Chapter 34: Chapter 34

He would have continued but just as they were about to turn back to their office they

were attracted by the sound of music in Bourke Street.

It was a German band playing vigorously outside Mr Gladman's shop and blocking the

footpath. "They should be inside," said James Pryor. "Why would they be out on the

footpath like that? We had better go across and see."

The members of the band played without ceasing in spite of the abuse heaped on

them by the Christmas crowds being forced off the footpath and into the gutters.

Fortunately it had not rained for some days; even so no one would willingly walk in

Melbourne's gutters, no matter what the time of year.

The two men pushed their way through the crowd until James Pryor was close

enough to tap the band leader on the shoulder. The man played his trumpet one

handed and vigorously beat time with the other. He was so intent on the music it was

difficult to get his attention. After a few taps on the shoulder he half turned while still

blowing and waving and raised one eyebrow.

"Why aren't you inside?" Pryor shouted. "You mustn't play out here the police will

move you on; that's no use to us."

The piece they were playing came to an end and the conductor waved to the members

of the band who picked up the tripod music stands that were cluttering the footpath

and lined up with their backs to the shop facades. They were all dressed in short

jacketed red uniforms with black frogs and black stripes along the seams and down

the trousers. Their caps bore a fancied resemblance to those worn by German

university students.

"Why aren't you playing inside?" Pryor glanced up. "This is no good, the hoarding

hasn't been taken down. How can we make sales if the customers can't see into the

shop?"

"The gentleman said, into the shop we could not enter!" explained the band leader in

a heavy German accent. "He said we could not on the footpath play either. Nowhere

near his shop.

I said, we are told to play at the shop and we must do it. Mr Edmunds, the agent, said

to play one half hour." He pulled out his watch and looked at it. "There is one and

twenty minutes to go; we continue. I think a Strauss waltz would be very nice." He

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185

raised his hand and the band members scrambled back into position. "Meine Herrn,"

he called out, "Die Blaue Donau."

He looked soulful and raised his hand again ready to beat time while the musicians

quickly riffled through their pages of music.

The two men ignored the band and the Christmas throng and went inside to confront

Mr Gladman.

He was lurking balefully in the gloom of his shop while Mrs. Goss dusted nearby,

hoping not to miss a word of the confrontation. The proprietor rose agitatedly at the

sight of James Pryor.

"Mr Pryor," he said, "I must have my deposit cheque returned to me. It is impossible

to go on with the purchase of the property, and you must order that band away

immediately. I am not responsible for paying them and If they do not leave I will have

no option but to call the police.''

James Pryor looked at him and shook his head reproachfully. "George: I thought I'd

made it all clear when we talked yesterday. This property is the biggest opportunity

you and I have ever had. It's going to double in value within five years and I won't let

you throw away a bargain like that. If you let go it will be sold to someone else by the

end of the week. What use is that? You lose the bargain of a lifetime and I miss out on

my commission." He turned. to Gabriel. ''Gabby, be a good chap and cut across the

road to the employment agency. We need a couple of strong workmen with tools to

take down the hoardings. Tell them it's urgent. We have lost too much trading time

already."

Gabriel was gone only a few minutes; wafted blissfully there and back by the strains

of the same waltz music that had. changed his life forever. The proprietor of the

employment agency knew of some carpenters who were working a job nearby and

had immediately sent a messenger to summon them.

When he returned he found an excited Mrs. Goss dusting as near as possible so she

could hear what was going on.'

James Pryor had Mr Gladman by the arm and was walking him up and down the

centre aisle, which was kept clear of stock and led to a tiny, glassed office at the rear

of the shop.

"Look at it in this light, George," he was saying. "You will have to tell the Brethren that

it is an investment for them, just as much as it is for you. Once you get over the

payment for the first few quarters and you are starting to reduce the principal on the

loan then things will get easier. As the principal reduces so does the interest. In a year

or two you will have a property that will be the envy of everyone in the congregation

and you will be able to start contributing again. Then, in later years, if you want to sell

your asset, you can make a very handsome donation to the Brethren."

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186

Mr Gladman, in spite of his objections, could make no impression on James Pryor,

who had no doubt that the debt could be paid off with ease.

To his further chagrin the same two carpenters whom he had met the previous

evening presented themselves grinning at the door of the shop. They would have

demanded another pound for taking down the hoarding but Mr Pryor refused such an

outrageous demand. He made Mr Gladman give them five shillings for the job with a

promise of a further five shillings if they returned at the close of business to replace it.

