The herald., 1897-09-19
THEs GAFFER

to its usual aspect of dreariness. Along
Bennet street, small, dirty thorough
fare. a young laborer trudged. He was
returning from work: his moleskins,
strapped at the knee, were covered with
yellowish clay, and he walked with the
shambling gait peculiar to his class.
He had nearly reached the end of
the street when girl came running
round the corner He put out his arm
and caught her roughly round the waist.
"'Ello, Allie, w'er' are yer runnin' to?"
''Lemme go, Jfm!" cried the girl,
struggling to free herself. He gripped
her by the arm.
said.
The girl looked up at him pertly. She
was pretty-even the heavy ugly fringe
of the East End could not hide the at
tractiveness Of her features.
well, out with it, Jim Burke" she
cried.
His fingers frightened on her arm. Its
Just this-yer amt so fond Of SEEM me
as yer was-see!"
"Is that orl?" asked Allie, with a toss
Of her head.
Look ERE" said Jim with an ugly
look, we've bin walkin' aht tergether-
an I amt ter be made fool of-that's
straight"
He gave her a vicious pinch on the
arm.
"Yer 'urting me! Shut up, won't yer!
II shall do what like!" she finished OBJ
stinately.
Jim glanced at her for moment. IT
don't warnt ter ave no trouble" he said
slowly, "but I amt goin' ter be chucked
mar Come aht with me ternight after
supper. an We'll say no more thaht it,"
he added in more conciliatory tone.
4 amt a'going ter do nuthin' Of the
kind" replied Allie firmly.
Jim set his teeth.
IF there's another bloke !"-he be-
gan. He let go of her arm and closed
his hand tightly.
The girl drew back step. She looked
at him for second, and then broke into
q scornful laugh.
"Wot If there is! an better n you!"
She danced away yard or so. eyer
brute, Jim Burke, an I hates yer!"
she finished. And, holding up her dress.
che ran quickly down Bennett street.
Jim turned and watched the vanish
Ing figure. He cursed her, then made
his way into one of the dirty little houses,
and sat down to supper. The respect
able widow with whom he lodged found
him somewhat difficult to please that
evening. He swore at her heartily every
two minutes, and by way Of recreation
broke few plates; the little wooden
CLOCK with its steady tick, on the man
telpiece annoyed him, so he promptly
threw 1t through the window
About 8 O'clock much to the good
lady's relief, he went out. He strolled
down to the Green Man, his cutty pipe
stuck In the corner of his mouth; there
he drank several pots of four ale, and
blackened mans eye for accidentally
knocking against him. Feeling slightly
better for this diversion, but regretting
the man had not sufficient pluck to re-
taliate, Jim moved out into High street,
and slouched slowly along. He came
TO the entrance of cheap music hall,
and watched the people thronging in for
the second house. Factory girls with
gorgeous neck-scarfs trooped in laugh
ing shrilly and romping with their
blokes.
Jim surveyed the scene in a dazed
manner. Suddenly he drew behind
pillar; his face hardened with set
vicious look. ...
He had seen Allie; she was hanging
on the arm Of a respectful ble-l looking
workman. her face laughing into his.
Jim caught sight of the man.
"S'elp me, it's the gaffer," he mu:-
tered beneath his teeth, IAN she's
chucked me for i'm
He turned and strobe homeward: once
he stopped and struck his knuckles
savagely against brick wall. He licked
the blood away with curse. If he had
possessed more intelligence he would
nave seen that it was but the natural
course OF events Allie, with a pretty
race, but no heart, had caught the at
tention of respectable man, foreman.
She had reflected; obviously it was bet
Ter to be gaffer's wife than the drudge
or laborer-therefOre, Jim must go to
the wall! 1t Is all very simple, and ap-
plies to every grade of society; but, un-
fortunately, the one who goes to the wall
cannot see that it is only what is right
and Just, but most unreasonably insists
on regarding his as special case, and
himself as an injured person!
Jim Burke was no exception, and DUR
ing the next few days he thought in his
slow-Witted way more than he had done
In the whole of his previous existence.
Chapel Road at Bow was up"
board at either end announcing mo
Thoroughfare," and the street was lined
on both sides with huge banks of earth. |
The County Council was doing some
thing, and ruror hinted that it was con-
nected with the laying Of fresh drain
pipes.
Jim Burke was at work at the bot
tom of deep cutting, shovelling clay
into baskets. Presently he mounted to
the surface with the intention of get
ting his can. He walked along to the |
little shelter, which had been formed by
stretching a tarpaulin over the tilted !
shafts of cart.
Near this was separate cutting,
which had been boarded up and was
completed, only waiting for the laying
OF the pipe. The great iron tube, about
q yard in diameter, was by the side;
couple of bricks prevented it from roll
ing.
AS Jim passed by he looked down the
cutting. He could see a man bending
down at the bottom-it was twelve feet
deep. The gaffer was making some
final measurements
Jim clenched his fist. His glance fell