Chapter 25: Chapter 25
They were outside a large, plain, red brick building of three stories. The entrance was
arched and sheltered a short flight of steps which led up to heavy double doors that
had been much kicked on the bottom panels where all the paint had flaked away. A
sign painted over the arch and repeated on the door A a small spy-hole announced
they were at THE NEW MODEL LODGING HOUSE. Another sign attached to the
brickwork carried the information that clean beds could be had for sixpence per night
and breakfast for another sixpence.
In spite of Benno's pleas to be shouted a parting drink his companions marched him
inside to the ticket box where a man behind a glass window was accepting sixpences
and shillings from a queue of prospective lodgers.
Signs on the painted brick interior announced that no liquor of any kind could be
brought into the dormitories. No women would be admitted. No food could be
permitted to be eaten in bed and the outer doors would be locked and all lights
extinguished precisely at 10.30pm.
Fox would not trust Benno with a shilling. He stood in the queue and paid the money
himself while Benno stood glumly with Sir Thomas.
The man gave him two tickets, one for bed the other for breakfast. The bed ticket was
numbered to indicate which bed Benno was to occupy and his name was written in
pencil on the back.
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Benno looked at his tickets. "312," he whined, "that's the third floor and it's a long
way up those steps. I need something to give me the strength to get up there and I
haven't had nothin' to eat all day."
Gabriel and Sir Thomas had, by now missed dinner themselves. Mrs Byers would not
serve up another just for them. Gabriel hoped Amy had had hers ,but decided that as
they were there they might as well see the rest of the sixpenny lodgings.
The place smelled musty and there were taints of other odours in the air, but not
much worse than one would smell in most parts of Melbourne at that time. They
tramped up to the third floor to find that it was all one large dormitory with dozens of
black painted iron beds set out in rows with just enough room to walk up and down
between. Wooden lockers were set around the wall and on the payment of fourpence,
with the promise of a penny refund on return of the key, it was possible to hire a
locker for the night. Any lodger who could not afford the fourpence had to take his
clothes and valuables to bed with him at night.
Benno's bed, like the others, was numbered. A board had been mounted over the head
of every bed with a number painted on it. This was convenient because some lodgers
were sitting up on the beds before turning in and used the board as a back-rest with
the pillow as padding. Benno's bed was situated near a half-round window through
which a tall man standing on tiptoe could get a glimpse of the roof and chimney pots
of the warehouse opposite. There were several windows just the same around the
walls but all were firmly shut in spite of the warmth of the night and the pervading
smell, to which they soon became accustomed. There were signs painted on the brick
walls repeating earlier warnings about smoking, drinking, swearing and so on, and
further useful information about service times at local churches.
Even at that hour it was clear some of the inmates had nowhere else to go and were
sitting on their beds sunk in apathy. Others were chatting or visiting as they
encountered old friends; many were accustomed to spending their nights in the place
and were quite at home.
Near Benno’s bed they startled a man smoking a pipe in spite of
prominent notices around the walls to say that smoking was strictly forbidden. He
palmed the pipe in his hand in the vain hope that no one would notice.
"It's about time they opened the windows and let some air in here," he said. "There
was a man here a second ago, I have no wish to call him a gentleman, who was
smoking like a chimney, he just went out as you entered and the smoke hasn't had
time to clear. Look at that!" He waved the smoke away vigorously to prove his point.
"You can smoke if you want to retorted Sir Thomas, it's nothing to do with me, but if
you were on my ship and smoked that damned thing below decks I'd kick the
living.daylights out of yer, and do it twice if it was a wooden ship.''
The man looked at him keenly. "I thought you were the manager. Do you have any
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managerial connection with this abode of antipodean luxury?"
Sir Thomas shook his head and the man relaxed. His pipe reappeared and he began
puffing contentedly though now keeping a close watch on the head of the stairs lest
anyone from the management should appear and catch him defying house
regulations.
