The Affair of the Avalanche Bicycle and Tyre, Co., Ltd. | Page 7

a delightful
old town, but it can scarcely be regarded as the centre of the cycle trade;
neither is it in especially easy and short communication with
Birmingham. It was the sort of thing that any critic anxious to pick
holes in the prospectus might wonder at, and so one of Dorrington's
assistants had gone by the night mail to inspect the works. It was from
this man that Dorrington, in Birmingham, about noon on the day after
Gillett's disaster, received this telegram --
Works here old disused cloth-mills just out of town. Closed and empty
but with big new signboard and notice that works now running are at
Birmingham. Agent says only deposit paid -- tenancy agreement not
signed. -- Farrish.
The telegram increased Dorrington's satisfaction, for he had just taken a
look at the Birmingham works. They were not empty, though nearly so,
nor were they large; and a man there had told him that the chief

premises, where most of the work was done, were at Exeter. And the
hollower the business the better prize he saw in store for himself. He
had already, early in the morning, indulged in a telegram on his own
account, though he had not signed it. This was how it ran --
Mallows, 58 Upper Sandown Place,
London, W.
Fear all not safe here. Run down by 10.10 train without fail.
Thus it happened that at a little later than half-past eight Dorrington's
other assistant, watching the door of No. 58 Upper Sandown Place, saw
a telegram delivered, and immediately afterward Mr. Paul Mallows in
much haste dashed away in a cab which was called from the end of the
street. The assistant followed in another. Mr. Mallows dismissed his
cab at a theatrical wig-makers in Bow Street and entered. When he
emerged in little more than forty minutes' time, none but a practiced
watcher, who had guessed the reason of the visit, would have
recognized him. He had not assumed the clumsy disguise of a false
beard. He was "made up" deftly. His colour was heightened, and his
face seemed thinner. There was no heavy accession of false hair, but a
slight crepe-hair whisker at each side made a better and less
pronounced disguise. He seemed a younger, healthier man. The
watcher saw him safely off to Birmingham by the ten minutes past ten
train, and then gave Dorrington note by telegraph of the guise in which
Mr. Mallows was travelling.
Now this train was timed to arrive at Birmingham at one, which was
the reason that Dorrington had named it in the anonymous telegram.
The entrance to the "Avalanche" works was be a large gate, which was
closed, but which was provided with a small door to pass a man.
Within was a yard, and at a little before one o'clock Dorrington pushed
open the small door, peeped and entered. Nobody was about in the yard,
and what little noise could be heard came from a particular part of the
building on the right. A pile of solid "export" crates stood to the left,
and these Dorrington had noted at his previous Cats that morning as
making a suitable hiding-place for temporary use. Now he slipped

behind them and awaited the stroke of one. Prompt at the hour a door
on the opposite side of the yard swung open, and two more and a boy
emerged and climbed one after another through the little door in the big
gate. Then presently another man, not a Workman, but apparently a sort
of overseer, came from the opposite door, which he carelessly let fall-to
behind him, and he also disappeared through the little door, which he
then locked. Dorrington was now alone in the sole active works of the
"Avalanche Bicycle & Tyre Company, Limited."
He tried the door opposite and found it was free to open. Within he saw
in a dark corner a candle which had been left burning, and opposite him
a large iron enamelling oven, like an immense safe, and round about,
on benches, were strewn heaps of the glaring red and gold transfer
which Dorrington had observed the day before on the machines
exhibited in the Holborn Viaduct window. Some of the frames had the
label newly applied, and others were still plain. It would seem that the
chief business of the "Avalanche Bicycle & Tyre Company, Limited,"
was the attaching of labels to previously nondescript machines. But
there was little time to examine further, and indeed Dorrington
presently heard the noise of a key in the outer gate. So he stood and
waited by the enamelling oven to welcome Mr. Mallows. As the door
was pushed open Dorrington advanced and bowed politely. Mallows
started guiltily, but, remembering his disguise, steadied himself and
asked gruffly, "Well sir, and