The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-08-30
CHAPTER VIII.


Isaacstein's letter safely lodged in his
coat. The mere weight of the gold
suggested an unpleasant possibility
His clothes were so worn that the frail
calico might give way and every gold
en- coin rattle forth to the pavement
So with one Of Mr.. Abingdon's shil-
lings he made his first purchase, ca
pacious tobacco pouch with a snap
mouth, for which he paid ninepence.
Then he adjourned to an aerated bread
shop and ordered some refreshments.
While the waitress was bringing his
cup of tea and piece Of cake he con-
trived to slip all the sovereigns but one
into the tobacco pouch.
He did this with his hand In the
pocket itself, and more than once there
was a pleasant clink as the coins fell
into their novel receptacle.
A man sitting near caught the sound
and looked up suspiciously. Philip,
whose senses were very much on the
alert today, realized that his action
was somewhat careless. Without even
glancing at his neighbor, he took out
his remaining couple Of shiliings and
the three pennies, and affected to count
them with certain degree of astonish-
ment, as If some were missing. The
ruse was satisfactory. The man gave
him no further heed and soon quilted
the restaurant.
Philip rendered the odd sovereign in
payment of his bill. The girl cashier
seemed to be surprised that such d
ragged youth should own so large a
SUI.
~ I'll silver, please" said Philip, when
she began to count his change.
lie would take no more risks IL he
COLL avoid them. Not q single police
mcn in London would have failed to
arrest him at that moment were his
stc-a of gold revealed by any chance.
Yet Philip was rich honestly, and there
wc"H men driving away from the city
at t'.1t hour whose banking accounts
we.'c plethoric with stolen money. For
tho.r carriages the policemen would
stoD the traffic. In neither instance
cod the guardians of the peace be
held blameworthy, such Is the impor-
tancn Of nero appearances.
The boy, during his short and terribly
sharp tussle with London life, had a.
ready gpasped this essential fact, and,
with great skill and method, he set
about the task of altering his own
shabby exterior
In side street leading out of Gray's
Inn road he found q secondhand
clothes shop. Here he purchased 4
worn, but decent, blue serge suit for
S shillings sixpence, pair of boots fol-
8 shillings, cap for ninepence, wool.
lar for threepence.
He haggled sufficiently over the bar
gain to suit the needs of a scanty
purse.
''Pve cut 'em dahn low enough" said
the shopkeeper mournfully. Things
isn't wot they was in the ole clio line,
let me tell yer Not but what you do
want new rig-aht."
YES" said Philip. give got a job
and can't keep it unless l look decent"
For the life of him he could not bur-
lesque the cockney accent, and al
though he used the simplest phraseolo-
gy the man glanced at him sharply.
Philip ratified all his silver and cop
pers on to the counter. He counted out
16 shillings sixpence.
"Not much left, is there?" he said.
"Well, look ERE" said the man.
"Gimme fifteen bob. You're q sharp
lad. You'll myke yer wy all right.
Mex time you want some buds come to
me an I'll treat you fair"
THANK you very much" said Philip,
considerably surprised by this generous
act. 81 certainly will not forget you"
"You can change In my little back
room If you like. That lot you've got
on amt worth tykin' 'ome."
81 am obliged for yofg kindness, but
I must be off now. 1t Is late, and I
have long way to CO."
"Where to? HollowayT
"No; cityward."
The clothes and boots were made up
in parcel by this time. Philip hur-
ried away, glad to escape further ques-
tioning.
Philip sprang into bus for the Bank
At the Royal Exchange he would catch
a green bus for the Mile End road
1t was almost dark when he reached
the Bank. Thus far the omnibuses go.
ing east were not crowded. Now the
situation had changed.
The human eddy In that throbbing
center of life was sending off its swirls
to all points Of the compass, and the
eastbound vehicles were boarded by
an eager crowd almost before the pas.
sengers arriving at the terminus could
descend.
A poor woman greatly hampered by
baby was struggling with others to
obtain seat in the Mile End road bus
Philip, coming late on the scene, saw
her swept ruthlessly aside by a mum.
Der Of men and boys. The conductor
jerked the bellrope several times
There was no more room.
The woman, white faced and disap.
pointed, looked around with woebe-
gone expression phiIip who would