Short Stories in English for Beginners

harm
 you. I am here to tell
you about something.’
‘Go ahead,’ replied the man. ‘Tell me.’
Walter pulled a picture out of his 
pocket
. In the picture there was a 
chest
.
It looked very old. It also looked like it might have something inside it.
Something of 
value
.
‘What’s that?’ David asked.
‘Don’t you know what it is?’
‘It looks like a chest. I’ve never seen it in my life.’
Walter looked at David closely. Then he pointed to the picture. ‘Look at
this.’
David looked. The chest had a 
lock
. The lock had three zeros on it. ‘It’s a
lock.’
‘Yes, and –?’ Walter continued.
‘The numbers are missing?’ David questioned.
‘That’s it!’ said Walter. ‘All three numbers are missing!’ The he looked at
David closely. ‘I need those three numbers for my mission,’ Walter said.
‘Mission? What mission?’
‘I can’t tell you that,’ the old man replied calmly.
David didn’t understand. He had no idea what the man wanted. How
could he give the man numbers he didn’t know? Finally Walter said, ‘I’m
sure you’ve got one of those numbers.’
‘I don’t know what you are talking about.’

---

‘Think about it, David. You must have an old object. An object with a
number on it?’
David thought carefully. He had no such object. He was sure of it. Then
he remembered something. He did have one thing with a number. Maybe
that was it?
‘Now that you mention it,’ he said 
excitedly
, ‘I may have something!
Wait here. I’ll go and get it!’
‘Where are you going?’ asked Walter.
‘To my house. I need to get something.’
‘Wait! I’ll come with you.’
David looked at the man suspiciously once again. The man was old. He
seemed nice. He guessed it would not be a problem. ‘OK,’ he said. ‘Follow
me!’
David and Walter left the park. They went back along a small street.
Then they took a bus to David’s house. It was in a different part of town.
While they travelled, David asked Walter, ‘What’s your name?’
‘My name is Walter. Walter Davies.’
‘And how long have you been in Edinburgh Mr Davies?’
‘Oh, please call me Walter! No need to be so polite.’
‘OK, Walter. How long have you been in Edinburgh?’
‘I’ve been here two hours.’
‘Oh really? That’s not long.’
‘Yes, but I like it! There are a lot of nice people and interesting sights
here.’
‘Yes, there are.’
The two men continued talking. Soon they reached David’s house.
The house was small and