Will Warburton

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 39, 15 February 1905, Page 11

Will Warburton

A ROMASCE_OF_KEAL LIFE.

gINOPSie OF INSTALMENTS I.—IV. «-«i Warburton. a young fellow who is with Godfrey Sherwood in L "£n Cosiness, has returned from n *£ * weeks - holiday In Switzerland, where th 7 il« fiance.- oC his friend Franks. rfteL who presently calls to announce !" a !ate of a pletvire. and his. determlna- *?° , „", married on tlie st.r<rnjrth uC his Boeiness has been bad wltu ilessrs B "^Z?o d for some time past, but amougst ?£TTsrt*rs Warbnrtm. fln«le waiting for ££ on bis return, is one from his partner, '(Great opportunity in view. Our jfcrtunee arc niafle.' - ---— I CHAPTER VL j He had breakfasted, and was smoking his pipe-es he wrote a Wter. when 3frs- Hopper announced the visit, by ap- ' pohrtmeufc, oi her brotheriu-luw, All«bii). There enteral a, short sturdy, jcd-teadwl yoang follow, in a Sunday suit of respeetabh- antiquity: hU feaSxtea were rade. hi.-; a-specfc dogged: biii; I a certain intelligence showed in his consternate*-, and a. no) u»*mrable srniic i responded to the. bluff heartiness of ! jflfarimrton's greeting. By original , ealfing, Alldnn wa* a grocer's assist- j Bid but a, troublesome tamper bad more ttek oirce set him adrift, the outcast o f gjoceniom. to earn a living tts best, Iβ cobH by his vigorous ihewa, and it in one"of tJtesr intervals that, havjugjjeed of a- porU'r at the. works. Warhaiioa had engag-ed him. o\\ Mts Hoppeir<s petition. After a month or so ■jrf ißepnradiaMe service, Aiichiu fought •mih a foreman, and took his disfckarprc. .jje same week, .Mrs AH chin presented Mm -with their first child: the family fril into want; Mis Hopper (squeezed betweeji door and jamb) drew her master's attention to t-he. lamentable ease. a»d 3ielj> was 'if course forthcoming. Then, by good luck, All chin was eiiabVed to resume his vocation; he pot. a j pfcwe at.a grocer's in Kiilham-road. and in a few week* presented himself lx»----:fore his benefactor, bringing half-a ■crown as a first instalment toward- the discharge oi hi? debt; for only on this condition had he accepted the money. Half a. year elated without troublesome incident; tbo man made regular repayment in small sinus: then came the disaster which Mrs Hopyier "ad yesterday announced. "Well, AllchJn," cried Warburton, ■"what's the latest ?" Before speaking, the other pressed his lips tight logether and puffed out his checks, as if it. cost him an effort to bring words to the surface. His reply tame, forth with explosive abruptness. "Lost uiy place at Boxon's, sir.' , '"And how's that?"' '■It happened last Saturduv. sir. IS don't want to make out as 1 wasn't at all to blame. 1 know as well as anybody j that IVc got a will of my own. But ! we're open" lute ns perhap? you kuow, ar, on Saturday night > and Mr Boxon— ; ■well, it's only the trutn —he's never quite himself .after ten o'clock. I'd worked from eistbt in the morning to pninetliing past midnight—of course. I don't think nothing of that, 'tou.se it's reg'lar in (he tia.de. But—well, in come a customer, sir, a' woman a> didn't rightly know ■what slie wanted: and she went out j ■without buying., and Mr Boxon be m;l> ifand be come up to mc and ealJs mo. the ioulest name he could turn his tongue to. And so—well, rlr, there was unpleasantness, as they say—"' He hesitated, Warburton pyei»g him with a twinkle of subdued amusement ? '■ A quarrel, in fact, eh?" "It did about come io that, sir!" ''You lost your temper, of course. ' "That's about truth, sir.' , ''And Boxon turned you out." Alldiin looked hurt. "Well, sir, I've no doubt lip'cl have !ikfd to, but I was ;\ bit beforehand with him. When 1 spe him last, he was settin' on the. pavement, ?ir. rubbin' his 'cad.' . In spite of his inclination to laugh. Will kept a <rra,ve eountenanc?. "I'm afraid that kind of thin« Avou't do, Allehiii. You'll be iv serious trouble one of these d!iy<=." .. ''That's what my wife. says. sir. I know well enough'as it's hard on her, just aftor we've lost thn baby—as perlaps Mrs Hoppcrll have iuld you. >ir." "I was very sorry to hear it, Allehni." '•Tliarik you. sir. You've always scrtnPtbiiig kind to suy. Ami I'm that vtxrd. lecause I -was getting on well with paying my debts, but Mr ]>>\on, sir, lie's Wanya tinn; made mc that ma<l thut I've gone out into the liack yavl anrl kicked the wall till my toe<? were sore, jnst i_o ease my feeling.-, like. To toll i lie \(nrth', sir, I dorrt think he's ever riffhtly *obcr, and I've heard others siy th<fiime. And his husinoss is fa.lliu' ofl', sofoetlung shockin". Customers don't like to be insulted: that's only natural. Hi's always going down to Kfinpt'm Krk, or Epsom, nr some such jtlaer. Tlify 3o say he lost "uwirfils of pounds at Kemptou Park last week. It's my •pinion the shop can't 20 on much W.g.r. sir. 1 thought 1 just ought 10 «tane aad toll you" thf truth oF t,hin<r-. •nd I won't disturb you no longer. f •ball do my best to lind another place." Warbnrtbn's impulse -was to offer temporary work in Little Ailie-strect. but hn faneinbercd that the business was not ln a position to increase expenses, and that the refinery might aur ds»y be tlbsed. '"All right," hp answered cheerily, "let Kie know hovi- you got on." When Alkhin's lieavy footsteps Had Echoed away down the "stair.-. Mrs Hopper answerpd her master's call. "I suppose they havf; a iiUlf money w> go on with?" Warbwrton inquired. "1 te ean, enongh for v week or so. , ' '"Yes, I think they have tba',, sir. But I see how it'll he. My poor si?torll *-nd ln the work'us. Allefimil never k«p a Jaw. >J o t that 1 cm lAime him. sir. /orghrin' it to that Boxon, "cause everyWflSays he's a brute." , T" e,l ' 3 us t let hip. kuow 5f they tx-gin 10 w in want. But of course Allchin «n always got work a? a porter. Hp ™«t learn to keep his fists down, if * c doesn't want to bo perpetusllv out e{ ( employment." 'That's what [ M] him. sir. And f* P° ov sister, sir. she"-, never stopped W® t0 "im- day or night you \mv say. «*er ance it, l iap p ene(] _" ' <n« ul hcav ensr' groaned Warbur- ™ to bhuself. CHAPTER VII. *i%.str alf f PaSt niDe he reached LittJe feS» ? ! i^ not here yet, I sup«6h kedwm - Ifcir- <T^ E ' : c is, s3r, " replied the raan- -». j Deen here for half ni hour."

