Show II ri tN 1 f f k kl kis Wonc l e I is r 9 fo 4 r i J Iff QS ore r ren J W N U GE Ce ne M til 4 hl o dl s t CHAPTER VIII-Continued VIII VIII Continued 13 13 Hullo Bullo Hirsch ch Thought III I II d 1 find you here I Ive t e come conic to tell you that lint It Its s no Rood good your hanging about here any longer lonel S e a ye ve got ot the things youre you're after See The sooner you push oft the better Good by hy Harold at nt Sene roll fell Mew hew sat satIn satin satIn In his room telling himself that he ou ought ht to he be out looking for new ne lodgings ln for next wee week but cur curi lv of exertion because of the medley of thoughts which cluttered his brain Somehow deep down In his heart there was as a n va vague e re regret ret lIe He had had a whole hole week eel of e and he seemed to have acquired the taste for e excitement Some Some- Somehow Somehow how v the prospect of a n lifetime dl di divided bided between bet the bank bink the board boardIng In lag hou house e and the tennis club seemed to be a little wanting In some respects 1 The he weeks week's adventure tuna had co cost t him a blac black eye and anda a burned chest a suit and ind a pair of shoes and a n pair of su suspenders loss of his pence peace of mind and ind dismissal mi missal sal from his board boardIng boardIng boardIng Ing house houseas as as there to be lie no compensation at all The week weel had bad cost him more tl tI an that Had Hadlie lie he not spent all that th hit money when lie he went ent out with great with Ith- Ith greit relt Scott Marjorie I lie bad had forgotten all about I Hero Here was nS i confidante awaiting him some one who would listen wIde eyed and but sincere lv Iv believing to s man marselous elous tale of high finance and ind ro al pee pec With Ins his held head on Mar r Marjorie jorie jone s breast breist brel t and her inns arms round him In indignant friendship lie he could tell her lier all about the un tin Haw lIa kins and about that nightmare tomcat climb over the roofs It would be fine to tell Mar hl jode about tiling things It was ns telepathy or perhaps It was coincidence nut But just a as Harold was as wondering I whether hether or not It was wis too late to towal walk wa across the Ashford road roid to toI I see Marjorie some one came scurrying scurrying scurrying up the stairs and knocked ed it Haroll s bedroom door It was wasI I Theres There's a lady Indy to see cee ee you sir said Emmie I It was as Marjorie Marjoric Of course It was Marjorie Marjone She was standing where had left I l er r on the doorstep outside the lie open door her IIer 03 CJ cs were ere wide ide and troubled and It 1001 cd ed as I it f her lips hips would tremble if it she allowed ed them to Hullo slid sald Harold Hullo said Marjorie I was as ju just t coming round to you said Harold and Marjorie neatly believed belle him I ets et's go o out himI he said and I reached for or his hat They walked out together into the darkening street and with mu mutual mutual mutual consent and with Ith no word spoken they turned to their rl right ht and aDd walked toward to the common Harold I 1 new De that In those streets Where her the th da light daylight light tin lin he could not sav sa sa sato to Mar Marjorie jorie all he ho wanted to sa sav sas He knew tint that words of tint that sort would call for actions to support them lIe He clutched at the first subject of conver conversation atlon he could think of How flow Is Mr Ir Clarence lie lic asked lie lies s much better replied Mar jovle with Ith a trace of hes hes he's left the ho hospital already iud hes he's gone Jone Into a n nur nursing m home I in III glad to har lie he lies s better hetter said cautiously he did not know no what lay behind the other pIece of Information Marjorie had offered I cameBy came cameBy By Ily silent mutual consent they eat ent on the same ame belt beat as they had shared harell on the fateful evening c when hen the the had arranged to fco bo Into the country together I 1 was as so sorry whispered Mar Marjorie jorie but with formality e eten een en clinging to her whisper per not not to see you when hen J you ou ou came caDle on Sunday I Iwas Iwas Iwas was quite well ell of cou course e Ivas I vas was but that old cat wanted w a chance to be I nearly ran down when hen I heard you downstairs do And Ana then when she came back bick front In the evening and told rare me about about-about about Sou J ou I felt like lIJe crying nut But I warn t going to cn en just to please her ber I said I knew the girl quite well and that she slie was as jolly nice 1 I I I didn't know the girl said Harold I I t w want ant ant to know Inow her but I but but I had to go o out with ith Owen w lou see see-It see It was as like this this- this Harold found himself obliged to stop to 10 collect his thoughts read reads I to be in bCe-in m at the Inning be and tell Marjorie all about the amazing week but while he was vas doing so he caught Marjories Marjorie's eye eve eJ e In It there was as a 1 twinkle twinkle-a twinkle a a positive e twinkle of of amused ed unbelief Of Of course Marjorie Marjoric anti and there a was good fellowship In her ber bertone tone I can guess how It was lS WI en sou ou made mide the appointment for Sunday you t know what was going oin to happen the diy