"Full Tide"

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19053, 18 September 1933, Page 4

"Full Tide"

CHAPTER XXXIII.— (Continued.)

Without another word he left the house.

The estate agent was greatly surprised when Jasper instructed him to place Ardon Hall and the well-known ironworks in the property market. “Yes; 1 thought you would he surprised,” he grinned, “but my health is more to me than the prospect of making money, I shall go right away and devote my time to travelling and visiting old friends and relatives.” “Mrs Snaith will leave the town also, I suppose?" ventured the agent. "Oh, yes. She has'a sister In Canada, and I believe she is gping there.” “Well, candidly, I’m sorry, Mr Snaith. The place won’t seem the same with the Ardon Works closed, not be closed. I want to sell the foundry as a going concern. Some syndicate is sure to buy It. “Certainly," agreed the agent. . l don’t mean that exactly. But when strangers take over works in a smal town like this, I always think there s something lost— the intimate touch, l might call it. You see, Sir James and his business have always been reallj a part of the town in a way, and— — Jasper Snaith showed ins spiked teeth as he prepared to leave the oiflee. - ~ “If you don’t want the business, he said, “if you are going to let silly sentimentality stand in your way, well, that’s your "I’m sorry,” interjected the agent hastily. "We shall be pleased to act for you in the matter. It, was onlj mv surprise at the news. Forgive me, Mr Snaith. I’m afraid I’m a sentimental old fool. When shall we put the matter in hand?” "At once. The house can be dealt with straight away, and the works as soon as you have taken a valuation.

CHAPTER XXXIV. Dick Medders deemed it advisable to keep the butler and the plainclothes policeman in the background for the present. With that object the car was stopped about fifty yards from the gipsy camp, where it was screened by a high hedge at the corner of a by-lane. Gallantly he helped the two ladies to alight, then led the way up the road to the breezy clearing where the nomads had recently settled. "Nobody at home seemingly," he remarked as there was no sign of life. MWe’d better knock at the front door." , , Diana laughed at the mordant humour and said how romantic . she thought it all was. “Insanitary, more like," interjected the practical Mrs Stevens. “Romantic things, unfortunately, generally are harmful or unhealthy in some way or other,” conceded hci niece; “hut to me there’s something very fascinating about real gipsies.” "That's wot I think, miss—missis,” said Dick Medders, glad to find a kindred spirit. “There’s something about gippos—they' always remind nio of the open road an’ the blue sky an’ the wind, an’ ” The flow of his enthusiasm was stopped by the old gipsy woman herself, who had approached them unawares. "Well, well!" she cackled. And what do the fine ladies think about the Romany’s house? Rather be inside your four walls, I’m sure. But 1 wouldn’t —no! My house is on wheels; I can move it where I like, and all the world is my garden!" Mrs Stevens looked at her In surprise. "You are . quite right," she said. “I have never seen it In that light before." Dick Medders smiled to himself with the understanding expression of one who knew and could appreciate the gipsy’s point of view. "This is the young lady,” he was beginning by way of introduction, when the old woman caught sight of Diana) "Bless me I" she cried. “I thought I knew that pretty face! But you were miserable then dearie, and in distress." “Yes, and I have to thank you very much indeed for your kindness to me. I don’t know what I should have done without youl" "It’s all arranged,” went on the gipsy. "It had to be. Wandering about the country like we are, we do good where we can, except when wo find enemies." "Enemies?" asked Mrs Stevens.

