The Children from Gin Barrel Lane

by Lindsey Hutchinson

  ‘Right, what can I do for you?’ the man asked in a tone that said this urchin was wasting his precious time.

  ‘My mother bequeathed me a necklace and it has already been valued so I know its worth. What I wish to know is whether you are interested in purchasing the said piece.’ Dolly stared the man straight in the eye, daring him to try and dupe her.

  He nodded. ‘May I see it please?’ He had been surprised by her elocution and wondered if he had misjudged the girl.

  Slipping the gold chain from around her neck, Dolly laid it on the counter. The pendant held a brilliant stone which sparkled like fire as the rays of the sun rested on it.

  Lifting it, the man’s eyebrows flicked up and Dolly, who was watching him carefully, caught the movement. He was impressed. Inspecting the diamond with his jeweller’s magnifying glass he asked, ‘How do I know this belongs to you? It could be stolen.’

  Dolly reached into her chemise and pulled out an envelope which she laid on the counter.

  The man picked it up and pulled the papers from the envelope with the tips of his fingers having seen where it had been kept. It was a letter of confirmation of the weight, carat, clarity and price of the diamond from a prominent London agent. There was also was a copy of her mother’s will and Dolly’s birth certificate.

  ‘Well, you’ve certainly come prepared I must say!’ the man gasped.

  ‘It pays to. When you saw me outside you instantly took me for a beggar. Looks can be deceiving, sir, and it’s important not to judge a book by its cover. If you read that book first then you have entitlement to make your judgement.’ Dolly gave him a smile and flicked up her own eyebrows.

  ‘Touché,’ he said grudgingly. ‘Now, you wish to sell this?’

  ‘Yes, I have a dear friend in desperate need of the money it will bring,’ Dolly answered.

  Again, the man was surprised. ‘I must apologise for my faux pas,’ he said, waving a hand towards the door.

  ‘That’s all right, everyone makes mistakes at some time or another.’

  Another shock – she understood precisely what he had said.

  ‘If you are sure?’ the man asked, dangling the chain over his hand before placing it on the counter.

  ‘I am,’ Dolly confirmed.

  ‘Very well, if you will give me a moment to retrieve the money from the safe.’ The man disappeared into a back room and returned soon after with an envelope in his hand which he passed to Dolly.

  Taking out the money, Dolly counted it quickly. Nodding, she replaced it in the envelope and pushed the will and birth certificate in with it. The necklace and its letter of authenticity she slid across the counter towards the man.

  ‘Thank you, Sir.’

  ‘Thank you, Miss Perkins,’ he said as he shot round to hold the door open for her.

  ‘Good day,’ Dolly said.

  ‘To you too,’ the man said. Watching her limp away he shook his head, hardly able to believe the whole transaction had taken place.

  Back at The Crown Saloon there was mayhem in the kitchen when Dolly walked in.

  ‘Oh, there you are! We’ve all but had the bobbies out looking for you! Wherever have you been?’ Nancy said tearfully as she rushed to fold Dolly in her arms.

  ‘I had to go out. I’m sorry if I worried you all,’ she replied.

  ‘Well, you’re back now so—’ Nellie began.

  ‘Nellie, I have something to say to you first if that’s all right,’ Dolly interrupted. With everyone sat around the kitchen table, it was evident Nellie had delayed opening the doors to the saloon in case they had to go searching for the girl they thought was missing.

  ‘When my mum died, she left me a necklace that my step-father wanted, but in the will it was bequeathed to me. I took the item and the will when I left. Now I have sold it, that’s where I was this morning.’ Reaching into her chemise she removed her birth certificate and the will and handed the envelope to Nellie. ‘Take what you need to pay off Mr Morton, the rest I’ll keep for a rainy day.’

  Nellie pulled out the money and gasps sounded all round. ‘I can’t take this! My God, Dolly, I… It was left to you by your mum, you should keep it!’ Nellie was aghast at the girl’s generosity.

  Nancy’s hands had shot to her mouth as she stared at the notes on the table. She had never seen so much all in one place.

  Dolly grabbed the money and counted out enough to repay Nellie’s debt. The rest she shoved into the envelope and back into her chemise, birth certificate and all.

  ‘Please take it, I want you to have it and I know my mum would want the same.’ Dolly spoke quietly, and as she looked around at the faces watching her, she saw tears streaming from their eyes – even Jack’s.

