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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1938-11-2, Page 2TME BRUSSELS POST WE'PNPS, NOV1;M•Bi2'It 2nd, 1938 ENTITLED Girl Adrift 13v Peter Munday 4.1 won't take no for an answer," Viola rattled on, glancing at .a erlstlet watch. "It's ten minutes to to one, so you can't possibly be back in Wimbledon In time for lunch. Come along—we'll take a taxi to the flat." Pam bad au appointment with her hairdresser at three, and had intended lunching in town, so she had little or no option but to fall in with Viola's wishes. It would have been difficult to make an ex- cuse in view of the time, and she was imbued with sufficient of the cariosity of her sex to want to Viola eyed her companion from be- allowed herself to be led to the taxi, which dropped them at the building in which Viola's flat was situated. In the exotic, heavily scented room that was so esentially Viola's own, Pam found herself seated at the lunch table opposite her com- panion. At first their talk was of common- places. Had Pam seen the new play at the Savoy? What did she think of that ney book by Dene Morrison? Personally, Viola consid- ered that it was rather old fashion- ed. Did Pam like London? Per- sonally, Viola considered it the only place in the world in which to live. So much to see and do, she thought. Then she began to speak of Terence. It was "Terry this" and "Terry that" until Pam began to wonder at the other's obviousness. 11 was almost as if she were trying to imply a relationship between Terry and herself which Pam, for all her doubts, was certain did not exist, Atter a While, there came s pause. know that Viola was after, So she neath her long eye/ashes. She seemed to be weighing something up, deliberating before she spoke. At length site leaned forward, and resting her elbow on the table, propped her chin on her palm. "Terry tells me you have been helping him with the new play," she said abruptly, "Prom the way he speaks one, would almost think he had no hand in it himself." She gave an agected little laugh that in a younger girl would stave been a giggle. Pam waited, inwardly tense, If Terence bad • enthused over her work to Viola, no wonder the latter had decided she was dangerous, "Yes," Viola ,continued, "he thinks you have been ,perfectly splendid, Isn't that nice?" "Mr. Grant gives me too much credit." Pain said quietly. She felt her heart playing little tricks, but outwardly she was entirely self pos- sessed, 'I have done nothing more than any typist could have done." "01b, but Terry wont have that! He says you have practically writ- ten the dialogue for him." She smiled, but her eyes were cold, ''Nonsense,' said Pam. "I've done nothing of the sort!" Viola drew at her cigarette. "I suppose you know I am to play Helen?" she asked presently. "So I have been told." "I wasn't sure at first whether I would take the part. But I've de- cided to do so. Terry begged me to reconsider my decision. He says he worte it specially for me." "It is a difficult part," Pam was rather at a loss for words. "But then—with your experience—" Viola's eyes • narrowed ever so slightly. "Have you heard ---I vnean, you would hear—whether Mr. Satoris— the producer, you know—bas said anything about a start for the Tracy girl?" she asked abruptly, shooting the words at Pam as if hoping to catch her off her guard. Pam thought rapidly, Had Terry said anything about her sugges- tion, and if so, Brad it come to Viola's ears? It looked very much as if the parts bad not been out yet and Viola was trying to find out whether she was going to have the lead, And Pam felt as if a shadow had suddenly been lifted from her. In that unguarded moment Viola had given herself away. She did not have the hold over Terence that she would have Pam believe. Pam laughed to herself, but rais- ed a perfectly grave pair of eyes to meet the anxious ones of the actress. "The only remark I have beard in connection with the parts for the play," she said deliberately, "was what you told me a few minutes ago, I don't know who is finally responsible for casting the show—'+ "Satoris floes that, but Terry has to approve," "Well, that was all he said. That you were going to play Helen," Was it her imagination, or did re- lief shine in Viola's eyes? Drawing a deep breath, the actress leaned back in her chair. Only the Local Weekly features local news for