The 51 Million-To-One Chance

Jos. Holmes, former NG Terri torian, a resident of Leatherhead, in Surrey, had gone half across England, to the edge of the New Forest, and was contemplating the purchase of a house in Verwood.

He and his wife Florrie lived at a small inn in Ringwood, while Jos. dealt with a solicitor.

Coming one morning out of the lawyer’s office, Jos. was caught in a sudden fierce downpour. He dived into a doorway beside the inn.

In the doorway, similarly storm bound, was a young woman, with three small children. A five-year old boy pranced before Jos. “I’m going to Australia today,” he chanted.

The Holmes’ nose twitched.

“Australia, hey?” he said. “And what part of Australia, son?” — half hoping he’d say Sydney.

Mother interposed. “Not really Australia,” she said. “But it’s on the way. We’re going to a place called New Guinea.”

This was interesting. Jos. looked her over—she was easy to look at —and kidded, “Isn’t there a place called Rabool?”

“Ra-bal,” she corrected, cour teously. “Yes, I know it.”

“And Lae — isn’t that in New Guinea?”

“Yes. Do you know New Guinea, then?”

Jos. proceeded warily. “There’s a lass out there named Heather “Not Heather Seale?” she cried.

“Heather Seale is right,” said Jos. “She’s my daughter!”

The lady literally yelled. “But she’s my friend. And yow- —why you must be Jos. Holmes!”

The downpour had stopped.

She rushed outside, and around into the inn’s backyard, where a man was gloomily attending to the needs of a touring car.

“Bill,” she cried, “look who’s here! It’s Jos. Holmes. He and Florrie are staying here, in this hotel, with us!”

The husband, having sorted out the coincidences, dived for his

pocket-book, and produced a

letter, signed by District Commis sioner Seale, addressed to Jos.

Holmes, at Leatherhead, and com mending to Mr. and Mrs. Holmes his good friends the Parry’s, of the Department of Agriculture, now going on long leave. “Been

away touring on the Continem explained Mr. Parry. “Never g around to Leatherhead. Came this little town yesterday, to j\ the car in — we’re sailing fro Southhampton this afternoon.”

The Parry s, I under star caught the liner with minutes spare. Mr. Parry, having met J\ Holmes, naturally took him h the inn, where they accomrn dated a disproportionate quant of old English ale.

Hs 4* H* Jos. told us the story, seated\ the lounge of their new home' Verwood, to which recently tk moved.

“A fifty-one million to o chance,” 1 said.

The argumentative old N Guinean cocked an eye at a “Where do you get that odd n lion from?” he demanded, path the whole thing down to X Holmes’ luck.

But there are now over fifty-* million people in the Uni Kingdom, and the chances meeting some one from NG sk tering in the same doorway m

be at least that-

R.

Robson.