Captains All and Others
by
W.W. Jacobs
Part 1 out of 3
Produced by David Widger
CAPTAINS ALL
Complete
By W.W. Jacobs
Contents:
Captains All
The Boatswain's Mate
The Nest Egg
The Constable's Move
Bob's Redemption
Over The Side
The Four Pigeons
The Temptation Of Samuel Burge
The Madness Of Mr. Lister
The White Cat
CAPTAINS ALL
[Illustration: "Captains All."]
Every sailorman grumbles about the sea, said the night-watchman,
thoughtfully. It's human nature to grumble, and I s'pose they keep on
grumbling and sticking to it because there ain't much else they can do.
There's not many shore-going berths that a sailorman is fit for, and
those that they are--such as a night-watchman's, for instance--wants such
a good character that there's few as are to equal it.
Sometimes they get things to do ashore. I knew one man that took up
butchering, and 'e did very well at it till the police took him up.
Another man I knew gave up the sea to marry a washerwoman, and they
hadn't been married six months afore she died, and back he 'ad to go to
sea agin, pore chap.
A man who used to grumble awful about the sea was old Sam Small--a man
I've spoke of to you before. To hear 'im go on about the sea, arter he
'ad spent four or five months' money in a fortnight, was 'artbreaking.
He used to ask us wot was going to happen to 'im in his old age, and when
we pointed out that he wouldn't be likely to 'ave any old age if he
wasn't more careful of 'imself he used to fly into a temper and call us
everything 'e could lay his tongue to.
One time when 'e was ashore with Peter Russet and Ginger Dick he seemed
to 'ave got it on the brain. He started being careful of 'is money
instead o' spending it, and three mornings running he bought a newspaper
and read the advertisements, to see whether there was any comfortable
berth for a strong, good-'arted man wot didn't like work.
He actually went arter one situation, and, if it hadn't ha' been for
seventy-nine other men, he said he believed he'd ha' had a good chance of
getting it. As it was, all 'e got was a black eye for shoving another
man, and for a day or two he was so down-'arted that 'e was no company at
all for the other two.
For three or four days 'e went out by 'imself, and then, all of a sudden,
Ginger Dick and Peter began to notice a great change in him. He seemed
to 'ave got quite cheerful and 'appy. He answered 'em back pleasant when
they spoke to 'im, and one night he lay in 'is bed whistling comic songs
until Ginger and Peter Russet 'ad to get out o' bed to him. When he
bought a new necktie and a smart cap and washed 'imself twice in one day
they fust began to ask each other wot was up, and then they asked him.
"Up?" ses Sam; "nothing."
"He's in love," ses Peter Russet.
"You're a liar," ses Sam, without turning round.
"He'll 'ave it bad at 'is age," ses Ginger.
Sam didn't say nothing, but he kept fidgeting about as though 'e'd got
something on his mind. Fust he looked out o' the winder, then he 'ummed
a tune, and at last, looking at 'em very fierce, he took a tooth-brush
wrapped in paper out of 'is pocket and began to clean 'is teeth.
"He is in love," ses Ginger, as soon as he could speak.
"Or else 'e's gorn mad," ses Peter, watching 'im. "Which is it, Sam?"
Sam made believe that he couldn't answer 'im because o' the tooth-brush,
and arter he'd finished he 'ad such a raging toothache that 'e sat in a
corner holding 'is face and looking the pictur' o' misery. They couldn't
get a word out of him till they asked 'im to go out with them, and then
he said 'e was going to bed. Twenty minutes arterwards, when Ginger Dick
stepped back for 'is pipe, he found he 'ad gorn.
He tried the same game next night, but the other two wouldn't 'ave it,
and they stayed in so long that at last 'e lost 'is temper, and, arter
wondering wot Ginger's father and mother could ha' been a-thinking about,
and saying that he believed Peter Russet 'ad been changed at birth for a
sea-sick monkey, he put on 'is cap and went out. Both of 'em follered
'im sharp, but when he led 'em to a mission-hall, and actually went
inside, they left 'im and went off on their own.
They talked it over that night between themselves, and next evening they
went out fust and hid themselves round the corner. Ten minutes
arterwards old Sam came out, walking as though 'e was going to catch a
train; and smiling to think 'ow he 'ad shaken them off. At the corner of
Commercial Road he stopped and bought 'imself a button-hole for 'is coat,
and Ginger was so surprised that 'e pinched Peter Russet to make sure
that he wasn't dreaming.
Old Sam walked straight on whistling, and every now and then looking down
at 'is button-hole, until by-and-by he turned down a street on the right
and went into a little shop. Ginger Dick and Peter waited for 'im at the
corner, but he was inside for so long that at last they got tired o'
waiting and crept up and peeped through the winder.
It was a little tobacconist's shop, with newspapers and penny toys and
such-like; but, as far as Ginger could see through two rows o' pipes and
the Police News, it was empty. They stood there with their noses pressed
against the glass for some time, wondering wot had 'appened to Sam, but
by-and-by a little boy went in and then they began to 'ave an idea wot
Sam's little game was.
As the shop-bell went the door of a little parlour at the back of the
shop opened, and a stout and uncommon good-looking woman of about forty
came out. Her 'ead pushed the _Police News_ out o' the way and her 'and
came groping into the winder arter a toy.
Ginger 'ad a good look at 'er out o' the corner of one eye, while he
pretended to be looking at a tobacco-jar with the other. As the little
boy came out 'im and Peter Russet went in.
"I want a pipe, please," he ses, smiling at 'er; "a clay pipe--one o' your
best." The woman handed 'im down a box to choose from, and just then
Peter, wot 'ad been staring in at the arf-open door at a boot wot wanted
lacing up, gave a big start and ses, "Why! Halloa!"
"Wot's the matter?" ses the woman, looking at 'im.
"I'd know that foot anywhere," ses Peter, still staring at it; and the
words was hardly out of 'is mouth afore the foot 'ad moved itself away
and tucked itself under its chair. "Why, that's my dear old friend Sam
Small, ain't it?"
"Do you know the captin?" ses the woman, smiling at 'im.
"Cap----?" ses Peter. "Cap----? Oh, yes; why, he's the biggest friend
I've got." "'Ow strange!" ses the woman.
"We've been wanting to see 'im for some time," ses Ginger. "He was kind
enough to lend me arf a crown the other day, and I've been wanting to pay
'im."
"Captin Small," ses the woman, pushing open the door, "here's some old
friends o' yours."
Old Sam turned 'is face round and looked at 'em, and if looks could ha'
killed, as the saying is, they'd ha' been dead men there and then.
"Oh, yes," he ses, in a choking voice; "'ow are you?"
