PAID IN FULL

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21219, 16 September 1940, Page 4

PAID IN FULL

= NEW SERIAL STORY =

by H. S. Sarbert

Ti 1111111111111: m 111111 ill m 1111111111111111111 n CHAPTER Vll.—(Continued) “My dear,” he said at last, “I’m going to be quite frank with you. There have been certain—well, certain formalities in connection with this last scheme of ours that havebeen overlooked. I don’t want to worry you with a lot of business detail—a beautiful girl like you was never meant to bother about such things! But it is necessary that 1 •should go away.” “Go away! What do you mean, father?” excitedly. Lucas held up his hand. “Now, now!” he expostulated. “There’s no need to get excited, my dear. I may have to take a short holiday. In any case, I must leave lor the Continent during the day. One of our contractors is there, and That was as far he he was allowed to go, for Carrie sprang to her feet. “Father, you’re running away!” she cried. “There’s a storm brewing, and you’re running away so that you won’t have to face it. It’s Harry who is to bear the brunt of any trouble that comes along. But why should he? Why should you be allowed to do this? It’s not fair.” Her father’s expression changed. “That’s not the way to talk to me!” he told his daughter. “You’re speaking foolishly, my dear. You know that Wyman doesn’t like me—and would do anything to hurt me. But—well, I am leaving you here, Carrie, because it wouldn’t do to take you with me. But if Wyman comes and asks any questions you will keep my name out of it as much as possible. Young Preston got out the plans; he signed all the papers—and here is something else to bear in mind. There won’t be a lot of trouble for Harry. He will have every opportunity of putting matters right. With me it would be different. Wyman is full of spite and malice towards me. He would be only too delighted to make things as bad as possible for me. I tell you that it would mean ruin! It might even mean ” and his voise sank to a whisper—“it might mean prison!” Prison! That frightened Carrie. She may have been thinking of her father—or she may have been thinking of herself. If her father went to prison, it would be the end of everything for her. Her social position would be gone; she would never be received anywhere again. Carrie’s father put his arms around her. “You’re going to see things in a sensible light, I’m sure,” he said. “This will all blow over, Carrie; but if Wyman does come here, well, 1 leave you to deal with him. But keep this in mind: while Wyman has no grudge against Harry Preston, he would show me no mercy whatever.”

The same night Wilmer Lucas left for the Continent—and the very next morning, just as he had anticipated, Mr Wyman called. He was a man in the early fifties, keen-faced, with a direct way of talking.

Carrie held out her hand to him. “How do you do, Mr Wyman?” she greeted. “The last time I met you was at the Hospital Bazaar, I think! Do you remember it?” “Quite well, Miss Lucas,” he said. “I even remember what I said!” Carrie smiled. “What did you say?” she asked. “That you. were easily the loveliest girl present that night,” George Wyman told her. “And Ido not think you have altered one little bit.” “That’s very sweet of you,” she said. “It’s a compliment that’s especially appreciated, as it comes from you, for you’re not in the habit of paying compliments. Won’t you sit down? I think there are some of father’s cigars in that box ” “Thank you, Miss Lucas, but I won’t smoke,” answered Wyman. “I’m not going to stay long, in any case. This is a business visit, and I wanted to see your father ” “He has had to go over to Paris on urgent business, I’m afraid, Mr Wyman,” was the answer. “I’m sorry to hear that,” Wyman stated. “Do you know how long he is likely to be? He’ll be back this week, I presume?” “I couldn’t say,” Carrie replied. And then, with apparent innocence, she added, “Did father know you wanted to see him or that you would be likely to call today?” A rather grim smile curved the lips of the visitor. “Well, now, I rather fancy he might have had some idea that I should be calling on him sooner or later —although I didn’t make any actual appointment for today. I just wanted to drop in on him, as it were, for a chat —and an explanation. It’s about this last estate he has put on the market. But there, my dear, I don’t want to bother you with a lot of business detail. We had better wait until your father returns, hadn’t we?” Carrie leaned slightly forward. “But if that is the matter about which you have called, I think I may be able to tell you quite a lot,” she said. “You see, the young man who drew up the plans happens to be a particular friend of mine.” George Wyman started slightly. “This Harry Preston, you mean?” “Why, of course! I was the one who discovered him, you know, and got father to take him up.” “But he’s quite young, isn’t he?” “Yes—but he has plenty of brains. He’s a coming man, I can assure you of that!” “Indeed!” the solicitor said dryly. “Well, now, I wonder if you can tell me a little more. 1 know that this Harry Preston signed all the letters —but did he actually arrange with the contractors as to the building material, and so forth? That s really what I want to know. And mini, Miss Lucas, there’s no need for you to answer these questions unless you wish to do so. I do not look on Harry Preston —whoever he may be—as the prime mover in this scheme. I should have thought your father and Freeman ” “Is there anything wrong, then, Mr Wyman?” Carrie put in. (To be continued)