??252: Chapter 169 LPS’s New Army (5K)_3
252: Chapter 169 LPS’s New Army (5K)_3
Hmm…
Arthur, I…
I don’t know how to bring this up to you…
Sigh…
it’s all my fault for being incompetent.
I know the departnt doesn’t employ child labor, but this kid insists he can do it and begged
to give him an opportunity, you see…”
Seeing Tom’s awkward predicant, Pinkerton also felt sowhat apologetic.
All along the way, he had caused Tom quite a bit of trouble, but not only did the officer not bla him, he was actually very attentive to his rebellious behavior.
Tom listened patiently to all his grievances and complaints.
Tom also tried to help with his difficulties and ideas as much as possible.
And now, Tom had to make the uncomfortable move of asking his superiors for an unreasonable favor because of his mont of impulsiveness.
Although Pinkerton was still a teenager, he had experienced the gamut of human kindness and cruelty.
He held Tom’s hand, mustered his courage, and looked up into Arthur’s deep black eyes: “I…
Mr.
Hastings, I hope you can give
a chance.
I’ve never been a police officer, but I’ve watched my dad do it before.
Don’t be fooled by my age, I won’t hold anyone back.
If I do well, you can pay
a salary; if I don’t, you can send
straight to the poorhouse, and I won’t complain at all.”
Arthur leaned against the doorway, looking down at the little rascal who did not even reach his chest, and asked in an unchanged tone, “Did Tom teach you to say all this?”
Pinkerton’s face showed a trace of panic as he hurriedly waved his hands, “No, sir, please don’t misunderstand, these are all my own thoughts, and they have nothing to do with Officer Tom.”
Arthur simply smiled and patted his head: “It seems I set my expectations for you too high.
I thought great detectives were born that way, like musicians.
But now it seems detectives are cultivated over ti.
Allen, you have a long way to go before you beco an excellent detective.”
Allen, hearing this, first froze, then his eyes misted with tears: “Mr…
Mr.
Hastings, by saying that, do you an you want to reject ?”
Arthur slowly nodded: “I’m sorry, Allen, Scotland Yard does not consider hiring any minors, it is an internal regulation, and I do not have the authority to change it for you.
If you are really looking up to your father the police officer, you can totally co to apply after you reach adulthood.”
Although Tom had been prepared for this outco, when Arthur spoke the words, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of disappointnt.
He removed his hat and apologized to Arthur: “I’m sorry, Arthur, I’ve put you in a difficult situation.”
He started to leave with Allen, but no matter how much he tugged, the stubborn Allen, with tears streaming down, refused to turn around.
With no other choice, Tom had to pick up Allen and carry him on his shoulder, and while patting his back, he consoled him, “It’s not a big deal, it’s getting late, let’s go ho for dinner.
As for your job, I will think of sothing else for you.
I rember your Uncle Tony has a relative in London who is a carpenter; if all else fails, I’ll take you there tomorrow to inquire.”
But as they were about to step away, he felt a hand on his shoulder.
Then, a warm voice ca from behind him: “Tom, I only said Scotland Yard doesn’t take in children, but I didn’t say the LPS doesn’t take child soldiers.
Tom stopped short, and Pinkerton, sobbing on his shoulder, also looked up, eting Arthur’s smiling face.
After a mont of astonishnt, Tom, with a face full of joy, began: “Arthur…”
However, before he could express his thanks, Arthur interrupted him: “But let
say sothing unpleasant first.
This brat is recruited by you, so naturally, you are responsible for managing his day-to-day life and job training.
If anything goes wrong in the future, you’ll also be half responsible.
If you have no objections, I can provide him with a work agreent right now.”
No sooner had Arthur finished speaking than Tom imdiately agreed without hesitation, saluting Arthur excitedly: “Of course, sir!”
Seeing his response, Arthur didn’t directly reply to Tom.
Instead, he bent down to lock eyes with Pinkerton: “Kid, working for the LPS is not as easy as you think.
If I find your work unsatisfactory, I won’t send you to the poorhouse; I’ll send you off to the Royal Navy’s Beagle.
You might not know, but the pocket watch you stole last ti belonged to a crew mber of the Beagle.
So, you know, if you go there, life certainly won’t be easy for you.
I’m giving you one last bit of advice: it’s still not too late for you to choose to go back to barrel-making.
I give you one minute to decide whether to stay or leave; it’s your choice.”
Pinkerton’s eyes were fixed on Arthur, his jaw clenched, his body trembling, fists clenched, as if he was struggling with the decision.
He looked at Tom standing before him, sweating and smiling, and finally, in a mont of silence, Pinkerton imitated the salute he had seen Tom and his father do, and slowly raised his arm to Arthur: “Sir, yes sir!”
Arthur, seeing this, just smiled.
He reached out and took Pinkerton’s saluting hand, lifting his palm upwards: “Correct, a police salute is the sa as the Army’s, with the palm facing outward, aligned with the temple.
The palm facing down is the Royal Navy’s etiquette because they work on ships and their palms are usually not clean.”
Pinkerton asked blankly, “Are a policeman’s hands usually very clean then?”
Arthur shook his head with a light laugh: “Of course not, policen’s hands are also full of blood, which is why we wear white gloves to cover up the deeds we have done, or are planning to do.
Allen, the things you’ll be doing for the LPS are similar.
Are you ready?”
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