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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Clinton News Record, 1939-03-16, Page 2PAGE 2 THE CLINTON NEWS -RECORD THURS., MARC 116 1939 CHAPTER XI AFTERMATH OF AN ADVENTURE "Christine, did you go completely crazy last night"? Arthur Grant ask- ed her, too worried to remember that Edwards might hear him call her by her Christian name. They had rret in the alley -Way, when Christine came up from the pantry with her tray of fruit, first thingin the morning. The Clinton News -Record with which is incorporated THE NEW ERA TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION $1.50 per year in advance, to Can- adian addresses; $2.00 to the U.S. or other foreign countries. No paper discontinued until all arrears : are paid unless at the option of the pub- lisher. The date to which every sub- scription is paid is denoted on the label. • eADVEILTISING RATES — Transient advertising 12c per count line for first insertion. 8c. for each subse- quent' insertion, Heading counts 2 lines. 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(Few Doors west of Royal Bank) Hours—Wed. and Sat. , and by appointment. • FOOT CORRECTION ley. manipulation Sun -Ray Treatment Phone 207 GEORGE ELLIOTT !Licensed Auctioneer for the Country of Huron Correspondence promptly . answered Immediate arrangements can be made for Sales Date at . The News -Record, Clinton, or by, calling phone 208. Charges Moderate and Satisfaction Guaranteed, • THE McKILLOP MUTUAL Fire Insurance Company Head OLfice,Seaforth, Ont. Officers: President, Thomas Moylan, Sea - forth; Vice' ?resident, William Knox,. Londesboro; Secretary -Treasurer, M. A. Raid, Seaforth.' Directors, Alex. Broadfoot, Seaforth; James Shpldice, Walton; James Connolly, Goderich; W. R. Archibald, Seaforth; Chris. Leonhardt, Dublin; Alex. McEwing, Blyth; Frank McGregor, Clinton. List of Agents: E. A. Yea, R,R. 1, Goderich, Phone 608r31, Clinton; James Watt, Blyth; John E. Pepper, steward closed the door soft! behind, Brucefield, R R. No, 1, R. F. McKey- him y cher, Dublin, R. R. No. 1; Chas. F. Hewitt, Lincar dine; R. G. Jarnnuth, "Yea — I know, Mr. Perrin;" she Bornholm, R. R. No. 1, said quietly. Any money to be paid may be paid to the Royal Bank, -Clinton; Bank of Commerce, Seaforth, or at Calvin Cbtt's Grocery, Goderich. ;Parties desiring to effect insur- ance or transact other business will be promptly attended to on applica- lon to any of the above officers ad- dressed to their respective post offi- ces. Losses inspected by the direetor "And what have you to say for who lives nearest the scene. yourself?" he thundered, crashing) "Why -what do you mean?" she faltered. "It's. all Over the ship that you were ashore last night, .and came on board just before sailing time. Is it true, Christine?. That quarter- master, Smithson, put, the story i ou nd, , and you nkow wha he is — always readyto. start a scandal aboutl e, someone." "It is taue," she said, "but I thought he did not recognise me. He didn't say anything when I came up the gangway." "He's said a mighty lotsince, and he's absolutely certain to report to Perrin. Oh, 'Christine, what• possess- ed you to do -it? Here's Perrin bees, trying to find a reason for sacking you, all the voyage, and you've hand- ed him one on a dish. You can't hay ebeen all that anxious to have a look at Penang.'' "In can't explain all in a hurry, Arthur," she said. "I found out some- thing last night which made it neces- sary 'to go ashore, but I can't tell you all about 'it now." "You'll have tc„expain to Perrin -.- though you may as well save your breath, for Perrin isn't going 'ta lose this chance of sacking you, Going ashore without leave is just about as good as reason as he could have for reporting you to the Liverpool office as insubordnate. In fact I shouldn't wonder if he hauled you up before the Captain, just by way of a start; "You needn't be so --angry with me, Arthur," she said unhappily for Grant sounded serious. "I am angry -because 4 like you, Christine, and I've been hoping you'd struggle through the voyage some- how, in spite •of Perrin and get a. transfer at the end of it. And now you've gone and, played straight into hs hands. How you could be such a lithe fool—" • A. passenger who was waiting im- patiently for his morning. tea put his head otit of one of the rooms and called Arthur off, and. Christine was left to get