"Pretty well, thank you, captin," ses Ginger, grinning at 'im; "and 'ow's
yourself arter all this long time?"
He held out 'is hand and Sam shook it, and then shook 'ands with Peter
Russet, who was grinning so 'ard that he couldn't speak.
"These are two old friends o' mine, Mrs. Finch," ses old Sam, giving 'em
a warning look; "Captin Dick and Captin Russet, two o' the oldest and
best friends a man ever 'ad."
"Captin Dick 'as got arf a crown for you," ses Peter Russet, still
grinning.
"There now," ses Ginger, looking vexed, "if I ain't been and forgot it;
I've on'y got arf a sovereign."
"I can give you change, sir," ses Mrs. Finch. "P'r'aps you'd like to sit
down for five minutes?"
Ginger thanked 'er, and 'im and Peter Russet took a chair apiece in front
o' the fire and began asking old Sam about 'is 'ealth, and wot he'd been
doing since they saw 'im last.
"Fancy your reckernizing his foot," ses Mrs. Finch, coming in with the
change.
"I'd know it anywhere," ses Peter, who was watching Ginger pretending to
give Sam Small the 'arf-dollar, and Sam pretending in a most lifelike
manner to take it.
Ginger Dick looked round the room. It was a comfortable little place,
with pictures on the walls and antimacassars on all the chairs, and a row
of pink vases on the mantelpiece. Then 'e looked at Mrs. Finch, and
thought wot a nice-looking woman she was.
"This is nicer than being aboard ship with a crew o' nasty, troublesome
sailormen to look arter, Captin Small," he ses.
"It's wonderful the way he manages 'em," ses Peter Russet to Mrs. Finch.
"Like a lion he is."
"A roaring lion," ses Ginger, looking at Sam. "He don't know wot fear
is."
Sam began to smile, and Mrs. Finch looked at 'im so pleased that Peter
Russet, who 'ad been looking at 'er and the room, and thinking much the
same way as Ginger, began to think that they was on the wrong tack.
"Afore 'e got stout and old," he ses, shaking his 'ead, "there wasn't a
smarter skipper afloat."
"We all 'ave our day," ses Ginger, shaking his 'ead too.
"I dessay he's good for another year or two afloat, yet," ses Peter
Russet, considering. "With care," ses Ginger.
Old Sam was going to say something, but 'e stopped himself just in time.
"They will 'ave their joke," he ses, turning to Mrs. Finch and trying to
smile. "I feel as young as ever I did."
Mrs. Finch said that anybody with arf an eye could see that, and then she
looked at a kettle that was singing on the 'ob.
"I s'pose you gentlemen wouldn't care for a cup o' cocoa?" she ses,
turning to them.
Ginger Dick and Peter both said that they liked it better than anything
else, and, arter she 'ad got out the cups and saucers and a tin o' cocoa,
Ginger held the kettle and poured the water in the cups while she stirred
them, and old Sam sat looking on 'elpless.
"It does seem funny to see you drinking cocoa, captin," ses Ginger, as
old Sam took his cup.
"Ho!" ses Sam, firing up; "and why, if I might make so bold as to ask?"
"'Cos I've generally seen you drinking something out of a bottle," ses
Ginger.
"Now, look 'ere," ses Sam, starting up and spilling some of the hot cocoa
over 'is lap.
"A ginger-beer bottle," ses Peter Russet, making faces at Ginger to keep
quiet.
"Yes, o' course, that's wot I meant," ses Ginger.
Old Sam wiped the cocoa off 'is knees without saying a word, but his
weskit kept going up and down till Peter Russet felt quite sorry for 'im.
"There's nothing like it," he ses to Mrs. Finch. "It was by sticking to
ginger-beer and milk and such-like that Captain Small 'ad command of a
ship afore 'e was twenty-five."
"Lor'!" ses Mrs. Finch.
She smiled at old Sam till Peter got uneasy agin, and began to think
p'r'aps 'e'd been praising 'im too much.
"Of course, I'm speaking of long ago now," he ses.
"Years and years afore you was born, ma'am," ses Ginger.
Old Sam was going to say something, but Mrs. Finch looked so pleased that
'e thought better of it. Some o' the cocoa 'e was drinking went the
wrong way, and then Ginger patted 'im on the back and told 'im to be
careful not to bring on 'is brownchitis agin. Wot with temper and being
afraid to speak for fear they should let Mrs. Finch know that 'e wasn't a
captin, he could 'ardly bear 'imself, but he very near broke out when
Peter Russet advised 'im to 'ave his weskit lined with red flannel. They
all stayed on till closing time, and by the time they left they 'ad made
theirselves so pleasant that Mrs. Finch said she'd be pleased to see them
any time they liked to look in.
Sam Small waited till they 'ad turned the corner, and then he broke out
so alarming that they could 'ardly do anything with 'im. Twice policemen
spoke to 'im and advised 'im to go home afore they altered their minds;
and he 'ad to hold 'imself in and keep quiet while Ginger and Peter
Russet took 'is arms and said they were seeing him 'ome.
He started the row agin when they got in-doors, and sat up in 'is bed
smacking 'is lips over the things he'd like to 'ave done to them if he
could. And then, arter saying 'ow he'd like to see Ginger boiled alive
like a lobster, he said he knew that 'e was a noble-'arted feller who
wouldn't try and cut an old pal out, and that it was a case of love at
first sight on top of a tram-car.
"She's too young for you," ses Ginger; "and too good-looking besides."
"It's the nice little bisness he's fallen in love with, Ginger," ses
Peter Russet. "I'll toss you who 'as it."
Ginger, who was siting on the foot o' Sam's bed, said "no" at fust, but
arter a time he pulled out arf a dollar and spun it in the air.
That was the last 'e see of it, although he 'ad Sam out o' bed and all
the clothes stripped off of it twice. He spent over arf an hour on his
'ands and knees looking for it, and Sam said when he was tired of playing
bears p'r'aps he'd go to bed and get to sleep like a Christian.
They 'ad it all over agin next morning, and at last, as nobody would
agree to keep quiet and let the others 'ave a fair chance, they made up
their minds to let the best man win. Ginger Dick bought a necktie that
took all the colour out o' Sam's, and Peter Russet went in for a collar
so big that 'e was lost in it.
They all strolled into the widow's shop separate that night. Ginger Dick
'ad smashed his pipe and wanted another; Peter Russet wanted some
tobacco; and old Sam Small walked in smiling, with a little silver brooch
for 'er, that he said 'e had picked up.
It was a very nice brooch, and Mrs. Finch was so pleased with it that
Ginger and Peter sat there as mad as they could be because they 'adn't
thought of the same thing.