  ‘Thank you,’ Nellie sobbed, ‘I’ll repay you somehow – someday.’

  ‘It’s a gift Nellie – a thank you for saving me,’ Dolly said as she sank into Nellie’s outstretched arms.

  They all hugged her – all except Jack that is, who was too shy to join in and instead patted her back in a ‘well done’ gesture.

  ‘Tomorrow I’ll be paying Ezra another visit – and it will be one I’ll treasure for the rest of my life!’ Nellie said, wiping away tears with her apron.

  That night, Dolly sat in the chair by the window of her bedroom, gazing up at the stars. She wondered if Arthur Micklewhite had discovered the will was missing yet – or indeed the necklace. She had no doubt he would have searched for both.

  She recalled their visit to the solicitor’s office for the reading of her mother’s will and Arthur’s rantings when he was told the jewellery now belonged to Dolly even though the house and its contents were his to do with as he wished. The kindly solicitor had handed the necklace to Dolly who had slipped it over her head and beneath her dress before Arthur could see it clearly. He had also given her the envelope with the authentication letter and her certificate of birth which Dolly had made sure were kept safely hidden beneath a floorboard in her room.

  Dolly smiled up at the moon casting its silvery beams down onto her face. ‘Thanks, Mum. It was a wise decision not to let him have your jewellery. I hope you are pleased with my helping Nellie with the money. I think you always knew I wouldn’t stay at home once you’d gone, didn’t you?’

  Just then, a star twinkled brightly and Dolly nodded. In her mind she felt her mum had heard her and approved.

  With a yawn, Dolly crawled into bed with a feeling of warm satisfaction settling on her.

  13

  ‘I’m going to get off and see Ezra Morton early so I’ll be back before it gets too busy,’ Nellie said the next morning.

  ‘May I make a suggestion?’ Dolly asked tentatively.

  ‘Yes, lovey, what is it?’ Nellie asked as she grabbed her bag, checking the money was safe inside.

  ‘If Mr Morton is, as you say, a liar and a cheat – might it be prudent to take someone with you to act as a witness to you paying off your loan?’ Dolly asked.

  ‘That’s smart thinking, Nell, I would never ’ave thought of it,’ Nancy said.

  ‘It’s a good idea, Dolly, but everybody needs to stay here and run the bar,’ Nellie replied.

  ‘You could ask my mum’s solicitor, Mr Sharpe. I’m sure he would be happy to accompany you for a small fee,’ Dolly responded. ‘If you like I’ll show you where his office is.’

  Nellie exchanged a glance with Nancy who nodded her approval.

  ‘Come on then, darlin’, let’s get Ezra bloody Morton paid off as soon as possible.’ Nellie grinned, her excitement at the prospect of being free of the man evident as she headed for the back door.

  Out on the street Dolly said, ‘We have to get to Union Street, and the office is almost at the end of Corporation Street.’

  Looking down at the girl’s withered leg, Nellie nodded. ‘It’ll be quicker by cab.’ Curling her forefinger and thumb to form a circle she stuck them in her mouth and gave a loud whistle.

  Dolly winced at the sound but smiled as she saw the cabbie steering his
horse towards them.

  Nellie helped Dolly inside, then she climbed aboard giving the cabbie the address. ‘Bottom end of Corporation Street please.’

  What would have been a long walk was a short journey by cab and as Nellie alighted, she asked the driver to wait. Then she and Dolly entered the office of Sharpe & Derby, Solicitors. In but a moment, Mr Sharpe was greeting them warmly.

  It was Dolly, at Nellie’s prompting, who explained what they were there for Nellie dug into her bag and produced her little notebook with the amounts paid up to date.

  Checking through the small ledger the solicitor nodded. ‘I see,’ Mr Sharpe said thoughtfully. ‘Well, I agree it would make perfect sense. By having a witness, there can be no comeback on you, Mrs Larkin.’ Seeing her puzzled expression, he explained further. ‘You pay what is owed to Mr Morton who in turn provides you with a receipt. This is signed by him, yourself and me thus making the transaction legal. It would mean you are paid up in full and final settlement so Mr Morton could not then come back to you at a later date claiming he was still owed the sum.’

  ‘So, I’ll be free and clear?’ Nellie asked.

