THE CHINA MAIL FRIDAY SUPPLEMENT, AUGUST 23, 1940'
BY
CINDERELLA
ever.
4
GORDON SUSSEX
-
Her
there.
"Master." Mary must not sing at the For the life of her, Mrs. Edward another.
("Master", for-have stopped. ' I didn't know it the said "Dear!”).
bel Fennicott
Reluctantly, Mary obeyed, and, · understand her. work; she must not be fami- sooth!). He was nagged in front was so inte. 'I shall never couldn't why she could never keep a mald liar with that impudent milkman. of her; she was nagged in front of home by half-past-ten, and Ma- with her safe (as he hoped), he, for more thurf a month on end. And above all, she must be home him--and behind his back. So dam will be terribly angry." felt that he could have stepped on
Mr. Edward Pennicott knew by ten o'clock "to the minute" on they had something in common. Now the last thing Edward de- to the scaffold with a smile.
Furthermore, they both came of sired was that Mary should get Without the flicker of an eye-. that it was because maids won't her evening off.
She was not long in discovering humble stock. So, for that mat-info Mrs. Pennicott's bad books. lid he told the station sergeant stand nagging--but he also knew better than to say so. He envied that she couldn't do anything right|ter, did the mistress of, the house, Suppose there were ructions and how many fingers he held up....
The thought| the malds who could pack up and for Miss Daphne, who seemed to but this she had long ago forgot-she had to leave!
Purple with indignation in the leave the house for
He have her knife in her from the ten. She thought it "positively was unbearable. Anything to now nearly empty vestibule of the still prevent such a catastrophe. If she theatre, Mrs. Pennicott told couldn't. He was a fixture-like start. Perhaps Daphne had notic-disgusting" that Edward the scullery sink and the coal cel-ed her father's covert glances at dropped on occasional aitch, and went home by bus, with a five-Daphne that she knew it! lár. What he endured for the the new girl, that first night at she objected to his pottering about minute walk at the other end, she father couldn't be trusted to do the garden minus collar and tie. would be a quarter of an hour late the simplest thing. Here they had sake of peace and quietness was dinner.
There was no evil in Mr. Pen-[So, again for the sake of peace at the very least.
been waiting a whole twenty min- astounding. He never complained.
collar Since he was the only man in nicott. But he liked a pretty face,jand quietness, he wore a
Edward thought for a moment. utes, and no sign of him!'
"I'll phone the house," said the house, away out there in the and never before in his life had and, tie, no matter how hot the Then looked at his watch.
a weather.
He would risk it!
Daphne. remote suburbs of Beachy Bay, it he been so close to so lovely
He was quite But he had his thrilling mp- was his regular job to carry the creature as Mary.
"Come with me, Mary. The car
There was no reply, Hannah, as trunks of new maids up to the sorry that on the evening of her ments now. As, for instance, is close handy. I can run your they knew, would be in bed. Pre- room they shared in turn with the arrival he had arranged to play when Mary brought him out alhome, and still have time to meet sumably Mary was, too. elderly and taciturn cook, Hannah, billiards at a friend's house. He cup of tea (in a kitchen cup "by the ladies at the theatre."
It was not until then that Mrs. It seemed hardly worth while go- was very fond of billiards and order") while he laboured in the And presently, with that divin-Pennicott decided that Henry had ing to the trouble, because he played a good game, in spite of garden. He thought he had never ity beside him, he drove out from had an accident with the car. "I knew quite well that in a week the fact that, being so short, he seen anything half so wonderful a little side street on to the Sen shan't rest until we've been to the of two he would have the job of had to use the rest for every other as the sunlight dancing in Mary's Front. What a night of thrills! police station and found out," she carrying them down again, stroke. And it was the ambition hair as she tripped across the That hundred break! And now-declared.
On the day on which the of his uneventful life to knock up láwn. And once, when Mrs. Pen-this!