"Captain Small is very lucky at finding things," ses Ginger, at last.
"He's got the name for it," ses Peter Russet.
"It's a handy 'abit," ses Ginger; "it saves spending money. Who did you
give that gold bracelet to you picked up the other night, captin?" he
ses, turning to Sam.
"Gold bracelet?" ses Sam. "I didn't pick up no gold bracelet. Wot are
you talking about?"
"All right, captin; no offence," ses Ginger, holding up his 'and. "I
dreamt I saw one on your mantelpiece, I s'pose. P'r'aps I oughtn't to
ha' said anything about it."
Old Sam looked as though he'd like to eat 'im, especially as he noticed
Mrs. Finch listening and pretending not to. "Oh! that one," he ses,
arter a bit o' hard thinking. "Oh! I found out who it belonged to. You
wouldn't believe 'ow pleased they was at getting it back agin."
Ginger Dick coughed and began to think as 'ow old Sam was sharper than he
'ad given 'im credit for, but afore he could think of anything else to
say Mrs. Finch looked at old Sam and began to talk about 'is ship, and to
say 'ow much she should like to see over it.
"I wish I could take you," ses Sam, looking at the other two out o' the
corner of his eye, "but my ship's over at Dunkirk, in France. I've just
run over to London for a week or two to look round."
"And mine's there too," ses Peter Russet, speaking a'most afore old Sam
'ad finished; "side by side they lay in the harbour."
"Oh, dear," ses Mrs. Finch, folding her 'ands and shaking her 'cad. "I
should like to go over a ship one arternoon. I'd quite made up my mind
to it, knowing three captins."
She smiled and looked at Ginger; and Sam and Peter looked at 'im too,
wondering whether he was going to berth his ship at Dunkirk alongside o'
theirs.
"Ah, I wish I 'ad met you a fortnight ago," ses Ginger, very sad. "I
gave up my ship, the High flyer, then, and I'm waiting for one my owners
are 'aving built for me at New-castle. They said the High flyer wasn't
big enough for me. She was a nice little ship, though. I believe I've
got 'er picture somewhere about me!"
He felt in 'is pocket and pulled out a little, crumpled-up photograph of
a ship he'd been fireman aboard of some years afore, and showed it to
'er.
"That's me standing on the bridge," he ses, pointing out a little dot
with the stem of 'is pipe.
"It's your figger," ses Mrs. Finch, straining her eyes. "I should know
it anywhere."
"You've got wonderful eyes, ma'am," ses old Sam, choking with 'is pipe.
"Anybody can see that," ses Ginger. "They're the largest and the bluest
I've ever seen."
Mrs. Finch told 'im not to talk nonsense, but both Sam and Peter Russet
could see 'ow pleased she was.
"Truth is truth," ses Ginger. "I'm a plain man, and I speak my mind."
"Blue is my fav'rit' colour," ses old Sam, in a tender voice. "True
blue."
Peter Russet began to feel out of it. "I thought brown was," he ses.
"Ho!" ses Sam, turning on 'im; "and why?"
"I 'ad my reasons," ses Peter, nodding, and shutting 'is mouth very firm.
"I thought brown was 'is fav'rit colour too," ses Ginger. "I don't know
why. It's no use asking me; because if you did I couldn't tell you."
"Brown's a very nice colour," ses Mrs. Finch, wondering wot was the
matter with old Sam.
"Blue," ses Ginger; "big blue eyes--they're the ones for me. Other
people may 'ave their blacks and their browns," he ses, looking at Sam
and Peter Russet, "but give me blue."
They went on like that all the evening, and every time the shop-bell went
and the widow 'ad to go out to serve a customer they said in w'ispers wot
they thought of each other; and once when she came back rather sudden
Ginger 'ad to explain to 'er that 'e was showing Peter Russet a scratch
on his knuckle.
Ginger Dick was the fust there next night, and took 'er a little chiney
teapot he 'ad picked up dirt cheap because it was cracked right acrost
the middle; but, as he explained that he 'ad dropped it in hurrying to
see 'er, she was just as pleased. She stuck it up on the mantelpiece,
and the things she said about Ginger's kindness and generosity made Peter
Russet spend good money that he wanted for 'imself on a painted
flower-pot next evening.
With three men all courting 'er at the same time Mrs. Finch had 'er hands
full, but she took to it wonderful considering. She was so nice and kind
to 'em all that even arter a week's 'ard work none of 'em was really
certain which she liked best.
They took to going in at odd times o' the day for tobacco and such-like.
They used to go alone then, but they all met and did the polite to each
other there of an evening, and then quarrelled all the way 'ome.
Then all of a sudden, without any warning, Ginger Dick and Peter Russet
left off going there. The fust evening Sam sat expecting them every
minute, and was so surprised that he couldn't take any advantage of it;
but on the second, beginning by squeezing Mrs. Finch's 'and at ha'-past
seven, he 'ad got best part of his arm round 'er waist by a quarter to
ten. He didn't do more that night because she told him to be'ave
'imself, and threatened to scream if he didn't leave off.
He was arf-way home afore 'e thought of the reason for Ginger Dick and
Peter Russet giving up, and then he went along smiling to 'imself to such
an extent that people thought 'e was mad. He went off to sleep with the
smile still on 'is lips, and when Peter and Ginger came in soon arter
closing time and 'e woke up and asked them where they'd been, 'e was
still smiling.
"I didn't 'ave the pleasure o' seeing you at Mrs. Finch's to-night," he
ses.
"No," ses Ginger, very short. "We got tired of it."
"So un'ealthy sitting in that stuffy little room every evening," ses
Peter.
Old Sam put his 'ead under the bedclothes and laughed till the bed shook;
and every now and then he'd put his 'ead out and look at Peter and Ginger
and laugh agin till he choked.
"I see 'ow it is," he ses, sitting up and wiping his eyes on the sheet.
"Well, we cant all win."
"Wot d'ye mean?" ses Ginger, very disagreeable.
"She wouldn't 'ave you, Sam, thats wot I mean. And I don't wonder at
it. I wouldn't 'ave you if I was a gal."
"You're dreaming, ses Peter Russet, sneering at 'im.
"That flower-pot o' yours'll come in handy," ses Sam, thinking 'ow he 'ad
put 'is arm round the widow's waist; "and I thank you kindly for the
teapot, Ginger.
"You don't mean to say as you've asked 'er to marry you?" ses Ginger,
looking at Peter Russet.
"Not quite; but I'm going to," ses Sam, "and I'll bet you even arf-crowns
she ses 'yes.'"