By GEORGE GISSING (Author of "Demos."' •'"The Nether World, , ' etc.)

Warburton went on to the senior partner's room. There sat Godfrey Sherwood bent over a book which, to judge from the smile upon his to.cc. could"have iiothinp to do with tbe sug-ar-retinintT ijueKtion. -llow do, WiT!?" - In: exelainspd, with evezi more than his usual cheerfulness. "Did you ever read "The Adventures of a Ycuingrr Son?' Oh, you must. Listen her<\ He's describing how he thrashed fi3i assistant master at pehool: t.brasherl him, he says, till 'the pweat dropped from his brows like r.irn-dropa from the eavos of a pi^-sty , .' Ho-bo-ho , . What do you ihiiik of that for. n comparison? Jsn'l il si roue? By Jove! ;v bracing book! Trelawney. you know; the. friend of Byron. As- brorzr h book as L know. It do<*s c>ua good." (Jodfrpy Sherwood was. a? his visage, what is called a plain young man. but bis smile told of infinite'gooflTiaturo. and his \<>ioo. notwithstanding its fre.i|uent note of energy or zeal, had a natural softness of iutonation which suggested other qualities than the practical and vigorous. "Rnjoypcl your holiday?" he wont on, rising, stretching himself, and offering a box of cigarettes. "You look well. Down ; SLXiy summits? When we pet our afTairs ■ in ordfT. L must be off somewhere my- I self. Northward. I think. I want "a little bracing cold, j should like to see iceJand. You know the Icelandic sagas? i Magnificent! There'? the saga of Grettir tho Strong—by Jove! But come, this if=n"< business. 1 have news for you. real, j substantial, hopeful news." , | They scaled themselves in roundbacked c-hairf. un<l Will lighted a cigr.reite. "You ktKiw my thoughts wore rvuin on jam: ja.ni i? our salvation: of that 1 Lave lony liben convinced. 1 looked about, inadp n few inijuirics, and, by I good hick, nor long after you went ofl" j for your holiday, met. just the man I j wanted. You've heard of AuplcgavtU's j jams ?" "Will said he had seen them advertised. '"Well. 1 catne rtCTOea Apple.-n.rth himself. 1 was talking to Linklaler—and jams en mc up. 'You ought to ?ee my friend Applegartli,' said he; and he arranged for us to meet. Applfifjarth happened to be iv town, but he lives down in Somerset, and his factory is at Bristol. We all dined together at the .Junior , C'arlton, and Applegarth and I £ot on! I so well that lie a.-kfd mc down to lijj place. Oxford man. clever, a fine musijfian. and an astronomer: has built hireI solf ;i litlle obs^r^'ator;.' —naajinifiooiit colcsctifie. By ,love! you should he.ar him handle the violin. Astonishing fellow! Not much of a talker: rather dry in his manner: but no cud of pnergy. bulib-liiii; over with \i!;il force. He bepan n barrisrer. but eonldn't sret on and Miw lii.- capital molting. 'Hang it , .' lir. T must rniilce soint , use of what j money 1 havr; and lie thought of jan>. Brilliant ides! lie began in .1 very ntod«"-t Way. down :it Bristol, only aiming aL local trado. But his jams were j i'-'-oii: i !'?■ doinmid "jrew: he built a fac-j tory.: profits became considerable. And now, he wants to withdraw from active Uudiuc-d.. Lii'ping an interest. W:iuts to find some one who would run and extend the concern—put in a fair capital, and leave him to draw his income quietly. You see?" ''SooiDs a trood opportunity said WnrburtjJii. "(iiHxl? It's simply superb, ll* , 100k nic nvi'f th> n works —a vnally beautiful sinlil. everything so admirably arraDgpd. Then we bud more private talk. Of course I spokr cf you. said 1 could do no- : tiiintc till hail consulted rogrtljer. 