A Shilling Bravo.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12796, 30 September 1905, Page 2 (Supplement)

A Shilling Bravo.

(By W. Pett Bidge.)

1 The boy held the window of hie bedroom slightly open, so that he could hear the conversation going on at the front door below. At times the farewell speeches of his sister and Mr Joseph Price had. diverted his to such an extent that he had been forced to hurry back to bed and have his laugh out under the pillow; a nightly entertainment to which he looked forward. His grievance had been that on occasions they had not spoken 'loudly j no grounds for complaint on "that account- this evening. "And you mean to tell me, Joseph Price," said his sisters voice, "that after walkin' out "with me all these months, and making me neglect other opportunities, you've got the cool impudence to look me in the face tell me you want the engagement broke off.!"

"To a certain extent, yes." "Well, all I can say "is !" Now, what- .is the use of takin' on about it?" urged Mr Price. "Fact of the I matter is, my mother and me's been debating it over " I: FIT debate her!" said Miss Martin through her handkerchief. , "Since I go my increase in our warehouse, and we've come to the conclusion—or' rather she has—that I ought to keep meself free, as it were, for a year or two." . . it's just because of a paltry 'alfcrown a week in your wages- 11 " For a year or two," went on Mr Price, | in the manner of one reciting, "so that I jimay 'ave time to look round and not- be into materimony before knowing ' where I am. Therefore, I hope that you'll kindly let mother 'ave my letters back during the course of to-morrow morning." _ The boy, .listening from the garret-win-dow on: the second floor, flushed. "You don't have your letters backj Mr l*rice," said his sister. The boy felt- glad that she was not longer crying. *' Tell your mother, that from me, and give her my compliments, and tell her she's a two-faced creature to believe like this after the caps live made for her and the bonnets I've trimmed up and made fashionable for-Ser."

" I'll give the general'effect to your message," said the young man. . "And I'm glad to see you take it- all in the proper light. As you very wisely remark, we can always be friends " " Never said nothing of the kind," she interrupted indignantly. " Shall we have just one kiss before we part?" " No," said Miss Martin; " we won't. And what's more. Joseph Price, understand this, that you re behaving like a low. mean person, and you're—you're no gentleman." "Steady!" urger Mr Price. t . " You're a weak, empty-'eaded, contemptible maDj .and if it "wasn't for me good

