THE SPHINX AND THE BOY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11157, 21 December 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE SPHINX AND THE BOY.

(By C. Malcolm Hincks.) >It was 4 o'clock m the afternoon of Christmas Eve, arid the ; city practically deserted. Suburban, trains , were bearing domesticated ;men, l loaded 'with parcels, to their homes, and the umdomesticated wete -streaming 1 westward \ih search .of ,- amusement. A^stigjitvfalPof snow and a sliarp frost m the "early 'morning had promised an old-fashioned Cliristmastide/ but the promise had not been, fulfilled,' for the af teiv noon foiiifd London enveloped m ia'yellow impenetrable fog and a aismal clammy coldness that made those who had a cheerful fire to go to hast© with all speed home. On the first floor of a huge grey pilo of offices within a stone's thrpw of the Mansion House a mail worked on, caring nothing for the seaeori, nothing for 'the weather. . ' , i He was certainly surroxinded . . with j every, comfort. The office^-if office it could be v called— was most luxuriously furnislied, v cheery fire bucried iii tha gratej and ' its reflections danced oh the wellpolished, " solid mahogany , desk m the centre of the room, a comfortable padded chair was placed on a- handsome tige^ skill rug vbeside ; it, ■ arid sitting m ; v the cha^^ with, his elbows on the desk m frpnt. ; pf 'hiinV was the. sole occupant of the (room. ,; f" '■'■* ...'- '.J: : ' ; . "■;'' ' " '■■ The gxeerirshaded electric light illumine ated a ; keen-j • hard) ; ?sphinx-}ik6; face, - the face :of a man: whose . passions^ whether for good or evil, haVe been sapped out, a facevof stone. ' : . "/') > ■;.• •■:.'• ..;'•' :> Two stedy grey eyes, almost obscured by the heavy white bushy - eyebrows; were • surmounted by ' a i high intertlectual forehead and; a closely-cropped head of iron grey hair. >.•;''; The thin lips Were compressed tightly over a cigar,: tindvthe steely. eyes were fixed Oil the papers on the, desk. U, - S Not a pleasant man to look upon, but what mattered that? He was Silas Venner, millionaire and Napoleori of Finance! ■ ' /w : "- "-••.:•'■ '.':,/■■ '■■ :,'■;, 'yr\' More than one crowned Jiead of Europe had been more than civil to Silasr Vennefv though they : hated him with ;a • ; hatred nearly! as' strong as the millionaire's for mankind m general. • -'''':' '■.•': f-^ H© wa® >knowtt to his few ; associates and his mariy enaployes as the; "Sphinx,l' and without exception they were afraid, of him. -.;"•'■ ■ :",' „..■,.•■;'■ ''•. : ■"'!>■ ■■.: : For . a moment the millionaire looked up. froni^his papem>, ! preased^an electrfb bell by hid sideband spoke into the -rieat little speaking tube oh, his desk. /j ; Robinsj" he snapped.; Then he TOaumedvhis work. ;; : •; One,: lwo ? minutes passed; but no .-onb'! appeared ; the millionaire rapped out an imprecatiott;- but ivi&l \ sphinx-like ' face showed no; trace of annoyance as he angrily pressed the bell again. v : ; * ; Then> as no reply came, he' sprang (tp, his feet, strode "across to the door giving adriaittance to the 'princijfal ' general office. ,; ... X:-. ■:'• '■'.'■ ,i-:' '■-■ ' ■ I: ■■:■ ■:' ' { - The v robm was empty! .