The police station was just chronicle opens he had carried a hundred break.
nicott and Daphne were out, Mary Now Mr. Pennicott was only round the corner, and the first one trunk down in the morning During dinner that evening, Mr. lingered to admire his roses. To human, and the truth is that he thing they saw just round the and another one up in the after- Pennicott put his foot in it rather his delight she could name many paid more attention to Mary's gay corner was the car. noon--the latter the property of a badly. It seemed that Mrs. Penni-of them, for, as he now learned, chatter about the dance than he
"What did I say?" asked Mrs. trim and demure young thing,cott was saying something about she was a gardener's daughter did to his driving. And he had Pennicott. who in the opinion of Mrs. Pen- the new maid, and Mr. Pennicott and she had often helped her scarcely gone a hundred yards She flung open the swing doors. ricott and her deputy martinet, (who hadn't the vaguest idea father to stage prize blooms at along the Front before he had the Yes, said the sergeant, Daphne, was far better looking, what her name was yet) thought flower shows.
grave misfortune to collide with was someone of that name there. and far better dressed than a his wife was referring to a selec-
Mr. Pennicott was thrilled. Noja barrier round a hole in the road. Just been brought in. (Brought "person" in her station in life had tion coming through the radio and
one else had ever admired his Beyond slightly denting a wing in!) Was this the man? any right to be.
said: "Very pretty indeed!"
roses. As timidly as though she and making a deal of noise, no A curtain was drawn aside. That led to a scene and an ex- had been a goddess he offered damage was done. But before Mr. In his shirt-sleeves, Edward Mary had a lot to learn about planation which was received as Mary a bloom. No harm in that! Pennicott could gather his scat-was at that moment walking along the likes and dislikes of the fami- such explanations are in such a Mary was delighted. "Thank tered wits, a crowd had collected a chalked line. He did it very
Mrs. At meal times, Madam must household. It also led to
you Sir," she smiled. (How he and a policeman had appeared on well for a novice, have this and that within reach. Fennicott and Daphne keeping an
With a muffled scream Mrs. Miss Daphne could not stand the eye on both Mary and the unhap-hated to hear her call him. "Sir!"), the scene.
"I'll wear it to-night. I'm going Useless for Mr. Pennicott to de-Pennicott sank on to the bench. sight or smell of vinegar. One py Edward.
It's clare that everything was all right Daphne and Edward were at her liked this kind of bread; one liked Mary felt genuinely sorry for to a dance at the Olympic.
my evening out, and Madam has and that he was in a hurry. side in a moment; the sergeant given me an extra half-hour." The officer asked to see his li-produced a glass of water and a
Mr. Pennicott beamed. Then, cence a simple request which bottle of smelling-salts fearfully: "You won't let anyone proved to be the first move to- painful scene. The less said about in the house see that rose, will wards disaster.
it, the better, Edward divided his you?"
Mr. Pennícott unbuttoned his attention between his definitely of "No fear of that, Sir," she an-lovercoat; dived a hand into a jac- better half and the business swered with the faintest suspicion ket pocket.
proving his sobriety to the Police (of a wink, "I understand, Sir." Then a queer, sensation smote Surgeon who had been summon-
When she was gone (and had him in the pit of the stomach. ed. The latter task proved taken something of the sunshine For the wallet he withdrew was easier one, and, he emerged from with her) he was conscious that not his! He knew that much, the ordeal with flying colours. a new joy had come into his life. even before he had taken a good What was more, his erstwhile op- Someone loved his roses. Some-look at it. He searched the poc-ponent of the billiards saloon ar- one had smiled upon him. Some-ket again; searched every pocket,rived with his jacket and con- one understood!
and in each of them found things firmed his story insofar as that Presently he found himself which were not his at all.
item was concerned, and in the wondering why Mrs. Pennicott The crowd grew more dense and face of everything, the crimes and had allowed Mary that extra half-more interested; the policeman offences of Edward Pennicott hour. Nor, even when he learned more officious.
were whittled down to the purely that the ladies of the house were)
"There's some mistake," ex-technical one of driving without going to the theatre, and that he plained Mr. Pennicott. "I've been a licence. That might or might was to drive them both ways, dia playing billiards, and taken the not mean a summons. Nor did the he realise that it was in order to wrong jacket." prevent him and Mary from being] The officer produced
Her name was Mary.
Coldair for 1940
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prospect frighten him. He was far note-more concerned as to what Mrs. in the house, to all intents and book. "Driving withouta l-Pennicott -would have to say on purposes alone, for a few minutes, cence What's your name and the matter when she'd got him since his orders were to bring the address?"
home. But, so long as 'Mary's share car-back to the theatre sharp at Mr. Pennicott hesitated. This in his escapade did not leak out, ten-thirty.
was dreadful. It would be in all he felt that he could face even When he had carried out the the papers. Mrs. Pennicott would that with equanimity. first part of his contract and set know all about it.
