THE DEPRIVED... Chapter 3... Part 3.

A continuation of my book.

Kilpatrick moved quietly and quickly, secreting himself among the stalls as he watched the man turn, first to look to where Kilpatrick had been and then, not seeing him there, turn in the direction Beth had taken and hurriedly set off in pursuit. Kilpatrick smiled grimly as he began walking, following the man and loosening the knob-stick from its hand-tie.
Beth had walked halfway down the alley when the man caught up with her and lightly touched her arm.
“I have a shiny bob bit for you.” he said, holding out his hand.
“I have no wish to take your money.” said Beth, then turned suddenly opening her eyes in wide surprise as Kilpatrick came swiftly upon them, cracking down on the man’s head with his knob-stick so the man fell senseless to the ground.
“Hurry back to the arches!” ordered Kilpatrick, stooping low and beginning to go through the man’s pockets.
“Hurry now, Beth. Do as I say!”

 

Beth ran and not stopping till she reached the archway then breathlessly stretching herself out on the blankets, her heart pumping wildly. Sam demanded to know where Kilpatrick was, his face becoming frightened when he saw Beth hide herself under the blankets.
“What’s happening, Beth? Where’s Kilpatrick?” he demanded.
Beth peeped out from the blankets.
“He gave some old codger a stout blow with his club for taking me as a Night-Lady. Then he told me to run back here and that’s what I did.” said Beth, having regained her breath.
“And he was right to punish the codger!” avowed Sam, standing up and waving the knife.

 

A short time later Kilpatrick arrived, a smile creasing his face.
“What a rum do that was, young ‘uns.” he said, squatting down. “I give the man’s head a real crack, that I does and the old codger shows his  grief at proposing bad things to Beth. He willingly offered me some money in recompense.”
Here Kilpatrick opened his hand and showed the children two gold sovereigns, four shilling pieces and some loose coopers.
“And he also gave me this.” he added, dipping into his shirt and withdrawing a gold-cased watch and chain, which he swung to catch the light of the fire.
“But you robbed him! Won’t that old man tell the ‘Bobby-Dazzlers’?” gasped Beth.
“And say what?” answered Kilpatrick lightly. “Will he tell the Peelers that he went after a girl younger than his granddaughters and that someone clouted him as he had no sight of? No, I think not, Beth. There would be too many questions to answer and a family to face."
“Then he deserved what he got!” shouted Sam.
“Tomorrow.” promised Kilpatrick. “I shall be paying Old Levistien a visit and then there’s dealing to be done. There’s no doubt we shall be moving from here to a nice set of rooms in which to go swanning off our new qualities of living to all who care to know.”
With that, the three of them sat around the fire and ate a hearty meal after which they hardly slept till a morning light misted a grey dullness.

 

Old Levistien was used to dealing with the riff-raff, those cut-throats and cut-purses, the dangerous men who walked the secret paths beyond the law. He was one of the many ‘Fences’ who dealt with stolen goods within the city of London and so he did not cast a wary eye on Kilpatrick as the tall man opened his shirt and withdrew the gold watch and fob-chain. His shrewd eyes ran their course over the goods, his mind cunning with quick appraisal.
“I have other business with you, Levistien.” said Kilpatrick.
This caused the old man to lift his head.
“I want to rent some rooms from you.”
Old Levistien nodded.
“It’s always nice to do business with a gentleman.” he said, his hand reaching out to touch the watch.
“Business first, then touching the goods!” growled Kilpatrick, grabbing Old Levistien’s hand and holding it down on the table.
“Of course.” replied the old man, rubbing at his released hand. 

 

It was mid morning when Kilpatrick returned to the arches. Beth and Sam had spent the time in a guessing game, guessing what news Kilpatrick would come back with.
“It was good of that man to give Kilpatrick those gifts for saying bad things to you.” opined Sam to Beth with an arch to his eye.
Beth had not replied and left Sam to his belief that he believed all what Kilpatrick had said. It was as they spoke that the tall shadow of Kilpatrick stole over them.
“Come on.” he said. “Leave everything as it stands and follow me.”
“Just leave it, all our blankets and property?” asked Beth, not understanding.
“Do as I say, young ‘un and leave it to those as need it most.” ordered Kilpatrick, taking Beth’s hand and helping her rise.
Beth and Sam followed him out into the daylight, trotting to keep up with him with Sam asking all kinds of questions and receiving no answers.
“Here it is.” said Kilpatrick at last.

 

At the back of the London Hospital, behind the Whitechapel Road stood a row of large houses and it was to one of these that Kilpatrick led Beth and Sam.
“We have one of the upper rooms to this dwelling and all bought and paid for with a month’s renting of five bob’s worth in advance.”
There was pride in his voice as the tall man led them up the stairs and unlocked a door, holding it wide to allow Beth and Sam to walk into the room. It was light and airy with curtains draped to the windows.
“I had Old Levistien’s man deliver them beds and blankets as you see, a double one for you young ‘uns and that one over to the window is mine.”
The room was large compared to most and also had an old dressing table and a table surrounded by four chairs. Beth stared round with wide eyes while Sam could not hide his delight as he sprang up on the bed and bounced in a test of goose feathers and horse hair.
“I’ll set to lighting the fire and you can set to making a meal, Beth.” said Kilpatrick, laying aside his club and rubbing his hands. “There’s the makings and vittles in that bag over there and we can all settle in.”
“This is a fine abode, Kilpatrick.” whispered Beth. “It’s the finest I’ve ever been in and it’s all thanks to you.”
With that the three of them settled in and gained all sense of comfort.