1940-01-26 — Page 16

SHORT STÓRY

THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 26, 1940

WHAT'S SPEAKING By Douglas Newton

MI

fore his station. And she did. At Galt Green."

ICHAEL HARDER saw her in the

foyer of the Pelican Theatre. She Green, the new housing-scheme sub- "Ah, that's why I didn't quite place "I saw you and heard you after

"Odd, you'd been to was pretty, of course, even if Con- urb called Honeymoon Halt by the you," Billy said cheerfully.

the Pelican, months " . stance Bennett had nothing to fear ribald, she and Billy left the train. though, we haven't met before seeing ago

*The night Joyce left the kitchen from her. But just good looks did not Indeed, as she and her husband walk- we're both Concentrics." matter. There was that about her ed towards the exit Michael' caught "Very odd," Michael said. "For stove on," Condon sald.with a gasp.

"Yes," Michael drove the truth an air, a savor, a jolliness-that made her eyes, and for a moment they did I've been a guest at the Galt Green the eternal expectation that was in not seem able to tear their glances Branch several times."

home. "I even heard her say that. "You make it sound as though my And since, as I say, I've been able to him as in every man-sit up and apart.

to The train went on and Michael not belonging look twice.

that branch was note her devotion to you, your present He looked twice-and repeated. He groaned. He groaned all the way to something sinister," Billy grinned, rottenness strikes me as sheer black- knew he had made the find of finds; his station, Minton Park, four more apparently puzzled at Michael's man- guardism. 2

from

the entirely different girl

all If he'd only met her before Billy `other girls. It he'd lived In his if . It was a tragedy. For it grew mother's youth he'd have called it plainer every moment that she love at first sight. something to the only girl who would ever count smile at these days; all the same, as

activities clear of Galt Green!

Good Lord!"

of the

"

at

"Billy's a perfect devil, isn't he?" "Yes," he said in a strained voice. "A devil."

just that one girl that was, for him, on. He groaned through the night, ner, "Matter of fact I've always be- "Good God!" Billy Condon looked longed to the City of London Branch, at him open mouthed, "Then Joyce and I saw no reason to make a change was when I moved out to Galt Green."

He gave another amazed glare at "And you found it suited your pur Michael, and then turned and almost In fact, It grew even plainer pose better, no doubt," Michael said scuttled from the room. Michael most men and every woman knows, during the month or so that follow- grimly.

was disconcerted at that. He'd dearly "Now I wonder what dark hint is liked to have had one swipe at the rat. it's still the love that counts most, ed.

Michael had meant to go straight to "He'd never paid any attention to under that?" Billy asked, seemingly But perhaps it was as well. Condon his Dress Circle seat.' He

It was mystified, but before anything more had realised how much he knew and saw her Galt Green up to this

an Inconspicuous, back-end could be said Miss Marvin came up had bolted in fear-yes, and he had and couldn't. He had to make excuses rather for hanging about, had to put on a sort of place. But now he was care- and spoke to him and with a "Right-o, decided to mend his ways too. Found cigarette, had to pretend to be waft- ful to get a window seat and, as he darling," Billy went off with her.

out Condon began to behave himself, ing for some one-as

Darling! No wonder Billy Condon during the whole of next day he kept she was. approached the station, stopped read- any old thing so that he could look at ing his paper to stare out... And had found it wise to keep his social out of sight, and certainly kept away her. And then he had to bolt be so he saw Joyce again.

The from Rita Marvin. In fact, as Michael She was standing behind the railing mean cur-he had tucked his wife out stood in the great ball-room cause she looked at him.

