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The Brussels Post, 1938-11-9, Page 7THE BRUSSELS POST 1i NDN6fSIAAY, NOVEMEME, 6tl1. E4 i �r• A Girl Adrift By Peter Muanday "Mr, Grant has met with a motor accident--" Pam snared down at the black mouthpiece as if it had turned into something malignant in her grasp, Terence hurt The aoop whirled around her, and then steadied, •In a moment site had herself under control and was listening intently, "In Kensing- ton," ton,' the voice continued, "He has been taken to No. 746 Artlwell Mansions, in Westham Road. He particularly asked ins to tell you not to inform his aunt yet, But he wants you to conte at once, if you will. He wants to see you before he is removed to the nursing home.' "I'll came." Pam wondered at her own voice, it sounded so strange. "Is—is he sehiously hurt?' 'colt, there is nothing to be alarm- ed about, He is badly shaken, but there is no danger. A couple of weeks and I dare say be will be quite ail right again. "Thank you," said Pam abruptly "Will you tell him that I am com- ing, please?" She replaecd the receiver and flew upstairs to her room. It was not yet twelve, If she hurried she would •catch a bus as it went up the hill, and in Putney High Street there were taxis. * s * Ardnvell Mansions proved to be a large block of flats which had been made by throwing into one a series of separate houses. Going up the steps of what haf- pened to be the main entrance, Pam scanned the number board, and discovered that No. 74G was on the second floor, As there was no lift she ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time in •heir haste. It crossed her mind) oil the way from Putney to wonder what Terence was doing in sueh a place. Evidently he bad been brought here after the acci- dent. Andnow it struck her that it was strange that he should have been taken to the second floor when there was no lift, Surely one of the ground floor flats— No. 746 was at the end of the pas- sage. Pam knocked, and stood waiting impatiently. What would the next few minutes reveal How badly was he hurt? She tried desperately to pull her- self together. Terrence would be expecting to see his aunt's secre- tary, composed, efficient and un- emotional. He would not be pleased if she turned out to be a distracted female, obviously very much in love and almost out of rer wits with anxiety. The door opened suddenly. Pam's hand went to her mouth, and she stood staring. • Major Wilberforce," she ejacu- lated, Then it dawned on her that in all probability he had been with Ter- ence erence at the time of the accident. It would have been he who had her rung up, of course. Wilberfoce stood aside, "I'm -glad you managed to get here." he said. "You'd better come inside." "Y.es," said I'am, quickly as I could. he badly hurt?* "Nothing to speak of," replied the other, looking at her queerly. "There is no need to worry,' He closed the door behind her, and led' the wa yinto a large room tarnished as a lounge. inside, Paan turned and looked at him enquiringly, The room was empty save for the two of them! Wilberforce ignored her look, and turning round deliberately lock- ed the door. In a flash Pami saw through the whole scheme, She was trapped! Terence was not hurt—the message had been a fake, sent by 'Wilber- force to get her into his power, Her sixth sense, that strange In- tuition which warns a woman in some mysterious way, had been right. She was at the mercy of a man who would let nothing stand in his way, who would not, could not, acknowledge defeat, and was pre- pared to stoop to any means, fair or Soul, to achieve bis end! • ,She faced him with blazing scorn in her eyes. "Don't bother to explain!" she said cuttingly, "It is rather o1 vious, isn't it?" "So much the better," he replied smoothly, coming towards her, "It will save so much time, Ism glad you're going to be sensible." "I'm going to leave this fiat at once." He smlied' unpleasantly. "That remains to be seen," be said coolly, "In the first place, if "1 came as Mr, Grant—is Jar Have You Ever Seen Your Home -Town NEWSPAPER thrown into the gutter or waste paper basket before it was thoroughly read 13ut gutters and waste baskets ,are filled every day with unopened, unread expensive direct advertising sale ammunition shot into the air, and cheap publications promoted by fly-by-night artists. A newspaper commands an audience with prospective