• ■ i For a moment there was, a look of. blaaik astonishment m the grey eyeis, but it vanished; instantly. , ■ . , * ."Obristmas Eve !',' snarled the- J»Ulionaire. "I remember now I allowed the lazy brutes to go early. Why ■shoiild they: go early?. I stop here and worKv Bah ! pretty fine porkers. I've ; got. n It. is most .important I should see. Robins j licaix't get this thing }' through without haying the other figures. Why couMri/jt the idiot Jiave He'll pay for this.; Curse 'ph^stmas !" r / ,• ,| : He went back to his room, and strodV impatiently Up and down the heavy pile 'carpet. ' ; . / v l ■-; ••.. ■ v i -: .'• ■•.,. ' '. : -" ::.■'..-. h He liad beewvrarkirig;on. a transaclio|i involving: some thousands /of? pounds -prpfit. It: was' limpp-f tarit that the - paper's should be despatched" that night; before they could go certain figures, were necesisary; the : man who had oliargei of tl^e book containiri.g ; tbem , was William; Robins, oiie o£ his many^ private secre-'' taries. . .■ v '-■%■■■■ „■•'.-'.-. .'. . ■ ■. : '■ ,' ' And Robins had gone home. ■ i 'Suddenly the millionaire turned swiftly on lus -heel., and Avent to the large r.oom . used by ..hie.', secretaries.. . One of them contained tlie book; Venner waii^^ted, and he had duplicate keys iri lus ; :dest;i ! For .a : moment' he.: thought of seai'chiilg them until he, came, |to the- book lie wanj.ed'.- but then: lie reflected the search might occupy hours, for he liad no idea where tn6 book was of wliat ■ it- "was like,; 'he paid a large staff .of secretaries and clei-KS tq do this kind of work, and never bptiiered abofiit the detaiLof it. • , So \ far lie had never been without having them at liis beck arid call.. , ; ■ c * ' Again he cursed himself 'for his - leriieiicy m allowing liis staff to go off early pn account of the season, and tlien exciiped. hiinseK- that it was through absentmiridedness^ •■.-■ ■:.■■-,■■;,■:' -i;- ■.■•-■ \.:\; Suddenly, an, idea occurred to him, aitd he 'went ~ into the principal office, aiid after a short ■ search discovered the ' address book of his staff; ' I •His thiii white hands turned over the pages quickly. > •/'•■'■ - ,;.Atlast! , >• •: ,\'*Robins, William, 135, -Acadia road, Brixton- V T '"■ Bearing the book m Jiis hand he went back; to ■ his own comfortable; room, and, sitting down at'hifc desk, he wrote dutia telegirtnn. ■ ' . ',;, - :■ His hand was just: going to the .be;Il to summon the coniiriissionaire from downstairs 1^ take it to the pbst-offiqe when, he paused. ; '■'■ ; . : „: '■ . " ;.- --; "The postal. arrangements will be m a state of chaos," lie growled ; -'they a^lwayg are at this time. ' Rpbiris, yro%'l.d make, some excuse that he nevexvigqt tlie wire ; he's one of those idiots who' will do Tuiything to spend a happy Christmas. I'll spoil it for liim, though. I won;t have my- business upset. '•■'■ I'll go an;d fetch him myself •■: and then give him <a month's notice, after I've got the information I wont." '■'.■■•-. ! He ■', laughed grimly, , or rather, a hideousy mirthless,; vindictive crackle came froin k his lips as h*^ struggled into a heaver fur-lined pyercodt that had been hanging behind the door. . ' ■ ( He left the office, locking the door behindi him., . '.', . / * In'tJie hall he met the commissionaire, whp-liadbeen longing for liimtq" go, efo that he could get home to his wife and family. \ ; •;■■■<'.