PETER’S PAUL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21959, 10 May 1941, Page 11

PETER’S PAUL

CHAPTER 1 Peter Catne finished his breakfast. He had saved some pieces of bread and some of his porridge and milk, and these he mixed in his porridge plate. “Here you are, Paul,” he said as he laid the plate on the floor. Paul was a rough-haired terrier. He had very bright, Intelligent eyes, a thick coat, white with tan markings, and a tail that had never been docked and which curled cockily as a terrier’s tail should curl. The door opened and a young man came in. He had a hard, square face, thin lips, and eyes that were like blue marbles. He was Andrew Meekln, Peter’s cousin. He looked at Peter and he looked at Paul. Two deep lines showed on his forehead. “I have to feed you, Peter,” he said in a harsh voice, “but I'm not compelled to feed your dog." Peter stood up stiffly. “It doesn’t cost you anything, Andrew. Paul is eating bits I saved from my own breakfast." “He is eating food which I bought and paid for. I am not going to have it.” Peter’s face went white but his eyes were steady. Years spent in the same house with Andrew had taught him to control his temper. He did not reply. His silence made Andrew still more angry. .. “You’ll get rid of that dog,” he ordered. Still Peter did not speak. Andrew lost his temper. “I mean it," he said viciously. “I’m going to the office now. It that dog is in the house when I come back I shall Have it destroyed.” Peter’s lip curled. The contempt in his face infuriated Andrew. ’ ; “I’ll teach you to cheek me;” tie! said, and swung his open hand at Peter’s face. Two things happened at once. Peter dropped flat on the floor, and the hand, missing him, swept the teapot from the table and sent it crashing across the room. Papl came with a rush and fixed ffis teeth in Andrew’s calf. Andrew howled with pain and rage, but before he could recover himself Peter had snatched up Paul and run out of the house. Andrew, boiling with rage, had to wash the small wound that Paul had made in his leg and put iodine on. That stung badly, and Andrew vowed vengeance on both dog and master. Peter and Paul had taken refuge at a neighbouring house where Mr Blakeney, a widower, lived with his son Bill, a slim chap with very bright blue eyes. Bill was Peter’s great pal. He met him at the door. “What’s up?” he demanded. “I suppose it’s Andrew again.” “He's going to kill Paul if he’s in the house when he gets back from the office this evening. Paul and I are clearing out,” Peter said calmly. “Where to?” “Haven’t a notion, but I’m fed up.” “Don’t be an ass,” Bill said vigorously “You’d starve.” “What else can I do?” Peter asked. “Andrew owns the place and everything.” “But he has to keep you. That was in your uncle Jocelyn’s will.” “He hasn’t got to keep Paul. And I’ve no money to pay for his grub.” Bill’s face darkened. “It’s a shame. I can’t think how your uncle came to make such a silly will. Everyones knows he liked you better than he did Andrew.” “But Andrew got some sort of a hold over him and made him make that will. It’s no good, BUI. I must go. I’U get a job as van boy.” BiU frowned. He was thinking hard. “We can. 4o better than thaLff he said presently. “Leave Paul here. Dad and I wIU take care of him and you can see him every day. Then you stick at home and make Andrew keep-you. See he does it properly. Tell him youll go to a lawyer if he doesn’t. Dad's a solicitor, remember!” Peter looked serious. “You’re a good pal, Bill, and Paul would be happy with you, but T don't know if I can stick Andrew much longer.” “Try old ehap. And you can always, come over here when you’re fed up with Denstone.” “You’re jolly comforting Bill,” said Peter gratefully. “AU right. I’U stick it a bit longer.” When Andrew came home that evening there was Peter, sUent as ever, but no sign of Paul. Andrew wondered :Srtlat had... become of the dog, and at WiewKSity eor the better of him. the dog?” he demanded. “You told me to send him away. I have,” Peter answered. That was aU the satisfaction Andrew got. ■ Paul desperately, yet it wa.-. some- consolation think that "Paul was being.' weU fed‘-i .. atter s that next momJSr Whm . Andrewjfaflldrt. -he and BUmd-Paur' could go off for a long walk.. He got down to breakfast early neiflgjitaniiftf -’’ and had almost fljlished before.’ Andrew/ who was always late, appeared! Andrew greeted the boy With a scowl, ' " “I’m sending you to Cropptn.-- at the end of these holidays," hejtolid him. “Uncle said I was to go Io Clifton/’- ’ P^ldonf t care what he said. It Wash’? in his will.” “ Peter was boUing. Cropinns was a cheap and nasty little private school which had a bad reputation. Peter knew that this was spite on Andrew’s part. ' “I’ll go jo the CotmcU .Bflidtfl,” he said, and walked out of the room. He Went' straight to the Blakeney’s house, met Bill, and Bill was looking.scared. - “ said. Tve been looking for him ever so long. He bolted when I let him out before breakfast. Did he come to you?” Peter went . rather white. “I haven’t seefi him,” he said. «—JTl’m - tare -he's over at your place," Bill said quickly. “Has Andrew left?” “Must Have by. this time. Come on.” “I can’t, Peter. I have that scholarship dxam—the holiday one.” “I’d forgotten. But it’s all right. I’m irertain- Paul’ is somewhere in the garden. He’d run back of course the minute he was loose, then, when he couldn’t get in, would go hunting rabbits in the shrubbery.” Peter spoke confidently, but when he got back to Denstone and found that Paul was not in the garden he was not happy. He plunged into the shrubbery, calling for the dog, but getting no answer. (To be continued-.) ’>■ COLOURFUL LIMERICK In a rectent limerick competition in “John o’ London’s Weekly,” which sought readers’ comments on the brighter bread movement, first prize went to this punning jest by Mr John Rose, 45 Florence Park, Coldharbour Road, Bristol: There once was a baker who said. “Why shouldn’t I bake brighter bread?" So the next day on view Were some loaves that were blue. “Dye-jestive,” the passer-by read.