Read Online Diamonds in the Dust by Beryl Matthews - Free Book Online
Authors: Beryl Matthews
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Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, and a doctor’s name.
The other man leant across so he could read it as well.
‘He’s got to change trains. He’s never going to get there on his own.’ Stan was furious. ‘Why isn’t someone with him? I’ll take him myself.’
‘No need for that, son. I work there. I’ll see he gets to the hospital all right. I’m Doctor Burridge.’ He held out his hand. ‘If you ever need another opinion on your leg, come and see me at the hospital. No need to make an appointment.’
‘Stan Crawford.’ He shook his hand and gave a grim smile. ‘They’ve said there’s nothing they can do for me. You hard up for patients, Doc?’
‘Wish I were, but our methods are improving all the time. God knows we’re getting enough practice.’
‘I don’t doubt it.’ Stan looked at the silent, shaking man beside him and counted his blessings. He might be in constant pain, but at least he was in his right mind. He laid his hand on the young man’s arm and smiled. ‘This man’s a doctor and he’s going to take you to the hospital.’
The young man managed to nod to let him know he understood, then Stan turned his attention back to the doctor. ‘Who’s the doc this man’s going to see? Is he any good?’
‘The best in his field. The poor devil will get proper help. My line of work is putting shattered bodies back into some kind of working order.’ Dr Burridge took a card out of his pocket and signed the back. ‘Come and see me, son. Just show this card and they’ll call me.’
Stan tucked the card into his pocket, knowing it would take something extraordinary to get him near a hospital again. ‘Thanks.’
Bond Street was crowded and Stan had to walk quite a way before he found the jeweller’s he was looking for. He whistled softly under his breath when he saw the shop. That necklace couldn’t have come from here. He was probably wasting his time, but he’d come this far and might as well go in.
The inside was fitted with plush carpets and upholstered chairs in dark blue. The customers who came in here obviously expected comfort while they spent their money.
‘May I help you, sir?’ A short man in a dark suit was eyeing him with more than a hint of suspicion.
Stan decided that it wouldn’t take much for them to show him the door. He decided to bluff it out. ‘I’m Sergeant Crawford from Kilburn Police. Mind if I sit down?’
The assistant held a chair for him and Stan propped his crutches against a display cabinet.
‘Had an accident, sir?’ the assistant asked as he went back to the other side of the counter.
‘Tripped over chasing a thief.’ Stan gave him his most ironic smile.
‘I see, sir.’
Liar, Stan thought, you don’t know whether to believe me or not, but you’re too polite to say so. He removed the sketch from his pocket and laid it on the counter. ‘We’re trying to find out about this necklace. It was in one of your boxes.’
‘Really?’ Now the man was interested. ‘Hmm, you don’t have the jewel with you?’
‘Sorry, this is all I’ve got. The chain is silver and the stones colourless. There are small stones along the chain at intervals of about an inch, and larger stones in the three daisy-shaped flowers in the centre. Can you tell me if it’s one of your designs?’
‘I’ll ask the owner.’ The assistant beckoned over a young lad. ‘Get Sergeant Crawford a cup of tea, Edward. I’ll be just a moment, Sergeant.’
Stan stifled a sigh of relief. It looked as if he was getting away with his subterfuge. He shouldn’t be doing this, but this was the only way anyone in a place like this was going to talk to him.
The lad came back carrying a cup of tea on a silver tray. Stan had never seen such delicate china.
‘Thanks.’ He needed this. His leg was still hurting after the kick it had received, and the journey on and off trains had not helped.
The lad was about to say something, but the assistant returned with the owner.
The other man leant across so he could read it as well.
‘He’s got to change trains. He’s never going to get there on his own.’ Stan was furious. ‘Why isn’t someone with him? I’ll take him myself.’
‘No need for that, son. I work there. I’ll see he gets to the hospital all right. I’m Doctor Burridge.’ He held out his hand. ‘If you ever need another opinion on your leg, come and see me at the hospital. No need to make an appointment.’
‘Stan Crawford.’ He shook his hand and gave a grim smile. ‘They’ve said there’s nothing they can do for me. You hard up for patients, Doc?’
‘Wish I were, but our methods are improving all the time. God knows we’re getting enough practice.’
‘I don’t doubt it.’ Stan looked at the silent, shaking man beside him and counted his blessings. He might be in constant pain, but at least he was in his right mind. He laid his hand on the young man’s arm and smiled. ‘This man’s a doctor and he’s going to take you to the hospital.’
The young man managed to nod to let him know he understood, then Stan turned his attention back to the doctor. ‘Who’s the doc this man’s going to see? Is he any good?’
‘The best in his field. The poor devil will get proper help. My line of work is putting shattered bodies back into some kind of working order.’ Dr Burridge took a card out of his pocket and signed the back. ‘Come and see me, son. Just show this card and they’ll call me.’
Stan tucked the card into his pocket, knowing it would take something extraordinary to get him near a hospital again. ‘Thanks.’
Bond Street was crowded and Stan had to walk quite a way before he found the jeweller’s he was looking for. He whistled softly under his breath when he saw the shop. That necklace couldn’t have come from here. He was probably wasting his time, but he’d come this far and might as well go in.
The inside was fitted with plush carpets and upholstered chairs in dark blue. The customers who came in here obviously expected comfort while they spent their money.
‘May I help you, sir?’ A short man in a dark suit was eyeing him with more than a hint of suspicion.
Stan decided that it wouldn’t take much for them to show him the door. He decided to bluff it out. ‘I’m Sergeant Crawford from Kilburn Police. Mind if I sit down?’
The assistant held a chair for him and Stan propped his crutches against a display cabinet.
‘Had an accident, sir?’ the assistant asked as he went back to the other side of the counter.
‘Tripped over chasing a thief.’ Stan gave him his most ironic smile.
‘I see, sir.’
Liar, Stan thought, you don’t know whether to believe me or not, but you’re too polite to say so. He removed the sketch from his pocket and laid it on the counter. ‘We’re trying to find out about this necklace. It was in one of your boxes.’
‘Really?’ Now the man was interested. ‘Hmm, you don’t have the jewel with you?’
‘Sorry, this is all I’ve got. The chain is silver and the stones colourless. There are small stones along the chain at intervals of about an inch, and larger stones in the three daisy-shaped flowers in the centre. Can you tell me if it’s one of your designs?’
‘I’ll ask the owner.’ The assistant beckoned over a young lad. ‘Get Sergeant Crawford a cup of tea, Edward. I’ll be just a moment, Sergeant.’
Stan stifled a sigh of relief. It looked as if he was getting away with his subterfuge. He shouldn’t be doing this, but this was the only way anyone in a place like this was going to talk to him.
The lad came back carrying a cup of tea on a silver tray. Stan had never seen such delicate china.
‘Thanks.’ He needed this. His leg was still hurting after the kick it had received, and the journey on and off trains had not helped.
The lad was about to say something, but the assistant returned with the owner.
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