It's your chance. Up to now, you have cruelly spoken against an innocent man. And when the truth comes out, as come out it will, you will have to leave, here. It will be too hot to hold you. Take your chance and tell the truth now." But Marion Jackson had dissolved into sobs and would not speak. And at last Judy saw that the girl reallywould not speak. She must be thankful she had discovered as much as she had. Back in the car she turned to Lord Kenway. “Lord Kenway, will you do something more for me?" “Why of course I will," he said, only too eager to obey Jier least behest. “Well, do you know a Mr Ventris?" “No, sorry!" said Lord Kenway. That floored Judy. Mr Ventris was the man to whom Nicholas had paid the card debt with the forged cheque. “I could get to know him," suggested Lord Kenway. “Oh, you dear! Will you! Do you think you could invite him to J,he Carnival Dance?"

“As to that I can do it without knowing him personally," he agreed. “And will you?" . “Certainly." “You are a real friend,” said Judy gratefully. They lapsed into silence. “Can you tell me why you want him?" he queried. “No, I don’t think I can, but I’ve got an idea and I want to carry it through without anyone knowing." “I see. You shall then."

Her eyes sparkled. Oh, if she could really do it. It would be something worth while to achieve. After that she was thoughtful. Once or twice he stole a glance at her face. He hated to see a cloud dimming the sparkle of that enchanting face. ' . .

“What is it?" he said- “You look so in earnest that I hardly, like Fj break in upon your thoughts." “I am puzzled," said Judy. “I would like to tell you all about it, but I can’t, not yet. • I want to get all my facts marshalled together, so that there is no possible chance of things going wrong. I am not unhappy, though. What has happened just now has lightened my load." “Can I run you anywhere to-mor-row?"

“Singing lesson,” said Judy promptly. . ’ - “I'll take you. How are you getting on with him?" “Signor Farnovitch says I am doing quite well. There are days when he rows at me all the time. And .then another day he’ll shrug his shoulders and say: ‘Not so b.ad.’ And last time* he actually said: ‘Goodl’ and I felt as though I had got ten marks out of ten.” • " ..

I’hey had to pass Harmer’s Rest as they came in the big gates of Harmer House. Nicholas was out ploughing with the tractor. • ' “I was amazed when I first knew who had taken Harmer’s Rest," said Lord Kenway. “I admire him for it," said Judy defiantly. "I think It’s spicy Ud of him not lying down under all the things that are said against him. ■ Some day •It will be proved that he is as good is you are." • ■.

“I believe I rather admire him," said Lord Kenway. “Anyway, he’s got a staunch little champion In you, Judy.” “But he won’t speak to me," said Judy wistfully. “He Is ever so angry with- me. I believe he thinks I came with the deliberate Intention of stealing his place. But it is unfair, for I knew nothing about it until I was hero.” “I expect he has been, wpunded at the way he has been treated. I wonler if he would come to the dance?" Judy’s face wes scarlet. (To be continued.)