The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-08
CHAPTER Y. Dismissal.

Alban had been disappointment to hls employers, the great engineer Of the Isle of Dogs, to whom Charity had appren- ticed him in his fourteenth year. Faith ful attempts to improve his position in the works were met. as 1t would seer by indifference and ingratitude. He dii his work mechanically, but without en- thusasm. Had he confessed the truth,
 he would have said, "f was not born to labor with my hands" A sense of inher- tied superiority, a sure conviction, com-
 mon to youth, that he would become a leader of men. conduced to a restlessnesS and want of interest which he could
 not master. He had the desire but not
 the will to please his employers.
 To such a lad these excursions to the
 West End these pilgrimages to the shrine of the outcast and the homeless were by
 way of being mental debauch. He
 arose from them in the morning as d
 man may arise to the remembrance Of
 unjustihed excess, which leaves the
 mind inert and the body weary. His daily task presented itself in a reVolting attitude. Why had he been destined to
 this slavery? Why must he set out to his
 work at an hour of the chilly morning
 when the West End was still shuttered
 and asleep and the very footmen still yawned in their beds? If he had any consolation. 1t was that the others were often before him in that cunning debauch from the caves which the dawn com peled. The Lady Sarah would be at Con vent Garden at four o'clock. The Arch l. bishop. who rarely seemed to sleep at all,
 went off to the Serpentine for his morn . ing ablutions when the clock struck five.
 Betty" the pale-faced infant disap-
 peared as soon as the sun was up-and often, when Alban awoke In the cellar. he found himself the only tenant of that grim abode. Sometimes, indeed. and tnls morning following upon the promise to little Lois Boriskoff was such an oeca-
 sion, he oversept himself altogether and
 was shut out from the works for the day. This had happened before and had
 brought frequent reprmands. He feared
 them and yet had not the will to remem-
 Der them.
 Big Ben was striking seven when he
 quilted the cellar and London was awake
 in earnest. Alban usually spent two
 pence in the luxury of wash and brush
 up before he went down to the river; but he hastened on this morning con
 scious of his tardness and troubled at the possible consequences. The bright spring day did little to reassure him. Weather does not mean, very much to those who labor in heated atmospheres. who have no profit of the sunshine nor gift of the seasons Alban thought rath-
 CT of the fateful clock and of the eX-
 cuses which might pacify the timekeeper. He had never stopped to the common
 lies: he would not stoop to them this day. When at the gate of the works, a heavy towled man with red beard asked him what he meant by coming there at such an hour. he answered as frankly
 that he did not know.
 Been out to supper with the Earl or BarlIin perhaps" the burly man sug- fa1la cpn II
 and see MT Tucker. He's particularly
 desirous of making your acquaintance that he is Tell him how his lordship 8
 doin and don't you forget the ladies. Alban made no reply, but crossing the open yard he mounted a little flight or stairs and knocked indifferently at the door of the, dreaded office thus indicated. An angry voice, bidding him come in, did not reassure him. He found the dep uty manager frank but determined.
 There could be no doubt whatever or the issue. H
 kennedy he said quietly, hope you
 understand why I have sent for you
 "lror being late sir. l am very sorry oVerslept myself"
 MY boy if your work was as honest as your tongue. your fortune would De
 made. I am afraid l must remember what passed at our last meeting ioo promised me then "I am uuite aware of it, sir, The real trnth is that | can't get up The woriS here is distasteful to me-but l do my best
 The manager shook his head In dep recating manner.
 we have given you many chances l Kennedy" he rejoined. If 1t rested wltn
 me | would give you another. But |, doesn't rest with melt rests with tha' necessarv person. Example. What vo,lId the men say if I treated you as
 a nrivilegeG person? You know that the 1 work could not go on. For the present l at nny rate, you are suspended. mus sec my directors and take instructiohs l from them Now, really. Kennedy, doii i Non think that you have been very iooi- | ish?" ,.,i.,
 ..l suppose so sir. That's what foolish
 npople generally think. It must make a | lot of difference to you whether n'ai | comes at six or seven, even 1T ne does 1 n nood deal more work than the carry l ones I.could do what you ask me to dc l In three hours a day. That's what pug l zles me, l.. The amlable Mr Tucker was up IT | arms in a moment
 | "Now, come, l cannot discuss abstrac' propositions with you Our hours are | from six to six You do not choose tc | keen them and, therefore, you must go When YOU are a little more practically
 inclined. 1 will speak to the directors TOT