“WELCOME THE TRAVELLER”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 September 1939, Page 10

“WELCOME THE TRAVELLER”

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. COPYRIGHT.

By ARTHUR HARDY.

CHAPTER XII. (Con tinned).

“I don’t think anything would ever spoil Bob," said Shulgrave, drawing Nora doser to him. "He’s the type of man who knows how to carry his corn. And don’t forget. Nora, I’m waiting for your answer."

She blushed hotly. “I’m not old enough to think of marrying yet. I want to do something before I settle down. Your father would object too." He pressed her hand gently.

Happily, Robert left his sister in Jessie’s capable and protecting hands. Back at the hotel he found Adam Lawley and Prunella on the point of starting for Tansworth. Adam gave Robert a cordial grip of his hand. "At last I have seen a big fight, my boy,” said he. “Prize-fighting in the old days could not have been as clean as this or Waterloo Berry would have admitted Jack Randall and the bruisers to his inn. There is money in the boxing game, Robert, money for you, I think. Come in and see me when you get back to Tansworth and we’ll have a talk.”

“You were splendid, Robert," whispered Prunella. Then they were gone. It was half-past seven before Robert reached home.

Dinner had been kept back for him. Daniel and Dan refused an invitation to stay to the meal, but John and his wife had corne up from the town. “You rascal.” said John, with a grin as he gave Robert his hand. ‘"Congrats. The papers are full of you.” He looked Robert up an down. “Why didn’t I go in for boxing instead of opening a dirty rusty old garage. I’m as big as you.” Actually John was a smaller edition of Robert, stock and strongly built and looked some years older. "I earned sixty pounds,” said Robert. I have a little money in the bank. How about giving you some money to pep up the old 'garage, Jack?”

John Berry shook his head. “Thanks, but no. Nice of you, Bob. I’ll carry on somehow.” Robert turned to his father as he took his place at table. John Robert was smiling and looked happy. "Find everything all right at the farm, dad?” Robert asked. “Why, yes, Bob,” replied the farmer as he cut a gash in the middle of a leg of mutton of his own rearing, which had been well hung and well cooked. "Not a complaint to be made and, you'd never believe it, but fresh orders for the delivery of wiilk and butter and eggs have pour.ed in from Tansworth town. That comes of discovering a boxing champion in the family. The world is made up of snobs.” But his eyes were twinkling and he smiled as he said it. CHAPTER Xlll. The morning following the fight was full of new and pleasurable experiences for Robert Berry. The farm, hands at work rested on their tools as Robert came along; they were all grinning and although none of them spoke their mind, their looks were eloquent. They were doubly proud of working .on Wood Farm and they meant to monopolise the talk at the ale-house at night when they looked in for a pint and a game of darts, make no mistake about that. The girls at the chicken farm beamed at Master Robert, hero worship shining in their eyes. In the afternoon he saddled Rufus the cob. and rode into Tansworth to see Adam Lawley. On the way he was saluted or greeted orally from almost every car he passed. He felt a new importance and marvelled at the power of the Press.

Robert hitched the cob to the railings outside the old fashioned offices of Lawley and Lawley. solicitors, leaving it to paw the wide pavement as he always did on such occasions, and leapt up the worn stone steps to the door.

“Is Mr Adam in, Cheeps?” he asked addressing an old clerk with bent shoulders, who was writing out a deed in meticulously precise caligraphy.

The clerk who must have been nearly seventy if a day grinned, showing alarming gaps between his teeth and jerked the handle of his pen at a door marked “private." "He's got a gentleman with him. But I don’t think he will be long. I’ll tell him you arc here.” He hobbled to the door, knocked upon a panel went in and soon came out again. "Mr Adam says wait. Take a chair. Mr Berry." The clerk placed a rickety mahogany chair for Robert and dusted it with his handkerchief. He peered over the rims of his glasses with twinkling eyes. "You beat Slavin in a round and a half." he chuckled. He made a pass at the air with his right fist. "What is it to be young."

Robert sat down. "Who is in with Mr Adam. Cheeps? he asked.

"A strange gentleman whom I have never seen before and don’t like, a Mr Peter Marlow, sir, of Oldbeech House. Said his business was too important for him to wait when I told him that Mr Adam had a client with him, went to the office and thrust himself in. Mr Hinks.’ the tailor, was there, but he gave way to this stranger.” The clerk's eyes narrowed and he pursed his lips.

"I don't think Mr Marlow will cut much ice with Mr Adam that way.” "Do you know what Marlow wants. Cheeps?” "No. sir."

Robert stared at the panels of the shut door. He did not like Peter Marlow any more than Cheeps did. and he began to wonder what was going on in there. Marlow had been closeted with Mr Adam for more than half an hour, Cheeps said. The swagger of his intrusion had blustered Hinks the tailor into swift retreat.

