The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-08
CHAPTER VT The StranPer

There is a great deal of fine philan- thropic work done east of Aldgate Station by numbers of self-sacrlficing young men just down from the universities. So, when a slim parson touched Alban upon the arm and begged for word with him, he concluded immediately that he had at tracted the notice of one of these and become the objective of his charity.
 q beg your pardon he said a little stifhy. The idea of stooping to such as- sistance had long been revolting to him. He was within an ace of breaking away from the fellow altogether.
 Your name Is Alban Kennedy, I think |? Will you permit me to have few words with yon?"
 Alban looked the parson up and down, and the survey did something to satisfy him. He found himself face to face with a man. 1t might be of thirty years of age, whose complexion was dark but not unpleasant, whose eyes were frank and open, the possessor, too, hof fair brown hair and manner not altogether free from a suspicion of that which scoffers call the 'wash-hand" basin cult
 'I do not know you, sir"
 "Indeed you do not-we are total stran- gers. My name is Sidney Geary; I am the senior curate of St. Philips church at Hampstead If we could go somewhere and have few words, I would be very much obliged to you"
 Alban hardly knew what to say to him. The manner was not that of A philan- thropist desiring him to come to pleas ant afternoon for the people,; he detected no air of patronage. no vulgar curiosity indeed the curate of St. Philips was al- most deferential
 Well. sir-if you don't mind a coffee shop"
 ''The very place. I have always thought that a coffee shop, properly conducted and entirely opposed to the alchollc prin- ciple, Is one of the most useful works in the civic economy. Let us go to a coffee shop by all means"
 Alban crossed the road and. leading the stranger a little way eastward, turned in- to a respectable establishment upon the LoclShart pan-almost deserted at such an hour and the very place for a conf dentia1 chat
 will you have anything. sir?"
 The eurate looked at the thick cups upon the counter. turned his gaze for an instance upon a splendid pile of sausages, and shuddered a little ominously.
 "I suppose the people here have excel lent appetites," he reflected sagely. q myself, unfortunately, have just lunched in Mount street-but little coffee-shall we not drink a little coffee?"
 Suppose I order you two doorsteps and a thick 'un?"
 My dear young fellow. what in heav-
 NSSA''Nf' 'unT "
 Alban smiled little scornfully.
 Evidently you come from the west I was only trying you. Shall we have two coffees-large? It isn't so bad as 1t looks by long way.'
 The coffee was brought and set steam ing before them. In an interval of sil- ence Alban studied the curates face as he would have studied book in which he might read some account of his own fortunes. Why had this man stopped him in the street?
 Your first visit to Aldgate. sr?"
 Not exactly, MT. Kennedy-many years ago have recollections of school treat at watering place near the rivers mOuth-an exceedingly muddy place since become famous. I understand. But I take the children to Eastbourne now"
 They find that a bit slow, don't they? Kids love mud, you know"
 they do-upon my word A child's love for mud Is one of the most incurable things in nature"
 Then why to cure it?"
 But what are you to do?''
 Wash them, slr,-you can always do that. My father was a parson you are come to-that Is, you choose to live amidst these dreadful surroundings?"
 q do not choose-death chose for me"
 My poor boy
 Not at all, sir. Give a man good ap- petite and enough to gratify 1t, and I don't know that other circumstances count much"
 Trial has made of you an epicurean, I see. Well, well. much the better. That which I have to offer you will be the more acceptable.'
 Employment. sir?n
 "Employment--for a considerable term. Good employment. Mir. Kennedy Elm ployment which will take you into the a1. open a great career to you-that is what | came to speak of" The good man had meant to break the news more drama tically; but it flowed on now as a freshet released. while his eyes sparl1led and his head wagged as though his whole soul were bursting with it. AL ban thought for a moment that he had met one of those pleasant eccentrics who are not less rare in the East End than the West This good fellow has escaped out of an asylum" he thought
 ''What kind of a job would that he, sr?" Your own. Name 1t and it shall be chosen for you. That is what I am com missioned to say By whom, sir? By my patron and by years" "Does he wish to keep his name back"' "So little that he Is waiting for you at his own house now" ''rhen why shouldn't we go and see him sir?"
 He put the question fully believing that