The band was then invited inside; just in time, because the police, after numerous

complaints, were about to order its members to cease and desist and to go

somewhere else.

"I'm off!" said James Pryor as the band members shuffled into position in the shop

and prepared to strike up again. Mr Gladman had retreated to his office leaving Mrs.

Goss and Fox to deal with any customers.

"Don't you worry my boy.". "You're nearly finshed here; the real work starts straight

after Christmas. If his nibs wants to make any trouble don't put up with it; just send

for me and I'll come back and deal with him. Though I may be busy. It's my guess that

Briggs and Chillingford will be over from the pub soon to see me, if they're not there

already. There is going to be some hard bargaining when we get together."

Mrs. Goss had a childlike delight in the music of the band and applauded every item.

Her example led to enthusiastic applause from the people watching through the shop

window. She was sorry when the band went away but filled up the time by joining

Gabriel in duets or listening entranced as he presented Mr Gladman's sheet music by

playing it on the piano.

Gabriel was delighted when Timothy Flanagan walked into the shop. He had come by

train from Brighton and was on a mission from Mrs. Flanagan to locate Henry and

bring him home. He thought the best place to inquire was at the office and had been

directed from there to the music store.

Gabriel had seen Henry only once since his visit to the sixpenny lodgings but he had

found a job, and was labouring on the site at the new Exhibition Buildings.

"I don't really want to find him if he's happy," said Timothy. "If Mrs. Flanagan knew

where he was and he wouldn't come home she'd send the police round to fetch him.

It's bad enough me living in Brighton and being respectable without dragging Henry

back too. Still, Mrs. Flanagan always went her own way without asking me, but if she

did, I'd tell her to leave the boy alone. He's no more cut out to wear a collar and tie

and work in an office than I am."

He waited as Gabriel discussed with a homesick Scot the possibility of importing a set

of bagpipes. He promised that a cable would go off to London that very day. He would

write it out presently and send Mr Gladman to the post office as soon as possible and

get an answer straight after Christmas.

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187

"The fact is," said Timothy Flanagan, as soon as the customer had gone, "I want to see

Henry apprenticed to the engineering trade but Mrs. Flanagan'd find out for sure. I

haven't had a secret to meself for twenty five years, not since we tied the knot. That

woman'd get the truth out of me if I was made of wood and that's one of the reasons

why I come to see you; you might be able to help me. I want someone else to sign the

apprenticeship papers. I'll put up the money, in cash, so it won't cost anything."

Gabriel had to consider this proposition. He did not think it possible for anyone but a

parent or guardian to apprentice a boy to a trade.

"How are Mrs. Flanagan and the girls?" he enquired cautiously. "Are they well?"

"They're well enough," replied Timothy "They're not any happier than when they

were living in Walhalla; I know I'm not It took Mrs. Flanagan and Myrtle a while to

get over losing you, but if you were to ask me on the quiet I'd say you were bloody

lucky to get that nice little girl instead of Myrtle. They're all right now. Myrtle's settin'

her cap at Pryor, that partner of yours. He's coming day after tomorrow with his mam

to stay with us over Christmas. Ah well, if he's willing to take on Ada as a mother in

law I reckon he's game enough for anything. He can't say he wasn't warned; he just

has to look at Mrs. Flanagan to see how Myrtle is going to turn out. I had plenty of

advice from me father in law before I popped the question, but you know what young

bucks are like; I didn't take any notice of friendly warnings. Still, I've never met

anyone with the gift of the gab like your mate; if anyone's going to be a match for that

pair I reckon he would be."

Well, why don't you get my partner to have a chat with Mrs. Flanagan If he can't talk her

round I don't know who could. You won't get a better chance than this, it being

Christmas and all, and she wants him for Myrtle so she is not likely to argue if he tells

her that Henry ought to be apprenticed to a tradesman, and once the papers have been

signed she can't change her mind. While you're at it," he continued. "You could give me

five pounds. I think our landlady might have a room down the back of the house for a

single lodger, same as the one Harold is in. If I see Henry I'll tell him to call round and

see Mrs Byers, and I'll pay the rent. He'd be better off there than in sixpenny lodgings

because I don't think you will get him home again unless you catch him and drag him

there."

Timothy gave the five sovereigns as requested and acting immediately on his friend's

advice walked straight to the land agency to see Mr Pryor while Gabriel remained in the

music shop.