Left alone with Mr Adam Lawley, Peter Marlow had frowned down haughtily at the solicitor. "Yes. Adam Lawley.” answered the solicitor. He had studied Marlow closely at the fight on Monday night, he had chuckled over Tom Shulgrave’s story of the bet. he was aware of all Marlow’s doing at Oldbeech House, on which money was being spent lavishly by Eagle Films Ltd., the company that acknowledged Peter Marlow as , its managing director. Marlow had gone about openly boasting that Eagle Films Ltd. was going to make Tansworth. Adam Lawley did not 'like men of Peter Marlow’s loud and bombastic type. "I don’t like to beat about the bush, Mr Lawley.” said he. The fact is, 1 want to buy the property' known as Traveller’s Buildings. I have been told that the town wants it. Very well, add five hundred pounds to the price they are prepared to pay for it, and I’ll take it.”

Adam Lawley settled himself back in his padded chair, pressed his finger tips together and eyed Marlow shrewdly.

“For what purpose do you want the building?” he asked.

“I bought Oldbeech House for Eagle Films with a view to establishing a film colony here and to purchase the right of locations; but the house is not big enough for the purpose, I find. Now, Traveller’s Buildings would suit me admirably. I would remodel the building, refit it, do it up. I’d make it into a private hotel for the use of my stars and the executive. It is in the heart of the town. It would prove a valuable advertisement.”

"For which, the film company or the town?” asked Adam Lawley, slyly. "You know what I mean. How much do you want for the- place, Mr Lawley?” .

“But that’s absurd. Everything has its price. How about ten thousand pounds?” z "Twenty thousand pounds would not buy it, Mr Marlow.” "What? Are you out to sting me?” “Not at all. The town has already offered eighteen thousand pounds for the building as it stands, and it is their intention to pull it down and build in its place a new town hall. But they can’t have it for eighteen thousand pounds, not even to pull it down.”

Marlow did some swift thinking and then spoke. “I’ll make an offer for twenty-one thousand pounds, then; say ten thousand pounds to be paid at the time of signing the agreement and the rest when the deal is completed and the property delivered according to law. Only, mind you. I have got to have it now.”

Adam Lawley leant forward, resting his. elbows on the desk and clasping his hands.

“I dislike beating about the bush as much as you do,” he said, his keen eyes meeting the other's. “I’ll be frank with you. I will not sell the property for the purpose for which you require it.” ■ “Eh? What will the owner have to say?” "1 am the owner, Mr Marlow. I can do exactly what I please with Traveller’s Buildings. I have nothing against them, but I don’t like glamorous film stars parading this town. I am a Tans; worth man. When I do sell Traveller’s Buildings I want a Tansworth man to buy the place, who will devote it to a use I approve of. Turn Oldbeech House into your hotel for your film stars.”

Looking discomfited, Marlow . dropped his cigarette, crushed out its glowing fire with his shoe heel, selected a fresh, one from his case and lit it, a nervous gesture. He was not used to being beaten. His forced smile was intended to be ingratiating. "Come, come, there must be some basis of agreement we can reach. Supposing you name your own terms? I am keen on buying that property, Mr Lawley.” He was graciousness itself. “Furthermore I will endeavour to meet your wishes as to reconditioning the place to your requirements. lam sure you are much too wise a man to throw away good money.” Adam Lawley smiled indulgently. “I am not avaricious, Mr Marlow. I have sufficient money for my needs. I am old fashioned enough to place some store by sentiment. Lovely buildings, often eloquent with history and tradition, are being swept away wholesale throughout the country to make room for modern utility buildings which may or may not be wanted, but this property I mean to hold. I a.n sorry. lam stubborn, and there it is.” Peter Marlow had enough sense to recognise the note of finality. "Then it is no use my bothering you any further?” ' "I am afraid not."

"Very well. sir. I will wish you good afternoon.” Marlow stiffened, reached for his hat and his gloves, rose from his chair and frowned at Lawlev.

Unmoved at his disapproval the solicitor pressed the button of an electric bell. In the outer office Cheeps leapt up from his chair. He winked at Robert Berry and opened the door of the private office. "Show Mr Berry in.” "Mr Lawley is ready to see you,” said Cheeps.

Robert almost collided with Marlow as he entered the inner room.

"So," drawled Marlow, wedging a monocle against his left eyebrow. “1 think 1 saw you performing in the ring at the New Arena on Monday night?” Robert smiled slightly-. “Financially, he answered, “you have I reason to remember it.” I (To be Continued). To make a pound of oil of roses requires eight tons of flowers.