customers, especially your homes paper. It is never thrown aside without first being read from "kiver to kiver." You never see it littering the front yards, or the streets, annoying the house- keeper. • i That is why intlligent, attractive newspaper advertising is known to be the most effective form of advertising for your business. An advertisennent in the Brussels Fest will reach the buyers in the local trade territory and will be read ,by thousands of people. RAM you screamed 1 doubt if you would he heard. In the second, it's your word against mine, you see" Pam reeol'ied, backing up against the watt, her eyes roving round for something to get hold of—tieme- thing in the way of a weapon, Wilberforce watched her, stall - lag,.. "1 wouldn't try that if I were you," be said, "It won't look nice in the headlines, The fact that you sneaked oft here after Miss Grant had gone to bed will take a great deal of explaining,' The savage that was in him had taken control, and Pam was cold with terror. She hated him in the sauce mood. Instinctively she realised that he was holding his desires in check by a supreme effort of will, and that once unleashed the fury of bis passion would know no bounds, However, she refused to allow Wm to see she was frightened. 'I never thought you were a cad.' she said, "I actually believed you when you said you loved me, and was sorry I had to refuse--" ''You don't know what love is!" he sneered. "Not your sort, thank heaven. I thought love was gentle and decent. If you really loved me you wouldn't do this, You'd sooner die. But you're a child who has been told he can't have a toy to play with.' Peen's eyes flashed as she lashed him with her words. "You're Just— cheap!" she concluded scathingly. Ilse went red, "Cheap am 1?' he snarled, his anger rising, "Are you going to be sensible or aren't you? If you like to give me your word that you will marry me, you can go now. Otherwise—" "'I would sooner diel" Ile laughed' gratingly, a brittle sound that warned Pam that he had reached the limit of his patience. The slow 'movement of his passion was like the movement of black water under ice—and the ice was breaking, Desperate, she watched him— waiting for the inevitable move. It was not long in coming, Sud- denly he advanced towart:s her, and with incredible swiftness in a man so big seized her in his arms and drew her close. His arms were iron bands, and struggle as she might Pam could make no impression on their grip. She cried out ouce, and then struggled in silence, her body arched, her two hands pressing his chest as she strained to break his hold, In the struggle her hat was knocked off, and her dress was torn at the shoulder. They, swayed into the centre of the room. Wilberforce's face was suffused', and his mouth was drawn into a thin line, ,his eyes were frightful. Pani felt her senses leaving her and an abysmal despair crept upon her. She was• slipping—slipping— and her soul died as she realised that she could hold out no Ionger. The roaring in her ears reached a climax, and her grasp weakened just as she heard Wilberforce give n triumphant laugh, His face was close to her own— his kisses were hot on her lips— when, with a sudden oath, 11e flung around and stared at the door. Whatever it was that had disturb- ed hirer Pam had not heard it, but as she reeled away, her breath cum" Ing in great gasps, she heard a furious knocking on the outer door. Wilberforce resitated, then, with a Race like a thundercloud, strode across the room. Pon heard the key turn in the door and then the sound of the bolts being drawn back from the front door. Desrperately she tried to rally her failing senses. If there was some- one at the door it was her chance, She Hurst get to the door. Wil- berforce would not dare detain her iii the presence of a third person. Uttering a silent ,prayer for strength, she started to cross the room when the sound of a well• known, high-pitched laugh brought her rap short. Violnl Whnt way she doing her. The next instant the inner door opened and Viola came in. By her side was Terrence, and Wilbertorae followed them, his features twisted lute a scowl, •Pam stared unbelievingly, her heart throbbing, her 10iud tornt be- tween relief at seeing help end dis. may at the forma it had taken, Viola came to a standstill In the centre of tete room, and swept Pant With a cruel glance, taking in her disordered dress and