THE MONEY SENSE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18960, 6 January 1930, Page 16

THE MONEY SENSE.

“ STAR’S " NEW SERIAL STORY.

CHAPTER 11. (Continued.) “That’s just what I want. Ann is going to be one of our crowd. Let us make up lots of ’foursomes’. You and I—Ann and Clyde. I’m quite capable of looking after Clyde—he’s diffident, but easily handled. That will give you your chance with Ann. I like her, and yet I hate her. I’ve only known her for a few hours, yet I understand her, through and through. She's not quite sure of herself. She has started by liking you, and that's half the battle.” “ No. Jill. I shall play the game right through. Clyde shall have the same chance that I have. There shall be none of the parties you suggest. I want her love, won fairly or not it all. I shall have it out with Clyde, just as soon as possible. There is going to be no underhand business. If she chooses him, I shall be the first to wish them happiness.” he said in a low voice. “You men are far too scrupulous. I wmuld play any dirty trick to win Clyde. You men don’t know how to love. Can you imagine a woman con- 1 sidering a woman friend, when her whole happiness is at stake? ” she demanded contemptuously. Tony had taken up a pencil and was sketching rapidly. There appeared on the paper a portrait of Ann. and it was a speaking likeness. “ I shall love to paint her,” he said dreamily. “ You’d much better make love to her than paint her. When you have a brush in your hand you think of nothing but your art. Postpone the portrait until ymu’re married. Make love violently, and within a week you’ll be engaged. Clyde is a strong man, and he’s very determined, but when Ann has given her word to you she'll be sacred, so far as he’s concerned,” she declared emphatically. Tony thought for a few moments, and came to the conclusion that her advice was sound. They went below to the studio and joined the others, who were talking quite frankly. There was a general impression that the party had been rather flat, and Cara was trying to find out the reason. “ It wasn’t the new woman, who sang —she was quite charming. Yet we've all been a trifle bored. I believe Tony was the cau.se—it’s this money of his. Champagne, and lobster sandwiches! Tony, old dear, you’d better get through your pelf as quickly as possible,” she said with a light-hearted laugh. “ On the contrary, I intend to practise economy,” he announced gravely. At which remark, there was an outbreak of scoffing, but Tony remained quite serious. “ I’ve suddenly realised what a fool I’ve been. I shall live like a Spartan, and open a Post Office Savings account.” he said gravely. Only Jill took him seriously, for she understood how great a difference love could make, and she knew that he meant what he said. Cara yawned, and stated that she was going home. Everyone was tired, a ad the party broke up. Tony said “goodnight ” to his last guest at the door, and returned to the studio. lie had no desire for bed, and he methodically filled his pipe. It was of Clyde Preston that he was thinking, as he sa! with frowning brow. A boyish friendship that has lengthened to manhood's days is a very sacred thing. lie had never analysed his feelings for Clyde He had been there since the days of their youth. He had been by his side —quiet, reliable, a confidant to whom he had taken all his troubles. For the first time he realised that he had been the recipient, and Clyde the giver. He was the one who had always been in trouble, and it was Clyde who had extracted him from his difficulties. As he looked back, he marvelled at his friend’s patience. Was it possible that any woman could sever such a friendship? There and then he registered a determination that Clyde should be given every chance, and that he would take no advantage of any description. Indeed, he went so far as to write a note, tell-

ing Clyde that it would be impos üble tor him to turn up in the morning, but he asked him to convey a message to Ann, that he would expect her at the studio in the course of the afternoon. The letter written, he strolled out to the King’s Road Post Office and posted it. Then he returned, and mounted the stairs to the gallery. The silence of the place depressed him, and he trvew off his clothes. The note case fell from the pocket of his coat, and he pick'd it up, taking out the money, and mechanically counting the notes. “ I've spent the blazes of a lot/’ he muttered. But what did money matter? A ve r y great deal, if marriage was in sight. Was he in a position to ask any woman to marry him? Was he .sure that he would be able to keep her in comfort? The questions made him uneasy, but he dismissed them, believing that his art would bring him in a decent income. Tony was innately an optimist. Tired out. he fell asleep, and when he awakened all doubts had vanished. He was in love for the first time, and the world was a wonderful place. Ann was a goddess, at whose shrine he would gladly worship for the rest of his days. Ilis ancient charlady, Mrs Sheer, was tidying up the studio when he appeared on the gallery, and slie waved her hand in salutation. Tonv was the sort of man that all servants loved instinctively, and yet they respected him, for he had the knack of being able to talk to them familiarly, without encouraging undue familiality. And he was patience itself, as he listened to her domestic troubles. Sheer was wont to go on periodical alcoholic bursts, and was indulging in an unusually prolonged one. Otherwise a good husband, his wife was very fend of him, and it had been her custom to bring the delinquent to Tony, for a severe verbal castigation. “ He's got a thick head, but I’ve told him he’s got to come and fetch me, or I won’t go back home. He 11 come along all right, and I want you to give him old Harry—a very particular old Harry, because he’s been awful bad, sir.” she said vehemently. “I’ll give him a talking to, Mrs Sheer,” Tony said good-humouredly. “Why don’t you make him take the pledge?” Pledge, indeed,” she sniffed, "He’s sworn more oaths than there are in the Bible. He’s a holy terror, in Sheer. Thank goodness, he hasn’t got any money left. Don’t 3-ou pay me to-day, sir, I'm going to keep him short. No more grub, until he’s earned it.” “Don't be too hard on him. Sheer isn't a bad sort. He’s very fond of his wife. You never catch him after other women,” Tony said with a laugh. “Other women,” she repeated, with a snort. “One woman is as much as he can handle. You let me see any hussy ” The mere thought was too much for the little woman, and she broke off, pro ceeding to dust furiously. Tony chose a canvas, which he placed on the easel, and then he attended to his brushes, and got things ready for work, although he had no idea of painting until Ann arrived. Suddenly it occurred to hm that the studio lacked flowers, and then he remembered that his ties were rather shabby. Some women liked men to be smartly dressed, and he’d never worried very much about clothes. So he started for the West End, and spent a couple of hours in buying all sorts of things that he did not really need. Now that he was out, he might just as well lunch, and he went to the Cafe Royal. The table d’hote did not greatly appeal to him, so he ordered from the carte,. deciding that a lobster Americane would be rather pleasant. A really good white wine was the proper thing to accompany such a dish, and he left the choice of it to the head-waiter. A corona-corona would be quite in keep ing with so excellent a meal, and he left with a large cigar in his mouth, and the poorer by an appreciable sum. And so Anthony practised his threatened economy. (To be continued.) 1ll!lli!lll!lliniinil!llll!ll!l!linil!llllll!lll!llini!!l!llllll!lll!llllllllllll!lllll!2l!llimilllU I Tf ic rmf ll /-»n o ♦ if will V. n f