■■■ i "I shall be back," snapped the millionaire, n,°ticing with glee how the man's face fell. 7 ' Then a cab summoned by the man's wliistle loomed out of the fog aiid stopped m ffotti «f the ofiicefi. / i "Meri-y Christmas, sir," said the commissionaire, as Mr Venner descended the steps. ' -. . '•■ \ _ • ; ,;.. '; ./. '-r ;".. y "Bah!" was the millionaire's reply as he jrfniped into the cab. t of all the— "began the conilnissidnaire, but finding Ins vocabuJaiTp insufficient to do justice to the situation, he went back, to the little box aiid knocked hi^ favorite cat off his stool with studied^cruelty. • • . i The «at crept into a corner, and bUnked at him wonderingly. What slaves \ve are to example ! #■■•'* * * ■ The millionaire^ as he huddled up m tho cab with the deep collar of his codt turned up to his ears, looked, as globmy as the weather. The cab crawled through the City and ovei* London Bridge, where the fog was almost black. Mr Venner had the window down, and all that could be seen of him. was a pair of steely eyes above tlie collar and the red tip of a cigar that protrudedi from it. . ... . : '■• With all. his wealth he .was an lshmaelite.-: imagining every man's hand to be against him and acting accordingly with them. His few acquaintances knew little of him; friends or relations ho had none,though it* was rumored lie had once loved where love was not returned. ., . : : Perhaps the. millionaire's Avere of his lonely- aimless existence, for a cynical smile, played lor a moment round his hard mouth, as the cab passed 'a suburban villa from which came sounds of merriment, and through the halfdrawn bjinds a gaily decorated room thronged with merry, youngsters could be seen. • . . .: s . After- what .seemed to the millionaire an endles6 journey, /the cab ktrned sharply frpm the high road, and, the. cabman lifted the trap. . "Wot number did you say, sir?" he in- : quired. ; -V •'■" "•"'';;■- ' •„'<. • >: : "-; ' "135," snapped Mr Venner. ; ; ■ -The\ cab. crawled. on for-a>few minntes, 1 ;and:the,n pulled , up, with a jerkiouteideia small villa which appeared to be m 6einl\ darkness. ' " "

Mr Veiuier jumped out; he discoveredi' that the smallest coin he had was a-, sovereign, so he tossed it ujj to the mam with a scowl.on his face. • The cabby did not see the scowl, but. he saw the sovereign, and was duly grateful! . v ' :•.;>• ■'„ " I "Lor' love yer, sir; you're a gentle- I man. A realFarver Chris'inas y«u are! j Merry Chris'mas. to. yer,, sir !■" ! , ..•■.,' :v A bitter retort -was on the tip of Mr • Vernier's tongue, then something of the [ spirit pf the great Christian festival &i- ' < tered into his apology for a heart,; and! he . checked himself , nodded; carelessly*,, and walked Up the >li£tle tiled' ipath '&> the ? door ,of 135. ' : \ v'- " ' As the cabman d^6ye (^way' Mr Verttieir '? remembered/ that he,shbuld' liaVe told himi to wait, and he curs^ Jiimself "as jbes knocked loudly .atvgbhe ■door.' ' There was, no immediaU anrnver^ arid he knocked again. : . •.•';:>: ■'-■? '■■■.,'■.> '■-.■: , / Then came a patter of feet 'dowrf the passage, some fumbling ; at the lock; then, the door swuhg^ open -aj few inches to be caught up by -a' chain. ; "Hulloa !" said VCsmall voice. ■ '''-■•■ Mr Venner started^ and then: by tlie aid. of the half-lowered gas jet iii the h&Il • he saw a smalL boy, apparently about six years old, dressed m sailor f ashion, long:- - a\\\e baggy 1 , trousers, and loose /bluo blouse.' .""'. ■"■/.. ■/.-.'.. '■' '■ . ■'■-'■■■■ '. ■ ,:'": "Is lit Robins m?" demanded the mill-l-lionaire/curtly. ■ A'" ; ! - ./ ■/. . ••* . "Noy only 'me*s in,' ? replied the youngster.' ■ '''l)ad's; gone , out .i.with. muvver shoppingT-goin' tto buy me , a ;'; rocl^iiafhorse, ?he added confidentially^ , . '^ill they lie long?" I ; - . ; ; The boy iconsideredi' carefully; ;' „, V : "Not - werry, noW ."' ' ■" ■"' "':■)'. \.