her rnmlplod hair, Thep she turned to Terence, Round Trip Bargain 'Fares From BRUSSELS November 18-18 To CHICAGO -- $12.55 November 19 To 'WNIDSOR) To DETROIT)—$4.75 Equally low fares from all adjacent C.NR.'Stations. train service going and returning see handbills or ask Agent For Fara, Return armies, Than Ttahers, 5onsttte nearest Amt. See Efandbi1G, • CANADIAN NATIONAL For any "Now will yaa believe me " she ,l;assed upon you?" asked dramatically, How dare he! What right had Terence stared at Pam in horror, he to demand explanations from her? His face was hard, and he suddenly seemed much older. He dict not speak to her, but turn- ed slowly to Wilberforce and took a step forward when Wilberforce stopped him with upraised Band. "Excuse me," he said quietly. All trace of the recent turmoil had left him save that his eyes were still dark, "Yon are always welcome here as a visitor, Grant, but just at the moment—" He broke off, and smiled. Terence drew in his breath sharp- ly. Pam stood by quietly and waited cntil he should notice her, She saw through the whole thing quite clearly. Viola was at the bottom of it, Playing on Wilber - force's passion, she had egged him on to take the step be had done, and the man, not wholly bad but morally weak, had consented. And then Viola had told Terence Pam was in the habit of yisiting the Hat at night—and had brought :tiara along to see for himself. . And: it was Pam's words against the two of them and the evidence of Terence's own eyes. She studied him, wondering what he was going to do. Thete was far more at stake than the vindication of her honour, although she was the only one who ,mew it, She offered no word of explanation. She was deliberately investing Terence with the powers of Judge, to arraign, and if he thought fit, condemn' her, and neither by word or look was she going to help 'him out. In that she had a purpose. Ter- ence would stand or fall by his judgement of her, She was not long left in suspence After a silence that seemed so pro- found that the dropping of a pin would have been as startling as a gun explosion, Terence turned in her direction. ''rWlhat are you doing in this non's flat at this hour of the night?" he asked tonelessly. Pam 3vould have explained then but a glance at his tortured face told her explanations would be use- less. He had judged and found her guilty. His question was a mere matter of forret. It really meant—'Have you any- thing to say before sentence is 00t4Why let am that spaco to your basement go to waste? Let us 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 ;lob quickly and with- out disturbance to the house- hold routine. And, best of all, it's another of those jobs you can finance, if necessary, under the Home Improve- ment Plan, LOCAL ADVERTISER'S NAME HERE M HOME IMPROVEMENT PLAN • If he considered they were neces- sary, he placed himself beyond the pale of her coneitleration, That she would, under' different circumstances, have given her life to see what she now saw looking out of his eyes made 110 difference. It only made his attitude seem worse. If rte had insufficient faith in her he was at perfect liberty to draw his own conclusions. Without a word she picked up her hat front where it had rolled along- side the couch. ;11d d' ew her coat uP over her diishevelelled dress. Ignoring both Wilberforce and Terence, hhe walked to the door. As she came abreast of Viola, who had been watching the scene through triumphant eyes, she smil- ed at the older woman, a crooked smile which only Viola understood. "I always underrated your talent as an actress," she said. `But I apologise. What a pity it is sa misdirected!" With this shot she went out of the room, and a moment later was stumbling blindly down the stairs to the street door, leaving behind her three persons standing amidst a silence that could be felt. TO BE 0O1416NUEm PIPE TOBACCO FOR A' tsII_) Coot—SMOKE HAROLD W. LOVE Ethel, Ont. — Phone 22-8 General Insurance Agent ELDER D BELL, B.A, Barrister, Solicitor, Etc. Phone 20X - Brussels, Ont, James McFadzeart Howlck Mutual Fire Insurance —Also— —Hartford Windstorm —Tornado Insurance , —Automobile, Insurance 'Phone 42, Box 1, Turnberry 8t. Brussels, Ontario JAMES TAYLOR Licensed Auctioneer for the County of Huron. Sales attended to in all parts of the country. Satisfaction Guaranteed or ne pay. 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