I manners I should tell yon what I thought of you." " You d better not," recommended the young man. '• Don't you go »d overstep the lor." ''The lor!' cried Alfred Martin's sister with sudden vehemence, "do vou fancy I cars for the lor! If I cared'for the lor, do you think I wouldn't 'av-e you up for breach?" You wcn't go and make yourself a laughin'-stock?'' begged Mr Price, earnestly. I don t mean to," said the young woman. "But I tell you what! If I'd got a grown-up brother, if I'd got a brother as big as you he should punish you so thatso that your precious mother wouldn't know you." *' Fortunatel," said Mr Price, ' you ain't got a grow-up so that 'ighly-in-teresting little spar won't come off. But after all, we have to take the world as we find it; can't have everything your own way. The only plan is " The street-door slammed. The boy, closing his window quietly, - crept back into bed', scarlet with annoyance and shame. He heard his sister come slowly upstairs and go into the room which she shared with her mother; listened to the faint talk of the two; could tell presently that his mother was comforting his sister. Alfred Martin bent his small arm, bringing the first sharply to his shoulder, and felt the place above the bend of the elbow where there should have been muscle. Not until the following afternoon at the Board school, in the midst of a lesson on history, with references to the feudal system, did an idea arrive. School over, he went home and told his mother that he was going to see a man about a .hoop, and his mother told him not to cume bothering her, adding, wearily, that with on thing and what with with another she scarcely knew whether she stond on her head or her heels! Alfy Martin assured his mother that she was the right way up and then walked round the room, affecting to be drum-major of the Coldstream Quards;* but his sister, swolleneyed, did not on this occasion smi'e at his performance. He went out into Southwark street, and crossed the bridge with something of hurry in his maaner, rehearsing as he went a comic c-ong. In the city, disappointment met Alfy Martin with a frown that was nearly a scowl. When, with one stout-booted little foot, he pressed open the door of a restaurant and sang the first lines of " I'm a swaggei - West End" chappie," one or two tilings happened-—either a waitress came and said sternly, " Outside, please, with that row!" or a large city constable touched his shoulder and said with an affectation of courtesy that failed to deceive the boy, " When you've quite finished, my lad; don't let me detain you." In a court off Queen street, Cheapsiae, tire luck changed. A wildhaired young man came down the steps of some offices, a pen over his ear. " I say!" said the wild-haired young man. "You there with the voice! Can't you give us a rest?" ; " What's the matter with you " asked Alfy, stopping. " Well, it's like this," said the young man. " I've got iny books to finish tonight, and if I'm interrupted I shall lose hiy last-train to Pinner. Now, would you mind obliging' me very much by going away ?" " That's all very we'l," said the boy; "but I want to earn some money.' " So do I," replied the young man. "How much do you want?". " Much as I can get." " My case again! But suppose I were to give you sixxpence, what would you do?" - " Take it and go a bit 'higher up the street.' | " Now, look here," said the young man. " How much would you take to go right away home and leave this neighbourhood in peace?" - ■ * " A bob," said the boy promptly. " Done with you!" cried the young man, producing the coin. " Here's the exact sum. Don't you trouble about a receipt." In ten minutes' time the boy was outside the Surrey Theatre, at the end of Blackfriars road,. panting with exxcitement and the swift run from Southwark bridge. He looked curiously into the faces of the men who loafed about in front of the theatre;, then he went to an adjacent publichouse and glanced in at" the various bars. Returning, he caught sight of his man. This, a large-faced, moody-looking individual, was strolling along, swearing quietly at his bulldog, a fierce animal of - about the same temperament- as his master. " 'Ello !" said the boy. The large-faced man did not answer. "Want a job?" " I don't want cheek," said the man. " D'you want," asked the boy, " to earn a shillin'?" The man condescended to .stop. " It won't take you ten minutes," urged the boy anxiously, " and it ain't 'ard work." "Got the bob with you?" asked the man. "I 'ave so!" " Then hand it over," said the man sulkily, "and we'il see what we can do." " No fear 1" said Alfy Martin, looking up at him.' " You do the job first and then you shall 'ave the kesh." "What d'you think of him, Sunshine?" The ugly dog growled. " That's jest what I think. Seems to me very odd and very suspicious, and I don't believe be ain't got no bloomin' bob." " Look I" said the boy. Backing to the lamp-post he held it up. "If I had the money in my pocket now what I've flung away in backing wrong 'uns, you see what- I'd say. If I'd had a drink since nine o'clock this morning you'd -hear some language that'd fairly make your • 'air curl. But, circumstances being what thev are, I'm 'alf. ing'ined to trust vou. mv lad?' ... "I shall act .straight." " You'd better;" said the man menacingly. "'Adn't he, Sunshine ?" Sunshine gave a vicious bark, and ap--peared to restrain himself from flying at the trembling, excited boy only by exer- : cise of great self-control. The man lowered his voice and asked for-particulars. ' AVhen these had been given he fixed his tweed cap more" securely, closed his huge fists, and aimed one or two blows, at the ah-. Then he said with a melodramatic air, " Lead on, Macduff!" aijd the boy conducted him quickly through a street ,'eading towards the railway arches. " It's just his time now," whispered the boy as the clock struck the hour. " Two minutes and he'll be here on his way home. 'Ere fie is!" " Stan' back in the shadder,'' commanded the man. ■Mr Joseph Price came along under the railway arch with a troubled, doubtful air; as. one whose mind was not entire'y free from care. Apparently he found little joy in encountering ah evening into which the agreeable presence of Alfy's grown-up sister did' not enter. He v sighed noisily as he passed the' large-faced man. From the protecting shadow Alfred coughed. > ." You'll pardon me,'! said the large-faced man with aggressive politeness.' " Name of Price, I believe; Mr Joseph Price?" "That's me." ■ - - . ■ " Thought so," remarked the man. " I b'lieve you're acquainted, or rawther 'ave been acquainted, with a lady called Miss Martin? And you've behaved rather badly to her, I understand?" " There's been a bit of a tiff." said the younger man. "You'know the old saying, ' When ' " " Never you mind the old "saying. You just listen to me for a bit." . "I don't want to be late home." " You'll be 'ome in five minutes," said | the man reassuringly, " what there is !eftof you. I believe I'm right in stating that yon led Miss Marfield to believe that you'd v. "Miss Martin." " I said Martin!"" shouted the man fiercely. "Don't you ". come anv of your tricks with me, my man! I know what I'm talking abont! I'm no fool of a gel, mind you! I'm a man. with a man's head on him and a man's fist, and don't- you forget- it!" " Well," said Mr Price, " now, if you don't mind excusin' me, I'll be off." " 2?o, you .don't!" declared the other man. " Oh, no, my fine feller, you're not going like that!" "How am I going, then?" "You wait and see," said the man mysteriously. ' " When you do get 'ome, *ave a look at yourself in "the glass and see what you think of ;that ncble physog of yours !" "You know better than lay a finger on me," said your Mr Price nervously. "You don't want to appear at South'ark Police Court to-morrow morning, I lay!" "No," said the.man. He took"Mr Price's shoulder with liis immense hand and whispered hoarsely, "No more do you." Tell you what!" said Mr Price,' struck with a joyful idea. "Come and 'ave a

glass of gingerade at sweetstuff shop, and say no moie about it."