No word was spoken as he
every
And
his frigid passengers down. at the "Come on," insisted the con-drove the ladies home, but he theatre, a happy idea occurred to stable. "Your name and address."could feel their eyes-like gimlets him, "Why go home?
Edward leaned towards him in the back of his neck. In the huge basement of the and whispered the information in All he prayed was that Mary Olympic-under the very hall his ear. He didn't want
had got back safely where Mary would be dancing-one to hear it.
then, awful thought had she a was a billiards saloon. Why not That whisper was fatal. The key? put in the evening there? He Constable caught the odour of He set his silent passengers parked the car and went-feeling whisky. He jotted down the down at the front door; unlocked quite the man-about-town. Un-name and address .. . "And the it for them, and then drove the derground places, where drinking lady's name and address?" car round to the garage, which
commercial traveller.
"Mary what?"
J
•
goes on, always made him feel Worse than ever! Mary must be was also the repository for large that way, although he only touch-kept out of this at all costs. Again quantities of unwanted furniture. ed alcohol once in a blue moon he hesitated, But the constable And there another shock awaited
The tables being much in was obdurate.
[him, for, as he was closing the demand, he had to wait nearly an "Mary," whispered Mr. Penni-doors, someone whistled softly to hour before he could get a game cott.
him from behind a stack of lum- with a stranger-an affable little
ber. man with the breezy manner of aj Now, how many of us know It was Mary.
the surnames of those who min- "I couldn't get indoors," she He felt strangely elated by the ister to our needs at home? Cer-whispered. "I had the wrong prospect of matching himself tuinly Mr. Pennicott had not the key.' against an unknown quantity, and vaguest idea what Mary's other Edward gasped. "I say.". he |ho removed his jacket and rolled name was.
whispered in his turn, "were you up his sleeves with real zest, The: She came to his rescue, "Hal- supposed to wait up until they stranger followed suit, and play let," she said.
got home?" commenced. Of that contest, all The policeman made a note of "No, Sir. My orders were to that need be said is that Mr. Pen-that, too, while mentally he sum-go straight to bed. I'm so sorry Unfavourable Ex
nicott was in such excellent form moned up the situation. No for what's happened, Sir. It was change does not nf-that he amazed his opponent, and licence; collision with street bar-all my fault."
the marker, and still more him-rier; woman a stranger to thei "Never mind about
What fect Coldair prices-gelf, by not only winning every driver; driver smells of drink and time does cook go to bed?" it is cheaper to BUY game, but by achieving that life is incoherent in his speech, and "At nine sharp, Sir."
therefore long ambition to knock up a hun-furthermore he is in possession of "So she wouldn't know 'BRITISH
dred in one break.
the property of an unknown per-time you got in?" BUY COLDAIR.
Now Edward Pennicott rarely son-probably the actual owner of "No, Sir. She'd sleep-through took anything to drink outside his the cur.
an 'earthquake." own home, but this, surely, was He took the names of two wit- "An earthquakel. That's just on excuse for a modest whisky nesses, closed his note-book; step-what there's going to be present- and splash . ten minutes slipped-on-to-the-running-board.ly, when I go into the drawing [ped by before he realised it, Time "Drive to the Police Station," he room. I've seen it coming! Now, to be going.
said grimly, "And drive glow!" Mary, while it's on, you creep up He seized jacket, hat and over- Arrived at that most dreadful the back stairs to your room... cont, and hurried from the saloon, place, Mr. Pennicott was ushered Er. Good-night, Cinderella!"
And at that moment, like Cin-Inside. But to his unspeakable Edward was right about...... thút. dorolla from the ball, Mary relief, Mary's presence was not earthquake. emerged from the swing doors of required. He handed hor some Mary heard it, and almost felt |the dance hall.
loose silver.
it, as she stole into bed in the Edward's heart missed a beat. "Get a taxi," he "staminered, dark.
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If Mary had looked pretty in cap "and hurry home as fast as you The horrid cat," she whisper- änd apron, she was ten times more can. You'll get there before the ed under her breath, "Some peo- And she was wearing ladles, with luck. And not a word ple don't deserve good husbands!" his rose! To his delight, recogni~about having seen me. All right! But Edward scarcely felt the tion_was_mutual.
Don't worry about me. You un-shock “Oh, sir!” `slie '¿ried 'n little derstand, if no one else will. Go, For Mary's name wasn't mon- breathlessly, "My Watch must there's a good girl!" (How nearly tioned.
jij*r 27th,