Read Online Tuppence to Tooley Street by Harry Bowling - Free Book Online Page A

asked, looking quite amazed.
    ‘Leave the boy alone, Alice. ’E’s turned twenty-one yer know,’ Frank chided her.
    ‘I know,’ his wife retorted, ‘but I’d ’ave thought ’e’d ’ad enough fer one day, ’spesh’ly in ’is condition.’
    Danny grinned. ‘Hush, Ma, people’ll fink I’m pregnant or somefink.’
    Frank chuckled. ‘’E’ll know when ’e’s ’ad enough, Alice.’E’ll fall over!’
    Danny made to leave, then turned. ‘By the way, ’ow was yer cousin, Dad?’
    ‘Very weak,’ Frank replied. ‘Mind you, she’s turned ninety, yer can’t expect much.’
    Danny dropped his gaze with a nod. ‘Well I’m off folks,’ he said quickly. ‘Don’t wait up, I might be goin’ to a party.’
    Frank leaned back in his armchair. ‘All right fer money?’
    Danny nodded. ‘I’m okay, fanks. I didn’t get a chance ter spend much terday.’
    ‘So I ’eard,’ Frank said, looking over his glasses at Alice.
    The evening was still warm, with heavy storm clouds rolling in. It was still light enough to see the pavement in the blacked-out streets as Danny made his way to The Crown in Dockhead. His leg felt more comfortable now, and he had padded his chest with a few turns of bandage and a cotton wool dressing. At the outset he walked briskly but he became breathless as he crossed the Tower Bridge Road and he slowed his pace. It was fairly quiet as he continued on to Dockhead. A few couples strolled arm in arm along Tooley Street, and a number 68 tram rattled noisily past. Danny walked by a surface shelter with its sandbagged entrance, and it reminded him of Dunkirk. Farther on he saw the large grey spire of St James’s Church showing up against the angry sky. His thoughts turned briefly to Alison. I should have written to her, he thought.
    The Crown stood back from the main road. No light shone out, but sounds of merrymaking reached Danny’s ears while he was still some distance away. He reached the saloon, pushed open the door and went in. The room was filled with tobacco smoke, and there was a strong smell of perfume.
    Johnny Ross called out to him. ‘Over ’ere. I fought yer wasn’t comin’. Yer late.’
    Danny grinned. ‘I got a few hours’ kip. I’m okay, as long as yer don’t lean on me.’
    Johnny pointed over to a tall, wavy-haired individual who was talking to a young woman. ‘That’s Tony. Looks like ’e’s pulled a bird.’
    A barmaid came over and set some drinks down on the counter in front of Johnny, who pointed in Danny’s direction. ‘An’ a mild an’ bitter fer me mate, luv.’
    The barmaid gave Johnny a sweet smile as she reached for a glass and proceeded to pull on the pump handle. Johnny’s eyes looked down at the barmaid’s low-cut V-necked dress and her eyes flickered at him.
    ‘Pour yerself one,’ Johnny said, winking at her suggestively.
    Danny had been casting his eyes around the bar and suddenly he saw Kathy. His immediate reaction was to look away, but he found himself staring at her. She looked even prettier than the picture of her he had carried in his mind during all those months in France. He felt a surge of jealousy when he realised Kathy was not alone. She was talking to a well-dressed, thick-set man whose hair was combed smartly back from his forehead. Danny estimated the man to be in his mid-thirties. As he watched the couple Danny noticed that Kathy seemed to be disagreeing with her companion, she kept shaking her head and he was getting more agitated.
    Johnny observed Danny’s interest. ‘’Ere, cop yer drink, Danny boy, an’ take yer covetin’ eyes off ’er,’ he said. ‘That bloke spells trouble fer the likes of us.’
    ‘Who is ’e?’ Danny asked, still looking in Kathy’s direction.
    ‘That’s Jack Mason. ’E used ter run the Elephant and Castle mob a few years ago. ’E done porridge fer GBH. ’E still runs wiv the mobs, so I’m told. That sort o’ geezer don’t go out of’is way ter ’elp ole ladies across the