  ‘You will indeed, Mrs Larkin,’ Mr Sharpe confirmed.

  ‘Right then, I suggest we get this over and done with,’ Nellie said as she got to her feet.

  ‘Am I to take it you are engaging my services?’ Mr Sharpe asked.

  ‘You bet your arse I am! If you’re free that is,’ Nellie said with a laugh.

  ‘For payment?’

  Nellie nodded, ‘Of course.’

  ‘Then give me a moment to get my hat!’ Mr Sharpe grinned as he stood.

  On the journey, Mr Sharpe checked the small account book again and questioned Nellie about her repayments.

  ‘I borrowed two grand but there was interest to go on top of that. Morton showed me how much I owed and it was still two thousand so I must have only been paying off the interest.’ Nellie said a little sadly.

  ‘How much interest?’

  ‘I ain’t sure,’ Nellie said, feeling rather stupid now as it was said out loud.

  ‘No matter. I think I have this worked out so don’t worry,’ Sharpe answered.

  A short while later, Mr Sharpe, along with Nellie and Dolly, entered Ezra’s office on the brewery site.

  ‘Nellie! Another visit – and so soon after the last,’ Ezra said, but his eyes remained on the official looking man.

  ‘Mr Morton, my name is Sharpe and I’m a solicitor of law. My services have been retained by Mrs Larkin to witness a transaction between the two of you.’

  ‘Which is?’ Ezra asked, only now looking at Nellie.

  ‘This – payment in full,’ Nellie grinned as she slapped the money on his desk. ‘I’d like a receipt.’

  Ezra’s eyes widened as he looked at the money. ‘How…? Where did you get this?’ he asked.

  ‘That ain’t none of your business. Now if you don’t mind, Mr Sharpe ain’t got all day.’ Nellie’s voice held a touch of weariness at his prevaricating.

  Ezra gave her a sickly smile and wrote out a receipt, passing it across to her.

  ‘This ain’t right,’ she said, placing it into the solicitor’s hands.

  ‘Two thousand, five hundred, Nellie, that’s what you borrowed,’ Ezra said slyly.

  ‘I borrowed two grand. It was you who added that extra five hundred as interest! That money there covers all of what you showed me was owed the other day – two thousand – check your ledger again!’ Nellie fumed.

  ‘You knew there would be interest to pay, Nellie,’ Ezra said with a shrug of his shoulders.

  ‘Ar, but five hundred! Bloody hell, Ezra! You’re a blood-sucking parasite!’ Nellie was beside herself with anger.

  ‘However, there is the money already paid back to take into account if you recall,’ Mr Sharpe interjected quickly.

  ‘Therefore, Mrs Larkin is correct, Mr Morton.’

  Nellie glanced up at the solicitor, as did Ezra.

  ‘Two thousand borrowed plus five hundred interest added by yourself equals two-five if I’m not mistaken. Mrs Larkin has already paid off the interest as well as five hundred from the capital sum loaned which she appears to have forgotten about. Therefore, by my reckoning she is only in debt to you for fifteen hundred.’ Picking up the money, he retrieved five hundred pounds which he passed back to Nellie.

  ‘I assure you, Mr Sharpe, my books are in order,’ Ezra scowled.

  ‘And I assure you, Mr Morton, they are not. Mrs Larkin provided me with her accounts and my adding up is precise.’ The solicitor eyed Ezra, daring him to challenge or argue the point further.

  ‘Now that we have that sorted out may I request a receipt for my client – this time for the correct amount. Also, if I may be so bold, I would suggest you abide by the law – at least on this one occasion.’ Mr Sharpe pushed his spectacles further up on his nose.

  ‘You don’t know what was agreed between us, Mr Sharpe,’ Ezra said.

  ‘Mrs Larkin informed me on the way over here, and as I said previously, she provided her accounts, so if you continue to argue the point, I’m sure a Judge will be able to sort out the whole thing in court. Are you willing to go that far, Mr Morton?’ Mr Sharpe smiled at the man sitting behind the huge desk.

  ‘My mistake,’ Ezra said with a scowl.

  At last the deed was done and Nellie was satisfied. Tucking the receipt in her bag, she turned to Dolly. ‘If you and Mr Sharpe will wait for me in the cab, I have something to say to Mr Morton. I’ll be with you in a moment.’