She could not help noticing his con- beyond the platform. She had come, of sight in that obscure suburb while Town Hall for the final function of the centrated stare. She wasn't angry or as she had probably come every morn- continuing his carcer of philandering Conference and saw no sign of Con- haughty; perhaps, even, her eyes ing before, only he hadn't noticed, to in town.

don about, he began to congratulate Michael recognised at once the type himself on curing the brute-for Joyce. twinkled a little at his spellbound in- see Billy off with a true, newly-wed terest. Yet she was embarrassed. devotion. She was standing there, of husband Billy Condon was, and yet

And it was at that precise moment So he went. She was such a nice girl not twenty feet away, waving 'Good- he was worse than his type. He was that he heard the man say beside him: that no decent fellow could act cheap- bye!" Michael did not know it she really a bounder. Free from Joyce "Oh, Harder . . . I want to introduce

the recognised him, whether ly towards her.

ten the chap knew no restraints at all. He

you to-et--Joyce," This destiny stuff, however, plays second glance that the movement of not only behaved like an unmarried

He swung round and there was Con- meant anything, man, but actually acted like an ardent don and his wife standing close to queer tricks. Having shown Michael the train allowed the girl.

well, there she was two Sometimes, as the days went on, he lover towards Rita Marvin.

him. Joyce started and blushed con- He was always with the 'girl. rows ahead of him when the curtain thought it did, most times, he

He the sight of him as much as he did, came down on the first act. He could vinced himself it didn't. How could walked with her arm tucked into his and Condon said in a malicious tone: She was so definitely a nice girl, arm-exactly as Michael had seen him "You might give her a dance or two- see her profile pekfectly, and for the it?

walk not that sort of wife at all. rest of the play he saw little else.

with his wife. And the chap or more. Harder She's only just That profile with the light from the Still, all he really knew about it was an even greater skunk than that. arrived, knows nobelse and --- er

more deserted I'm such a busy an stage playing over it, was quite the was that for ever after he must take Walking through the

had a seat that enabled him to look at alleys of Brymouth most entrancing thing Michael

Park one 'day, Bewildered as much by her close- seen in twenty-four years Michael Galt Green-and Joyce. That he curs- trying to think what he ought to do ness and wonder as with anger at

Condon's sake, Michael Condon-what was twenty-four years one month old ed rainy days when she didn't come, for Joyce

rottenness was the at the moment. He stared and stared That somehow just that fleeting sight came upon her husband kissing Rita. fellow up to now?-Michael found his at that profile like a man who had of her each morning seemed to fill his Yes, they had sought this secluded arm about the girl and their feet mov- found a knot hole in the fence round day with fragrance.

nook, and were clinging together un-, ing in perfect unison to the music. paradise.

Sometimes he saw Billy, the hus- ashamed like lovers.

And Joyce was saying with a sparkle Only it wasn't all rapture-she had band, waiting on the platform, but

Michael's blood boiled over then and in her eyes as well as with another a man with her now. A big, lively, most days the chap found a carriage he decided to take the first oppor- blush: handsome fellow. And she laughed well forward, for which Michael was tunity of confronting the blackguard and talked with him so whole- profoundly thankful. He didn't hate and giving him a piece of his mind. heartedly that she hadn't even a mind Billy, but he couldn't have borne his He even hoped to make the cur fight to

round towards

want Michael. company-above all he did not

A good strong punch on the nose Michael began to fear the worst.

any excuse to get to know him. He and a wallop in an eye or two would His fears were right-though this loved the chap's wife he admitted it. not only punish him, but make him Destiny stuff went on working. He He'd never love another girl like that a pretty picture for his new lady-love: hung about in the foyer after the play but he wasn't a home-breaking cad, especially in view of the great ball because he simply had to see as much It was enough for him to love at a dis- that was to end the Conference in two of her as he could while he could. For tance without trying to mess up her days.

Curiously enough Billy Condon the same reason he followed the pair and Billy's lives. through the streets to their railway So he might have continued, only showed no reluctance to meet him, In fact it was Billy who actually ran him station. But not all love-that. They Fate never will leave well alone. went to his station. What is more A couple of months later at a meet- to earth in a deserted smoking room, Park and, without beating about the bush, they went home by his train. Destiny ing of his own, The Minton always does make a thorough job of it. Branch of The Concentric Club, said curtly:

Yet as he followed them Michael's Michael was chosen ALS one of the "Look here, Harder, I want a word

