“The Forbidden Tree,”

Wairarapa Daily Times, 1 May 1925, Page 7

“The Forbidden Tree,”

(PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.)

POWERFUL STORY OF ATTRAC TIYE INTEREST,

By Christopher Wilson. Author of “Hearts in Bondage/’ “Sundered Lives,” “Blindfold Love,” “The Heart of Delilah,” etc., etc.

(COPY RIGHT.)

CIIAPTER AT. —Continucd. It was an unusual thing for Merrick to make his appearance .so early in the day, and it was still more unusual for him to display any interest in the combination of breakfast and lunch which he called “brunch.” Moreover, although his pallid features showed that he had been working late, and had slept but little, there was a joyous light in his eyes that she had never seen before. “Anything new going on in the village?” he asked, looking up from his plate. Mrs Wembley was so astonished by such a question coming from him, that instead of opening the floodgates of gossip, she exclaimed: “You are looking very well this morning, sir.” “I am feeling well,” he said, leaning back in his chair and positively beaming at her. “I have finished my work at last. It is a great thing to finish anything, isn’t it, Mrs Wembley:” But.'Mrs Wembley was not to be betrayed into rash admissions. “A woman’s work is never done, sir.” she quoted glibly. “That I can quite believe,” said Merrick, with a whimsical tilt of his eyebrows, as lie glanced round the swept, and garnished room. “There were great, happenings in the village this morning, and up at the. Castle, too,” .said Mrs Wembley, eager not to loes her chance before Merrick should go back to his newspaper. “.Joe Curt ’s boy, him that is a telegraph messenger, was running backwards and forwards with telegrams all the time. And just before I came away three grand motor cars went tearing through the village on the way to the Castle. Such excitement as you never saw in your life, sir. Of course, young Curt’s not. supposed to know anything that’s in the telegrams, but 'his mother told nre that two of the gentlemen in the motors were real lords!” She paused to take breath, and Merrick said quietly: “Ah, yes., Of 'course Mrs Curt would be sure, to know a real lord when she saw him, wouldn’t she?” Mrs Wembley was quite impervious to irony, and she .shook her head as she went on: “I never can make out how Mrs Curt knows things, but she does know a terrible lot. Do you think, sir, they were real lords?” '“Can’t say, I’m sure. Why not have another look at them yourself when they are coming back from Stallworth Castle? 1 want a telegram sent off to London, and if you will take it for me now you will be in time to see anything that, it going on in Combe Purvis.” Mrs Wembley’s .eyes shone at the prospect, and she said: ‘‘l’ll be ready in five' minutes, sir. Just ns she was bustling away to put on her bonnet and cloak, Merrick said suddenly: “Oh,’by the way, as your friend, this Mrs, Curt, knows so much, does she happen to know anything about Jcions?” Mrs Wembley fidgeted uneasily on the threshold, and said mysteriously: “Mrs Curt doesn’t talk much about Jevons, sir.” , “Why?” “Weil, sir, .she does know something about him; knows that Jevons wasn’t quite as respectable as he looked, and him a lonely old bachelor, too.” “This sounds interesting. Tell me, in what way did Jevons offend Mrs Curt’s sense of respectability?” Mrs Wembley reddened and showed symptoms of acute discomfort. Then she said abruptly: “I would rather not say, sir. It had •something to do with a girl. A young lady, too. Mrs Curt says, one who ought to bmvd’known. betteT than to be friendly with a mam like Jevons. If you write your telegram, sir, i’ll take it for vou at once.” / When slie had gone, Anthony Merrick lit his pipe and lay back in his armchair, thinking about Jevons. When the man had disappeared, Merrick had assumed that he would communicate in some way with his old master, Ansdell. But Ansdell had heard nothing about him. Anne Severn had made most elaborate enquiries, but the only fact she hud been, able to discover was that Jevons had suddenly ceased to draw his pension. It- seemed as if the earth had opened and swallowed him. While absorbed in his work Merrick had not given the mystery more than a passing thought, but now that his mind, was free from the .strain of his laboratory toil, the problem of George Jevons attracted him. '’Possibly if he could make, the acquaintance of the omniscient Mrs Cui't it might give him some clue to the solution. When his pipe was finished lie knocked out the ashes against the bars of the grate, and went over to the window, where, he gazed dreamily at the sunlit vista of valley, moor and hill. Then turning away from the invitation ot the open road, lie went into his laboratory and exchanged the.dressing gown for brown greasy overalls. The laboratory had been transformed into a new kind of workroom. Testtubes, beakers, retorts and jars of chemical re-agents had disappeared, and on a long bench, at the side of the room wa.s a large model ot a stationary engine. Merrick spun the heavy fly-wheel a couple of times. Then, taking up an oilcan and a spanner, lie ,began to make some minute adjustments in. the bearings. Suddenly lie drew himself erect in a listening attitude ,as the hoarse note of a motor horn came to his ear. I or a moment he. 1 was puzzled, for the bungalow lay far from the main road, and, with the exception of Anne Severn’s cycle, no motor had passed the place since he came to live there. Then he bent over his work again. ( ‘‘Some of Mrs Wembley’s real live lords, on their way back from luncheon at the Castle,” he said to himself. Then he paused again, l'or the wheels had come to a standstill outside his gate, and immediately afterwards someI one knocked loudly at the front door of the bungalow. Merrick laid aside his oilcan with a slight frown, for lie hated interruptions. Then, cleaning his hands, with a scrap of cotton waste, which really was only efficient in spreading the grease more evenly, he went into the hall and opened the door. At the roadside opposite the bungalow a. powerful covered car was throbbing impatiently, and the man t\lio stood on Merrick’s doorstep was Lord Grant on. “Good afternoon, M.r Merrick. I suppose I aim rather a surprise?” “A very great surprise, Lord Gran-

ton. Excuse my filthy hands. . Ha\ c vou had a breakdown with the cm - < * Ao, thanks, Mr Merrick, no need for your kind services as a mechanic. The fact is that there is 'another surprise in store tor you.” “Well,” said Merrick, “I have finished my work at last. I sent off a telegram to vou about an hour ago, to let you know that the final test had been 'completely '.successful. So I teel l'Ciaidy for anything to-day, ready for any surprise that you could possibly spring on me.” Lord Gran,ton’s eyes lit up with sudden enthusiasm. “Do you really mean to tell me, Mr Merrick, that your invention is an accomplished fact. “Yes. Won’t you come in, Lord Gran ton. I shall be delighted to show you the model engine.” “Have vou really been alblc to run it on the new fuel?” “it worked for the first time last night and ran for five hours without a hitch. If you will come into my laboratory- I shall run it. for you now.” “Thanks. I shall be intensely interested to see it, but not just now. You see, Mr Merrick, I am on duty.” Anthony Merrick looked blankly at. the speaker. “On duty?” he repeated. “I don’t quite understand.” “I warned you to expect a. surprise,” ■said Lord Granton with a quiet smile. “I am not the only person who has taken a keen interest in your work.” “ \V r l)0 else could know anything about ?” Anthony Meriek began, and then stopped abruptly ns he caught sight of the trim, alert figure of the other traveller, who had alighted from, the car and was walking briskly towards the bungalow. “The First Sea Lord!” h e exclaimed with «■ gasp of sudden dismay. 1 Then, with a swift glance at his grimy clothing, lie said: “ Really, Lotcl Granton, I am not in a fit condition to receive distinguished visitors.” “Ife is the King’s command,” said Lord Granton. “His Majesty has been lunching a.t Stalworth Castle, and requested' Lord Fessel and myself to ascertain what progress you had made. His Majesty is deeply interested in your invention.” (To be Continued.)