local readers Only the Local Weekly can feature your advertising in the same way for local buyers The Brussels Post Will Keep You Posted 1 7 I "Yes," she said in a tone of deep satlalaction, 'yl knew that, of Course. It was only that I wondered about the rest. That Tracy girl would ruin the shot—she's perfect- ly hopeless, I couldn't bear to see her let the play down. It would be too terrible -tom'+ (Shortly adterWards, Paan took her leave on the whole .well satisfied. Viola had asked her to lunch for the express purpose of pumping her, and in return had given more information than alta had received. It was with, a light heart that Pant finally boarded a train for Wimbledon at half -past four, C'HA!PTER FII. The Other Man. That night, John Wilberforce .proposed to Pam. With the direot- nehe that was characteristic of him, he took the opportunity towards the end of the evening to ask her co came into the garden. She could not very well refuse, and accompan- led him down the steps toward the orangery, that was tire. pride of Miss Grant's heart. On the way out she had seen Tedence bending attentively over Viola's chair, and again a spasm of jealousy shook her. Were all. Wren blind, she wondered? Coudn't he see what she was? How could he be infatuated with slier? She was artifl•cial to the core, without a thought in the world except for her- self. Surely--- it was with a start she pulled her self together to tear Wilberforce speaking. "I've been waiting a chance to get you alone, Pam," he was saying. His voice sounded strained, but it was the caressing way he used ber Christian name that caused Pam to loon at him curiously, His face was white and his eyes glittered like those of a roan in a fever. She had never seen him like this before, and felt unacountably frightened. 1t was going to be difficult. "I've been busy," she murmured evasively. "I haven't much time—" You know perfectly well what I mean," he retorted, hie voice shak- ing. "I—I want to ask you some- thing. Been wanting to ask you for ages," he 'vent on doggedly "Wil] you marry me, Pant?" Pam stole a glance at him, and ter eyes softened, ile did look rise, -able, she thought. ,He was Probably, if the truthwere known, as nervous as she was. :Her fear evaporated, and with a friendly gesture she laid her hand on his arm. "I'm sorry," she 'whispered. "I hoped you didn't mean that—" He gave her a sidelong glance. "Then—you guessed what I was going to ask you?" Pam smiled. "You made it so obvious," she said softly, "I tried to show yon—" She made a restless movement with her hand, "It would be silly of me to pretend that l: didn't guess," she went --on—" nervously. "But Pm afraid ---"nervously. "For Heaven's sake don't say that," Ire pleaded. "I love you, Pam— " "Please---" There was a pregnant silence. "Pm sorry if I've rushed you," lie said at length. "I didn't mean—oh, dash it all, Pam, can't you see what it means to me?" Tears gleamed `111 her eyes, "I hate to hurt you," she said gently. "But—you see, I don't love you, I like you, but that's all. I can't say what you want me to say.', "No, wait!' She faced him, stop- ping in her wails, "Lt's no use, Major Wiliberforce. You've made me feel awfully proud. Any girl would in the circumstances, but it— it's not the slightest nee," She looked appealingly at him. "Please believe that -----e par-�-r.', She aigbed, There was something in his tone that touched her, Some- thing of pleading, that was unlike him, and she felt she had never liked hit' so vouch as she did at that moment. But in that instant his mood changed. "Is there someone else?" ire naked, Pam flung up bar head, ''You've no right to ask that,' site atam.Mered, There was a breathless Tauee, Wilberforce cleared his throat and raft a finger round the inside of his collar as if he were choking, Pain shrank before the savage glare that lighted his eyes, It seemed to her overstrained imag!. nation that ha tvas fighting to con. trol hie natural linen's° to seize her in his risme and carry her off in the face Of a, ooevention of Width he did not approve. hat Which he was foreed unwlilingly to recogniae, "Shen—there 1s someone?" '11 don't see whys---," Ile nodded as 1f satisfied, "I wanted to know," he muttered. "And now I do ynow," Pain was thankful for the dark• nese which hid. the tell-tale colour that stained her cheeks. She was furiously, angry, and listened with scant attention to his apology, dt was only because she feared Miss Grant's sharp eyes, that she remained in the garden for another five minutes. When Wilberforce took his de- parture a little later, and cavae across to say "Good Night," she was cold and distant, and dismissed him with the briefest of nods. s s 5. e The following evening, as they eat listening to the wireless, Pam toyed with the idea of telling Miss Grant about the proposal she had received, and then thought better of it, After all, she urged, she had no cause for tear. Wilber- force was not likely to make things awkward, and even if he did 8110 was quite capable of looking after herself. 