  Once Dolly and the solicitor had left the office, Nellie leaned her hands on Ezra’s desk. ‘That’s you and me finished, Ezra, which means I won’t be coming back here. It also means you ain’t welcome at my place. So any designs you might have on my barmaid, you’d best forget. I told you before, she’s not for you – she deserves better. Now, that money I’ve paid – you can stick it as far up yer backside as it’ll go! Tarrar Ezra.’ Nellie laughed as she heard him growl then, giving him a wave, she left him to stew in his own juices.

  Ezra picked up the money and wondered how Nellie had managed to get this much together. Laying it back on the desk, he rubbed his forehead; it was a mystery, but somehow he would solve it. He was determined to know the truth.

  She had told him that he was no longer welcome at The Crown Saloon. This was a blow for it meant he wouldn’t be able to see Poppy. He guessed the girl was given very little time off from her job, so it was unlikely he would bump into her in the town.

  Without realising he began to tap a finger on the money. Somehow, he had to find a way to introduce himself to Poppy. That young lady belonged on his arm and Ezra had every intention of making that happen. One way or another, Poppy would be his; the question was – how to go about it?

  Opening a drawer, Ezra slid the money across the top of the desk. He smiled at the satisfying sound it made as it dropped inside, before his mind returned to Poppy. Grinning widely, Ezra left his office to inspect the works.

  Back at Mr Sharpe’s office Nellie paid the solicitor his fee saying, ‘Mr Sharpe, I need to thank you so much for everything. It was damned lucky you were there otherwise that bast… bleeder would have taken all that money.’

  ‘You are most welcome, Mrs Larkin, and thank you for this,’ Mr Sharpe smiled as he waved a five pound note in the air – a welcome bonus for his efforts.

  ‘You’ve earned it, sir. Ezra was trying to pull a fast one there, but you outsmarted him,’ Nellie grinned.

  ‘All’s fair in love and – money!’ Sharpe said with a laugh. ‘Should you need my help in the future please feel free to call on me.’

  ‘Judging by what’s just happened it looks like I could do with someone to help me with my books,’ Nellie said.

  ‘I’d be more than happy to help should you wish to engage my services,’ Sharpe answered.

  ‘Consider yourself on the payroll, Mr Sharpe,’ Nellie nodded as she shook hands with the man.

  ‘Good day, ladies. I
t was nice to see you again, Dolly.’ Mr Sharpe smiled as he bid them goodbye.

  The waiting cabbie then took Nellie and Dolly home where they regaled Nancy with the tale.

  ‘That Ezra is a thieving bugger!’ Nancy said. ‘I would never have believed he had the gull to try it on!’

  ‘The word is gall, Nance,’ Nellie said gently.

  ‘I don’t give a bugger what the word is, I’m just glad Mr Sharpe was there!’ Nancy replied tartly.

  ‘Sharpe by name, and sharp by nature,’ Dolly said with a grin.

  ‘It’s all thanks to Dolly,’ Nellie said at last, once the laughing and dancing around the kitchen had ceased.

  Digging into her bag, Nellie produced the money the solicitor had given back to her. ‘You should have this back, sweetheart.’ She pushed the notes across the table to the girl watching her.

  ‘No, Nellie, you hang on to it, you may need it in the future,’ Dolly said with a warm smile.

  ‘It’s yours, lass. Put it somewhere safe with the bit you have left over from the sale of that necklace. You’ll never know how grateful I am – all I can say is thank you.’

  ‘If you’re sure?’

  Nellie nodded.

  ‘Then I’ll put it away with the rest, but if you should need it, please let me know.’ Dolly answered.

  ‘Mum, you’re back! It’s busy as hell out there!’ Jack said as he popped his head round the kitchen door.

  ‘All right, I’m coming,’ Nellie replied.

  Nellie turned to Dolly. ‘I’ll never be able to thank you enough, sweetheart.’

  ‘No need, Nellie. I love being part of this family, and that’s because of you.’

  The two hugged then Nellie ran out of the room to lend a hand in the bar. Seeing a woman so drunk she was about to drop her baby, Nellie shot round the counter just in time to catch the screaming child. Herding the woman out of the door she pushed the infant back into its mother’s arms and sent her packing. She watched as the woman staggered away up the street. Bloody hell that was close! she thought.