A SHORT STORY.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 15112, 22 December 1921, Page 7

A SHORT STORY.

ULTRA SUPERBA, (BY BERTRAM ATKEY). - (Continued.) She was gazing out at the muddy, streets. -' - "Unless you could invent some wonder- J ful invention by -which I could go about London without getting my shoes and skirts splashed by mud." She laughed gayly. "A now kind of dress protector. Isn't that absurd? I am so happy to-day that I want to say absurd, impossible things." But Mr. BoWre did not appear to think it absoid. "That is soon done l\ ho said. And I'll do it!" "• She looked surprised. "Please, I was only joking!" she'eried^ "I am going to buy you a. pair of galoshes and a dress protector," he said mysteriously. She smiled affectionately. "How funny you are dear Mi". Boldre!" Five minutes later they were sliding across Regent Street in Boldre's big car. They pulled up outside an establishment which had no resemblance whatever to a galoshery or mackintoshery. But it certainly was a very fine motor depot. "There," said Boldre speciously—"there is the shoe and dress protector I am going to buy you!" He pointed to a perfect little miracle of a twelve-horse power fight coupe in royal blue, Winnie knew it. That litfle bus was an old friend oi! hers. It had wanted her from the day they put it in the window ' Its graceful little domed mud guards had always seemed like two chubby arms held appealing out for her; its electrio head lamps always seemed like two eyes shining with pleasure at her approach, dulled with disappointment when she left. IShe had come to see itseveral times. Once when she had some shopping to do in that street she and Boldre bad paused to look at it. But she had not thought he would be quite so quick in the uptake She had expected a wee trifle more trouble.

"Oh, no, no, please not! Why, -it is eight hundred pounds, Mr. Boldre! 1 couldn't! It would be so wrong," she protected,, <horriflUd. "I {thought you meant just an ordinary present—a stationery case — sometching' like that —a little jewel case " "Well, my dear, isn't this a jewel case?" "Oh, how witty and quick you are!" sighed Winnie, and protested again. As usual it "was all over when Winnie began to protest—all over except the paying. . _ Boldre was accustomed to having his way. Ho had it on this occasion. In any case he knew that his wife would want such a bus sooner or later. It might just as weir be now as a few days later. Winnie could drive, he knew. She had told him days before how her father had taught her. The car was purchased and ordered to be sent forthwith to Lady Fasterton's garage "with a note from Winnie to that lady. She knew that dear May would extend her hospitality to her little, friend's car for a while. But Winnie was going to dine with Boldre that evening, and it was already late afternoon. She decided to allow the mechanic who was taking the car to drop her at Her flat. She thanked Boldre while they were running the. car out. He would have preferred to be thanked in fh& privacy of his own limousine, but that would have meant denying the jewel her first ride then in the new case. So, as well-trained men do, he put up with it. But Winnie merely stopped at her flat to pick up a cheque book and to telephone to Miss Beryl Allen at Archer's flat, asking a question. Whatever it was, the answer was satisfactory. Then she sweetly directed the driver of her nice new coupe to run along to Finch Court. Mr. George H. Jay, as promised, was awaiting her. It was with something resembling paternal or avuncular pride that he welcomed her, and though present, her natural caution was not markedly apparent. He was beginning to realise that the simple innocence of this little ingenue was not so dangerous to him when she came to his office to make use of him as it was when he invited, her there with the intention of making use of her.

"Oh, thank you, dear Mr. Jay,-for bothering about wafting for me," she cried. "You know I am ashamed to bother you so only an idea came info my head, and I thought you would help,me please.* 2 "Yes, indeed, my dear lady, that I ■will," he offered reasonably. "It is not very important to you, I know, but it Is to me. I want to invest —isn't that what they say, please—invest?—l want to invest five hundred pounds." A faint anxiety flashed into the eyes of gentle Mr. Jay. But he nc*d not have worried. In less than fen minutes she had made it clear as "to the precise manner in which the five hundred for which she gave him an open cheque was to be Invested. He warned Tier seriously that she was going to lose her money. "You are getting a worthless thing for the money, dear Miss Winnie, I. assure you. I have made Inquiries and I really know." But Winnie was gently determined and not to be shaken. She felt sure that she was making a good investment, she said timidly, and' even offered to sell Mr. Jay a fifth share of it for one "Hundred pounds, an offer he declined with some haste and but poorly concealed horror. But he promised at last faithfully to