1J, to the time he had ask- ed her that unfortunate question, Ile had shown her the utrost consider- ation, and when she had cooled down, Pam, ever generous, excused him on the grounds that she was seeking to find out whether there was any hope for him in the future, The fact that her 'heart was given to another would put a different complexion on the matter. The big problem that was exercis- ing her mind was What she should do about Terence. Commonsense told her that she ought .to go away, and she did not want to go away. To be near hint, even if he merely took her for granted, was some- thing. Pam wondered rather bitterly where her pride had gone, but she knew that she could not escape the truth by running away from it—and at least she had been able to help rim, And she desperately wanted to help. That he was worried over the play, she knew. If she could heapthere, she was being useful; if the fact that he regarded her in much telt same way he re- garded a piece of furniture, was going to hurt, it would be her own fault. Terence did not appear that evening, and at ten -thirty Miss Grant announced her intention of going to bed. Pam switched off the wireless and after seeing that the house was secured followed suit, She undresesd mechanically, flinging ter clothes on to a ehiar, her brows knitted In a perplexed frown. Slowly she climbed into bed, her problem still unsolved. It was strange, she thought, how the fact that her secret was now in the posession of another had brought matters to a head in her mind. Previous to Wilberforce's propos. al, site hall been content to drift 1 � !MOS GAME hy let all that space in your basement go to waste? Let as show you how little it costs to turn it into a game room offering fun and relaxa- tion for young and old. We'll do the job quickly add with- out disturbance to the house- hold routine. And, best of ell, it's another of those jobs you can finance, if necessary, ander the Home Improve- ment Plan. LOCAL ADVERTISER'S NAME HERE HOME IMPROVEMENT PLAN along, steeling herself to become accustomed to the loneliness, the shrinking from the future, that as- sailed her, in the leaden hours of the night time, But now—what was she to do? She wondered whether Terrence Pam was not actively jealous. Her love was too big :for that. It Viola could make him happy she would never question the wisdom of his decision, It was only that she knew if he allowed his infatuation to carry ham that far the actress would break his heart. Could she let that happen? Where was ai girl wall any pride to draw sire ihre? She reached, up her hand to switch out the light when the burring of the telephone brought her upright, her eyes questioning. Who could be ringing them up at tilis time of night? Hastily she pulled on her dress- ing -gown and slipper's, and, opening her door quietly, ran down the stairs to the hall. "Hallo?" she ensulred, :picking up the receiver and placing it to her ear. "Is that Miss Grant house?" A pleasant voice answered ber. "Miss Grant's secretary speaking. What is It, please?" "I have a message from Mr. Grant. Are you Miss Cummings?" "Yea:" S 9 (To Be Continued) IM HAROLD W. LOVE Ethel, Ont. — Phone 22.3 General Insurance Agent FT MFR f} BELL R A Barrister, Solicitor, Etc. Phone 20X - Brussels, Ont James McFaeizean Howick Mutual Fire Insurance —Also- -Hartford Windstorm —Tornado Insurance —Automobile Insurance 'Phone 42. Box 1, Turnberry At, Brussels, Ontario JAMES TAYLOR Licensed Auctioneer for the County of Huron. Sales attended to in ala parts of the country, Satisfaction Guaranteed or no pay. Orders left at The 'Post' promptly ailended to, Belgra-re Post Offlce PHONE: _ Brussels Phone 14 -r -it D. A. 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