"Yes-and will until he marries. wretchedness grew. First she tuck- delegates their big

to Southern with you. I don't object

Your Rita Marvin" She smiled then ber me at Brynmouth, scowling at

for ed her arm into her companion's. One Counties Conference

some reason eyes widened. "Why-what did you. of those affectionate, lean-towards- And one of the first people he saw at know only to Heaven and your liver, think I was? Not good heavens you little gestures. that mean the the Mayor's reception of the Cone but spying on me at certain-well not Billys wife?"? ·

sacred' moments is a bit more than I closest of intimacy. He groaned in his centrics was Joyce's husband-Billy. heart. That could only mean they Unlike "Michael, Billy was plainly or any man can stand.” ~ were engaged.

anything but new to these Con- "You mean the unpleasant episode But her bright eyes were studying He was wrong. They were worse, ferences. He seemed well-known and with poor Miss Marvin—-”.

him keenly, a tiny smile was quiver- They had to wait in a little crowd popular-even, to Michael's mind, a "Unpleasant be darned, what the

ing at the corners of her quick lips.. outside their platform until the bar- little too popular; for many of the blazes Billy Condon burst out, but "Is that why I mean, rier was opened. Michael used that delegates had brought their wives and Michael went on as though he had not always looked away opportunity to draw so close that he daughters to enjoy the week's junket heard:

"My presence was accidental. You, "When?" he demanded. could almost touch her, certainly hear ing at the well-known holiday, town, her speak. And what he heard

A man told Michael who Billy was, don't imagine any decent man would mean 'when' you came down to "That's Billy Condon," he said. "A have. willingly witnessed that foul I've just had a real live wire-he'll be our Grand piece of caddishness ...

"It doesn't matter, she cried in "Foul! I believe I left the Master one of these days. A good?

Caddish!" - blinked ghastly qualm: .

Billy sudden confusion. I was meaning gas on in the kitchen stovel”! :-" sort, too, everybody likes him

Condon. "I say, are you by any something else. And the man Billy answered testily: Michael didn't mind everybody lik. chance completely dotty?”

"But" she wasn't. The dance stopped "That manner may bluff others, then, with Billy and Rita:Marvin near "You are the limit, Joyce. Your gas ing the chap, what struck him as " bills will ruin me

wrong was that Rita Marvin, the Condon," Michael flared. "It won't them, and as they clapped for an en- That was final for Michael. All daughter of old Sir Silas Marvin, that do with me. You see I happen to core Billy slipped across and said:--- hope was gone. . Couples who year's Grand Master, seemed to do know you have a wife lying at Galt

"Have you found out why she share kitchen stoves and gas bills are rather more. Worse, Billy Condon Green.":

imperilled my respectability by sud- so inevitably married.

seemed to encourage her rather than · "What!” cried Billy Condon, gapi denly, taking it into her head to see 'me¬ He followed them onto the plat try to check her as a married man amazo

at the station--just after our visit form with a dead heart. At the barrier should.. Indeed, they seemed to carry

the Pelican?”...... the girl turned, saw him-recognised on such a marked flirtation - the Michael him. No mistake about it. He saw Michael could scarcely take his angry the spark come to her eyes, saw her eyes off them; so much so that whe quick blush before she turneși and thấy dřinění went on. Then, to show her, that she sion Billy Con

look

say was:

"Oh, Billy!

had nothing to fear from

chap, he chose a rear

her and her husband

But he could not

ing a window seat ing her again should

•

her

to

decent § and said "breez!

to know

her

you over, doesn't thought

But viour is damnab

"You sound as though you didn't quite approve of him?" she said.

"Do you?" he asked, for her blush.. surely meant that she knew how he felt about her.

"Oh, a sister scarcely counts," she laughed.

"A-sister!" he gasped. "Of course I'm Billy's sister. You knew, didn't you?"

"I-of course," ho stammered. "I mean... But you keep house for him then?".

"Would I," he managed to gulp, "be- so absurd."

blurted.

wave

19

you

.??? she

"Do you

you; utter beast, Billy, med, and, the dance

to

re

was

morn

Ispered,