--'<<>-:' '■■■■■"•■'■ "' "Then Til come m tod waiti'* said the* millionaire. ■■■•■•■•'.•-.•;■.■•■•■ \'.~, ;\;,;^' ; -': ■;/ ■■ He'was feelingcold, and' i cheerful fire flickered "on the blindv of the- front room. The little^ boy hesitated:: ''Ma told 'me tipt to 'low anyone to m," \he '-. remarked doubtfully., ;. , ; ,v' ' ' ''That's^ all right,? *aid the millionairo^ impatiently"* "1-^ MivVenne^l employ : yourfather." • ■■ / .• ; ;: :' V ; 'i': ; . -y..' V ■ ■ ■ The boy's 'eyes opened^ andf ; ; tjie paan ' noticed that they "were big,- roiand,^darfc : blue eyes. ■■• • y.'' ; ;>V ; : ; "^i:''"l:['''\': '■ ''f-f "». ■ ■ ;He -was 'surprised ; at; himself •'• for, • nbtics' ing it, b'ut^'wm'eKbw/^e'^V^emed'. I ';^' 5 strike a chord m his memory; V : "' ;■ "I all tight," ia^^HeiL boy •.-■■ undoing the chain ; "come: 'm,. ■ please." i; ..;',^^::;. ;•:, ;.■;• : '.Y'-"---'- -'V^ ' Mr Vernier enured the hall.' 'V !•; . V "That's, the place\ for. jour .coat an' liat,V said' the boy, obligingly pointing out the hat rack; "What fine, coat'^ he added, as^ Mr Venner i^uttoned it and the rich fur lining b^aine visible., "We had a rug like tliat once, only it'a gone 1 now; it goited after I was Very , 'ill/ 1 : ■■-.■■„■':.:- \: :^x'-::--'^:^"'-: : :.::\ ', • 'Mi* Tenner coughed uneasily ; he i'etAembered Robins coming t<> hini and asking for an increase m, salary as-- hi^ little boy had had a lohff and ,expeiisiye v illiiefss ; %^ remembered^ too, how hfe had' refused it with some cynical- relnarks upon inariiage • and the possession • of ? !a famify one one could not affpi'dt^ ■ke^p^ ; .The boy's voice broke; in ' lUhp^oit ;liis • thoughts. ':'... ''■ "\ ! '\"'.': : v ; '" •-.-:.'..'■■ ■ Will you go- fm^tiiere;?",h^*»id,]..lw>l.dihg -open .'the door of "the front, rooml' ' • Tlie, millionaire entered^ and the boy', followed him; < ;v; ; ; \' > 'r . "Please light the light," he requested ;' "menbt high 'nough- v *•;' V ; . 1 His visiior smiled grimly' as: he j ,t<A>ki,a ma^ch from the ' siqpiall r gold bbi ait ' hif» waistcoat pocket and lit the" gas. '■["' ! ' As the rboiri was flooded^-withJiglit hft , noticed the small boy eyeing him critrr cally. '■'■■..:':' ■.'.-■■:'/. ' :^' - ir - - v .. :- '^So you're the finks," hk said, 1 inedi* tatively. ■■'■ ' ■;' ~ : - : :'^r " ■■;■«'' *':'&;':■' l! -: "Tlie \rliat?" gasped Mr ¥eniii£|f . : : *'TJie finks; dacl says' overyon"^ calls ybuithe finks." - ■ : - : ' i: 'v v . .'^ ■ -'.' '•' rA, light dawned upon .the millionaire.<fWhr do they call me tl^at?" he" dei ; manned sharply, but the boy was'unabashed.: -V :';■ '■ • ''<:■■'■: ' "' : :: ''" '*:' '\v iV :-. ''Cos' you re hard and cold," tie replied cahdMly. "You look, cold,'' he t - ad> ded sympathetically ; "wott'fc y bu/sit'by ■■the: fire ?''_ '- .. ■' \ ' .. '■"■'■' ' '■■'■■; ■ ''Ml;■ *■. ■ ; Tli-e man gruiitedj storied hatd a^ the , boy, and tlien seated" himself m. chair beside the fire. , ; His young host, on . a. sniall stool at his feet. '.'■"," ~- :Y . "'.'*; ' ':' ''■'■■'"'.. "Wfiat's your liamo, boy,? 1 ' asked! the millionaire m h is sharp j tones;! : " "' '■• •■ >■■ ; . v; ''Robert-": said the' *b^ ;" "but everybody calls me Bob— ydt can ; call v- me Bob, if you like/ : r-:: :^v,>v- . 7 Once a^ain the Blue ey ( es sotl|phtVthe small hard greyohes, andl' the grey on-M turned away and staired infcbi the^glowing; ■fire. '■•'■'■■. ... "'■■■ .;■. ' .' -:.' ,:. : "'" ■■- ' i.