through her own wore os well as she could. Arthur Grant had been right when he said that the news was • all over the ship, for that morning all the stewards looked at Christine curious- ly, just as on the morning after the night watchman had made the scand- al about her and Grant. When she went downto the cabin after taking round the morning teas, Mrs. Parr and Miss Crane stared at her stonily,. andthey did not speak to her at breakfast time. Every time that a bell -boy came down the alley -way she expected a' message from Perrin,' ordering her{ to the office at once. It was' not! the Chief' Steward's inspection that morning', and she got through some -j how, but she grew nearly crazy with; suspense when inspection was over and still no message came. 1 The bell -boy came to the cabin for her at two o'clock, when they were; all getting ready for their afternoon' rest. Christine scramb'l'ed into the' apron and cap which she'had juste taken off, and followed the boy down' to Perrin's cabin,' next to the pantry. Perrin was sitting in his "chair,' smoking a cigar, and his own steward' was clearing away the remains of his lunch, which had been laid on the cabin table. Ile stared at Chris-' the through the smoke of the cigar,] his slow gaze travelling from the' crown of her cap to the tips of herl shoes: she stood very still and hoped that he would not notice that her' knees' were shaking. She said, ina low, steady voice: "I overheard two of my passengers talking, Mr. Perrin •— Mrs. Smythe and Mrs. Collins—and"'I learnt that Mr: Royde had deliberately arranged to be stranded in Penang•with Miss Lind. He had pretended to her that the 'ship did notsail until midnight. I went ashore to warn Miss Lind." "I don't believe a word Of it," he shouted, "Is it likely that two sane women would discuss such a 'thing in front of you? Why didn't you come to me, if you thought that little fool of a girl was in danger, instead of dashing off to tb4 rescue, as if you thought that you were the girl's guardian angel disguised in a cap and apron? Why didn't you come to me?" "Because you would not have be- lieved a word of t." "It was not your place to take my action. And let me tell you this, Miss Jordan: if .you go running round the ship, making yourself out a hero- ine, telling people that you. snatched Miss Lind from Mr. Royde's clutches, you'll find yourselfin serious trouble: You'd better hold 'you tongue, for your own sake." "YOU'LL BE ...ASKED" "You ]mow why •I hace sent for you Miss Jordan?" he said, as t,hei He suddenly began to work himself into a rage. Christine saw the veins' on his forehead - swell and his faco I grow crimson, and recognised the, familhar signs: Perrin worked 1 self up almost deliberately, as if rage, with him was a secret, evil pleasure, TIME FABLE Trains will arrive at and depart from Clinton as follows: Buffalo and Goderich Div. Going East, depart 6 58 am. raying FtLsf. denim 8.011 pain. Going 'West, depart 11.45 a.m. Going West, depart 10.00 p.m. London, Huron & $race Going North, ar. 11.25 lie. 11.47 p.m. Going South ar. 2.50, leave 3.08 p.m. his fist down on the table. "You were ashore without leave, There is not a man on this staff who would! not be dismissed' for going ashore) without cave, however good his re-, cord, and you -a Woman who has been giving trguble from the begin- ning, slack at your work, defiant, mutinous—. Have you anything in the world to say for yourself? I'll condemn no one unheart—not even you," She knew then, without a .shadow of doubt, that Royde had been, to Perrin and told him to Make sure of her silence. Perrin didn't believe_her nsttory of the conversation she had overheard, because he had been heavily bribed not to believe it, and to bully her into suprossitig it Al- though Royde would not have wor- ried at all at dragging Fay into a very nasty scandal, if they had really been stranded, he wanted no scandal now that he had failed. "I told Mr. Royde last night," she said, "that I would hold 'my tongue for Miss Lind's sake. But I shall speak openly at the head office, Mr. Perrin, when I am questioned about your report. I have a right to de- fend myself." "At the head office!" he shouted; glaring at her across the narrow 'table. "Do you think they're even going to grant you an interview at the tread office? You'll be sacked out of hand -1p11 send my report in beforehand, and you'll find a letter waiting for you when you get