" Gingerade!" echoed the man despairingly. " Gingerade!" Me! gingerade !" He turned sharply on to Mr Price. "Look 'ere," he said. " You don't deny you've treated the young woman badly?'' " Depends what you call badly," replied the young man. He essayed an attituda of decision. "Anyway, I don't see what it's got to do with you." " Ho!" said the large-faced man. You don't see what it's got to do with we, don't you! I suppose, then, I'm not her distant relative come back from abroad, and I've not been asked to settle this little affair with you. • I suppose I'm a liar, am I I can tell you what, my fine feller ! Anvone that calls me a linr has to prove it. Now then, up with yer dooks." Mr Price, putting"his fists np with vague reminiscence cf prize-lighters in the cheap "weekly papers, found himself promptly struck to the ground. Getting up he said" rather mistakenly, " You do it again, that's all!" and the large faced man obligingly complied; and when Mr Price loce once more and confusedly tried to find his handkerchief, .he was sent staggering against the' wall where Alfy stood. The boy staited, and Sunshine gave a warning growl meaning to say, "Ah, would your' The boy coughed as a signal of closing the incident, but the large-faced man permitted hiinself'to be carried away by a love for his before allowing Mr Price to run off. Satisfactory*"' asked the large-faced man, looking at his knuckles. " Quite," replied the boy. " 'Ere's the bob."

The man wetted the coin for luck and c-alled to the dog. " Any time, kiddie," he said; " that you want u job of the kind done, you'll nearly always find me round about the Obelisk." "I'll make a note of it," said the boy. " And when you've giowed up a bit, best thing you c:.i do is to come to me and let- me show.you how to hold your fists. It may come in useful or it may not come in useful, but it's pretty certain not to do you no 'arm." " You may take your oath," said the small boy, starting off, "that when I can punch for myself I shan't go getting other people to punch for me. So long!" He walked home to Castle street slowlv, because he desired, to enjoy to the full the glow of righteousness that success had brought him. So far as he had been able to act, the affront to the family was now avenged. _ He marched with his most important air, hands in knickeibocker pockets, chest well out. " Mother in!" he asked. "No, Elfy," said his sister, looking up from her work. "She's gone up to the borough to do some shopping. Get your boots off and slip up to bed, there's a dear." " I don't think there's any 'good news ill the world for me, Elfy." ' " Cheer up," said Alfred. " Seen that chap Price to-day ?" " No," she said flushing. " I shan't see him never n more. Not to speak to, at[any rate."

"I should like to catch sight of him this evening, if it could be managed," remarked the hoy witli great good-humour. "I reckon his face is an oil-painting." " Don't tell me," said his sister, rising agitatedly, "don't- tell ine, Elfy, that anytSing's happened to him !" He told the story of the punishment under the railway arch, exaggerating where the report seemed to require that treatment. His sister listened, her hand at her throat, her breath coming quickly and irregularly. " But who dared to tell this man to go and knock poor Joseph about, Elfy?" " Siiice you ask the question," said the boy oracularly, "it was me. Me! I thought of it-, I -went and earnt the money, I man to do the job, I stood by and watched him do it, I paid him cash for the transaction. When he looks at his eye. and-his nose-- Why, what's the -matter? What- are you crying for now " _ • . Oh, you wicked, wicked boy!" she cried. "I shall.never forgive you !" - " Never forgive -me?" he echoed amazedly. " Why, what 'ave I done wrong now ?" "You don't understand, Elfy. You're only, a little chap, and . " "If I don't -understand," said the boy laboriously, " p'r'aps you'll ■ be so good as to.give me a chance of understanding?" "Can't- you see, you bad boy," she cried, " that I—l love liim all the same." She -went- to the small square of lookingglass on the wall above the fireplace and rubbed her eyes with her handkerchief. "Well," said the boy, undoing his bootlaces, " I thought I knew scme'ing about women. Find "I've got a lot to learn yet." He ate his supper with a fierce reserve, and giving his sister a curt " Good night," lie "went up'the stairs. He felt bitterly disappointed. Presently his mother returned from her shopping, and immediately after this he heard a timid knock at the front door below. He opened his window quietly and listened. " Evening, Mrs Martin," said the voice of Joseph Price. " Can I see your daughter for -'alf.a second?"

" I'll ask," eaid Alfred's mother distantly. "What's happened to your face!" " Slight accident," replied Mr Price. " People will throw orange-peel on the pavement." " Joseph!" cried the voice of Alfred's sister, 'is that you?" ""Well," said Mr Price, doubtfully, "1 s'pose I'd better answer 'Yes' to that question." ".Mother," commanded tha young woman, " go inside, or else you'll catch cold. Joseph!" The boy had to listen intently njw iu order not to miss words. " Why have you called? What a sight- you are!" " Sight' as I may be, said' Mr Price stolidly, " and doubtless am, I have called to ask you—in fact to crave from you—permission to withdraw certain remarks that I let slip last evening in. the heat of the moment when I wasn't thinking." "You certainly seemed strange in your manner."

" On me way 'ome this evening," went- on Mr Price, "I lmd a little npset, and when . I got indoors mother declared I'd been drinking. One word led to another, <ind at last- I upand told her that I-was miserable- without you- ■" "Go on, deir." . " Miserable ■ without you, and that my parting from you on her advice had led to nothing but- melancholy and personal annoyance and what-not. Therefore I've called here.to-night to apologise for what I said on her suggestion; to ask you to let bygones be bggones; and to offer you—if you'll excuse the expression—my 'and and 'eart, and to find out 'what date would be most—" " S'pose you come in, Joseph," said Alfy's sister eoft'y, " and talk it over with my mother."