Classic Bestsellers from Josephine Cox: Bumper Collection. Josephine Cox

8

      A COUPLE OF hours later, as the two of them clambered off the tram, Archie chortled, ‘Did you see her face when I came out of the bathroom, all spruced up and dressed to the nines?’ Stroking the lapels of his borrowed jacket, he looked like a man with a purpose. ‘Shocked to the roots, that’s what she was.’

      John took stock of his old pal, and he still couldn’t believe the transformation. With shining, shaven face, freshly washed hair and clean, pressed clothes, Archie looked like a new man. ‘I’m not surprised she was shocked,’ he commented. ‘I’m still wondering if this is the same Archie I spent time with on the high seas.’ There was even a spring to Archie’s step that hadn’t been there before. He appeared years younger, and not all that bad-looking.

      Suddenly Archie was tugging at his sleeve. ‘Hey! Did you see that?’ he cried excitedly. ‘That young woman just gave me the eye.’ Waving in the direction of the departing tram, he beamed from ear to ear.

      John glanced at the woman, who had seen Archie waving and had turned away, embarrassed. ‘Behave yourself!’ he said laughingly. ‘She was looking in the shop-window.’

      Archie wasn’t convinced. ‘She were looking at me,’ he argued. ‘Do you think I can’t tell when a woman fancies me?’

      John left it at that, because now they had reached the canal bridge, and right there in front of them on the other side, was the sawmill and buildings Archie had described – Armitage’s.

      ‘The place is falling down!’ Archie was shocked. ‘Look at that! The buggers have let it go to rack and ruin.’

      John took a good look, and the more he saw the more pleased he was. There were four large wooden buildings, all in a row and all in a state of disrepair.

      And yet, from what John could tell, the business was ongoing. In the first building, a number of men could be seen moving back and forth, some carrying tools, others pushing wagon-wheels over to a half-built wagon. Two fit, strong men were offloading timber from a barge, and overseeing it all were another two men. One was about Archie’s age, the other somewhat younger, but each was well into his middle age.

      ‘It’s them!’ The little fella’s mouth fell open. ‘Well, bugger me. I would have thought they’d have packed it in years ago, and yet here they still are, working in their father’s yard and letting it fall apart all at the same time.’

      John took careful stock of the two men. He had seen how smartly dressed they were, and how little attention they paid to the workmen. Instead of which, they appeared to be arguing with each other. ‘They don’t get on that well, do they?’ he remarked.

      Archie knew of them from old, for hadn’t he come in and out of those same buildings while working for Thwaites’s Brewery? ‘They hate each other’s guts,’ he revealed. ‘Always have.’

      ‘And why’s that?’ John thought it more interesting by the minute.

      ‘Jealousy,’ Archie answered succinctly. ‘It’s all to do with rivalry and money. I don’t know if the years have changed him for the better, but the younger of the two used to enjoy a gamble – threw money about like it was of no use to man nor mouse. As I recall, he was a lazy bugger into the bargain. One day he’d turn up at work, and then you wouldn’t see him for weeks on end. The older brother nearly got to fighting with him once or twice. It got so bad the father threatened to cut the pair of them out of his will, or so I heard.’

      John thought it got better and better. ‘Why didn’t you tell me all this before?’

      ‘Because you never asked.’

      John glanced to where the older man was wagging a finger at his brother. ‘Looks to me like there’s still bad blood between them.’

      ‘You’re right,’ Archie agreed. ‘It looks that way to me an’ all.’

      ‘Might make it easier for me to buy them out, eh?’ John was already smiling at the prospect.

      Archie looked at him with curiosity. ‘Even with the buildings falling apart, and happen the business too for all we know, I reckon the buying of it is beyond you. What! It’d take all the money you’ve put by and a great deal more besides.’

      ‘I expect it would.’ John had no doubts on that score. ‘But if I could raise the extra money, I reckon I might be in there with a chance. What d’you think?’

      ‘I think you could be right. But it won’t be handed to you on a plate – you can be sure o’ that.’

      John gave a wink. ‘Slowly, slowly,’ he said. ‘There’s always a way.’

      Archie had a warning. ‘Their father was a gentleman, but these two are a pair of cunning devils.’

      ‘I reckon I’m a match for them,’ John answered.

      Archie didn’t argue with that. ‘So, what’s your plan?’

      John’s plan was simple. ‘Even though it’s on its last legs, this yard is perfect for what I have in mind. I know I’ll not get better. Besides, from what I can see with my own eyes, them buildings won’t be standing much longer, not without something being done, and that takes money, which they may not have.’ His mind was working fast. ‘I’m wondering if that younger brother isn’t still wasting money by the fistful.’

      The same thought had crossed Archie’s mind. ‘You know what they say: once a gambler, always a gambler.’

      ‘Ah, but we can’t know that for sure, can we?’ John was cautious. ‘I need to see how the land lies before I make my move.’

      ‘And how d’you mean to do that?’

      John had it all figured out. ‘We’ll go across and introduce ourselves. We’re just two men looking for work, that’s all they need to know for now. They won’t recognise you from before, will they?’

      Archie shook his head. ‘No, not a chance. They never gave the likes o’ me a second glance. As for now, they might set you on, son, but they’ll not want an old lag like me.’

      ‘You’re not an old lag,’ John argued. ‘Now that you’re all washed and smartened up, you look ten years younger.’

      ‘Mebbe, but it doesn’t alter the fact that my fingers are crooked and half-useless. You know yourself I can’t hold anything of any weight before I have to put it down.’

      ‘Aye, but they don’t know that, do they?’

      ‘Oh, but they will. First time I attempt to pick up a piece of heavy wood, they’ll know I’m next to useless.’

      ‘You’ve got other talents.’

      ‘Oh, an’ what might they be then?’

      ‘You can cook, can’t you?’

      ‘That’s true, right enough. But they’re not about to want no cook, are they? And besides, it’s even got so’s I find it difficult to hold a full pan.’

      ‘All right. But you can use a broom, can’t you?’

      ‘I hope so,’ Archie retorted. ‘I should imagine anybody can use a broom.’

      ‘So that’s what you’ll tell them,’ John suggested. ‘You’re capable of using a mop, and keeping the place safe underfoot, aren’t you?’

      Archie cheered up. ‘Oh, I should think so.’

      ‘So there you are then, Archie. You’re not as useless as you think.’

      ‘Hmh! Useless enough, all the same.’

      With Archie still moaning, they crossed the bridge and approached the yard. ‘Let me do most of the talking,’ John said.

      ‘Suits me,’ Archie readily agreed, but with one reservation. ‘Don’t talk me into doing anything