PAID IN FULL

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21242, 12 October 1940, Page 12 (Supplement)

PAID IN FULL

by H. S. Sarbert

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CHAPTER Xl—(Continued) When Harry’s father got home that night he made light of the whole affair. He refused to discuss the matter with Harry, only saying that the boy had been wrong to seek him out. Perhaps he was not feeling too well, but he would be sure to improve. Anyway, plenty of other men did the work, so why couldn’t he? Wasn’t he as strong as the average? Hadn’t Harry himself always boasted about his father’s strength? But Harry knew—Hilda Holden knew. And the very day after Viola had returned home Harry’s father collapsed at his work, and had to be brought home in a taxi and put to bed. And it was Hilda who took it upon herself to call the doctor in. Even then David tried to laugh it off, but the medical man made a thorough examination, and that evening he gave his decision to Hilda and Harry in another room.

“There’s no doubt that your father has been a strong man in his time,” ie stated. “Considerably above the average. We can say also that he is still in the prime of life. A man r\ his early forties, provided he has .aken care of himself, should be capable of almost anything. But Mr Preston is not the man he has been 1 can see that. He has worried a great deal. That has had its effect upon him, and the work he is doing now—well, it’s just too much, that’s all. The muscles of the i heart won’t stand it!” j “Then you mean ?” began I Harry. He looked at the doctor, and the doctor looked back at him. “Your father can’t do that sort of thing any more,” he said. “He must, take it easy. He must stop putting any undue strain upon himself. otherwise—well, I will not hold mvself responsible for the conseauences. You are his son—his only relation, I understand?” “Yes,” Harry answered slowly, “that’s right.” “Then I warn you, Mr Preston, your father must get an easier job, : a much easier job, if he values his ' life!” CHAPTER XII. Harry Takes a Hand “Very well, doctor, I will see that t my father looks after himself.” ; Harry Preston spoke quietly, but | he also spoke in a determined manj n er. He had expected the doctor ; to say something like this, i Then the doctor, noticing the grave j face, proceeded to soften the blow a | bit. • “If you act on my advice—if Mr Preston has an easier job—l’ve no doubt that everything will turn out quite well,” he stated. “He will soon be about again, and with the absence of mental stress should recover completely. But he can t stand the strain of really heavy work. If he remembers that, his heart should not give him a lot of trouble in the future. There is no reason why he shouldn’t live to a ripe old age. He’s had a splendid constitution all his life.” When the doctor had gone. Harry had a quiet conversation with Hilda Holden. They agreed on one point. Mr Preston was obstinate in some things—and ir? one thing most of all. He would never admit that he was not fit for any kind of work. As soon as he was able to get about, he would return to that job; he would rather be doing that than be out of work. “And we know what might happen then!” Harry said. “So I’m going to put a stop to it in the only way I know—the way I told you about. Don’t you agree with me?” Hilda nodded. “Yes,” she replied. “That’s the only way, Harry. It’s the only thing you can do.” Mr Preston could not bear the thought of being an invalid. He was socn up and about again, thanking Hilda very much for all that she had done for him, declaring that he owed a let to her nursing. He was now going back to the old j job. lie was feeling quite fit. There was no reason why he should not be working again. He would not let even Hilda dissuade him from this path. He was not going to be out of work; he was not g :ng to be a burden to his boy—not if he could help

So he returned to the wharf to report for duty—but Dan Ryan shook his head. “I’m sorry, Preston, but I can’t take you on.” “But I’m well again now, sir, and you said I might come back as soon as I was fit.” “I know I did; but you’re not so well”—Ryan paused—“not so well as you think you are. Fact is, I’ve had someone to see me about you.” “My son?” “Well, yes—that young chap who came here and gave you a hand. That’s the fellow. And he’s told me the doctor has warned you to be careful.” “Doctors say all sort of things,” Mr Preston observed. “Sure they do—and sometimes they happen to say the right thing. We all know that, don’t we? Anyway, I’m not going to take any risks. I Your heart can’t stand the strain, and there’s an end of it. I’ve got the doctor’s words on that—and I've promised your son I won’t employ you again. He’s not doing so badly, is he, Preston?” “He’s doing fine.” David spoke these words involuntarily, his natural pride in his son coming to the front. “Weil, then, whv worry?” Ryan asked. “Let him look after you. That’s a son’s duty, his privilege, if he’s doing at all well, isn’t it? You take it and let the boy look after you!” David’s eyes biazed at the suggestion. He shook his read. “A man jf my age doesn’t have to took to his children to support him,” he. said. “I'm glact to know my lad’s doing well, that he’s n«. Ping his way in the world. That’s ah I ask: it’s a 1 I want. Look heie, Mr Ryan”—and his voice took on a more beseeching note —“do what you can for me, will you? want to keep my job, and I’m sure I shall be all light again. You—ycu did suggest that you might find a better sort of job lor me laLer on.” “I know I did —and I should have borne you in mind,” Ryan stated, “but there’s nothing like that just now, Preston, so what’s the good of | talking? Just as well for you to | realise the facts. You can’t do the . only kind of work I’ve got for you, j so you must look around for some- | thing else—that is, of course, if you’re j too proud to let your son do anything for you.” That was the end of the conversation so far as Ryan was concerned. He was a very busy man. He could not waste a lot of time. He had said all that he had to say. It would be dangerous for him to give further employment to this man who might collapse at his post. That was the only thing that concerned Ryan. , David Preston walked slowly down ” the side-turning that led from the wharves, and then along the High . Street. He was out of work again. ! Harry had done this thing; appar- 1 ently Harry had been down and ask- i ed Ryan not to give him any further i work. Well, he ought to be very angry with Harry, ought to tell him exactly what he thought of him. (To be continued daily)