Sea Urchin.

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXI, Issue 2777, 19 November 1931, Page 3

Sea Urchin.

BY E. C. BULEY,

■,i CHAPTER X. Edsell Again. When Ledgeways was in trouble, it was his habit to come to Peter Gaunt for advice and help. It was no surprise to Peter, therefore, to be asked to smoke a pipe and drink a whisky and soda, just when the party was retiring for the night. I "That was a nasty business today," Ledgeways said abruptly. "Ann spoke to me, almost as though she thought I was a crook." I "Can you blame her, Ledgeways?" Peter asked. "Can you honestly de- ; clare that, you would have betted on that horse, if Ann had handed over the cash to you?" "Well," Ledgeways muttered. "She would never have missed the money, land a thousand in notes would make ! all the difference to me, just at the , present moment." "I've known you do to some stupid, ■ reckless things, Ledgeways," Peter j said. "But I have never known you to descend to anything so incredibly mean. If Ann had. been the silly girl for whom you and Camilla mistook her, do you suppose for one moment that I would have permitted you to rob her?" "So you were in the swindle with her?" Ledgeways grumbled. "(3amilla said you were." "I knew from the beginning that she was well able to take care of herself, if that is what you mean," Peter said. "The amazing thing to me is that you all failed to see it." "Well, it is done, and it can't be helped," Ledgeways said, repeating his invariable formula, after an escapade. "And her father is just as hard as she is. What do you think he wants to do? He wants full control of young Rupert and of the Ledgeways place. I'm to be pensioned off, as a back number." "He informed me that he had some- . thing of the sort in his mind," Peter confessed. "Well, what am I to do about it?" Ledgeways asked querulously. "Suppose I refuse his charity, what will he do?" "Go back to Australia, and lcav'o thingvs just as they stand," Peter said promptly. "Do face the situation, Ledgeways. If you turn your back on this opportunity, what must happen? You know that, you'll be made a bankrupt, and that Ledgeways will return you ,po income at all. It is mortgaged for more than it would bring in the open market; so it must drift further to ruin. And I am sure that the allowance your uncle suggests is a fairly liberal one " "Three thousand a year," Ledgeways said, grudgingly. "As much as that?" Peter exclaimed, genuinely astonished at Despard's liberality. "Then, in the name of all that's reasonable, will you tell me why you hesitate?" "He wants to deprive me and Camilla of the control of our own child," Ledgeways said. "Look here, Ledgeways," said Peter Gaunt. "You are wasting my time and temper. Give me credit for understanding you and Camilla a little. I know, and you know, that you are neither of you affected by such a consideration. If I am to help you, I must know the real reason for your hesitation. If the difficulty —whatever it may be—is not an insuperable one, I might be able to arrange things with Mr Despard." Ledgeways hesitated, palpably on the brink of an avowal. Then the voice of Camilla was heard, calling an instruction to one of the servants. "It's good of you to offer, Peter," said Ledgeways. "I'll think about it; but I mustn't stay up any longer. We can have another talk about it tomorrow morning." Peter let him go, feeling that he had done all that he possibly could. lie was an interested person, to the extent that the acceptance by Lord Ledgeways of his uncle's offer would provide for Peter Gaunt a satisfactory position in life, and an income proportionate to its Importance. His loyalty to the friend of his boyhood had suffered a very considerable shock. Peter had stood by Ledgeways through thick and thin, even after his marriage had resulted in a notable deterioration in his character, and his standard of right and wrong. But the trick he nad tried to serve upon Ann that day was so much shabbier than any of .his preceding follies, that Peter's heart was full of misgivings. Before he could attempt i anything so crooked and dangerous, Ledgeways must have been driven into desperate straits. There had never before been sny trouble about inducing Lord Ledgeways to explain the nature of his troubles; and from his unusual reI ticence Peter also inferred something j worse than mere lack of ready money. He smoked two or three pipes in solitude, brooding over the mystery, for him the hesitation of a penniless ■ and insolvent peer about accepting an i assured and substantial income was I a mystery. Every train of thought ■brought Peter Gaunt back to Edsell, | who was providing funds for the ex- : pensive entertainment which Ledgeways was offering his guests. Next morning Peter woke, with the thought of the absent Edsell still in bis mind. He and Ann, and one or two more, had arranged to take a car

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'down to the beach, for a swim before breakfast; and they returned, as early morning bathers are apt to do, very happy and hungry. As Ann preceded Peter to the breakfast room, chatting gaily, Peter caught the sound of a new voice coming from within. He had no trouble in identifying the pleasant resonant accents —although they woke in his mind a sense of grave danger to be faced at once. Edsell had arrived; evidently summoned in haste by Camilla when Ann declared herself in her true colours. This thought came to Peter Gaunt like a flash, as he involuntarily cheeked his steps, at the sound of Edsdli's voice. In the next instant he had noticed that Ann had also halted. Her face betrayed a very marked excitement; for her eyes were gleaming, and she was drawing her breath in quick gasps. Then she moved forward quickly, with Peter following her, closely observant. "Oh, here you are;" cried Camilla effusively. "We've gained on addition to our party overnight. Ann, I want you to meet Dick Edsell; a very good friend of ours." Watching Ann intently, Peter observed a quick reaction from her excitement and interest of a moment ago. Whoever she may have expected to see, Edsell had disappointed her expectation. He might have been the most ordinary and commonplace young man, instead of the handsome and debonair figure he was, for all the attention Ann paid to him. "I'm glad you've come Mr Edsell," she said, making for the sideboard. "What is there for breakfast? I could eat a slice off a brazen image." "Well, the kidneys are fairly tough" said Shadloe, who never missed a chance like that. Peter Gaunt heaved a deep sigh -of relief. Ann was genuinely more interested in her breakfast, ihan in the fascinating Mr Richard Edsell. • , .