cany out her request, without reservation at all. and she hurried away. He shook his heavy head as he returned from seeing htT out. ".lust a baby," he mused. "A sweet but lucky baby. She's going to burn her fingers. Well, it may be a good thing .for her. Make her caieJul —a lesson. Lord what a wildcat buy! Here's'London full of rotten things to invest in, and she's managed to pick the rottencst oi all to put five hundred in. And she offered me a fifth share for a hundred. Me! Old George Careful Jay. Well, well, it only shows you that all the people can't have all the luck all the time. Pity though. She's the prettiest, nicest little thing I've ever seen. Like a little bird, bless her! Still, it'll do her good—aixd she can afford it." Then ho looked at the check, pondered a little, and made a note or two. • - "I am to be very careful, please," he diuckled. "Right! I'll pull it off first thing to-morrow. As she's got to lose her money, I may as well lose it for her as per instructions." That was Monday evening. On Wednesday Mr. Benson Boldre was gay, very gay, for Winnie and her friend Lady Fasterton lunched at his flat. He would have preferred Winnie alone, but Winnie thought otherwise. It had been a very jolly lunch, and he was having, a little cigarette at the end of it when a note was brought to him. He nodded slightly when he read it and glanced at Winnie. "Archer is ready to start serious work on the film," he said smiling. "The- scenario is fixed up. He wants to arrange about • your costumes and some other things at once" —Boldre laughed—"and incidentally he wants the rest of the money I'm investing in it. You musttry to'gctMiim to pay you another- instalment) oil your salary to-morrow.^ Winnie shook her head. "Oh, I couldn't press him unkindly, are you sending him the money V." Boldre nodded. "If you ladies wflT forgive the interruption to our little festivity, I will send it now." He went across to his desk—they were having 'coffee "an his big, comfortable library-- and scribbled the cheque. "There, mademoiselle, that's what your firsthand— last —appearance in film land is costing me,? he said playfully, passing the pink slip. It was an open cheque to the OltraSuperba Company as Winnie had judged it would he for. when Archer wanted the money he wanted it quickly—five thousand five hundred pounds. She gazed at it almost, it seemed in terror. "What a huge sural" she criedT "I did not dream —look, May dear, it is costing all that money to make the film in which I am acting as Anne Boelynl" Lady Fasterton smiled. "My dear child, that's quite moderate —extremely moderate for a film nowadays"- she informed the girl and Boldre nodded.

''lt seems vast to me," sighed Winnie. She offered the cfiqeue to Boldre, then drew it back, her eyes sparkling with the excitement of a sudden idea. "Oh, Mr. Boldre, lei me take it to Mr. Archer 1 I'm sure it will be an omen of good luck. I am going there this after* noon iJ he is ready to arrange about my costumes. May will come, won't you? And perhaps you will come, too, Mr. Boldre.. She was as excited as a child. Boldre smiled. "AH right, you bahy," he said, "you can be the good fairy who hands Archer the money if you like. It's very kind of Lady Fasterton to help choose your costumes. And if you are; likely to be more than an hour at* Archer's perhaps I may be permitted to come on there presently. I have to wait here till half past two. My lawyer is calling—about some settlements," he aded significantly. Lady Fasterton had been acting in loco parentis to Winnie and "marriage" and "settlements"' were practically Interchangeable terms with' dear May. Winnie -looked shyly away. "But you will come on please, wont you? We shall wait," she coaxed. "Just as quickly as I can," Ee promised. "AE, you are sof EndH she breath«3> her ,blue eyes radiant. (To Be Continued.)