He glanced up at them again. "Will I have the pleasure of the company of you two
gentlemen tonight? If so I advise you to take any valuables you may possess to bed
with you and to keep a firm hold on them even when you are asleep. I would not put
much faith in the lockers; there are such things as skeleton keys, you know; If you
have anything of value keep an eye on it. Some of the persons who frequent this
establishment are a little short-sighted and tend to mistake other people's property
for their own."
"Anyone who tries to pinch my stuff gets stoushed," announced Benno ,"not that I got
anything worth pinching."
"Do I detect a fellow Englishman?" asked the stranger, ignoring Benno and looking at
Sir Thomas. "Your voice tells me that you are from one of the southern counties. I'm
sorry that you are down on your luck and have to join us in this mean place." He
nodded. "You do well to keep up appearances; that's important, and put your trousers
and shirt under your mattress. It helps to keep them pressed and as well you can be
sure they will still be there in the morning."
Gabriel would have listened but was jolted by a sudden, excited jab in the ribs from
Benno's elbow. "F'Gaw's sake look at that."
Gabriel turned to where he was pointing. It was at a young man who had just come up
the stairs and was walking slowly between the beds looking at the numbers. In his
hand was one of the sixpenny tickets. It was Henry Flanagan.
"Henry! What are you doing here?"
"Henry jumped and was about to flee down the steps when he saw who it was
speaking. A sullen look appeared on his face. "I aint goin' home. I don't care what you
say, even if it is nearly Christmas; and don't you tell Ma or the girls where I am."
Fox shrugged. "Your mother is not likely to talk to Benno or me so we won't be telling
her anything. What about your father? Does he know where you are?"
"Dunno! I asked him for some money this morning and he give it to me. I reckon he
had an idea I was going to bolt because I couldn't stand it at home any longer. I
thought I'd try and get a job on the Exhibition Buildings. I read in the paper they'll
need all the workers they can get if it’s going to be ready next year for the opening."
''Is this another soul in torment?'' enquired Sir Thomas cheerfully. ''Has this young
lad, Henry, I believe you said, run away from home at Christmastime.''
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He addressed Henry. ''Lad, I judge you to be about fourteen or fifteen, and I was
fourteen when I ran away from home, but I was shrewder than you. I didn't run away
until after I had my Christmas dinner. What are your plans now?''
''Me mother and sisters want me to go into an office and I can't stand the idea, I want
to work in a factory, or build things.''
''You've won me over, Henry. Working in an office would be a living death to a lad like
you. Anyone that's ready to give up his Christmas dinner for the sake of a dream has
my sympathy.I ran away to sea many years ago, after Christmas of course,and I
haven't regretted it, at least not yet''
He turned to Gabriel. ''Would you and the Taylors object to having dinner at my
expense somewhere, and we'll invite Henry too.''
''I'm sure they'll be delighted, but if not Amy and I will come, and I think we can count
on Henry being there as well.''
''Too right!'' said Henry.
''I believe Young and Jacksons turn on a pretty good spread. I'll make some
enquiries.''
''Sounds good,'' said Benno. I'll come too, if you like.
'' No Benno, you're not on my guest list, because you're already on the police guest
list. If the police come to my party as well as you they could arrest Gabriel and me and
charge us both for habouring a police fugitive.
The stranger who had been caught sm0king, and Benno. defended Henry's right to
run away from home and make a living as best he could. The stranger was all for it,
and his line was to get as much money as possible out the parents. "Look at me," he
stated proudly. "I haven't seen England these 25 years and I get a remittance every
month from the family to make sure I stay away. They say if I ever set foot in England
again that will be the finish; not another penny from them. Not that I care; I have
turned my back on the old Dart forever. However, as you can see, I am a little reduced
at the moment; my remittance didn't arrive on time but when it does I will repay all
debts, and," he added for emphasis, "with interest, down to the last farthing."
He looked benevolently at Henry. "Of course I've taken a fancy to this young shaver. I
liked the cut of his jib as soon as I saw him. You know, young Henry reminds me of
what I was like at his age, free-handed, always ready to help a chum down on his luck,
and I must admit if a friend was to lend me a pound right now it would come in very
handy indeed. Punctually repaid the moment my remittance arrives and, as I said,
with interest."
