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pared to work out that notice. But I and the MD have been
discussing your loyalty and willingness to take on board any
old bag of snakes whilst you have been working here. We
would like to show our appreciation, Douglas.
Not a gold watch, surely, thought Douglas. But no, the
voice on the other end was becoming lyrical.
 Your blue-sky thinking approach has been enormously
helpful. Wonderfully encouraging! So it is with reluctance
48 Ann Purser
that we shall have to wave you off on your journey to what
we are sure will be the top of the pile. Douglas, my friend, we
here at what we like to think of as your career big-school, are
going to make sure you are suitably rewarded financially, and
also have time to settle in the Tresham house, get back into
the old country, before starting at the new job.
He paused, and Douglas rapidly disentangled what he d
said.
 You mean you re turfing me out sooner? When?
A fit of coughing erupted from his boss, who finally said,
 Soon as you like, old chap. End of the week?
 Won t that leave you in a mess? Douglas decided to
make him suffer.
 Oh, well, nice of you to consider that. But no, we have a
new man coming in. Not, of course, in your league, but we
hope to groom him for stardom in due course . . . So shall we
say end of the week?
Douglas put him out of his misery.  Fine. Suits me well.
I have to go back to Tresham tomorrow, in any case. Some-
thing urgent has come up. Then I ll be in the office after that
and can tidy things up.
He made himself a coffee, and sat down to think. So, that
was that. He was not surprised. The cutthroat atmosphere of
the place had been a constant warning to watch out. Some-
one always anxious to step into your shoes. Well, the job he
had in Tresham should be a gentler kind of place. Probably
not such good prospects for making money, but a better pace
of life all round. He finished his coffee and lifted the phone
to ring Lois. He could move into the Gordon Street house
much sooner, and she and Dad would probably be glad about
that. For one thing, he thought wryly, he could start paying
them rent.
Warning at One 49
 Hello, Mum? He never knew whether it was Lois or
Gran, their voices being so similar.
 Who else?
Now he knew it was Lois. He told her the gist of his boss s
telephone call, and said as far as he was concerned it suited him
well. He would have time to move into Gordon Street, furnish
the place and get everything organised, before he started at the
new company. In fact, he d decided to be back in Tresham
tomorrow to check one or two things, but wouldn t have time to
come over to Long Farnden.  Might as well start as we mean
to go on, he said.  Don t want to get in your hair.
So he had been hurt by Derek s attitude, Lois thought. But
she said only,  What about money from the old job? You gave
the proper notice. They can t get away with that.
Douglas explained.  They ll pay me up to the right date,
Mum. They just want to get this new bloke in, and get me
out so s I don t poison his mind against them.
 Don t be ridiculous, Douglas. Of course they don t think
like that. Lois thought of her own New Brooms. The team
were like part of the family, even awkward old Dot Nimmo,
who had survived through thick and thin, and mostly thin,
to be a loyal member. She knew for a fact that each one of
them would stand by any of the others if they needed help.
 Ah, well, said Douglas,  New Brooms is not exactly the
murky world of big business, Mum dear. Anyway, I ll be in
touch and keep you up to date.
Huh! thought Lois crossly. Was she seeing another side of
Douglas? The slick businessman, with a patronising air for
those less experienced than he was? Well, sod that for a game
of soldiers! She d show him.
Ten
he next day, Mrs. Blairgowrie heard the doorbell
Tand looked at her watch.  Oops! she said, and walked
through to open the front door as far as the chain would
allow. It was almost certainly Alastair, but you never knew.
It was not Alastair. She knew that as soon as he spoke. It
was an old man s voice, with a local accent, and from behind her
dark glasses she blinked.  Who are you? she said cautiously.
 Yer neighbour, miss, Clem said.  You must ve seen me
around. He realised what he had said, and corrected himself
quickly.  At least, you ll have heard my cockerel wakin yer
up in the morning.
 Ah, yes, she said.  A lovely sound, a crowing cock. Reminds
me of my childhood in Scotland. Can I help you, Mr. . . . er . . . ?
 Fitch. Clement Fitch. Everybody calls me Clem. I just
come over to see if you need any help. I ve lived in Tresham
man and boy, and all them years in Gordon Street in the same
house. Not much I don t know about Tresham and Gordon
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