Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-05-24

was the Old Lady Of Threadneedle
Street.-The Bank Of England.
And Just to think" he muttered te
himself, as he thrust his hands dowr
into his almost empty pockets in tru'
ly American attitude, how much i:
slowed away in that pile Of dirty
stone!"
The traffic ebbed and flowed at the
will of the white-gloved bobby who
fearlessly stood in the middle OF its
course. Protected by his dark-blue
uniform and by the red and white
striped band around the lower part OF
his left sleeve, he feared neither cab
bus nor van. Unofficial wayfarers
might be caught in the tangle Of We
hicles sometimes, and dragged away
to a weary convalescence In hos
pital, but the power Of London's traf-
fic managers was too great for them to
fear such a mishap.
There's nothing else for 1t, guess,
thought Deck, with sigh, as he mov-
ed toward the subway. 1T grinds
little to do it, but I've got to get home
some way, or starve. How good 1t will
be to see the sky-scrapers sticking UP
into the blue once more!"
With a feeling that he had accepted
the inevitable, he passed without hes
tation down into the subway, and,
walking along its white-walled pas
sage, ascended in front Of the Royal
Exchange and continued along
Threadneedle street through the
crowd of men in silk hats and frock
coats, who manage the finance of
England, and men in silk hats and
coats who help them do so.
The September afternoon was warm,
for an unwonted amount Of sunshine
was filtering through the smoke
thickened air, and the little used in
struments in faraway Victoria street
were strangely busy registering its
official quantity. In the shade OF a
line Of stern-looking banks and in
surance buildings along the south side
of the street, Deck threw open his
wellhtting blue serge coat and pushed
his Panama back on his head.
They're a queer lot" he unused,
as he passed along among the snugly-
coated and heavy-hatted throng.
Last week at Henley, with the tenn
perature fifteen degrees lower and the
clouds so thick the sun couldn't have
got through them with dynamite, they
were wearing flannels and white duck.
I guess clothes are not SO much a mat
ter of weather over here as OF what
you're doing and where you're doing
it,"
Wax lights, sir? Vestas?" The
voice was thin, and wavered little
possibly the waver was a profession
al.
Deck looked on. At the edge Of the
sidewalk girl of fifteen or sixteen,
thin, ragged and dirty, was holding
out toward him a half-opened blue
box Of red-headed wax matches.
"Only a penny, sir!" she added, with
an appealing look in her mud-colored
eyes.
Deck dropped a sixpence into her
hand, and she thrust the box at him.
mo, don't want the matches" he
said. I'm just stalking you for luck"
The wonder in the girls eyes show
ed that she had no comprehension of
the phrase, but her Thank you," with
it's rising accent, was prompt, and, as
far as the timbre of her voice could
make 1t so, hearty.
IF can get back my luck by that,
1t will be cheap" thought Deck, as he
moved on, "but by George, If it would
cost much more, I couldn't buy a
cinch!"
From Threadneedle street he turned
into Bishopsgate within, and passed
along the east side to the gateway that
marks st. Helen's place. Then he
stopped, and looked down the short
stretch Of the place. At the extreme
end, on the right hand side, he saw
what he was looking for. From a
short, slender staff fastened to the
ratings that led up to the last house
floated small American flag indi-
eating the office of the consul general
of the United States.
Turning out Of the hurly-burly OF
the thoroughfare, he walked along
the almost deserted cul-de-sac of the
place toward the flag. When he reach
ed it he stopped and gazed at 1t for
nearly a minute.
You certainly do look good to met!
he exclaimed, half aloud to the bit OF
red, white and blue bunting.
A grimy looking man who was leis-
urely sweeping out the doorway OF
the quaint little hall Of the Worship
full Guild Of Leathersellers, across the
way. stopped his work with as neal
a startled look as his dully-cast fea-
lures could assume, and stared at this
strange man who spoke aloud when
alone. Then he resumed his work
with methodical slowness 1t was
only an American, and Americans
were likely to do anything.
Deck entered the consulate, and wa:
Hlel III lHe pdSSdSe ny pdle-ldCeO
young man, who had clark" plainly
marked in his whole appearance.
I'D like to speak to the consu
general said Deck with American
brevity and lack Of explanation.
"'E's very busy. SIR" said the clerl
half apologetically, for Deck was wei
dressed. in a quiet manner. and spoke
with the air Of man who was accus
toned to get what he asked for.
Very WELL" said Deck, as he seated
himself in a chair that was standing
against the wall, I'll wait. 1t is verJ
important that l see him this after
noon. and | wish you would let m'
know when he is at leisure" he added
impressively. as he handed the young
man half a crown.
quite so, sir. And what name
shall Hi s'y?"
Deck handed him a card.
quite so, sir" repeated the clerk
rs he bowed and disappeared behind