him, placed his crippled belltopper (rim
uppermost) on the small counter that walled visitors off from the severe
gentleman dictating to a blonde typewriter and said, with clerical
unction.

"Good-day sir. Good-day my dear young lady."

"D-afternoon!" replied the severe gentleman severely.

"Sir. I am here on a mission of charity, if you don't mind. I am the Rev
Andrew Rowbottom. I am collecting subscriptions for the widow and family
of the late William John Elphinston, a worthy member of my congregation,
and a most estimable bricklayers labourer, killed, as you may remember,
in the execution of his duty on the 14th September last."

"Bless my soil, I can't be bothered with these matters in business
hours," said the gentleman, and is severity was something terrible, but
it did not appal the Rev. Andrew Rowbottom.

"I have here a subscription list," continued the intruder suavely. "You
will find upon it the name of some of our most prominent business
people."

"I'm busy." said the severe gentleman.

"Need I remind you, my very good sir, that the smallest contribution will
be thankfully received?"

"Be so good as to close the door after you."

"Certainly, brother, all in good time. Shall we say half-a-crown?
Half-a-crown is a nice sum. No? A shilling perhaps?"

"I suppose I shall have to pay for the privilege of being left in peace
to the pursuit of my affairs. Here!!" The severe man slapped a shilling
on the counter.

"Oh, thank you--thank you so much." said the Rev. Andrew Rowbottom
effusively. "What name?"

"Confound the name!" snapped the severe gentle man. "Good-day."

"Oh, to be sure, to be sure--good--day," said the Rev. Andrew, and he
smiled and bowed and slid I trough the half-open door.

Nicholas Crips called at many offices. In a few instances the occupants
evaded a levy. They were people who had no particular business in hand,
and could spare the time to hear all the Rev. Andrew Rowbottom persuasive
arguments and stubbornly resist each plea, but the majority of the men
were glad to buy the eloquent clergyman off with a small contribution.
Sometimes office boys were impertinent, and an occasional business man
was insolent and talked of throwing the suppliant out of the window, but
Mr. Rowbottom was always suave and conciliatory. He seemed to sympathise
with the angry individual whose privacy he was forced to break in pursuit
of a sacred duty.

Nickie the Kid reached the fourth floor. It was v