day be before before fore fore- with fore with us And AntI you sou ou hail had bac to keep leep It Dut But and there was us n a hint of In her tone I I do t think you JOu ou might have written or come round on Monday I waited It a for you all the e evening and I couldn't bear beir It any longer and I sneaked out and ind rang up Scie cle I 1 ell elt Slew le leon on the telephone and that old cat Mrs Mr Pound Isn t It It said oj you rou t In and she didn t know now i when J you jou ou be In or anything It ItI I At somewhere some here about the sane s time as ns Mat jorie hid had telephoned Harold had been stretched hand handI handcuffed I cuffed and unconscious on i l prison bed at the headquarters of Herr Batters 5 department iso 10 o slid said Harold I I couldn t t tI oh listen minute Mar Marjorie oh I-I-oh I do a jorie I wis I wis I wis s lS as kept hept late In the city said Mar Marjoric and she sac actually smiled I Oh rm ms dear my de detri tr I I did want ant you so 0 Those were tere their list last intelligible words for a n long lon long time At last Marjorie found herself corn com against II s s shoulder and her two t 0 hands clasping ont one of his Dear said Marjorie I I want to ask ach Sou ou something It What hat is It said Harold There fiS nothing Marjorie Marjoric could ask ash which he be would mind answering answering- an Harold was waa wa Indeed a fortunate lover I wanted anted to know v slid said Mar shyly If IC If if making love lovo or If It you want to get et married Goodness I sud Harold lie He had hardly visualized the two as possibly distinct I i only onh Want to know Inow went on Marjorie Oh I I I Oh my dear dean dcarl I and once more cons com conversation became t i t 1 t ti i tl a up I I 1 Wanted to Know Said Mar MarJone Youre You're If If Youre You're jorie jone Shyly Making Love or If You Want MarI to I Get Married submerged for a space pace W hen lien it came to the surface again I said lou lou see It its s c about the house dear Because e fathers father's to be a away lY Auntie wants me to sell It It Its s mt m house vou you see It came to me from flom mother Oh I s slid ild Harold this His brain be nn bep-nn nn to think furiously In spite of himself Ito Ivo I e got t twenty enty pounds a n year of my 0 own n too slid and added fuel to the flames I I don t t want to sell ell the house It went on Marjorie Marjone If-If If if If we were re go goin going goIng in ing to get married It s a dear r little house and It Its s just right fIght for for- for for a n ne neI newly I v married couple When hen when hen when would we e be married if you want wint to It v lien hen would you ou on like lIJe dear said Harold with i l last lat remaining shred of caution and fear of re- re responsibility re responsibility I don dont t mind said I neither would she put Into words the thoughts that were In both theIr mind minds They both looked at each ach other Of course cour course e I could let the th the house furnished begin began Marjorie hut but but but I but I don dont t want wint to Ih live litre e with Auntie Mabel rabe ny By By George said ald Harold Mrs Irs Pound give gave lve me notice this morn mornIng mornIng lag Ing So So J youve you've OU OUe e got to find some somewhere here el else e to 11 Ilse Il e Yes Yos A fresh fLesh silence fell feU upon them nut But Marjorie e e evidently had full grasp of the situation now I I want wint to be inquisitive e she said May lay I I How much money mone ha e you got Ise I I ve e got t two 0 t twenty enty he file fh e a year from the hank bink said Harold But nut But have you got anything now no Oh Oh yes I e got about fifteen pounds und in my current account hut account butI I want to buy a new suit And AndI I vc ye got a nominal ninety pounds In war savings Worth about a hundred fifteen now Why hy by that's simply wonderful said l M It e a can get et when hen we e like v Tomorrow Dear do lets let's It would be he fun But hut But but said kaki ald Harold I Idon Idon Idon don t think we e could get married If w e C w rated to row rm Aren Area t there banns and things It tales lakes three weeks doesn't It Oh yes slid said M and the disappointment In her lied up Harold Harolds s vitals sitars In a h tr I not Of Of course I hid had forgotten that But lint Harold was now as ea eager er to erase tint that disappointment as n a tl he fore lie he lud hlll been to find for dela Bela But But there Dr are licenses or something wren rell t there he lie said ild 1 It I I I don dont t know now whether they'd gh Bite e us one but It but You Yon might try said Marjorie Tomorrow And humid Harold found to his mild surprise e that he was engaged to be married at the t possible moment But curiously he did not object Ita It a was aery very sery late hate Indeed by the time he lie kissed Marjorie good goodnight goodnight nIght fur for the last time at her gate ate It was ns later Inter still by lIy the time he wis lS home and In bed But It was as not much later than tint thit by bythe bythe bythe the time he was as asleep It took too by this tills time more thin than a n little thing like nn an approaching to disturb Harold Harolds s sled sleep Heas He was as wasa wasa asa a veteran by now CHAPTER IX After Wednesday H ALP ALPay way ay through h the ne neel l morning the branch min iger