home. There was enough without this. I shall report that your work is dis- graceful, that you've been carrying on a squalid affair with one o:rthe Wren---." "You can't report that lie without proof, Mr. Perrin," she interrupted. "I'll have proof enough before the voyage is over. If I've no proof, I shall report that everyone on board knows' it, but that you're too sly to be caught. Why, even this morning, you and Grant were talking intimat- ely in th alley-way—you're brazen. And there's plenty more that I can put in—your impudent attitude to - Wards ,the older stewardesses; your hostilty towards the decent stew- ards, like Cator. There'd be enough Lo get you the sack twice over, with- out this last thing—goin ashore with- out leave." • "My record . on my last ship was excellent, Mr,- Perrin," she said con- lidently. "They'll hear what I have to Say at the Liverpool office, if it'S only 'to find out why I have changed so completely." "Get out of this room," he said, his voice choked with anger. "I've got nothing more to say to you — I'd send you back to England on the Yes • Tar if I didn't know that you'd jump at the chance of telling your own story at the office before they' hear mine. I'm not going to give you that chance." She went at once, her head held very high. Almost to her own sur- prise, Perrin's bullying had had very little effect upon her, far less than when he had stormed at her over some trifle. It was as though, now that; he' had succeeded in catching her in a serious fault, which would Make dismissal almost inevitable, she no longer had anyreason to worry, 'for. the worst had happened. Of course she and Arthur Grant would still be closely watched, for Perrin hoped to get some evidence against them to make his report to he Liverpool office still more black. But neither Perrin nor his toadies would ye likely to hake the trcjnyle to persecute her in small ways, over her work; he would make the sweep- . ng statement: at 'the office that her work was disgraceful, but this was such a minor accusation. compared to her going, ashore without leave, that the authorities would not expect him to go into details over her bad' work. `I Although' she had said so boldly that she was sure that they would interview her at the Liverpool office, she was not really so sure. . She might, as Perrin had ,said, merely rind a letter ;When she got home, to saythat her serviceswere no longer{ required. The stewardesses, like the rest of the staff, weresigned on ;for each voyage, and were not actually, in the employment of the Company oetween voyages, so that no notice was' necessary. Naturally, Perrin would do hisvery best to prevent her being interviewed, and since every Chief Steward was a trusted servant ;if the Company, his word would go a long way. There was only one thing to be thankful -for — her mother would understand. Mrs. Lind kntew Perrin, and knew how easily a case could be made against anyone at sea' if the Chief Steward disliked 'them. Mrs. Parr and Miss Crane stared at her curiously when she went back to the cabin, but 'they, asked her no questions. They must have known perfectly well why Perrin .had sent for her, but if they hoped that she would return in tears, they were-dis appointed, Arthur Grant was hovering about in the alley -way when Christine went up to her own section before dinner•. "Edwards and Cator are having a row on the starboard side, over a passenger's bath," he said, "so we've got a few moments. How are you feeling, kid? It's hard lines to hace co carry on with the work just as usual." "I'm not feeling too bad, Arthur. Of course I'm going to be sacked, but I've been expecting that all the .voyage, and itis almost restful to have it over — like having a tooth out." -At leash you .kept your end up, and he didn't make you cry. It must have made him mad that you kept cool, intead of dissolving into tears." "How on earth do you know that, Arthur?" she exclaimed. "From Perrin's steward; he said, with a grin. "Perrin leads Potter a life, but there's mighty little that goes on in Perrin's cabin without Pat- ter knowing. "I didn't want to be sacked," she said, "and I've no idea what sort of 'a job I shall, get ashore, if any—but it won't be a job where everybody listens at doors. It's like living in a spy story on board, this ship." "Only no one gets shot at dawn. Anyhbiv, Christine, Potter's done you' a good turn, for now the whole staff