(Continued fròm Paye 22.)
"That's where Sylvie is," he said. "Care to getter?"
"You bet," said Dandy. He leap: from the car and ran up the steep bank from the roadway to the plantation. Here he sud- denly pulled up. Through the trees he got for the first time. a clear view of the bungalow. It
CHINA MAIL CHRISTMAS NUMBER.
his reception was too waETTI..
As he walked with her up the drive he took sardonic stock of Sylvie in her disconsolate best. "What are you narked about?" he inquired. ""I s'pows your bloke hasn't 'come after all, eh?" "He must have lost his way.""" "Ow, he couldn't have done Straight road."
"He started all right," said
was a tumble-down shack, dila-Sylvie "I rang up the hotel at pidated, windowless, and desert- ed.
Dandy swung round. From the roadway resounded the metallic scream of some tortuous gear- changing. Next moment the tourer was beating ita fuming re-. treat in a cloud of dust.
14
At one o'clock, Dad,, who was lacking in sentimentality regarde・・ ing the observances of Christmas, came flicking the dust from his gaiters with a crop and shouting -- to Sylvie for what he called his "tucker." This, in the form of the most recherche Christmas dinner that Sylvie could manage, was all prepared; so, after a de- liberate and very successful toilet, was Sylvie herself. She was waiting outside the rough wooden gate at the foot of the short drive, anxiously scanning the long bare stretch of road.
She shouted back'suddenly and eagerly, “Hold on, Dad. Here's a car at last. The reply of Dad. · who was hungry, was fortunate- ly confined to soliloquy..
Sylvie's face fell. She recogniz- ed the tourer. Wally Gunn, his network shirt begrimed 'with the dust of the road, was, like his car, obviously overheated; but at. least he could not complain that
twelve o'clock, and they said he went off this morning `us, arrang: ed"
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Wally laughed curtly. "What d'you s'pows you mean to a cove like that? Every Jane in town ready to make a fuss of 'em. I'll bet he's hooked on to something else."
Mr. Gunn's local knowledge had stood him in good stead.. Ä survey of the shack and its" sur- roundings assured Dandy that to regain anything like civilization. would mean a long and tedious walk. The sun was at its noon- tide fercest-the day was an ab- solute scorcher. With admir able philosophy he decided that to fume in rage was worse than useless, it was exhausting. The shack, at any räte, provid- ed shelter His wants were few -two in chief: to see Mr. Gunn again for a minute and an ample, supply of beer. These being de nied him, he must make the best" of things for the present. He was at least fulfilling his pip squeak of “a captain's wishes- he was spending an entirely inac- tive and temperate`day.
Wally Gunn fairly revelled in his success as a strategist." He was at his most roughnecked dur-
ing the Christmas meal, eating terrifically, and rallying the wist ful. Sylvie between, and indeed during, mouthfuls. Not con- tent with this, he chose to em- ploy the hour of Dad's afternoon nap in a particularly peremptory and aggressive essay in court- ship.
But Sylvie could look after her self all right. She felt her dis- appointment keenly, and Wally might have known he was work- ing up something for himself by baiting her about it. When he laid his beefy hands on her she,, released herself nimbly, and caught him a clinking smack on his leathery chaps.'
"Don't you pull any more of that stuff on me, you hulking great guzzling tough," she cried. "I'll wait and find someone, tho- roughbred, thank you. You can go back to your station and rope you steers and brand them. You won't "treat me that way?
This, of course, prompted Mr. Gunn's moment of triumph. The darned little cat must be shown that he was more than a match for her blinking cricketing coves. In a raucous outburst of angry delight he told her how her friend, Mr. Dandy Stratton, had been fooled and where and how he was spending his Christmas. He chortled to see the fire of anger in Sylvie's eyes give way to welling consternation.
"So that's what your game's been," she said in a choking e voice. "Well, that's settled you. with me."
"And him,” said Wally. "The cow can't get the better of me."
He brought his great hands
together with a bang of delight. Even as he did so, Sylvie in a flash was through the front door. It alammed behind her, and by the time. Wally had it open she was down the drive. She vault- ed the wooden gate in her stride. Once more the tourer-screeched into gear and thundered into fight.
When Dad arose from his siesta he found Wally Gunn striding about the sitting-room, threatening the ornaments, and muttering lan guage calculated to ignite the fur- niture. But Dad, whose long asso- ciation with cattle had perhaps rendered him somewhat bovine. himself, merely jerked a heedless head, and went out to spend the rest of his Christmas afternoon in his favourite company, So Wal- ly remained alone, save for some domestic nenentity in the rear of the house, and snorted the hours away.
At out six o'clock the tele- phone bell rang. Wally 'caught up the receiver angrily. A very refined and precise English voice hailed him from Sydney in an ap prehensive tenor. Wally set his teeth. Another of these blast- ed cricketers.
Mr. Pogson meant to get Dandy back at a reasonable hour, and was taking no chances. But he failed to get much satisfaction. On the contrary, he was merely told to go and boll himself.
"said "Come, now,"
Gussy. "You'll pardon me. But the hotel clerk knows he went there"
"You pardon yer, something. He's not here now.".
(Continued on Page 26.)
Our Christmas Message; "We are Ready
HE Spirit of Christmas is everywhere. THE
but
nowhere is it more vitally real than here at LANE, CRAWFORD'S, where no effort has been spared to carry out the Yuletide tradition of joy and happiness. You'll feel it the moment you enter the store; you'll sense it in the timely gift suggestions we've arranged in groups for your convenience; you'll shop in comfort and with confidence. secure in the knowledge that our trained organization is intent upon alding you in making this a season to be re- membered. Don't fail to visit the store for the sheer joy of seeing the timely decorations, renewing and re-living" old thrills by a trip through TOYLAND, bringing the kiddies to partake of the fun and try our LUCKY DIP;
Christmas Suggestions can best be had by paying 18 2 visit
you don't have to buy anything, just drop down to the EXCHANGE. RESTAURANT for tea and later take the lift of the Land of Christmas Suggestions.
LANE, CRAWFORD LTD.
Exchange Building.
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