culled Harold Into his little office and said hat i hat on earth hl hase e you been up to young man reeled meted a 11 little where here he stood with Ith the hot blood I his neck and forehead lIe He hall had instant visions vision of casual wards lIe Ie felt lie he had lo lost t 1 I I e tie e just been lIeen talking on the phone said the mm mn iger with with- hm with lim with held head a 11 very Im Important n t person at nt head of ice 11 lie e says J you ou oure re to be transferred from scale I 1 oui our to salary scale i he at the standard figure for your Jour age ng-e and dated tell back to Janu nr That Thit puts you up to three t ent twenty with about fifty pounds beck pay and weeks week's lease lea lea en a and so on hat What hive hie c you been lIeen doing I I don t know said Harold lou our ou rc n a lucki young devil dell de II any aJ said aid the manager When I Iwas Iwas was as YOI your rage rage- age age- age knows q nobody knows at atall atall nil all S sate sive J Je e perhaps the chairman of tile the National County bank banh e why hJ Harold was as g cn tint that raise And It al also o might mig be held indis erect to Impure inquire Into the origin of the Anglo A Oil company which came Into being a few fe weeks later lter backed by hv the British gos- gos gov government and ind with i Serb ver l fi concession from Raphael king of Lesser A arii A arh But nut It would be In lit noay no way ay In IndIscreet indiscreet Indiscreet dIscreet to ask how Harold spent pent his lunch hour It was as consumed In i l dash to Morley P irk In a visit to the th local registrars registrar's office has Ua hasing Having Ing el ed ml Into and Iris Ing been heen turned out nut with Ith Ig ignominy Ignominy froni flom the room where here a was as In progress he It last found the right little ticket Indo to tip tap it at and i t clerk be behind behind behind hind it to answer questions 1111 e I want ant to get married marnell sail said Harold ow r ow that thit he lie had hd progressed ed so far lie he felt enet th the same ame nl night nightmare ht mare marc helplessness which he hlll had encountered so mini time before let ct the clerk did not seem eem to think his remark so 0 e lie dill did not grin grm he dH did not grow row In indecently Indecently decently jocular III Ills His polite gra rl ity Hy Indeed only accentuated the of the whole hole busl busi business ness learned learnell to hIs Ills sur surprise surprise prise tint that licenses keens's were ere b DV b intone one 0 over oter er t twenty one who ho had i l pound or t two 0 to spare spare-he he he ani and l could he be married on the morrow If they wanted to cou sought ht In his mind to find whether hether he thought It possible to hl hive hise e mOl ofT off ne tie had Ind tint thit much cleat cleal sightedness decided tint that he lie could and y for a license e and made an nn appointment for to tomorrow tomorrow morrow morro morroS s I lunchtime lunchtime I So o It was wis ill ine rne and it iii worked like clod vv OIl oik r Isar old olds s Into t le leIth w with Ith Mr and Mrs Irs Tilling dinner after dinner lie he had told Marjorie nis wis only quel queer r Irs Mr Ir 1 lilling illing wis scandal hed at tile the thought of go going o lag Ing back bick to the hank bank to do in aft s work ing hi been married and of Marjorie lies hn lia ing In ing to wiit foi him she slie l was wis also of course in this case she slie did dill not announce her scruples it at the thou thought ht of 11 and Marjorie spendin their first nl night ht to together ether dune In i l ban house houe instead of in the decent for of hotel or hou house e Tint That brings Harold s history practically up to date dite But nut lie future seems 01 obvious lous Harold will lire on with J in the little hou house e in cre crescent cent lIe will III rise h hi slow degrees through h the glides I HIes of the hank bank service sen ice until It at last he will reich reach the du heights hel of cl Ills His lt l t mind will III e and mul he wit wil WI I gros gro's r rather corpulent and e d dyspeptic peptic And Marjorie will ill chan change e with ith hm ha n and the soft lines of her f Ice will vanish sanish to be replaced b rote for Marjorie will turn shrewish Ish with Ith the passie e of the years and the arrival of till drew dren For they will ha have hate e children of oC course from whit what I 1 hue hate I Ibelle belle belies bellee e tha that t it will ill not be lon long he fore the lie arrival il of the fir first t and they will grow up just like Ills his Is a type t e that tint persists The memon of of of of the week eel when hen he contended wIth Bauer and with Ith and with ith Raphael el king of the will Huns III fade with Ith st rapIdity That week eel was us too unlike an thing else too grotesque and too ridic ridiculous ard ord too horrible to be really possible In cour course e at or time Harold will even en tind 1101 himself pu puzzling 1 it isto to whether hether It happened or not All that lint will ill to him whit willbe lie be an automatic pistol which he will keep heep In casE of hur and anda a little white scar upon his breast the last tr trice lee of the handl handiwork 01 o Jaw kins the lie Horrible And in I course of time tinie et e even een en tint thit will ride fide TIm D K e D I |