Ginger wouldn't take 'im, and no more would Peter, not even when he raised
it to five shillings; and the vain way old Sam lay there boasting and
talking about 'is way with the gals made 'em both feel ill.
"I wouldn't 'ave her if she asked me on 'er bended knees," ses Ginger,
holding up his 'ead.
"Nor me," ses Peter. "You're welcome to 'er, Sam. When I think of the
evenings I've wasted over a fat old woman I feel----"
"That'll do," ses old Sam, very sharp; "that ain't the way to speak of a
lady, even if she 'as said 'no.'"
"All right, Sam," ses Ginger. "You go in and win if you think you're so
precious clever."
Old Sam said that that was wot 'e was going to do, and he spent so much
time next morning making 'imself look pretty that the other two could
'ardly be civil to him.
He went off a'most direckly arter breakfast, and they didn't see 'im agin
till twelve o'clock that night. He 'ad brought a bottle o' whisky in
with 'im, and he was so 'appy that they see plain wot had 'appened.
"She said 'yes' at two o'clock in the arternoon," ses old Sam, smiling,
arter they had 'ad a glass apiece. "I'd nearly done the trick at one
o'clock, and then the shop-bell went, and I 'ad to begin all over agin.
Still, it wasn't unpleasant."
"Do you mean to tell us you've asked 'er to marry you?" ses Ginger,
'olding out 'is glass to be filled agin.
"I do," ses Sam; "but I 'ope there's no ill-feeling. You never 'ad a
chance, neither of you; she told me so."
Ginger Dick and Peter Russet stared at each other.
"She said she 'ad been in love with me all along," ses Sam, filling their
glasses agin to cheer 'em up. "We went out arter tea and bought the
engagement-ring, and then she got somebody to mind the shop and we went
to the Pagoda music-'all."
"I 'ope you didn't pay much for the ring, Sam," ses Ginger, who always
got very kind-'arted arter two or three glasses o' whisky. "If I'd known
you was going to be in such a hurry I might ha' told you before."
"We ought to ha' done," ses Peter, shaking his 'ead.
"Told me?" ses Sam, staring at 'em. "Told me wot?"
"Why me and Peter gave it up," ses Ginger; "but, o' course, p'r'aps you
don't mind."
"Mind wot?" ses Sam.
"It's wonderful 'ow quiet she kept it," ses Peter.
Old Sam stared at 'em agin, and then he asked 'em to speak in plain
English wot they'd got to say, and not to go taking away the character of
a woman wot wasn't there to speak up for herself.
"It's nothing agin 'er character," ses Ginger. "It's a credit to her,
looked at properly," ses Peter Russet.
"And Sam'll 'ave the pleasure of bringing of 'em up," ses Ginger.
"Bringing of 'em up?" ses Sam, in a trembling voice and turning pale;
"bringing who up?"
"Why, 'er children," ses Ginger. "Didn't she tell you? She's got nine
of 'em."
Sam pretended not to believe 'em at fust, and said they was jealous; but
next day he crept down to the greengrocer's shop in the same street,
where Ginger had 'appened to buy some oranges one day, and found that it
was only too true. Nine children, the eldest of 'em only fifteen, was
staying with diff'rent relations owing to scarlet-fever next door.
Old Sam crept back 'ome like a man in a dream, with a bag of oranges he
didn't want, and, arter making a present of the engagement-ring to
Ginger--if 'e could get it--he took the fust train to Tilbury and signed
on for a v'y'ge to China.
THE BOATSWAIN'S MATE
[Illustration: "The Boatswain's Mate"]
Mr. George Benn, retired boat-swain, sighed noisily, and with a
despondent gesture, turned to the door and stood with the handle in his
hand; Mrs. Waters, sitting behind the tiny bar in a tall Windsor-chair,
eyed him with some heat.
"My feelings'll never change," said the boatswain.
"Nor mine either," said the landlady, sharply. "It's a strange thing,
Mr. Benn, but you always ask me to marry you after the third mug."
"It's only to get my courage up," pleaded the boatswain. "Next time I'll
do it afore I 'ave a drop; that'll prove to you I'm in earnest."
He stepped outside and closed the door before the landlady could make a
selection from the many retorts that crowded to her lips.
After the cool bar, with its smell of damp saw-dust, the road seemed hot
and dusty; but the boatswain, a prey to gloom natural to a man whose hand
has been refused five times in a fortnight, walked on unheeding. His
steps lagged, but his brain was active.
He walked for two miles deep in thought, and then coming to a shady bank
took a seat upon an inviting piece of turf and lit his pipe. The heat
and the drowsy hum of bees made him nod; his pipe hung from the corner of
his mouth, and his eyes closed.
He opened them at the sound of approaching footsteps, and, feeling in his
pocket for matches, gazed lazily at the intruder. He saw a tall man
carrying a small bundle over his shoulder, and in the erect carriage, the
keen eyes, and bronzed face had little difficulty in detecting the old
soldier.
The stranger stopped as he reached the seated boatswain and eyed him
pleasantly.
"Got a pipe o' baccy, mate?" he inquired.
The boatswain handed him the small metal box in which he kept that
luxury.
"Lobster, ain't you?" he said, affably.
The tall man nodded. "Was," he replied. "Now I'm my own commander-in-
chief."
"Padding it?" suggested the boatswain, taking the box from him and
refilling his pipe.
The other nodded, and with the air of one disposed to conversation
dropped his bundle in the ditch and took a seat beside him. "I've got
plenty of time," he remarked.
Mr. Benn nodded, and for a while smoked on in silence. A dim idea which
had been in his mind for some time began to clarify. He stole a glance
at his companion--a man of about thirty-eight, clear eyes, with humorous
wrinkles at the corners, a heavy moustache, and a cheerful expression
more than tinged with recklessness.
"Ain't over and above fond o' work?" suggested the boatswain, when he had
finished his inspection.
"I love it," said the other, blowing a cloud of smoke in the air, "but we
can't have all we want in this world; it wouldn't be good for us."
The boatswain thought of Mrs. Waters, and sighed. Then he rattled his
pocket.
"Would arf a quid be any good to you?" he inquired.
"Look here," began the soldier; "just because I asked you for a pipe o'
baccy--"
"No offence," said the other, quickly. "I mean if you earned it?"
The soldier nodded and took his pipe from his mouth. "Gardening and
windows?" he hazarded, with a shrug of his shoulders.
The boatswain shook his head.
"Scrubbing, p'r'aps?" said the soldier, with a sigh of resignation.
"Last house I scrubbed out I did it so thoroughly they accused me of
pouching the soap. Hang 'em!"
"And you didn't?" queried the boatswain, eyeing him keenly.