Benno was firm. "Henry don't lend money to no one! and I'll be here to job anyone
that tries to get it away from him. Henry's alright; I'll look after him. Don't you worry,
Gabby, his own father wouldn't take better care. I'll see 'e takes a little walk before 'e
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turns in; just down to the corner and back."
"And I'll come too," said the man. "You never know what could happen to an innocent
boy in a city like this unless he has some moral, Christian men with him to keep him
out of trouble."
Gabriel's heart sank at the thought of Henry being in the care of these moral, Christian
sinners. Still, the boy was not his. If he was driven from home because his mother was
trying to force him into a mould that suited her but not him, Fox could not take
responsibility, even though he was concerned.
"I caught an early train and came into the city and I've been walking round all day
looking at the building jobs. There's a big hotel going up in Collins Street and there's
the Exhibition Buildings. I asked if they wanted anyone to start straight away but they
said there'd be nothin' doing before Christmas. Y' should see 'em; there's steam
cranes and donkey engines 'n mechanical hoists. I'm gunna work with them engines
and Ma can do what she likes, she can't stop me. You wouldn't believe what it's like
being here after living in Walhalla all your life. If I can't find a job next week I'll ask
that Pryor feller to have word on the quiet with Pa, and I reckon he'd have me
apprenticed as long as Ma doesn't know anything about it."
There seemed to be a core of commonsense about Henry that would see him safely
through the attentions of Benno and the Remittance Man. They might take him for a
walk to the corner and then, by chance into the pub but as he was obviously under
age no publican, who valued his licence would let him stay in the bar for a minute. His
friends would have to take his money and then bring the drink to him outside on the
footpath. He did not think Henry would hand money over to either of these chance
acquaintances.
As they spoke the dormitory was slowly filling. Men would wander up the stairs
clutching numbered tickets and looking round for their beds. Some seemed as though
they could barely climb to this floor and had to pause and hang on to the balustrade
while recovering their breath; many looked quite ill. Gabriel was glad that he, at least,
would not be spending the night there. The lower floors were more popular and a
hum of conversation could be heard from below.
Gabriel had his back turned and did not at first see a workman who came up the stairs
wearing, in spite of the heat,a long woollen scarf, a grubby pepper and salt cap and a
buttoned up coat to match. He was a slight man who closely eyed Fox, perhaps in the
belief that that individual was part of the management.
They looked at one another as men do when they see a half familiar face but cannot
remember from where or when. The stranger had a drooping, brown, walrus
moustache and the tanned face of a man who spent his working life out of doors. Like
the other sixpenny lodgers he clutched a bundle of possessions which was never put
down except on his own bed, where it was kept in view at all times.
The newcomer wandered up and down the rows looking at his ticket, and the bed
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numbers until he found the right one then sat on it and once again looked carefully at
Fox. Fox was about to speak when the man suddenly leapt to his feet, his bundle
forgotten. His face showed great consternation. "You're the bloke from the building
society! What the hell are you doing here in a sixpenny joint? Oh my gawd, the place
has gone broke, and you've got my ten quid. I took it out and then put it back again;
what an idjit!"
He advanced on Fox. "Gimme me tenner! I want it now!"
Fox recognised him. He was the cockney workman who had arrived at the office after
the fall of the Occidental & Civic Bank and had been foremost among those
demanding to have his deposit repaid.
The man stuck a dirty hand under Fox's nose. "I'll take it now, in cash. You bastards;
you got all that money and you've lost it; but you're not getting mine; if there's not ten
quid left I'm gunna take it out on your hide."
The onlookers had been astonished at this interruption but Benno now decided that
his reasonableness and tact could be used to good effect. He moved closer. "No one
stoushes a mate of mine while I'm around." He stood up with fists at the ready and
one foot extended in front of the other; it was the accepted boxing stance of the time.
"E's got me money and now its all gone," whined the man. "If 'e still 'ad it 'e wouldn't
be getting a sixpenny bed. That was all the money I 'ad; why do you think I'm 'ere?"
"You can get your money at nine o'clock in the morning, as soon as we open for
business."
