JUDY SAYS “ NO.”

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18347, 5 June 1931, Page 4

JUDY SAYS “ NO.”

(By WINIFRED CARTER.) Author of “Lass O’ Laughter."

Serial Story

V CHAPTER Xll.—Continued. "She has been the most amazing ray of sunshine,” admitted Nick, as slowly they went over the farm, Nicholas pointing out his various improvements, and the three cows, of which he was inordinately proud. “I’m making quite a milk round, sir,” said Nick. “Does that go against the grain?” He shot a mischievous look at his grandfather. “Not in the least, my boy. As a matter of fact, secretly I’m regarding it. as a feather in my cap to have a grandson who oan make a living by his own unaided efforts.”

“People have been good," said Nicholas. “But I must admit that Judy has enoouraged and helped me no end."

“You’ll oome up to the old house, Nicholas?" said his grandfather, almost wistfully, when they were strolling back to the house. “I've missed you." • Almost regretfully Nicholas looked back at the swinging sign. It had been good to wrest a living from the soil; to watch things grow; to eat the bread of effort. Nothing like it before had ever happened to him, when he could forget the aching nag of what had happened in the past, Nicholas had thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Then he looked at his grandfather’s wizened, tired old face, and somehow Judy’s face also Hashed Into his mind. Judy would have said that he ought to return. “I think,” said Nicholas, “that 1 shall return, only, of course, it will be awkward about Enid." “She’s engaged to Roger Bourne, my boy. Perhaps until she leaves it will be better for you to stay at Harmer’s —I mean Travellers’—Rest.” He laughed whimsically, and to his relief Nicholas joined in. So this about Enid did not hurt, as once it had done. And then old Henry Harmer caught sight of a girl walking in the woods. Judy. Bless her heart! He called her, and the girl turned and came towards them, and he saw not Judy, but—Enid. When she saw that Henry Harmer was with Nick she had the grace to blush. . “I want a few words with Nicholas," said Enid. "If you don’t mind, grandfather, going on alone I’ll have them here and now."

"Certainly, my dear," said the old man, and he could not help It, hut he gave his old malicious chuckle. Walking back slowly he wondered what Nick would do. Quite well the old man knew that Enid Crawford detested the man she had pledged herself to marry. Roger Bourne, fat and affectionate, very rich as he was, did not stand an earthly chance against Nicholas Harmer, if Nicholas was to inherit wealth. And the boy loved Enid, loved her with a deep, almost worshipping love. Why, when the old man had heard that Enid had broken off with Nicholas he had hated the girl himself, though he was so wrath with Nicholas.Well, things would be smoothed out for Nicholas now, and that was all due to Judy. CHAPTER XIII. When he got back he f/und that a Percy Deacon, of the fl/hi of Deacon and Smith, private detectives, was waiting for him. A moment later the old man faced the detective'. “You wired for us to send a man down; we decided that I should take it on. If you will give me all the information you can we can then proceed." Henry Harmer sat down and set to work to tell the man everything that he knew connected with the impersonation of Nicholas Harmer. “It must have been someone who had access to this-house," • said the detective thoughtfully. “Someone who found the lost cheque, someone who realised that it would be some time before the truth came out. Is there no young man sufficiently like Nicholas Harmer to be taken for him by those who had never met the young man himself?" Henry Harmer looked at himl he was rather sartled at this idea. MFrom these clues, and from other things that you have said, this man who has done the impersonation has gone so far afield so that he wouldn't be recognised. Now this girl, this Marlon Jackson," he said Inquiringly, “she is a newcomer?" “Yes; I have sent for her," said Henry Harmer. “I mean to run this black sheep to earth, even if it takes mo twelve months. If a girl like Judy, my granddaughter, could discover it so simply I ought to be able to." “She wouldn’t tell you the name of the person?" "No 1" old Henry Harmer said grimly. "It looks as though she Is attempting to shield someone.” “I never thought of that," said the old man thoughtfully. "If it had been a stranger she would not have had any reason for keeping it quiet; nay, rather, she would have had every reason for disclosing it," said the detective. There came a knock at the door, and a servant brought in a wire—Judy’s wire. Reading it, Henry Harmer got a shock. Not until that moment did he have the slightest suspicion as to who was the real culprit. He crumpled the wiro up into his hand and thrust it in his pocket, and then he began to march up and down, frowning darkly. Then he rang the bell. “I am expecting a young lady, a Miss Marlon Jackson. Show her in at once.” “She's waiting now, sir, in the breakfast-room." "Show her in,’ 'said Henry Harmer. A moment daler a tall, handsome, sullen girl was shown in. She was dressed far above her station, and the sullen eyes from under the black, well-marked brows, were defiant. “I am Henry. Harmer, my girl," said the old man crisply. “It’s a good thing for you that you came," lie added. “I meant every word that 1 wrote In that letter.” “I wouldn't have come but I was afraid that you would come and see my father,” said Marlon Jackson sulkily. “So you are afraid of your father, then?" ho said. She winced as though he had touched tho soft spot. “Sit down and tell me everything you know about the young man who came and made love lo you.” “You mean Nicholas Harmer?" said Ihc girl uncomfortably. “I mean the man who said he was Nicholas Harmer. You knew very well

that lie was no such person. Oh, you needn’t try to deceive me any longer; the whole situation' is quite plain. This gentleman Is a detective.” “And what’s more,” said the detective, "we know who the fellow is who did impersonate Mr Nicholas Harmer; and it’s a prison job, my girl, and if you’re not very careful you’ll be had up, too, for aiding and abetting him.” Marion Jaokson burst into a flood of tears.

“I had no idea that he wasn’t Nicholas Harmer at first. It was much later that I knew.”