The soldier rose and, knocking the ashes out of his pipe, gazed at him
darkly. "I can't give it back to you," he said, slowly, "because I've
smoked some of it, and I can't pay you for it because I've only got
twopence, and that I want for myself. So long, matey, and next time
a poor wretch asks you for a pipe, be civil."
"I never see such a man for taking offence in all my born days,"
expostulated the boat-swain. "I 'ad my reasons for that remark, mate.
Good reasons they was."
The soldier grunted and, stooping, picked up his bundle.
"I spoke of arf a sovereign just now," continued the boatswain,
impressively, "and when I tell you that I offer it to you to do a bit o'
burgling, you'll see 'ow necessary it is for me to be certain of your
honesty."
"_Burgling?_" gasped the astonished soldier. "_Honesty?_ 'Struth; are
you drunk or am I?"
"Meaning," said the boatswain, waving the imputation away with his hand,
"for you to pretend to be a burglar."
"We're both drunk, that's what it is," said the other, resignedly.
The boatswain fidgeted. "If you don't agree, mum's the word and no 'arm
done," he said, holding out his hand.
"Mum's the word," said the soldier, taking it. "My name's Ned Travers,
and, barring cells for a spree now and again, there's nothing against it.
Mind that."
"Might 'appen to anybody," said Mr. Benn, soothingly. "You fill your
pipe and don't go chucking good tobacco away agin."
Mr. Travers took the offered box and, with economy born of adversity,
stooped and filled up first with the plug he had thrown away. Then he
resumed his seat and, leaning back luxuriously, bade the other "fire
away."
"I ain't got it all ship-shape and proper yet," said Mr. Benn, slowly,
"but it's in my mind's eye. It's been there off and on like for some
time."
He lit his pipe again and gazed fixedly at the opposite hedge. "Two
miles from here, where I live," he said, after several vigorous puffs,
"there's a little public-'ouse called the Beehive, kept by a lady wot
I've got my eye on."
The soldier sat up.
"She won't 'ave me," said the boatswain, with an air of mild surprise.
The soldier leaned back again.
"She's a lone widder," continued Mr. Benn, shaking his head, "and the
Beehive is in a lonely place. It's right through the village, and the
nearest house is arf a mile off."
"Silly place for a pub," commented Mr. Travers.
"I've been telling her 'ow unsafe it is," said the boatswain. "I've been
telling her that she wants a man to protect her, and she only laughs at
me. She don't believe it; d'ye see? Likewise I'm a small man--small,
but stiff. She likes tall men."
"Most women do," said Mr. Travers, sitting upright and instinctively
twisting his moustache. "When I was in the ranks--"
"My idea is," continued the boatswain, slightly raising his voice, "to
kill two birds with one stone--prove to her that she does want being
protected, and that I'm the man to protect her. D'ye take my meaning,
mate?"
The soldier reached out a hand and felt the other's biceps. "Like a lump
o' wood," he said, approvingly.
"My opinion is," said the boatswain, with a faint smirk, "that she loves
me without knowing it."
"They often do," said Mr. Travers, with a grave shake of his head.
"Consequently I don't want 'er to be disappointed," said the other.
"It does you credit," remarked Mr. Travers.
"I've got a good head," said Mr. Benn, "else I shouldn't 'ave got my
rating as boatswain as soon as I did; and I've been turning it over in my
mind, over and over agin, till my brain-pan fair aches with it. Now, if
you do what I want you to to-night and it comes off all right, damme I'll
make it a quid."
"Go on, Vanderbilt," said Mr. Travers; "I'm listening."
The boatswain gazed at him fixedly. "You meet me 'ere in this spot at
eleven o'clock to-night," he said, solemnly; "and I'll take you to her
'ouse and put you through a little winder I know of. You goes upstairs
and alarms her, and she screams for help. I'm watching the house,
faithful-like, and hear 'er scream. I dashes in at the winder, knocks
you down, and rescues her. D'ye see?"
"I hear," corrected Mr. Travers, coldly.
"She clings to me," continued the boat-swain, with a rapt expression of
face, "in her gratitood, and, proud of my strength and pluck, she marries
me."
"An' I get a five years' honeymoon," said the soldier.
The boatswain shook his head and patted the other's shoulder. "In the
excitement of the moment you spring up and escape," he said, with a
kindly smile. "I've thought it all out. You can run much faster than I
can; any-ways, you will. The nearest 'ouse is arf a mile off, as I said,
and her servant is staying till to-morrow at 'er mother's, ten miles
away."
Mr. Travers rose to his feet and stretched himself. "Time I was
toddling," he said, with a yawn. "Thanks for amusing me, mate."
"You won't do it?" said the boatswain, eyeing him with much concern.
"I'm hanged if I do," said the soldier, emphatically. "Accidents will
happen, and then where should I be?"
"If they did," said the boatswain, "I'd own up and clear you."
"You might," said Mr. Travers, "and then again you mightn't. So long,
mate."
"I--I'll make it two quid," said the boat-swain, trembling with
eagerness. "I've took a fancy to you; you're just the man for the job."
The soldier, adjusting his bundle, glanced at him over his shoulder.
"Thankee," he said, with mock gratitude.
"Look 'ere," said the boatswain, springing up and catching him by the
sleeve; "I'll give it to you in writing. Come, you ain't faint-hearted?
Why, a bluejacket 'ud do it for the fun o' the thing. If I give it to
you in writing, and there should be an accident, it's worse for me than
it is for you, ain't it?"
Mr. Travers hesitated and, pushing his cap back, scratched his head.
"I gives you the two quid afore you go into the house," continued the
boatswain, hastily following up the impression he had made. "I'd give
'em to you now if I'd got 'em with me. That's my confidence in you; I
likes the look of you. Soldier or sailor, when there is a man's work to
be done, give 'em to me afore anybody."
[Illustration: "'I gives you the two quid afore you go into the house,'
continued the boatswain."]
The soldier seated himself again and let his bundle fall to the ground.
"Go on," he said, slowly. "Write it out fair and square and sign it, and
I'm your man."
The boatswain clapped him on the shoulder and produced a bundle of papers
from his pocket. "There's letters there with my name and address on
'em," he said. "It's all fair, square, and above-board. When you've
cast your eyes over them I'll give you the writing."
Mr. Travers took them and, re-lighting his pipe, smoked in silence, with
various side glances at his companion as that enthusiast sucked his
pencil and sat twisting in the agonies of composition. The document
finished--after several failures had been retrieved and burnt by the
careful Mr. Travers--the boat-swain heaved a sigh of relief, and handing
it over to him, leaned back with a complacent air while he read it.
