1935-12-17 — Page 44

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CHINA MAIL CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT

Unconditional Surrender

Continued from Page 27.)

In her cabin later, Cecily began to feel rather queer about the pearls. She was sorry she had decided to borrow them. She tried to reassure herself there couldn't be anything wrong in it; and fell asleep trying to pretend they were really her own-a present from Arthur.

Next morning the ship was all bustle and confusion, as she berthed early. As Kerry was nowhere to be seen, Cecily came to the conclusion he must have been too busy packing to bother about breakfast.

Going up on deck she scanned the wharf below, took two or three turus round the deck, and decided he must have gone off, thinking at the same time it was strange he had not been near her. He had had every opportunity of doing so. She turned her atten- tion to the crowd on the wharf, wondering as she scanned the throng below eagerly for a familiar face, if Arthur would come to meet her. Her hopes scon sank, however, and bitter disappoint- meat took possession of her. He was not there.

Slowly, she went down the gangway, to see about her luggage, wondering what would happen when she arrived home-what would be the outcome of their wretched quarrel. For the moment she had forgotten all about Kerry and his pearls.

A sudden touch on her arm brought Cesily back to earth with a start. Thank goodness, she thought with relief, the man at last. She turned eagerly, to find herself confronted, not by Austin Kerry. but by two stern and stalwart-looking men wearing CLB. badges.

The sight gave her rather an unpleasant start, as they were obviously interested in her. Her hand went instinctively and in- criminatingly up to the pearls round her threat

"The detective, whose band was by now firmly on her arm nodded to his companion, who slightly closed one eye.

“Would you mind explaining that nice string of pearls you've got on, Miss?" he said suavely.

"Oh, yes, certainly," replied Cecily quickly, they belong to a fellow-passenger, Austin Kerry,” and finding her explanation harder than it should have been, under the intent locks of the detectives. enced up iamely: "Ee, be Tent them to me." This seemed rather awful. Cecily began to feel confused. It was almost as if they zuspected her of having stolen the pearls.

"Yes?" the detective interrogated crisply. "and where is Austia Kerry?"

"Why he. I don't know," she faltered “You do believe me, don't you? I'm Mrs. Grant, wife of Arthur Grant, the barrister; you must know him.”

"We know Mr. Grant all right, but, you see, we don't know you

No offence meant, of course."

"As it happens," the detective continued, "we are on the look- out for a string of pearls, supposed to be on this ship. Stolen property." he emphasised the words, "valued at two thousand pounds; and that's about the value of the string round your neck. see?"

He paused to allow the significance of his words to sink in. "Oh!" gasped Cecily, unable to speak. She suddenly felt faint. her knees seemed to be giving way. Her whole being becamNG engulfed in a feeling of horror. Why hadn't Arthur come to meet her? She felt dizzy, and everything seemed to be swimming round. As if from a distance she could hear the detective again querying her:

"And where is Mr. Grant?**

By the tone of his voice, and the significant glances that passed between the two men, she realised neither of them believed her.

She felt trapped. As if she really were guilty.

Oh how could she explain to these two unbelieving men. Then it suddenly came to her startled brain. The whole thing was a trick. A trick of a cunning, low crook. Arthur had been right in his summing up of Kerry.

As the wife of a well-known barrister, she would not even bo looked at, and when she had passed the Castoms, and probably the police as well, Kerry would, as soon as she arrived home, call and collect his booty, to disappear again immediately into the blue.

"It's...

a... trick," Cecily at last managed to stammer, trying to force herself into giving a coherent explanation.

Then, joy!

Through the numbness of her brain another voice penetrated. She could hardly believe her ears- Arthur's brisk voice, demanding to know what it was all about. He had come to meet her after all

Then she fainted.

A few seconds later she opened her eyes to find herself on a large packing-case with Arthur bending over her.

430

“Oh, Arthur,” she faltered, almost sobbing with relief. "Im glad you've come.”

Arthur looked at her intently. In his eyes there lurked a twinkle which Cecily did not notice.

“Are you going to speak to my father at the wedding?" His moment of triumph had arrived, and he was taking full. if rather mean, advantage of it.

To Cecily's mind came the horrible thought that Arthur was quite capable of disowning her to the detectives, whom she could see, still standing by.

She surrendered unconditionally. Her pride a thing of dust and ashes.

"Darling," she whispered, as she flung herself into his arms, "I'd speak to the Devil if you wanted me to.”

[THE END]

XMAS TIME IS DRAWNIG NEAR,

SANTA CLAUS WILL SOON BE HERE

WITH HIS PRESENTS AND, HIS TOYS

FOR ALL THE LITTLE GIRLS & BOYS.”

COME ON, YOUNG FOLKS,

VISIT OUR TOYLAND TO

SEE WHAT SANTA CLAUS

BRINGS YOU.

THE WING ON CO., LTD.