1937-12-31 — Page 43

14

CHINA MAIL CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT

FIRST OFFENCE

SHORT STORY heard it turn and go grinding

BY COLIN

DAVEY

ANE liked men tough

or

fancied she did. Rodney was gentle and considerate by nature, and though she was de- voted to him there were times when his kindness brought out the devil in her

Until to-night it seemed that his patience and good nature knew

To-night, bounds. no

have been nothing could "tougher than the word he had used to her, or rougher than the way he had banged out of the house.*

At first the echo of the bang- her. ed frent door excited

wonder. Then she began to

For how Where would he go? long would he go? To whom would he go?

Ro

ODNEY was no coward, nor- was he a particularly weak character. His failing was that he always saw too far ahead. Perhaps there were too many tradespeople or diplomats in his ancestry. He always balanced the debit and credit side before any transaction, and always foresaw every complication which might follow a hasty de- cision.

He did not mind a fight; but he realised that both victor and vanquished were bound to suf- fer. considerable discomfort from it; and that the outcome rarely settled the question in point: all it settled was who was the best fighter.

an

It was the same with argument. The victor seldom convinced his opponent of any- thing except the fact that the other was a more facile and» imaginative liar than he.

•

On a score of occasions he had been on the point of leav- ing Anne not for good, but for long enough to make her repent- but on each occasion: he had found himself like the schoolmaster who picks up the cane and says: "This is going to hurt me more than you.”

he So on the occasions when

I'm longed to say, “All right. off." You can go to blazes!" all it meant was that he would go to blazes, and Anne would stay, in comfort.

TANDING outside the front door that early morning with a biting wind whipping at his dress trousers and a fine, iey rain stinging his face, Rod- ney thought of all this again.

Already he was shivering and wondering where on earth to go. There were few hotels which he knew where he was certain of comfort. But he could hardly go to any of them at five in the morning. He was could well known at all, and imagine the lifted eyebrow: with which he would be greeted in such circumstances.

4

The sound of a taxi in the distance raised his spirits, but afterwards he immediately

→

off in another direction. He hd leaned out from the shelter of the doorway and a small cascade of icy rain dripped from above on to to the back of He cursed and his neck. shivered, and half turned to ring the front door bell. He was tired and suffering from acute indigestion, and it not much past the hour when most men die.

Tras

Fas

His morale was about pulpy as his sodden dress shoes What was the good of it? To- morrow or the next day he would be forced to capitulate. Why not now, before he caught pneumonia?

To own defeat, and go back to Anne meant a continuation of petty annoyances and misery. But wasn't that better than a frightful chill, days of bore- dom, and a prodigal's return in a few days' time? If only be

to hail somewhere

Bu go. there was nowhere. With a groan he turned back to the bell

ND, what might you be,

doin' of "?"" koaney turned to find a police- man at his elbow.

"Standing outside my own front door. Isn't it obvious?”

ence is viscount

.want

to

"And what might your name be?" asked the constable, look- ing Rodney up and down

**Colston." "Well, this 'ere re the property of the

if 'Artington

you know."

"I'm perfectly aware of that. He's

a friend of mine. He lends e the house sometimes.” "Ho, does 'e? Was you want- ing to get in, sir? Mislaid your key, perhaps.”

"No. I don't want to get in. I've just come out. I want to go to an hote1 Unfortunately there aren't any taxis.”

The constable jerked his head towards the upstairs windows.

else “Anybody

staying in there?"

"No, no one. I mean none of the family. There's my wife, of course."

'Ow long's she been in bed?", “About a quarter of an hour." I should think.”

"And though the ouse 'as been lent you by 'is iordship, and your wife's been in bed this last quarter of an hour, you've. packed yer bag and yer going orf to a 'otel." The policeman scratched his chin. "Don't seem right to me," he mused. Then brightly be added, "Not ad e tiff with the missus, 'ave yer?”

"Of course not," replied Rod- ney notly. "If you've notning else to do but interfere with other people, at least there's no need to be impertinent. Why can't you mind your own busi- ness, or blow that whistle and get me a taxi? That would be some use."

THE

* * *

HE constable stroked his chin again. “I ain't at all sure but what you ain't my business," he remarked thought-

fully. "If you atten't 'ad a tif with your missus. $

"I've told you. I'm going to an hotel. Why is my business." objection, I "If you've no think I'll just fave a peep in that there bag."

"Why should you? I tell youU it contains clothes nothing else.”

"It's either that or ringing this 'ere bell Ow do I know the clothes are yours? Yes.

:05 do I know you 'aven't pinched 'em? If your missus 'as only been in bed a quarter of an hour, she won't be asleep yet. I think I'll give 'er a`

tinkle. Then she can come down and identify you.”

c. You can't do that." The thought of himself, now drenched and miserable, gain- ing admission to his wife tnder escort of the police was too terrible to contemplate. Anne would tell the story for months! The officer lifted his hand to the bell push, and had just

it touched

before Rodney arm and tore snatched at his his hand away.

"'Ere, what's all this?" de-

the

in- manded

constable dignantly.

"You can't ring that bell," croaked Rodney in panic.

"Ho, can't I? You just try to and then see what stop me, 'appens to you. Pll arrest you for 'inderin' an orficer in the

the cooler then.”

“A fortnight in prison 2" Maybe more. The magis- trates is very 'ot on those sort of cases these days.. Maybe three weeks. Now, ont

way "

*

*

HERE weeks!!

*

201

A strange

light dawned in Rodney's, eyes. It was the look of an artist who, suddenly inspired, sees that haystacks are not yellow at all, but composed of violet lozenges with green stripes. Not only was it a light of inspiration, but of joy and reckless hope and a sudden, courage.

He stepped back half a pace, dabbed out with what is known in ring parlance as a "hookey left," and as the policeman flinched, smashed his right fist full into the officer's face.

As he ran he was conscious of two exquisite sensations: the thrill of having broken a police- man's nose and the joy of hav- ing done exactly the right thing at the right time.

At Hyde Park Corner Rodney was out of breath, and slowed

By the time he had- to a walk. reached the Green Park station he had recovered himself suff- ciently to ask of the policeman there the way to Vinestreet. There, with the manner of man at peace with the world. he gave himself up.

•

*

2

MAID Anne three weeks

pursocance of 'is dooty. Then SAIL later: “And do you

you'll see what." On which he blew himself up to his full stature of dignity.

Rodney" slipped quickly ben tween the officer and the door, and laced about with the des in a trap. peration of a man Before him stood physical vio- lence and the might of the law, -but behind him lay months of "I'm persecution and ridicule. hanged if you'll ring that bell," he growled.

"That's just where you make your mistake, cully," said the policeman grimly, licking his lips. "I'm going to ring that bell, and I warn you if you resists or 'inders me I'll charge you. You'll get a fortnight in

you

know that the night left a great halking ruffian with a bludgeon tried to break into. the house? If a very brave policeman hadn't happened to be passing heaven knows what" would have happened to me, left there all alone.”

"It might have been a good thing." mused Rodney grimly. it "After all, whose fault was that you were alone?"

"Oh darling, mine, I know," said Anne meekly, touching his sleeve timidly with her hand.

"So long as we're quite clear on that point there's no more to be said," said Rodney magnani- mously, draining his whisky and soda.