“Aye, enemies! We all have ’em, And this young lady has come to sec me because of her enemies." Diana nodded. “But I don’t know what I can say. Mr Medders suggested I should see you. All I can tell you is how grateful I am." “I thought pe’raps," interposed Dick diffidently, "I thought p’raps you might have seen something of the motor-car wot did the dirty—wot took away this young lady, an’ might be able to tell Mrs Stevens ’ere something about wot happened." The gipsy turned to the elder woman. "This lady Is a very dear aunt of mine," explained Diana. While they were speaking, William Heeding and the plain-clothes policeman joined the party, and the old gipsy turned Interrogatively from one to the other. "These two gents Is friends," began Meddors. "I’vo known Mrs Ardon’s husband's family for years," said Beeding heavily, "and am anxious to hear what ■" “Never mind, never mind," interrupted the gipsy. "I’ll tell all I know —which isn’t much,” and she led the way to one of the vans, where, scaled in ( the clean and polished apartment, she gave what information she could. Slio began by saying that the oilier members of Ihe caravan were out, on business trying to earn an honest living. She looked signiflennlly at the thinly disguised constable as she made the last remark, hut lie apparently failed to notice it. Without further delay she plunged into her narrative. She had hoard n motor-ear dash hv the eamp on that memorable night, hut, owing lo their position on Hie low land over Hie high embankment she hud not seen it. Willi her keen ears, however, she, knew it had not travelled far beyond her, so she climbed the embankment lo watch. In vivid language she told how she saw the, lights turn towards the short muddy by-lane and disappear. A few minutes lalcr she said she heard a confused shouting, as though a tight was going on. Then the car packed hurriedly on to tile road again and rushed by her at a reckless s^eed.!

By HERBERT GALWAY. (Author of “Mark Burford’s Heir,” “Miss Nobody," “The Squire of Redesby," etc., etc. ■ '

with one of the men clinging dangerously over the edge of the swaying motor.

“You couldn’t see any faces, I suppose?” asked the constable. “Well, not to know them again. The only man I saw—and then only for a flash as you might say—was the one who was hanging on the car as it went past.” “What was he like?” “Little chap—dark. Looked like a foreigner." Dick Medders started as a thought crossed his mind. “Would yer lcnow r 'im again?” “P’raps I would—yes—l think I would." “I suppose he didn’t happen to be holdin’ his jaw nor nothin'?" “He was too busy swearing and •hanging on with both hands. They were all shouting together." “Did you hear what they said—any remark of any kind?" asked the policeman. “No—well, now you mention It, I did hear one o’ the others shout, ‘Are you all right, guv’nor?” “You heard nothing else?” “Not to make out what they said. You sec, they were by in a flash, although they were running from side to -side of t.ho road until the foreignlooking man had scrambled in.” "Are you prepared to come and tell what you know at the police-station if we ask you?” remarked the constable as he closed his notebook. The gipsy woman hesitated for a qjoment. She did not like the police, but, feeling it would he for the benefit of Diana, she agreed. "Yes; we shall be moving on to Ashbrldge to-morrow in preparation for the fair,” she replied, "and you’ll be able to End us all on the edge of the common for at least a week.” Diana slipped half-a-crown Into the ready palm of the old woman, who clasped the girl’s hand in 'a firm double grip and held it. "God bless you, pretty lady! I don’t know what all your trouble Is, but believe the old Romany when she says everything will be all right. I’ve seen signs and wonders, and I’ve seen you three times now, and ” "Was it you I saw on the sandhills last week when I was with a picnic party?” asked Diana in amazement. "Yes, it was, and this Is the third time. I cut the cards three times when I knew you were coming, and With my sharp heel I three times marked the ground, And turned me thrice around, around, around.” As she released the somewhat nervous girl’s hand the gipsy woman burst into a high-pitched cackle and •ailed after her as she weht down the hill to overtake the rest of the party:

"I knowl I know! I know!" Diana was not sorry to get away, ghe liked the old dame, but had to admit that her methods were weird even in the glorious sunlight. Some of the gipsies were returning when the girl reached the car, and die had to wait until they had passed before she could get in. There were two young men, a black-haired, black-eyed young woman, and an old man. The latter loffcd his cap as they went by, but the .woman and one of the young men merely glanced at her Indifferently. The other man who was walking dowdy and moodily behind, caught sight of Diana as she was entering the car. Tie 'stopped suddenly and rubbed his hand nervously over his tanned and bearded face, while his eyes were wide with the gaze of a man striving to catch a recollection which eluded him. Like a statue he stood until the car had gone down the road at a rapid pace, then passed his hand wearily over his brow. The gipsy girl turned round. "Come on, Jackl Don’t stand there dreaming!" The man pulled himself together with a short laugh. “All right, Becky,” he called as he followed her. I’m coming 1”

(To be continued.)