“We’re not that old, mate. Thirty-four, the two of us. We’re in our prime, Jacko!”

While Pat and Jack ordered themselves another pint, not far from the Barleycorn pub Blackie and Finn pushed open the door to the popular Dance Hall at the top of Branch Road.

Ever since he’d first set foot in the place a couple of years after arriving in Leeds, Blackie liked to spend his Saturday nights there. He loved to dance, and, of course, inevitably he went up to the band and sang a few old ballads and popular songs, by request. Everyone who went there enjoyed his singing, and he secretly loved the enthusiastic applause and shouts for another song from him.

It didn’t take the two boys long to realize that the hall wasn’t so packed tonight, and a number of regulars were nowhere in sight. Turning to Finn, Blackie said, “Poor showing, I be thinking. I don’t know why it’s half-empty, sure and I don’t. ’Tis joyless, even though the band’s goin’ strong.”

Finn nodded, also looking around, a dismal expression settling on his face. He said, “I do know that one of the really popular chaps was in an accident earlier in the week. Ye knows him, Blackie, Andy Paulton. All the girls flocked around him. He was a masterful dancer—”

“Oh, I do know him!” Blackie cut in. “So what happened? What kind of accident did he have then?”

“He was run down by a horse and carriage, ’cos the horse got startled, reared up and bolted. Andy was trampled on.”

“Oh my God! Is he dead? He must be, surely?” Blackie exclaimed, sounding horror-struck.

“Badly injured,” Finn replied. “In Leeds Infirmary, so I heard. But ye knows as well as I do, them, these kinds of accidents, do a lotta damage ter a man.”

Blackie nodded, his face sober, concern reflected in his dark eyes. “Me uncle Pat stopped one like that only a couple a’ years back, had to grab the bridle of a horse that was about to bolt. He got a hearty thank-you from the man; proper gentry he was too. Squire Fairley. He’s been sending us work as a result.” He spotted one of the girls he often danced with and started to walk toward her, taking Finn with him. “Look, Sarah Clough will fill us in on Andy; ye knows she always has gossip to share, sure and she does.”

Finn laughed. “She’s better than them there newspapers yer allus reading. More news than ye can stand.”

Sarah, a nice-looking young woman, with blue eyes and blond hair, smiled broadly as the two young men came toward her. Seated in a chair against the wall, she immediately stood up. After greetings were exchanged, Blackie spoke first.

“It’s right nice to see ye, Sarah, and ye look lovely in that blue dress.”