knows why you went ashore last night, and except for a few of Per- rin's special pets, they're all sympathetic. Perrin's gone too far in letting Royde bribe hien to hush up a story like that, which ought to have been reported to the Cap- tain." "And which would have been flat- ly denied by Royde and Mrs. Smythe." "Yes, but linked up with some of Royde's previous capers, it would have got him black -listed — there would never have beenroomfor him on one of the Company's ships again. Perrin knows well enough that you're telling the truth, and I shouldn't wonder if the ohief had a word to say, about it all at the Liverpoolof- fice, He Was saying to the baker—l" "You're making me dizzy, Arthur," Christine laughed. "You'II be telling be next that the bell -boy happened to be listening at the door when the chef was talking to the baker." "No — it was the second . pantry - man, not the belleboy," Arthur said, his eyes twinkling, "and he didn't listen at the door. He was passing through the pantry and the chef and the baker were tallying near the hatch between the pantry .and the baker's shop." • It was 'queer, Clirialiine thought, that the very people who had been hostile to her all the voyage should now have veered round and become sympathetic.' Sfie :couldn't help being glad, for though by 'this time she had a very pool opinion of the lot of them, it would certainly make things easier if they were friendly — and itwas still more than two months before they all go back to England. 4, ,R e Christine had managed to avoid Mrs. Smythe and Mrs. Collins all clay: she was in a veryawkward position with regard to those two, for though she had been: perfectly justified in acting on the information which they had accidentally given, her, they were sure to be furious with her. When cluty required her to go to number eighteen Christine found Mrs. Collins sitting at the dressing table trying out a new way of doing her hair. iter eyes met Christine's in the mirror and she turned round slowly. "Stili] waters run deep, apparently, stewardess," she said lifting her eye- brows. "I hadn't the slightest notion last night that you were going to rush straight off to the rescue' of Fay Lied. I.• thought you were hardly listening to what we said." "If you had known what I was going to do wouldn't you have stop- ped me somehow?" ChrisUlre said quietly. "I would not, as a matter of fact —I think' you were quite right -hut. I admit that. Mrs, Smythe would have clone her best to stop you." "WE'RE BRIGANDS" Christine looked ati her, and she saw that there was something differ -froom. As it happened she met neither, ent about Iris Collin tonight — she of the bedroom stewards on late looked very weary and dispirited, as (watch' though she did not take the if' she had comp face to face with her (trouble to finds' out whine they were own soul, and been shocked by what before going to Fay. she had seen.Christine had only hall oxpeotecl` +^'F sintiyly [can't understand Mrs. 'Ithat Fay wouldhe there,, for sine Smythe, Christine said. "Mr. Royde the time when she first began to is bad enough, but L can't understand associate with Martin Royde, Fay ha how any woman can plan to ruin a'seldom been inher room so early as girl like Fay Lind." this. But if Pay' wanted' to talk to "Can't you?" his Collins, asked','hei; and it was likely that elle 'diel'; her, with a bitter little smile. 'O't'her she night arrange to be in her room women were ruthless with; us' when at the hour at which 'Christine had Doris Smythe and I were as young, corse to see her, in the early days as Fay 'Lind. We're brigands, all of of the .voyage. us, and we can't afford' to be Fay was there, and she was sitting scrupulous." on the settee doing ,nothing, as. if "But you wouldn't have done—this she had been waiting so patiently for thing yotu'self, Mrs. Collins." Christine that she could not occupy There was tragic self-knowledge in herself in any way but could only Iris Collin's eyes as she looked at sit watching the deer. , 110el. H. H. STEVENS Christine. I "Oh, Christine; I'm se glad that For Premier Mackenzie King to o "Who knows?" she said, shrugging you've come," she said•thankfully, say he was unable ta get on with her shoulders, "It's true that I'm "I couldn't think. of any way of get- the .business of_Parliament because shocked. by it, and that I had a row ting a message to you, and Lwas so the the interference of speech -making with Dorsa last night about it—after afraid than you wouldn't come to- I'd hear' that' Royde was 1 members was to Hon. H, H. Stevens, dy going to night, It's been like living on a "one of the most childish and silly make stu•e that you were dismissed volcano all day—not knowing what for the part you'd played.' But if PI ,was going to come out. What has been in Doria's place, if a man I come out, Christine?" was depending on to back me Finan -I "That I went ashore last night- Wally in my club • was running after that's come out" Christine said, roan- I a a girl, I might have felt towards 'the , eh drily. "Mr. Perrin is going ta re - things I have heard", and was an in.. dication of Mr, King's admitting de- feat and incompetency in administer- ing the affairs of government, So said the former Bennett Cabinet girl just as Dories feels towards the port that, and some other things, to minister and Reconstruction peaty Lind girl—that there was nothing I the Liverpool office, and 1111 be die- head when he spoke to a dinner -dance wouldn't do to hurt her. Ate they missed at the end of the voyage." (gathering of the Canada First Con - really going to dismiss you; Stew- "But you didn't tell him —that servative Club (young Conservatives) artless?" we're sisters?" Fay asked anxiously, / at Hotel London. "I expect so. You see, I ought to as if the fact that Christine was' "Mr. King has 180 members sitting have reported the matter to the Chief going to be dismissed was no con-' on his aide of the House. He has Steward, instead of going- ashore cern of hers. , 'the power to introduce any- legislation without leave." I "No, it wain* necessary to tell he wishes, when he wishes. And he "To our dear friend Mr. Perrin, him that. He simply Imows that T has a closure rule which he can apply who eats out of Martin Royde's overheard a conversation between ' if he chooses, There is little he can - hand? What a hope! ,WeII, I wish Mrs. Smythe and Mrs. Collins, knew not do in the matter of governing I could do .something to help you, that you were going to be stranded, i if he has the wits and the desire," stewardess, but the fact is that 1 and went ashore to warn you. He Mr. Stevens said. can't, Although I quarrelled with doesn't know that I've ever even' The speaker . attacked totalitarian Doria last night, TI've got to makespoken to you in my life before." I forms of government, and said Can - it up,- because f' I can't persuade her/ "And I;ve; been worrying all day,", oda, and particularly young Canada, to give me a job at the club, I don't Fay said, with a sigh of relief. "I've' must be 'on its guard to maintain quite know what's going to happen kept thinking that some of the pus -t its concepts of personal liberty and to me." 1 singers were looking. at me in an : personal responsibility. He admitted "It may turn out all right for me" odd way, and wondering if they that specialization and industrial Christine said, moved by profound knew." I change, had . made the finding of a pity for Iris Collins, beautiful and "Fay, have you really been worry- job much more difficult today than expensively dressed, who must look ing about a little thing like that?" it once was. But the lack of op - forward with terror to the day when Christine asked gravely. "I should• portunity to this extent did not 'lar - her beauty would be gone. Ihave thought you had something rant the abandoning of ourpresent Beauty passed so quickly, and they much more important to worry about form of government. had nothing else, these women who Martin Royde's attempt to trick lived precariously, spending every you into staying in Penang with him. INDIANS ACTIVE AT penny which came' into their greedy Doesn' that upset you at all?" REP,ORESTATION hands. Christine was going to lose "But it was all a mistake—really her .owes job, but she 'Lail no terror it was, Christine," Fay insisted' Over 25,000 Planted on Two of the future. She'd find work of, "Fay, it. wasn't a mistake. I heard Reserves some sort, even if it were scrubbing Mrs. Smythe telling her friend how floors — but Iris Collins had never' it had been arranged between herself Indians of the Six Nations reserve learned to work. land Martin Royde." and the Tyendinaga reserve have a Goods luck to you then, (stew- "Martin's explained all that,"Pay tree -planting campaign ardess," Iris Collins said, and turn- ; said quickly, "and he's furious with progressive