"Seems all right," said the soldier, folding it up and putting it in his
waistcoat-pocket. "I'll be here at eleven to-night."
"Eleven it is," said the boatswain, briskly, "and, between pals--here's
arf a dollar to go on with."
He patted him on the shoulder again, and with a caution to keep out of
sight as much as possible till night walked slowly home. His step was
light, but he carried a face in which care and exultation were strangely
mingled.
By ten o'clock that night care was in the ascendant, and by eleven, when
he discerned the red glow of Mr. Travers's pipe set as a beacon against a
dark background of hedge, the boatswain was ready to curse his inventive
powers. Mr. Travers greeted him cheerily and, honestly attributing the
fact to good food and a couple of pints of beer he had had since the
boatswain left him, said that he was ready for anything.
Mr. Benn grunted and led the way in silence. There was no moon, but the
night was clear, and Mr. Travers, after one or two light-hearted attempts
at conversation, abandoned the effort and fell to whistling softly
instead.
Except for one lighted window the village slept in darkness, but the
boatswain, who had been walking with the stealth of a Red Indian on the
war-path, breathed more freely after they had left it behind. A renewal
of his antics a little farther on apprised Mr. Travers that they were
approaching their destination, and a minute or two later they came to a
small inn standing just off the road. "All shut up and Mrs. Waters abed,
bless her," whispered the boatswain, after walking care-fully round the
house. "How do you feel?"
"I'm all right," said Mr. Travers. "I feel as if I'd been burgling all
my life. How do you feel?"
"Narvous," said Mr. Benn, pausing under a small window at the rear of the
house. "This is the one."
Mr. Travers stepped back a few paces and gazed up at the house. All was
still. For a few moments he stood listening and then re-joined the
boatswain.
"Good-bye, mate," he said, hoisting himself on to the sill. "Death or
victory."
The boatswain whispered and thrust a couple of sovereigns into his hand.
"Take your time; there's no hurry," he muttered. "I want to pull myself
together. Frighten 'er enough, but not too much. When she screams I'll
come in."
Mr. Travers slipped inside and then thrust his head out of the window.
"Won't she think it funny you should be so handy?" he inquired.
"No; it's my faithful 'art," said the boat-swain, "keeping watch over her
every night, that's the ticket. She won't know no better."
Mr. Travers grinned, and removing his boots passed them out to the other.
"We don't want her to hear me till I'm upstairs," he whispered. "Put 'em
outside, handy for me to pick up."
The boatswain obeyed, and Mr. Travers--who was by no means a good hand at
darning socks--shivered as he trod lightly over a stone floor. Then,
following the instructions of Mr. Benn, he made his way to the stairs and
mounted noiselessly.
But for a slight stumble half-way up his progress was very creditable for
an amateur. He paused and listened and, all being silent, made his way
to the landing and stopped out-side a door. Despite himself his heart
was beating faster than usual.
He pushed the door open slowly and started as it creaked. Nothing
happening he pushed again, and standing just inside saw, by a small ewer
silhouetted against the casement, that he was in a bedroom. He listened
for the sound of breathing, but in vain.
"Quiet sleeper," he reflected; "or perhaps it is an empty room. Now, I
wonder whether--"
The sound of an opening door made him start violently, and he stood
still, scarcely breathing, with his ears on the alert. A light shone on
the landing, and peeping round the door he saw a woman coming along the
corridor--a younger and better-looking woman than he had expected to
see. In one hand she held aloft a candle, in the other she bore a
double-barrelled gun. Mr. Travers withdrew into the room and, as the
light came nearer, slipped into a big cupboard by the side of the
fireplace and, standing bolt upright, waited. The light came into the
room.
"Must have been my fancy," said a pleasant voice.
"Bless her," smiled Mr. Travers.
His trained ear recognized the sound of cocking triggers. The next
moment a heavy body bumped against the door of the cupboard and the key
turned in the lock.
"Got you!" said the voice, triumphantly. "Keep still; if you try and
break out I shall shoot you."
"All right," said Mr. Travers, hastily; "I won't move."
"Better not," said the voice. "Mind, I've got a gun pointing straight at
you."
"Point it downwards, there's a good girl," said Mr. Travers, earnestly;
"and take your finger off the trigger. If anything happened to me you'd
never forgive yourself."
"It's all right so long as you don't move," said the voice; "and I'm not
a girl," it added, sternly.
"Yes, you are," said the prisoner. "I saw you. I thought it was an
angel at first. I saw your little bare feet and--"
A faint scream interrupted him.
"You'll catch cold," urged Mr. Travers.
"Don't you trouble about me," said the voice, tartly.
"I won't give any trouble," said Mr. Travers, who began to think it was
time for the boatswain to appear on the scene. "Why don't you call for
help? I'll go like a lamb."
"I don't want your advice," was the reply. "I know what to do. Now,
don't you try and break out. I'm going to fire one barrel out of the
window, but I've got the other one for you if you move."
"My dear girl," protested the horrified Mr. Travers, "you'll alarm the
neighbourhood."
"Just what I want to do," said the voice. "Keep still, mind."
Mr. Travers hesitated. The game was up, and it was clear that in any
case the stratagem of the ingenious Mr. Benn would have to be disclosed.
"Stop!" he said, earnestly. "Don't do anything rash. I'm not a burglar;
I'm doing this for a friend of yours--Mr. Benn."
"What?" said an amazed voice.
"True as I stand here," asseverated Mr. Travers. "Here, here's my
instructions. I'll put 'em under the door, and if you go to the back
window you'll see him in the garden waiting."
He rustled the paper under the door, and it was at once snatched from his
fingers. He regained an upright position and stood listening to the
startled and indignant exclamations of his gaoler as she read the
boatswain's permit:
"_This is to give notice that I, George Benn, being of sound mind
and body, have told Ned Travers to pretend to be a burglar at Mrs.
Waters's. He ain't a burglar, and I shall be outside all the time.
It's all above-board and ship-shape.
"(Signed) George Benn_"
"Sound mind--above-board--ship-shape," repeated a dazed voice. "Where is
he?"
"Out at the back," replied Mr. Travers. "If you go to the window you can
see him. Now, do put something round your shoulders, there's a good
girl."
There was no reply, but a board creaked. He waited for what seemed a
long time, and then the board creaked again.
"Did you see him?" he inquired.
"I did," was the sharp reply. "You both ought to be ashamed of
yourselves. You ought to be punished."
"There is a clothes-peg sticking into the back of my head," remarked Mr.
Travers. "What are you going to do?"
There was no reply.
"What are you going to do?" repeated Mr. Travers, somewhat uneasily.