“Then why did you never put the matter right?" said the Irate old man. “I think I know,” said the detective, watching the girl closely. "The chap who had the cheek to pretend he was Nicholas Harmer made promises to you; it was going to be worth your while to keep a still tongue. Everything in the garden was lovely, if only you didn’t give the game away.” In answer 'Marlon Jackson only wept the more. “Now, here’s a pencil and paper, said the detective. “Hurry up and write his name doWn. If you do as you’re told now it’ll mean that we shall be able to keep you out of the case altogether.” "I promised that I’d never split, and I won’t I” said Marlon Jackson defiantly. “But I tell you his name is known, said the detective. “.Then I needn’t tell it," said the girl with a flash of intelligence. Well, the girl had at least got loyalty, thought the old man, and his voice was more gentle when he spoke “Never mind about who the man is, but cheer up," he said, with more kindness than she had expected. "You have at least made it quite clear that Nioholas Harmer never did make love to you." ■ » , J "No, sir. He never did, said the girl in a whisper. "Well, you may go now, my dear. I promise that you won’t be worried with any more questions.” ' He rested his hand on her shoulder, and the girl took her handkerchief from her tear-stained eyes.

“I swear to you, sir, that I hadn’t an idea that he wasn’t Nichalos Harmer, and then I swore that I wouldn’t give him away, and God help me, " though I believe, he’s been playing me up all the time, I care for him." She broke away then, sobbing vioientiy. And now Henry Harmer turned to the. detective. • “Ive been thinking things over this last few minutes, and I’m not sure that I want this case going on with. I have learned that my grandson is entirely innocent, and I’m not sure that It won’t be very much to my interest to let the matter drop. I shall, of course, pay a fee to cover the case had it been gone on with.” A few moments later the detective left the house, and when he had gone old ilarmer agahi more: • • “When Clive,'.comes-be merciful, as you hope lor ; mercy, and■ for Judy's sake.” ;•• . ' CpIVE FACES ' THE MUSIC. So Judy knew that it was Clive who had been the Impostor all the time! And Judy was.'asking for • leniency. 1Leniency for a man who had deliberately blackened another man’.s character I In the hopes that he would be the gainer by it. Clive must he an utter blackguard! There could not be one redeeming trait in such a man, and Judy was asking for him to be merciful 1 Nay, how did Judy know that he was coming to confess? Perhaps she had threatened to tell if Clive did not come, of'his own, free will. He must possess his soul in patience until such time as Clive should come. He came just after lunch; debonair and smooth-tongued as usual, he came Into Henry Harrner’s study as though nothing had happened. Henry Harmer swallowed hard. He, too, could act as cleverly as Clive. “Well, Clive,’.’ he said, "beefi,going round the, estate? Busy as usual looking after my. interests?” The young man winced. "Nothing of the sort, Mr Harmer,” he said. "As. a matter rnf fact I’ve been half-way to Liverpool." “To Liverpool?" said Henry Harmer, raising his brows. "Why to Liverpool?’’ . “To set sail to the "Antipodes,” said Olive,'with-a shrug of .his shoulders., “I’d not have returned had it not been for Judy." “I thought somehow she’d got a finger in the pie,” muttered the old man. “She got in the same carriage. She w'as going back , home," said Clive. Henry Harmer blinked at .this. Only then did it dawn upon him that Judy had smt that wire from anywhere but the ißlfcge post office, lie had thought it was just one of her whimsical ways. “What’s she going home for?" he rapped out. “I don’t know r . I think she feels that it might be awkward for Nicholas coming here when she had almost taken the place of your helres's. Anyhow, she knew what I w'as up to. She knew the truth, you see." “The truth 1” said Henry Harmer bitterly. “Bo any of us ever know that?”

“Well, I'm going 'to tell you the truth now. Judy made me want to. You see, last night I proposed to Judy. She didn’t care for me. I started it alt because I wanted money; I thought I’d marry tiie heiress." “I see,” said Henry Harmer, watching him closely. “Well, this time I was the one who got cheated. Before heaven, sir, and you may believe me or not as you like, but I love Judy with every fibre of my being; it's hell knowing that I shall never get her; knowing that she despises mo, and loathes me; it’s misery 1" He saw a change cross the young man’s faco, a look of bleak, unutterable woe rested there for a moment“AncT now for It," said Clive suddenly. “I am the man who forged the cheque I Who gambled, and ran up bills In Nicholas’s name 1 who made violent love to Marlon Jackson! Letting her believe that I was Nicholas Harmer, and your heir. . . . Later when I told her the truth she stuck by mo. Now you, know the full tale of my appalling misdeeds. I am quite prepared for you to hand me over to the police."

There was defiance In Clive Crawford's face. Oddly enough Henry Harmer had never liked the young man half so much; all the same he was blaming himself for not having guessed long ago. Clive! Why, these things wore all the things that he had always suspected Clive of doing. “Now listen," said Henry Harmer,

after a few moments’ thought. “I am glad you iold me this, because I had a detective down this morning, also Marlon Jackson; she didn’t give you away, but the detective was getting very close on your track. 1 tell you, Clive, I would have had no mercy; l would have had you put through the court and given the biggest sentence the law would allow, but you’ve come back. You're willing to make amends —you shall make amends. 1 realise that I have been somewhat to blame In letting you have the handling of money, and too easy and luxurious a time. In the future Dial's going to stop,,, You ’must tell your mother

everything, Clive; you must get her help. She lias beon to blame, 100. In her eyes you can do no wrong. She has fostered your bellof that anything you do must he right. She has nearly landed you within prison walls. Then, when you have come to some agreement with her about the future. 1 shall givo you a farm in the South, away from here, where you can start afresh. Nicholas went and made a living with his two hands. I shall allow you enough capital to start on, then you shall prove of what stuff your repentance is made. You shall have your chance!" (To be uonllnued.)