PAID IN FULL

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21246, 17 October 1940, Page 3

PAID IN FULL

g= NEW SERIAL STORY

by H. S. Sarbert

UiAPIEIi Xll (Continued) Three days later a certain slip of paper came into the hands of Wilmer Lucas, who had surreptitiously returned to London. It Pad been sent to him by Freeman—and Lucas, in turn, took it to his daughter Carrie. He showed her a name at the bottom of the list—Mr Harry Preston. “I told you so,” Carrie declared. “I told you Harry would be sure to make headway in the world, but you'd never believe it. would you? It might have been better if you’d let me stand by him. You were so certain I should make a rich match, but husbands with heaps of money don't seem so easy to find, do they, father?” Wilmer Lucas made a quick gesture. “Never mind about that,” he said. “I'm—thinking." “About what?” “About Harry Preston!” “But you ” Lucas laid a hand on his daughter’s arm.

“Listen! These people will be in the centre of a ring, as it were, Carrie. I don’t want to worry your head with business details, my dear, but there will be a lot of business connected with this—contracts and sub-contracts, and so forth, lor the supply of materials and labour. And Harry will be one of those who will be in possession of quite a lot of information —information that wpuld be of great value to me. That is where your precious Harry could help rne.” Carrie rose to her feet, laughing a little. “But Harry has been put on his guard!” she said. “He knows the sort of man you are, father He has suffered. He would have gone to prison if his father hadn't saved him. I don’t think Harry Preston would listen to what you had to say!” “But he will listen to you, my dear, won’t he?” “Listen to me!” "Yes!” Wilmer Lucas said softly. “Listen to you! Harry Preston loved you. didn’t he? And still loves you? That’s whir. I want you to remember, Carrie. You've got to go back to him! you’ve got to tell him it was all a mistake! you’ve got to win back all his love and trust. And when you’ve done that —well, you’ve got to take your orders from me. We have use for Mr Harry Preston, my dear!” CHAPTER XIII. A Surprise Meeting Carrie appeared to hesitate for a few minutes. Her father watched her rather anxiously, until at last she inclined her head. “All right,” she said, “I’ll do as you say, father—only, I don’t see what I shall gain in the long run. As far as I can make out, Harry is on the high road to success again. If I get him over to you—for you and Freeman to make capital out of them—then, eventually Harry will be found out, and that will be the end of everything for him—and for me, too!” Lucas smiled.

“You’re quite fond of this Harry Preston, my dear, aren’t you?” he suggested. “I’ve always told you so,” Carrie replied. “I like him better than any man I have ever met.” Which was really not saying a lot, for the simple reason that Carrie was not really fond of anyone but herself. That was a trait that she had inherited from her father. All the same, however, Harry was handsome and young, and as she had just told her father, men with big fortunes were not so easy to find. Therefore, if Harry was only moderately successful, it would be quite a good idea to marry him, “This need not interfere with your plans, Carrie,” her father told her “But it must, if ” “It won’t interfere with them at all, if you go the proper way to work,” Lucas went on. “The information you get from Harry you’ll obtain privately. No one will connect him with it. After all, we have a list here —other men besides Preston know the particulars. There’s no need for the truth ever to leak out. Preston may be very useful to me as a son-in-law in the future. For the present, however, keep my name out of it. Tell him any story you like. Carrie. Say you have run away from me, if you like. I can leave all that salelv in your hands.” So the matter was arranged, and it was just, as Harry was leaving his office the following evening that he almost collided with Carrie at the corner of the street. “Harry! Oh, my dear, it’s so good to see you again!” She whispered the words, and smiled at him. Sh.-* had attired herself in the most attractive fa ion—not expensively, but in a way that made her look her best. and she appeared slightlv timid, as though not quite sure of how he would treat her. Harry held out his hand. “Why, Carrie, it’s certainly a surprise to see you,” he replied. H* 3 was surprised at himself. He had so often tried to analyse his own feelings, to endeavour to work out exactly how he would feel if Carrie ever crossed his path again. Woum he forget everything and take her in his arms, or would he heap reproaches upon iter? But he had never expected that he would feel just as lie did nowjust indifferent. Utterly and completely indifferent. The blood was not quickened in hi.- veins at all! ‘T want to talk to you,’’ Came told him. "There's—there’s a lot 1 want to say to you. Harry. Cun we go to tea somewhere? ’’ “Why. yes, of course!" He felt he had to say that. Actually. he had been looking forward \o having tea with his father, to telling him all the latest news of trip day. For there was one person to whom Harry knew he could always talk in the most perfect confidence. His father was so interested in him. so eager to hear ol all his success, and Harry knew that he cc*uld alwavs tell him everything. “There's a restaurant at the other ! “Is it quiet?" (To be continued dally)