Read Tuppence to Tooley Street for Free Online Page B

was no answer. Frank bent down and peered through the letter box. Suddenly he straightened and pushed Alice aside.
    ‘Stand back!’ he shouted as he threw his weight against the front door. It gave easily and Frank stumbled into the dark passage. The smell of gas was strong. He put his hand up to his mouth and ran through into the scullery. Crazy Bella was lying on her back with her head on a pillow inside the open gas oven; she looked up at Frank, her staring eyes glowing cat-like in the darkness. Frank reached for the gas taps and discovered that they were not turned on. He left Bella lying there and staggered back into the passage. The gas jet on the wall was hissing and unlit. He turned it off quickly and ran back into the tiny scullery and opened up the window. Half carrying and half dragging Bella he succeeded in getting her out onto the pavement.
    ‘Keep yer eye on the silly ole cow,’ he said. ‘I’m goin’ ter see if I can get Doctor Kelly.’
     
    The chimer on the Suttons’ mantel showed five minutes to midnight. Ben and Lucy were saying goodnight at the front door; Maggie and Joe had already left; and Connie had gone to bed. Danny sat in the parlour with his parents, his eyes heavy with tiredness. His father was noisily sipping his tea.
    ‘What I can’t understand is why she didn’t turn the gas stove on. Seems a silly way ter do yerself in, if yer ask me,’ Danny said.
    ‘Doctor Kelly reckons that ole Bella ’ad no intention of doin’ ’erself in,’ Alice said, passing a mug of tea to her son. ‘I’m inclined to agree wiv ’im. Doctor Kelly reckons she was doin’ it all fer somebody ter take notice. An’ we did, didn’t we?’
    Frank put his empty mug down on the table. ‘Yer right there, Alice,’ he said.
    ‘’Ave they took ’er away?’ Danny asked.
    ‘No, Doctor Kelly give ’er a sedative. ’E said ’e’s comin’ ter see ’er termorrer. I was talkin’ to ’im afterwards,’ Alice went on. ‘What ’e reckons ’appened was that she went purposely ter get that sixpence. She was tryin’ to attract attention. They all know she don’t venture out at night. Somebody in the pub was bound ter take notice, an’ sure enough, somebody did.’
    ‘What about the gas?’ Danny queried.
    ‘Well, what we fink ’appened,’ interrupted Frank, ‘was that she put the tanner in the meter after the gas ’ad run out. She was so concerned about settin’ it all up, she forgot about the passage gas jet. Jus’ fink of it. She sticks ’er ’ead in the gas oven an’ nearly gets gassed wiv’ the passage jet. Silly ole cow.’
    ‘Don’t be like that, Frank luv,’ Alice said. ‘She’s ter be pitied. She ain’t got a soul in the world, ’cept us folk in the street. If it wasn’t fer you, she’d be laid out on a slab right now.’
    Frank got up and stretched. ‘It’s Annie Barnes she should be grateful to. Anyway, I still fink she’s a silly ole cow,’ he grinned, winking at Danny. ‘Well I’m off ter bed. Nice ter ’ave yer ’ome, son. C’mon, Alice. It’s bin a long day. Let’s get some shut-eye.’
    Danny climbed the stairs to his room and lay down in the darkness. He was exhausted after his first night back home and was grateful his family hadn’t pressed him too much when he declined to go to the pub. He smiled as he recalled the look of disappointment on his father’s face and how he had brightened up when it was suggested that he fetch a few quarts of ale from the ‘off sales’. Danny stared up at the cracked ceiling, which was illuminated by the pale moonlight, and cupped his hands behind his head. His thoughts turned to Kathy Thompson and the night they had parted. Kathy had been moody all evening and when they returned from the Trocette Cinema they had stood in her doorway. He remembered trying to kiss her but she pushed him away.
    ‘You seem ter fink you can grab ’old o’ me an’ kiss it all better. Well I’m tellin’ yer now, Danny. Yer’d better