The Press., 1893-07-06
BEYOND THE CITY.
ICcpyright 1893 by Authors Alliance. All rights
 ReServed.]
"Hullo. admiral!''

sHullo, admiralr'
 ssHullo, Westmacottr Charles had al | ways been a favorite of the seamans. ssWhat are you doing here?"
 sOh. I have been doing a little busl- | ness for my aunt. But l have never seen you in London before"
 .sI hate the place. It smothers me. There's not breath of clean air on this side of Greenwich. But maybe you know your way about pretty well in the cityg' Well, know something about it. You see, I've never lived very far from it, and I do good deal of my aunt's business" .sMaybe you know Bread street%
 Ut is out of Cheapside." sWell, then, how do you steer for 1t from here? You make me out course, and I'll keep to it.
 .Why, admiral, have nothing to do. I'll take you there with pleasure.
 ssWill you, though? Well, I'll take it very kindly if you would. I have busi- ness there Smith 6 Hanbury, financial agents, Bread street"
 The pair made their way to the river side, and so down the Thames to St. PauIs landing-a mode of travel which was much more to the admiraPs taste than bus or cab. On the way he told his companion his mission and the causes which had led to it. Charles Westma- colt knew little enough of city life and the ways of business, but at least he had more experience in both than the adml- ral, and he made up his mind not to leave him until the matter was settled.
 'sThese are the people" said the ad- miral, twisting round his paper and | pointing to the advertisement which had seemed to him the most promising. "lt sounds honest and above board, does It not? The personal interview looks as if there were no trickery, and then no one could object to per cent. --.
 '.No, it seems fair enough.
 "It is not pleasant to have to go, hat in hand, borrowing money, but there are times, as you may find before you are my age. Westmacott, when man must stow away his pride. But here's their number, and their plate is on the corner of the door," ....
 A narrow entrance was fanked on either side by row of brasses, ranging upward from the shipbrokers and the so- licitors who occupied the ground floors, through long succession of West Indian Agents, architects, surveyors and brokers, to the firm of which they were in quest. A winding stone stair, well carpeted and railed at first, but growing shabbier with every landing, brought them past in- numerable doors until at last, just un- der the ground glass roofing, the names of Smith & Hanbury were to be seen painted in large white letters across a | panel, with laconic invitation to push Tbeneath it.
 Following out the suggestion, the ad- mird and his companion found them selves in dingy apartment, ill lit from couple of glazed windows. An ink stained table, filtered with pens, papers and almanacs, an American cloth sofa, three chairs Of varying patterns and a much worn carpet constituted all the furniture, save only 8 very large and ob trusive porcelain spittoon and gaudily framed and very somber picture whict hung above the fireplace. Sitting il front of this picture and staring gloom fly at it as being the only thing whicl he could stare at was small, sallov faced boy, with large head, who in thu : intervals of his art studies munched SC dately at an apple.
 ''Is MT. Smith or Mr. Hanbury in? asked the admiral.
 '"There ain't no such people, said tn small boy.
 But you have the names on thu door," 4lo oG see. It's only a name. It's MT. Reubel Metaxa that you wants" "Well, then, is he imp
 "No, he's not"
 When will he be backy'
 Can't tell, I'm sure. He's gone t lunch. Sometimes he takes one hou and sometimes two. It'll be two today 1 'pect, for he said he was hungry afor he went"
 "Then 1 suppose that we had bette call again." said the admiral.
 "Not bit," cried Charles. II knov how to manage these little imps Sc Q ling for you. Run off and fetch you t master. If you don't bring him here il five minutes, I'll clump you on the sid - of the head when you get back. Shoe Scatr' He charged at the youth, wh bolted from the room and clattered mad ly down stairs.
 Hell fetch him." said Charles. "Le us make ourselves at home. This sof does not feel over and above safe. was not meant for 15-stone men. Bu this doesn't look quite the sort of plac where one would expect to pick u money"
 "Just what I was thinking" said th admiral, looking ruefully about him.
 "Ah, well! have heard that the bes furnished offices generally belong to tn poorest firms. Let us hope it's the ol - posite here. They can't spend much O the management anyhow. That pumI kin headed boy was the staff, suppose Ha, by love, that's his voice, and he got our man, thinkv'
 AS he spoke the youth appeared in th doorway with small, brown, dried u little chip of. man at his heels. H was clean shaven and blue chinned, wit bristling black hair and keen brow
 MYSTERIES! :.