CHAPTER XL Disturbing Facts. Peter Gaunt, although relieved of his first anxiety on Ann's account, was yet disturbed by the sudden appearance on the scene of Edsell. The circumstances, as he knew them, were assuredly of . a disturbing nature. Ledgeways had delayed his decision about the generous offer made him by Gregory Despard, and in the meantime. Edsell was financing him in his. very lavish entertainments of his guests. The more Peter pondered upon this unusual generosity, the more uneasy he became. Edsell had delayed his appearance until something like a crisis had been reached. Ledgeways had to decide, one way or another, about relinquishing control of his son and his family estate. Ann had shattered Camilla's delusion that Ann was a simpleton, easily to be influenced to any plan Camilla might form for her own advantage. Now Edsell had chosen this moment to appear upon the scene. Peter Gaunt felt very sure that the real plot, whatever it might be, was now about to be launched. The comedy for which Ann had been so largely responsible was merely a prelude, made possible by the folly of Camilla and her friends, and by the desperate straits in which Ledgeways found himself. He had no doubt that Edsell had calculated upon things turning out in this fashion, and had waited patiently for the moment when he should be called upon for advice and his personal assistance. It was not for Despard and Ann that Peter feared, so much as for Ledgeways. The visitors from Australia had proved to the full their capacity for taking care of themselves; but Peter was puzzled to guess what advantage Edsell could possibly reap from such a situation. Rather to his surprise, Edsell himself broached the subject, without any loss of time. The newcomer approached Peter while he was smoking a pipe in the garden, immediately after breakfast. "You looked surprised to see me, Gaunt," Edsell began, with his engaging smile. "I suppose you guessed that I had been sent for because the plans of our friends were going astray?" "I might have inferred something of the sort," Peter said cautiously. "Has Ledgeways consulted you about the offer made him by his uncle?" "Yes, I know all about that," Edsell said easily. "Ledgeways has only to accept, and the object of your generous help will have been achieved," Peter said. "With ordinary care, Ledgeways has an income which will make him comfortable for life." "If he and Camilla could only be brought to see it in that light," Edsell answered. "Unfortunately, Camilla refuses to be a party to the arrangements. She will not hear of parting with her son. She objects to making way for a guardian. By the way, Gaunt, I assume that the prospective guardian is yourself?" "I don't know why you should," Peter said, meeting his mocking eyes with a steady look. "Who could be more suitable?" Edsell asked. "And I notice that you do not deny it." "I am not called upon to deny it," Peter replied, feeling himself unequal

in a battle of wits. "Well, it hardly matters," Ed'sell laughed. "In spite of all I can say, Ledgeways intends to decline Mr Despard's offer. This is in confidence, of course." Peter nodded, and made to turn away. "By the way, Gaunt," Edsell added, "Camilla is not pleased with you, you know. She thinks you want too much for yourself—including the little lady who has administered such an unpleasant surprise." "Indeed?" "Yes; she wishes she had not asked you to Goodwood and to Cowes." "Thank you, Edsell," Peter replied, controlling himself by the exercise of all his will power. "If Camilla wished to get rid of me, as you insinuate, I am sure she would have sense enough to delegate the matter to her husband, rather than to a chance acquaintance." "I just thought that I would tell you," Edsell said coolly, and sauntered away. (To be continued).

"The "yard of clay/' otherwise the* long "churchwarden," has gone (oris going) out. Quite right too. The efejfruntil thoroughly seasoned (and that takes time) is a hot smoker. CatehtSF. the roof of the mouth, and also tfie? tongue. It's the same with most of the imported tobaccos. They smoke' hot, no matter what the pipe is: made j of. Why? Because they contain. SW much nicotine. Yet our New Zealand tobaccos contain hardly any. That's? simply because they are toasted*- The? toasting rids them of the poisonous: nicotine and renders them so- cool* sweet and fragrant, that they appealto all smokers. You can't go on smoking the imported goods for any length of time without risking your healtfi«Heart or nerves are almost certain t»'-.. suffer. But toasted New Zealand yottf can indulge in with absolute safety.And it's a positive fact that these? beautiful tobaccos "spoil" yot* for all others! But there are only four brands remember—Riverhead Gold, Navy Cut No. 3, Cavendish and Cut Plug Nov Iffii They differ in strength—not ia quality*