ON THE QUAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1720, 10 April 1913, Page 8

ON THE QUAY.

; TALE OF THE PASSING SHOW SHOPMAN: AND SEAMAN. [Br "Muni; Mi;nu."] Tuesday was a depressing day. 'There was general unanimity-- on tlie point—a driving southerly which persists in continuing even unto the fourth day call expect no sympathy. ! Lamblon Quay was: in cohsequenee considerably depleted in (lie matter of its throng of piomenaders, nt the usual fashionable hour for the parade—four o'clock. Still, tliero wero some braving tho misty and blustery fury of the elements. Pinched and wan-looking they undoubtedly were, hurrying along with nothing but tho curtest salutation—"Delightful weather!" or "Dreadful day"—to any passing, friend. A pall of drabness hung over everything—tho only, animation displayed was in the quest of shelter out of the wet. Shopmen wero looking pensive and sad. One tradesman was standing in his doorway, despondently picturing tho dismalness of tho street, sconc—Wellington on one of its very "blue" days. A large van dashed up lo his door. The driver alighted, lifted his hat from ■ his head, and rubbed his bald pate, as many such Jehu-folk have the habit of doing when trying to recollect tho details of some commission, or assess the fare. The tradesman, scenting possible business, retreated into the recesses of his shop. It had been a dull day—trade was at the doorstep. Most impressively "up to liis- eyes" in business, he was, ns the vanwnn bounded on to the linoleum at the counter-front. "Yes?" briskly asked the shopman. Tho vanman shook his dripping oilskin, swished tho rain from his sou'-westcr on to the floor, and then paid heed lo the query. "Could you tell me the time, please?" he asked. "A quarter past four," replied the shopman, as lie stood, waiting for tho prospective order. "Thank you," said the vanman, as he again donned his sou'-wester and took his departure.' Dumbfounded, the now glummer shopman followed to the doorway. "AVell I'm flanged!" was among the things ho said. 'And there's a clock just over the way!" In that littlo interval, though, he noticed the street scene had visibly changed —quite a liveliness indeed. A seafaring man, of vasty bulk, was tho cynosure of attention as he swayed along wjth a very prominent mark of a 3 ust-concluded alTnir on his countenance. He was out of humour with morethings than the weather. Tlio wrath of tho M'Tavisli had been aroused. A small man busily polishing the glass front of tlio show eases in the corridor of Hannah s Buildings caught his eye. He diverted from the payment as the'polisher was admiring his visago in the reflecting glass—a clean-cut likeness testified to tho thoroughness of tho rubbing. He was,so well pleased with Lis work that ho did not notice his huge caller till "AVliat did you say to me?" tho latter addressed him, - raising a massive fist a little.more than playfully. The arm swung round crane-like; the astounded polisher gasped, and much affrighted scurried along tho corridor, tho other umbering along in his wake like a grizzly bear. At the end of tho corridor the lift cage was down with the door open. Therein it i 1? ™ an Ilo Pl' eil t and palpitatingly pulled the .gateway across. Just' as tho pursuer arrived tho lift 'ascended. * And then followed the bcllowmgs of a Berserk robbed of his bassenach. Checkmated ho stood, baying up tii© lift well. "Women's heads peeped Out of the various rooms along the corridor, but the sight of the wild invader ' tramping .iround tho 'lift 'Cfiu&dd thehi to hurriedly withdraw, and a barricading cf doors could bo heard above the besieger s dm. Down came the lift again fully loaded, but it was discreetly stopped out of reach of the giant of the briny. He surveyed the expected arrivals. They, in turn, liko a lot of "Little Richards" at the Zoo, peered down at him through tho pratof the cage. '"Sdeath!" muttered the baffled .one as ho gazed at his quarry in their safe elevation. Spreading out tho fingers of his powerful paw, he told off the digits as a school child does in doing its sums of addition. "One—two—threer-four" ho counted, "and,"' he assured his favoured audience, all alert at the grille, "there's death in every one of them." The lift, needless to say, remained stationary—no one wanted to get off just then. A state r,f si&go prevailed, till the occupants of the local Scutari decided to ascend again. Just then a man dashed from one of tho offices to seek for Law and Order, and tho frustrated seaman, having*by this time forgotten about the polisher, came after him. The crowd which had watched proceedings from the safe distance of the street doorway melted away at his approach. One, however, a tottering littlo man, stood his groundhe know tho seaman. "Here's a hand'my trusty fren' " quotli he. , . Tho light of battle in tho Berserker's eye had not, however, sufficiently dwindled to bo, thus easily pacified. "Do you wint a round or two?" he roared, like a veritable Billy Bones. The littlo man .shook his head—ho was not qualifying as a AVhite Hope. It was a wet day—would his friend return to his ship, and, curious to say, the turbulent mood was momentarily allayed, and a course sat for tho wharf. A passing postman scanned tho strange pair rather inquisitively as they tacked along the Quay. Tho Berserker, laying off a point, headed towards the official, roaring his challenge, but tho mailman waited not —ho incontinently fled. At last Hie sanctuary of a quiet wharf corner was anchored at. The liner .-lay at a near berthage. The seaman leant towards his pilot. "Now would vou like a round? I could fecht saxty like you, but " Once again he told off tho incantation on his fingers. Sadly tho other shook his head. No, nnd ho edged away about twenty yards; he wanted to see his home again, nnd there was much in the adage that discretion was tho better part of valour. So, with tho shopman, the seaman felt that there was nothing doing, and perhaps someono could oblige him on tlie shiu. Tlie people on the Quay had not shown him the kind of hosmtality he was seeking. and lie would leavo 'them to their drabness.