START AT EARNING MONEY 



The late Walter Pallant, who was on the Stock 

 Exchange, was a great friend of mine then, and we 

 went out together on that fateful night when the 

 closing of the Argyle had been ordered. There was 

 an enormous crowd in Piccadilly Circus to protest. 

 " What a shame," said two little girls in blue, who 

 were known at the Argyle as " twenty words a bob " 

 on account of their having retired from the Post 

 Office Telegraph Department and taking on the 

 membership of the " Rooms '* — twenty words for a 

 shilling preceded twelve words for sixpence. I shouted 

 with the rest. Walter Pallant, who was with me, 

 shouted, others shouted, the police made a charge. I 

 was one of the first grabbed, and Pallant, trying to get 

 me away, was lugged with me to Vine Street and charged 

 with an attempt to " rescue." It was funny, and yet 

 not funny, for there were little somethings in the cells 

 to keep one awake. That was Saturday night ; we 

 couldn't get bail till twelve o'clock the next day. 

 Poor Val Crasweller, who at that time was on the Stock 

 Exchange and afterwards went to Australia — being 

 associated when he came back with Mr Savile in the 

 little Australian horse Ringmaster — gave evidence on 

 our behalf, and we were bound over. 



20 



