The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-09-13
CHAPTER VIII.
THE TRANSITION.

fine. but chilly March day when Phil
ip regained Holborn with fifty pounds
making lump in his pocket, and Isaac
stems 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 golden coin rattle
forth 10 he pavement
So with one of Mr.. Abingdon's shil-
hngs he made his first purchase, a ca
pscious tobacco pouch with a snap
mouth, for which he paid nine pence
lhen he adjourned TO an aerated bread
shop and ordered some refreshments
While the waitress was bringing his cup
or tea and piece OF cake he contrived
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 glanc-
ing at his neighbor, he took out his re-
naming couple OF shillings and the
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
ragged youth should own so large a
sum.
"All silver. please" said Philip, When
she began 10 count his change
He would take no more risksy-if he
could avoid them. Not a single police
man I'm London would have failed to ar
rest him at that moment were his store
of gold revealed by any chance Yet
Philip was rich honestly, and there
were men driving away from the city
at that hour whose banking accounts
were plethoric with stolen money. For
their carriages the policeman would
stop the traffic In neither instance
could the guardians of the peace be
held .blameworthy; such is the import
ance OF mere appearances.
The boy. during his short and ter
ribly sharp tussle with London life, had
already grasped this essential fact, and
with great skill and method he set
about the task of altering his own
shabby exterior
In a side street leading out of Grav's
Inn road. he found a second-h hand
clothes shop. Here he purchased
worn, but decent. blue serge suit for
eight shillings six pence, pair OF boots
for five shillings. a cap for ninepence,
a wooden shirt for two shiiiings. and
linen collar for threepence.
He haggled sufficiently over the bar
gain to suit the needs of scanty |
purse.
I've cut 'em down low enough" said |
the shopkeeper. mournfully. Things |
isn't wot they was In the ole clo line. |
let me tell yer Not but what you do |
want new rig-aht."
Yes" said Philip. I've got a Job. |
and can't keep it unless look decent" |
For the life of him he could not bur
lesque the Cockney accent and although
he used the simplest phraseology. the |
man glanced at him sharply.
Where are yer workin?" he said
AT 1saacstein's in Hatton Garden"
The words had not left his lips ere he
regretted them.
"wot is 'e?"
"A Jew" and Philip laughed. This
quip atoned for the error of the admis-
sion.
"Rli-me. you won't get a lot aht of
i'm
an advance. / can assure YOU"
Philip ratified all his silver and cop
pers onto the counter. He counted out
sixteen shillings sixpence.
Not much left, is there" he said.
well. look ere" said the man. Gin
me fifteen bob. You're a sharp lad.
You'll make 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.
surprised by this generous
act. II certainly will not forget you"
You can change in my little back
'oom If you like. That lot you've got on
amt worth tykin' 'ome."
II am Obliged for your kindness. but
must be off now. IL is late, and |
have a long way 10 60
Where tor Holloway"
NO. cityward."
The clothes and boots were made up
n parcel by this time. Philip hurried
away. glad 10 escape further question
ng
Queer sort o. kid. that" unused the
MY. but e must ha' bin
ard up afore e took on wiz Jew.
Hot did e sly is nyme was? Isaac
itein? I've seen that somewhere or
,ther. Now whore was it?''
He knew two hours later, for he too
'eed the evening paper.
Philip sprang into a bus for the
,ank. AT the Royal exchange he would
,atch a green bus for the Mile End
Dad.
IL was almost dark when he reached
he bank Thus far the omnibuses gov
ng east were not crowded. Now the
ituation had changed.
The human eddy i'm that throbbing
erter Of life was sending off its swirls /:
o all points of the compass. and the '
astbound vehicles were boarded by an {
ager crowd almost before the passen- {
ers arriving at the terminus could de- {
cend.
A poor woman, greatly hampered by I
baby. was struggling with others to I
btain a seat in the Mile End road bus.
'hilip. coming late on the scene, saw q
er swept ruthlessly aside by a num- s
er OF men and boys. The conductor !
rrked the bell-rope several times. There r
,as no more room. 2
The woman, white-faced and disap- L
ointed. looked around with woe-be- .
one expression Philip. who would r
ave gladly paid for a cab to take r
er to her destination, dared ds nothing q
I the sort. But he said:
Keep close 10 me. I viii get you T
seat In the next bus" q
"Oh. ] wish you would" she said.