The man treated this statement with contempt. "Ho yus! and where will you be at
nine o'clock in the morning? What happened? Did your fat mate tickle the peter and
up traps and leave you without a tosheroon?"
"Just say the word, Gabby, and I'm into 'im. I'll knock 'is bloody head off."
Gabriel was irritated and waved Benno off. "No! Your money's safe, come to the office
first thing tomorrow. Bring your receipt I will be there I promise you and we will
either return your money or talk to you about your investment. I'm not here for the
night; I brought this man here because he was annoying me and I wanted to make
sure he got a bed."
"He's got my money, and young Henry's here, he's got cash invested in the firm too.
We're shareholders and that's why Gabby's got to look after us."
"There's nothing like investment," said the remittance man "If I'd invested my money
when I first came to the colony I would be a rich man now. I was offered shares in the
Occidental & Civic Bank when it was first floated, what would you think of that for an
investment?"
Those present were not impressed with his example of prudent financial dealings, the
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bank named was the one that had closed its doors forever the previous week.
The workman eyed this unlikely group of shareholders. "I don't want to come
tomorrer. Just give me the tenner now and we'll call it quits."
"If Gabby says come tomorrer, he means come tomorrer. Now, just clear off and go ter
bed. In the mornin' you can toddle down to the office and get yer money all serganio."
"Yeah! You're in it with him aren't yer? You blokes 'ave a whip round now and get me
ten quid and if yer don't I'm goin' straight to the traps!"
"The traps!" said Benno, suddenly alarmed. "No you don't! You sit there all quiet or
I'll belt yer one."
Gabriel was appalled at the scene. Benno and the investor were shouting and
everyone in the dormitory was looking at them in curiosity and astonishment as they
stood almost face to face and glared at each other. The noise of the altercation must
have drifted downstairs because the drone of conversation from below had
quietened. He would have gladly passed round the hat to raise £10 to shut the man up
but he knew the company he was keeping and had no more than thirty shillings of his
own .He would not ask Sir Thomas for the money and was determined to make the
man come to the office.
He was trying as best he could to keep Benno quiet while explaining to the man that
his money was safe and he could have it in the morning when Henry whispered to
him and pointed.
A policeman was coming up the stairs. No doubt he was making his evening tour of
the premises and had been attracted by the noise of the quarrel. Benno instantly
threw himself under the nearest bed and scuttled in this way across several rows
while keeping out of sight.
He had not been quick enough! The police constable had witnessed this sudden
retreat and he came across in time to see Benno's head appearing cautiously over the
far side of a bed. Their eyes met and he beckoned with his finger to Benno to come
closer.
Benno did not respond except to go further away then, seeing that the policemen had
uncovered a line of retreat by moving away from the head of the stairs, he made a
sudden dash for freedom and raced down to the lower storey. The officer followed
and they could judge from the noise of feet on the uncarpeted steps that he was
pursuing Benno down the next flight of stairs as well. Several tenants of the lodging
house were able to hook themselves up by the elbows to peer out of the windows and
they reported after a few seconds that Benno had bounced down the front steps and
was racing away with the law in rather distant pursuit.
''I think it's time we retreated too,'' said Sir Thomas, ''Before the copper comes back
to enquire what part we had in all this.''
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He gave the remittance man a shilling on the understanding that it would be repaid
with interest the next time they met, down to the last farthing.
''I do like a good liar,'' he said, referring to the remittance man as they left. Besides, he
said he came from Derbyshire, which I doubt, wrong accent. And you, Gabriel, I must
congratulate you on the class of the acquaintances you are gaining here in Melbourne.
But I'm glad you were too proud to ask for assistance with the ten pounds the man
was demanding.''
Gabriel said to the workman. "Be in the office at 9 o'clock sharp and bring your
receipt. If you are not satisfied with your investment or the way we run the society we
will all be better off if you put your money elsewhere."
''And you, Henry,'' said Sir Thomas, ''Keep in touch with Mr Fox so he can invite you
you to the dinner when we know when and where it's to be.''
Now, shall we go back and entertain the ladies with stories of our adventures
here tonight? This going to make Amy very jealous, because she wasn't with us.