Archies Mistake | Page 3

only one man at the mill who had ever been the least civil to Stephen. This was a gay, thoughtless young fellow named Timothy Lingard.
He always rather prided himself on taking a different side from the other men, and in his light, careless way he had rather patronized Stephen when he saw him.
Not that they met very often, for Timothy's work was to stay in the mill all night, and go round the premises at intervals in order to see that there was no danger of fire.
Sometimes he was not gone when Stephen came in the morning; and then, as the latter waited outside for the doors to be opened, Timothy would enter into a conversation with him, just to show the other men that he took a different line from theirs.
One evening--it was about a week after the discussion about Stephen between Archie and Mr. Munster--Timothy met the pale, careworn lad dragging himself wearily home from the mill. He looked more ragged than ever--his clothes seemed almost ready to drop off.
"Hullo!" said Timothy; "you look as if you hadn't too many pennies to chink against each other. What d'ye do with your wages? They don't go in clothes--that's clear enough."
Stephen flushed deeply, in the sudden way that people do who are in a very weak state, but he made no answer.
"I can put you in the way of earning an extra pound, if you like," said Timothy carelessly.
"Oh, how--how?" cried Stephen with sudden animation, clutching at Timothy in his eagerness, and then holding on to him to keep himself from falling.
"There--don't go and faint over it," said Timothy, pushing him off; "and don't throttle a man either for doing you a good turn. That ain't no encouragement. What I mean is, that I've a rather partic'lar engagement to-morrow night, and for several nights to come--in fact, till next Friday--and I want to get some one to take my place at the mill."
"But will Mr. Munster let any one else come?"
"I ain't a-going to ask him. It don't matter to him who's there, so long as there is some one to look after the premises. I'm going to put in my own man; and you can have the job if you like, and take two-thirds o' my pay--that's twenty shillings. I shall be back by three or four o'clock in the morning, so as to give you time for a nap before your own work begins. But if you ain't feeling up to the double work, just say so. Now I look at you, I have my doubts, and it won't do for you to go falling off asleep, or fainting, mind. What d'you say to it?"
"I could do it--I'm sure I could. I wouldn't go to sleep--I promise you I wouldn't. The only thing is, I should like--I think--if you say it won't matter--yes, I really should like--"
"Have it out, and have done with it, and don't stand spluttering there like a water-pipe gone wrong. Will you do it, or not?"
"Yes," said Stephen, in a low voice.
"Then mind, you ain't to say a word about it to any one--not as there's any harm in it, but I don't want the foreman to hear of it sideways. I shall come here as usual at six o'clock, and if you'll come up about seven--it's pretty near dark by then--I'll let you in, and be off myself."
"All right. But--but, Tim, I--I was going to ask--"
"Well? Do get on--what an ass you are! What do you want?" interrupted the other impatiently.
"'Twas about the money. Could you--I mean, would you mind paying me first? I'll do the work--I will, indeed."
"It'll be the worse for you if you don't," said Timothy. "But as for paying first, I don't know as I've got the money. What d'you want it for?"
"I can't tell you--at least, I mean, for food and clothes," answered Stephen, looking extremely distressed and embarrassed. "But never mind, Tim; if you can't do it, I'll wait."
"No; you can have it. I daresay I'll be making more to-night," said the reckless Timothy, and he got out two half-sovereigns and gave them to Stephen.
"Now, remember," he said, "if you say I ain't paid you, or if you don't do the work properly, and anything happens while I'm away, I'll break every bone in your body."
No one could look at the two and doubt Timothy's power to wreak his anger on the slim, weakly-looking youth, some ten years younger than himself.
"All right; I'll take care," answered Stephen, who never wasted words; and they separated.
The following evening Stephen arrived, as arranged, in the twilight, at the big mill, and was admitted by Timothy at a little side-door.
"Mind," said the latter, "you ain't supposed to go to sleep. You goes your rounds four times. There's the rules." He pointed