1 I didn't seem 100 raster —not pood policy. I I But. we've had some rorrespondeiicr. and yo,u shall see the letters."' lie handed them to Jus partner. "Warburton saw ihat there was a queatioi; of a pood many i.iiojs;:nd pounds. "Of eoursc," he remarked, "I could j only siaad for a vory part in this.'" j "Well, we mv.M laik about thai. To ! tell Tfiu the truth. Will," b-herwood con- . tinufd, crossing h'\.< siiul i Lisping 1 his hands liehhid l> heavl. "I don't set my way in find the capital- anrl vet 1 don'i want 'o brin; ii ;t stranger Applcgnrth could sell to a company ?r.iy moment, bur thai isn't his id.a: he wants !o keep the concern in as few bant!- :!-< He has h fsrst-rn.ti" manugi'r: the mere jani-mskiug wouldn't worry us at all: and the offieo work is larg-e'ly » matter uf rout inf. "\Ti!l you take time to think about it?" The figures whirh Wp.rlir.rtan had b<»----i fore him wicre decidedly sthniilatincf; ihcy mad' , a very pleasant contrast, to the l>. , .iawec-sheets with wiiicli he bad rrcP!ii.ly had to dea!. He knew roughly (what sum was at his disposal for investment : the winding-lip of the business here could he completed at any nurme.nt. and involved no risk of surprises. But a thought had occurred to him which kept him silently reflecting for somi , n:; nines. '"I suppose.'' he said presejitiy, "iliis nJTair has about as little risk n.; anything <mr could put money in."' "1 siiouid say/ , (iodfrey answered. ■nHrh his man-of-business air. "that the element of risk'is non-existent. What can be more solid than jam? There's competition to be sure; but Applegarth is already a good name throughout England, ami in the West they svroar by it. At Bristol. Exeter, Dorchester.—all over there—Applegarth holds the Held. Very seriously speaking , . I see in this proposal nothing bnt sun- and increasing gain." "You know as wcl! as I do, -. Will r?sumed. "how i stand. I have no resonrcps of my own beyond what you .ire iaw.ire oi. But I've been thinking " I lie broke oiY. .stared at the window, (•Imranw.d on tho ami of his chair. Sherwood waiting with, a paVient sin^.e. "It's my mother find sister I have in mind." Will resumed. ''That property of theirs: it brings them about a hundred and fifty pounds a year in cash, and I.hree times -that in worry. At any moment they might sell. A man at StNeots offers four thousand pounds: 1 suspect more might be got if Turribull, their lawyer, took tho matter in hand. Suppose I advise them to sell and put Uip money in Applegnrth?" "By Jove!" rried Shei"V."ood. '■How emild Ihey do batter? Splendid idea , . , ' , ••\>n —it' all go ■well. Bear in mind, 'on the other hand, that if they losf this money, they ■would have nothing to live upen. or ns good as nothing. They draw souii; fifty pounds a year from another source, and they have tboir own house— that's all. Ought I to take this responsibility?" "I don't hesitate to guarantee," said Sherwood, with glowing gravity, "that in two veaxs' time their four thousand potuids .shall produce thxee times what

it does new. Only think, my dear fellow! Jaci—think what it means!" For ten minutes Godfrey rhapsodised on the theme. Waxburton was snored by his eloquence. "I shall run down to St. Neots, 1; said! Will at length. "Do. And then we'll both cf us go ! down to Bristol. I'm sure you'll like Appiegarth. By the bye, you never went in for astronomy, did you? I felt ashamed of my ignorance. Why. it's one of the most interesting subjects a man can study. I shall take it up. On* might hare a little observatory of one's OT.-Ti. Do you know Bristol at all? A beastly place, th" town, but perfectly dt lightful country qaite near ar band. 1 r»ples:arth lives in an ideal spot— youll see. There was a knock at the door, and the manager entered. Other business claimed their attention, (To be Continued next Saturday.)