"You look too nice to do anything hard; leastways, so far as I can judge
through this crack."
There was a smothered exclamation, and then sounds of somebody moving
hastily about the room and the swish of clothing hastily donned.
"You ought to have done it before," commented the thoughtful Mr. Travers.
"It's enough to give you your death of cold."
"Mind your business," said the voice, sharply. "Now, if I let you out,
will you promise to do exactly as I tell you?"
"Honour bright," said Mr. Travers, fervently.
"I'm going to give Mr. Benn a lesson he won't forget," proceeded the
other, grimly. "I'm going to fire off this gun, and then run down and
tell him I've killed you."
"Eh?" said the amazed Mr. Travers. "Oh, Lord!"
"H'sh! Stop that laughing," commanded the voice. "He'll hear you. Be
quiet!"
The key turned in the lock, and Mr. Travers, stepping forth, clapped his
hand over his mouth and endeavoured to obey. Mrs. Waters, stepping back
with the gun ready, scrutinized him closely.
"Come on to the landing," said Mr. Travers, eagerly. "We don't want
anybody else to hear. Fire into this."
He snatched a patchwork rug from the floor and stuck it up against the
balusters. "You stay here," said Mrs. Waters. He nodded.
She pointed the gun at the hearth-rug, the walls shook with the
explosion, and, with a shriek that set Mr. Travers's teeth on edge, she
rushed downstairs and, drawing back the bolts of the back door, tottered
outside and into the arms of the agitated boatswain.
"Oh! oh! oh!" she cried.
"What--what's the matter?" gasped the boatswain.
The widow struggled in his arms. "A burglar," she said, in a tense
whisper. "But it's all right; I've killed him."
"Kill--" stuttered the other. "Kill----_Killed him?_"
Mrs. Waters nodded and released herself, "First shot," she said, with a
satisfied air.
The boatswain wrung his hands. "Good heavens!" he said, moving slowly
towards the door. "Poor fellow!"
"Come back," said the widow, tugging at his coat.
"I was--was going to see--whether I could do anything for 'im," quavered
the boatswain. "Poor fellow!"
"You stay where you are," commanded Mrs. Waters. "I don't want any
witnesses. I don't want this house to have a bad name. I'm going to
keep it quiet."
"Quiet?" said the shaking boatswain. "How?"
"First thing to do," said the widow, thoughtfully, "is to get rid of the
body. I'll bury him in the garden, I think. There's a very good bit of
ground behind those potatoes. You'll find the spade in the tool-house."
The horrified Mr. Benn stood stock-still regarding her.
"While you're digging the grave," continued Mrs. 'Waters, calmly, "I'll
go in and clean up the mess."
The boatswain reeled and then fumbled with trembling fingers at his
collar.
Like a man in a dream he stood watching as she ran to the tool-house and
returned with a spade and pick; like a man in a dream he followed her on
to the garden.
"Be careful," she said, sharply; "you're treading down my potatoes."
The boatswain stopped dead and stared at her. Apparently unconscious of
his gaze, she began to pace out the measurements and then, placing the
tools in his hands, urged him to lose no time.
"I'll bring him down when you're gone," she said, looking towards the
house.
The boatswain wiped his damp brow with the back of his hand. "How are
you going to get it downstairs?" he breathed.
"Drag it," said Mrs. Waters, briefly.
"Suppose he isn't dead?" said the boat-swain, with a gleam of hope.
"Fiddlesticks!" said Mrs. Waters. "Do you think I don't know? Now,
don't waste time talking; and mind you dig it deep. I'll put a few
cabbages on top afterwards--I've got more than I want."
She re-entered the house and ran lightly upstairs. The candle was still
alight and the gun was leaning against the bed-post; but the visitor had
disappeared. Conscious of an odd feeling of disappointment, she looked
round the empty room.
"Come and look at him," entreated a voice, and she turned and beheld the
amused countenance of her late prisoner at the door.
"I've been watching from the back window," he said, nodding. "You're a
wonder; that's what you are. Come and look at him."
Mrs. Waters followed, and leaning out of the window watched with simple
pleasure the efforts of the amateur sexton. Mr. Benn was digging like
one possessed, only pausing at intervals to straighten his back and to
cast a fearsome glance around him. The only thing that marred her
pleasure was the behaviour of Mr. Travers, who was struggling for a place
with all the fervour of a citizen at the Lord Mayor's show.
"Get back," she said, in a fierce whisper. "He'll see you."
Mr. Travers with obvious reluctance obeyed, just as the victim looked up.
"Is that you, Mrs. Waters?" inquired the boatswain, fearfully.
"Yes, of course it is," snapped the widow. "Who else should it be, do
you think? Go on! What are you stopping for?"
Mr. Benn's breathing as he bent to his task again was distinctly audible.
The head of Mr. Travers ranged itself once more alongside the widow's.
For a long time they watched in silence.
"Won't you come down here, Mrs. Waters?" called the boatswain, looking up
so suddenly that Mr. Travers's head bumped painfully against the side of
the window. "It's a bit creepy, all alone."
"I'm all right," said Mrs. Waters.
"I keep fancying there's something dodging behind them currant bushes,"
pursued the unfortunate Mr. Benn, hoarsely. "How you can stay there
alone I can't think. I thought I saw something looking over your
shoulder just now. Fancy if it came creeping up behind and caught hold
of you! The widow gave a sudden faint scream.
"If you do that again" she said, turning fiercely on Mr. Travers.
"He put it into my head," said the culprit, humbly; "I should never have
thought of such a thing by myself. I'm one of the quietest and
best-behaved----"
"Make haste, Mr. Benn," said the widow, turning to the window again;
"I've got a lot to do when you've finished."
The boatswain groaned and fell to digging again, and Mrs. Waters, after
watching a little while longer, gave Mr. Travers some pointed
instructions about the window and went down to the garden again.
"That will do, I think," she said, stepping into the hole and regarding
it critically. "Now you'd better go straight off home, and, mind, not a
word to a soul about this."
She put her hand on his shoulder, and noticing with pleasure that he
shuddered at her touch led the way to the gate. The boat-swain paused
for a moment, as though about to speak, and then, apparently thinking
better of it, bade her good-bye in a hoarse voice and walked feebly up
the road. Mrs. Waters stood watching until his steps died away in the
distance, and then, returning to the garden, took up the spade and stood
regarding with some dismay the mountainous result of his industry. Mr.
Travers, who was standing just inside the back door, joined her.
"Let me," he said, gallantly.
The day was breaking as he finished his task. The clean, sweet air and
the exercise had given him an appetite to which the smell of cooking
bacon and hot coffee that proceeded from the house had set a sharper
edge. He took his coat from a bush and put it on. Mrs. Waters appeared
at the door.