tree- !aerie cam i n ed back to the mirror. Before Chris -Mrs. Smythe. You see, when she under way, delegates to the Ontario tine left the, room, Iris seemed al-' found out that he'd told me the Horticultural Association were told ready absorbed in trying the effect' wrong sailing time she thought he bylJohn F. Cl Tis at the Ring Ed - of a tinsel butterfly poised on her `was doing it deliberately, and so she a d H el, o to, dark curls. inever said a word about it to !rine Mr. Clarktold the delegates that All that day, in spite of her sus- or rue. He says she's knocked about at the Brantford reserve the Indians pease over her own fate, Christine' the world a lot, and met some very have planted 20,000 trees during the had been wondering at the back oS queer people, so she wasn't shocked past year, while at Deseronto 6,000 her mind how she could see Fay: She at the idea of anyone doing an awful have been planted in a fenced area must find out what Fay's reaction thing like that" around their homes. had been to the happenings of the! "She told Mrs Collins that it bad In addition, inspired by government night .before: when they got out of all been fixed tep beforehand that agents, the residents of the reserves the, car, Fay's one anxiety seemed she should had a headache and leave are going in for floral decorations to' be that Christine might reveal you two together." about their home and other beauti- the fact that they were sisters, but "I'd trust Martin," Fay said, with fication on an extensive scale. surely, when she came to think things shining eyes, "even if I'd been there over, Fay •must have realised that myself when Doris was talking to SWELL EXAMPLE Martin Rode had hied to trick her. Iris. Pm terriblyA contractor, having heard that Y grateful 'e you, the men did not start work ab the In the end, Christine decided' to go Christine, for conning ashore last boldly to 'Fay's rcom after she had night—but I wouldn't have come to proper time, thought he would drop paid her usual visit to Mrs. Carlyle any harm if we had been stranded clown about six -thirty one morning at ten. After all, Perrin had ah;eady Martin would have taken nee to and see. Going up to the yard, he told her that she was going to be friends of his in Penang, caught sight of a joiner standing dismissed, so that she had nothing, (To be continued) ( smoking, with his kit not even open - more to fear front him, and every- ed. Simply asking his name, which one on the staff knew that she had he found 'to be Jake Robertson, he been ashore 'to fetes Fay the nightPENSION BOARD IS KEPT BUSY called him into the office, and hand - before. She did not really want to ing him four days' pay, told him to be seen visiting a passenger in Miss Since January 5 of this year, leave at once. After having seen; the Crane's section, but if the steward Huron County Old Age Pensions and man clear the yard, he went to the on watch'. did happen to see her, he (Mothers' Allowance Board has given foreman and told him that he had would think it natural that she should consideration to thirty-five applies- made an example of»Jake Robertson want to speak to this particular pas- tions received during the 56 days by paying him off for not starting senger. preceding the meeting on Thursday.' at the proper time. It was queer not to feel furtive as Of these thirty were for Old Age! "Jumping Jupiter, sir!" ejaculated she walked down the Train compaanion, Pensions and five for Mothers' Al-' the foreman. "That chap was only and along the alley -way to Fay's lowances. looking for a job." -rtes,,,«..,eneomm7..a.,ertr.s* Seven Brothers Take Part in Hanover Hockey Here is a hockey family that to hard to beat. They are the sons of Mrs. Eva Van -Slyke of Hes'`b over, and six of them are playing hookey for their home town this year, each on a different team'. Reading from, the right -Lloyd, who plays defence 'for the Interanediates, and also is official referee he goalt Clifford playsfor ones Cli rd forPeey theWee p I g Juniors; Earl jperfor¢n . on the :right wing for the Juveniles; Ross holes down the center position for the Boston Bruins in the Hannover Pee Wee league; Ernie is on the right boards for the Pee Wee Cana- diens; Wilbert is also a right winger with the Tulsa Oilers, fardn team of the Black Hawks; little Nor. smut, 7 year's old, Is just ]earning to skate but he knows his hockey and says he will be playing Pee Wee next year.