-^-'r ' ■ The boy evid^ntl^ thought little of ;his • TisfiW's conversational 'powers. *^'-HJe Bterted off on a heyr line. „ ' . - 'M , "Dion't you lov^ CHimtoas"?'' he ask^ ie»d. " :'- : *;.- ; :' : :: r ]. " :: '-:^~V'~- ; ■'■':' '";"' '',''■''"*■■'. "Noi" was th* -reply. ■ ';V '' / The boy, dismayed, lapsed " iritd ■sil.erice^ '. ■"■ ■."":;■■■'■ : '' '. ":■ '-'"' .' : "'■■'l;'/''- ".■ lf For some minutes it Svaa unbroken, save for thf*^ticking' c^ja^ojie^ap clock: and the footsteps of passers-by oiutside; .-., Then the manrbioke out- ". v' "Why do you lilqe? CSiristnias '* he asked abntptiy. • > f ' ■ Tbie boy's eyes gleamed ; he js^raiig to his\ feet. ,'■■'■.: .>\- ,;' ( - i; : ;J'.,- fii , : . ( " : '^Oli, it's fine!" lie ..cried; ;': ''everyone tries to make you happy, an' everyone lbves each other! Muvyer -says everyone should; always loye.euch otnea*, specie ally at^Ghristmas, 'cos bf-r^-": ;f ; ' , "Yes; yes;,'\ burst put, the IshmaeiiteJ [he dared not he^r the confession of childish ;faith, %M& Ibciy's; words hadr; meJted a chord within him, the steely eyes -.were , moistened, , and the face Was rig longer a f ace of stone. " ( •' ." " ■"■ :-''■ ; . : /■' . 'v %1 "Do. you think you could 10-ve :me, •boy?" he askedi m husky toiies. .Fo^-'A moment the yoiin£st(er looked half 'frightehd 'by. his mantierj then be ! climbed, up <oii the milHoaaire's knee and put his arra confidently T^oajltd his ileck; .; "Yes," he said simply, and then adr ded with his usual candour, "I don't :. thjinlc you can be suet a. very bad old finks!" , ■■ .;. ■:;.-■.'■ _; ; • '. "■ VV,/: ■■ ■■ ' ■ . ♦ . .*',-..' '■'.* ''■ .'•'• ■*'.•':' •' J.About twenty minute® later Mr jand Mrs Robins entered .their house loaded with parcels. ' ■ % wonder why, Robbie didn't hear the fceyj" said his faUier as he closed' the ,doOT. ■ ■'■■:.:■■ '..-;,•■' .•'. ':■■■ ' ■■.-■ : '.■ . Together they entered? the room j then, Mr. Robins gasped. '. • ,-.■ ; '; For his son was sitting oh the "knee , of his stern employer, and the oldj man was telling him some' s.toay which fiVetted his attention.: . A slight cry frqiri his motlier brought the boy to the ground. . :," "Oli. dad," he ci'ied excitedly, ."tho finks has come to see you ! j've'tained But the millionaire looked. up, regardless of their . surprise./ . '•■;> "You have a dear little boy, Robins," he said softly; "I want to do sometlniig for hkn and for you. • .... ; ' Then he stopped and kissed the youngster. ' * .■'..-.■■...■■ : ■ ..')' ■ '•■■ ■;.■•'■..- The Sphiiix was a man of flcshv and blood. ■■ ••■ ■•,>•■• •■■■ • *.'■ ' *■.■: ■ ■-■ *'.■':(' ■**'■■". , '.' ■ ' Strange to say, tile Napoleon of.'Fi- ' nance ddd not return to hk lonely diambers that Christmas Eve. A ? : greatlonging for companionship entered nis heai t; ha almost pleaded to -b^ allowed to stay. 'He /wired for Iris man to briny down the ' neoesisazy: |mpjers for. the big deal and some cldthes and spent the happiest GhristJnas since th» days of his iboyhood withi Ids secretary m tho humble villa. - ; '. ; ]. , There was much amazement m the City when Silas Venner took a pjtrtnel'. but tlie firm of Venner and' Robins :,jliajß lost none of its business, and is respected) by all. '. ; ■-::': \:n\ : '; - People could ; Ylob : linderatand: the" sudden and inexplicable change.' l*lw cause pf the chanj^e is, by special arrangeinetit', a sleeping partner m tlip firm, although he's only seven. ' ••• :■■: .".:,; —c. Malcolm hincks.