"You had better come in and have some breakfast before you go," she said,
brusquely; "there's no more sleep for me now."
Mr. Travers obeyed with alacrity, and after a satisfying wash in the
scullery came into the big kitchen with his face shining and took a seat
at the table. The cloth was neatly laid, and Mrs. Waters, fresh and
cool, with a smile upon her pleasant face, sat behind the tray. She
looked at her guest curiously, Mr. Travers's spirits being somewhat
higher than the state of his wardrobe appeared to justify.
"Why don't you get some settled work?" she inquired, with gentle
severity, as he imparted snatches of his history between bites.
"Easier said than done," said Mr. Travers, serenely. "But don't you run
away with the idea that I'm a beggar, because I'm not. I pay my way,
such as it is. And, by-the-bye, I s'pose I haven't earned that two
pounds Benn gave me?"
His face lengthened, and he felt uneasily in his pocket.
"I'll give them to him when I'm tired of the joke," said the widow,
holding out her hand and watching him closely.
Mr. Travers passed the coins over to her. "Soft hand you've got," he
said, musingly. "I don't wonder Benn was desperate. I dare say I should
have done the same in his place."
Mrs. Waters bit her lip and looked out at the window; Mr. Travers resumed
his breakfast.
"There's only one job that I'm really fit for, now that I'm too old for
the Army," he said, confidentially, as, breakfast finished, he stood at
the door ready to depart.
"Playing at burglars?" hazarded Mrs. Waters.
"Landlord of a little country public-house," said Mr. Travers, simply.
Mrs. Waters fell back and regarded him with open-eyed amazement.
"Good morning," she said, as soon as she could trust her voice.
"Good-bye," said Mr. Travers, reluctantly. "I should like to hear how
old Benn takes this joke, though."
Mrs. Waters retreated into the house and stood regarding him. "If you're
passing this way again and like to look in--I'll tell you," she said,
after a long pause. "Good-bye."
"I'll look in in a week's time," said Mr. Travers.
He took the proffered hand and shook it warmly. "It would be the best
joke of all," he said, turning away.
"What would?"
The soldier confronted her again.
"For old Benn to come round here one evening and find me landlord. Think
it over."
Mrs. Waters met his gaze soberly. "I'll think it over when you have
gone," she said, softly. "Now go."
THE NEST EGG
[Illustration: "The Nest Egg."]
"Artfulness," said the night-watch-man, smoking placidly, "is a gift; but
it don't pay always. I've met some artful ones in my time--plenty of
'em; but I can't truthfully say as 'ow any of them was the better for
meeting me."
He rose slowly from the packing-case on which he had been sitting and,
stamping down the point of a rusty nail with his heel, resumed his seat,
remarking that he had endured it for some time under the impression that
it was only a splinter.
"I've surprised more than one in my time," he continued, slowly. "When I
met one of these 'ere artful ones I used fust of all to pretend to be
more stupid than wot I really am."
He stopped and stared fixedly.
"More stupid than I looked," he said. He stopped again.
"More stupid than wot they thought I looked," he said, speaking with
marked deliberation. And I'd let 'em go on and on until I thought I had
'ad about enough, and then turn round on 'em. Nobody ever got the better
o' me except my wife, and that was only before we was married. Two
nights arterwards she found a fish-hook in my trouser-pocket, and arter
that I could ha' left untold gold there--if I'd ha' had it. It spoilt
wot some people call the honey-moon, but it paid in the long run.
One o' the worst things a man can do is to take up artfulness all of a
sudden. I never knew it to answer yet, and I can tell you of a case
that'll prove my words true.
It's some years ago now, and the chap it 'appened to was a young man, a
shipmate o' mine, named Charlie Tagg. Very steady young chap he was, too
steady for most of 'em. That's 'ow it was me and 'im got to be such
pals.
He'd been saving up for years to get married, and all the advice we could
give 'im didn't 'ave any effect. He saved up nearly every penny of 'is
money and gave it to his gal to keep for 'im, and the time I'm speaking
of she'd got seventy-two pounds of 'is and seventeen-and-six of 'er own
to set up house-keeping with.
Then a thing happened that I've known to 'appen to sailormen afore. At
Sydney 'e got silly on another gal, and started walking out with her, and
afore he knew wot he was about he'd promised to marry 'er too.
Sydney and London being a long way from each other was in 'is favour, but
the thing that troubled 'im was 'ow to get that seventy-two pounds out of
Emma Cook, 'is London gal, so as he could marry the other with it. It
worried 'im all the way home, and by the time we got into the London
river 'is head was all in a maze with it. Emma Cook 'ad got it all saved
up in the bank, to take a little shop with when they got spliced, and 'ow
to get it he could not think.
He went straight off to Poplar, where she lived, as soon as the ship was
berthed. He walked all the way so as to 'ave more time for thinking, but
wot with bumping into two old gentlemen with bad tempers, and being
nearly run over by a cabman with a white 'orse and red whiskers, he got
to the house without 'aving thought of anything.
They was just finishing their tea as 'e got there, and they all seemed so
pleased to see 'im that it made it worse than ever for 'im. Mrs. Cook,
who 'ad pretty near finished, gave 'im her own cup to drink out of, and
said that she 'ad dreamt of 'im the night afore last, and old Cook said
that he 'ad got so good-looking 'e shouldn't 'ave known him.
"I should 'ave passed 'im in the street," he ses. "I never see such an
alteration."
"They'll be a nice-looking couple," ses his wife, looking at a young
chap, named George Smith, that 'ad been sitting next to Emma.
Charlie Tagg filled 'is mouth with bread and butter, and wondered 'ow he
was to begin. He squeezed Emma's 'and just for the sake of keeping up
appearances, and all the time 'e was thinking of the other gal waiting
for 'im thousands o' miles away.
"You've come 'ome just in the nick o' time," ses old Cook; "if you'd done
it o' purpose you couldn't 'ave arranged it better."
"Somebody's birthday?" ses Charlie, trying to smile.
Old Cook shook his 'ead. "Though mine is next Wednesday," he ses, "and
thank you for thinking of it. No; you're just in time for the biggest
bargain in the chandlery line that anybody ever 'ad a chance of. If you
'adn't ha' come back we should have 'ad to ha' done it without you."
"Eighty pounds," ses Mrs. Cook, smiling at Charlie. "With the money
Emma's got saved and your wages this trip you'll 'ave plenty. You must
come round arter tea and 'ave a look at it."
"Little place not arf a mile from 'ere," ses old Cook. "Properly worked
up, the way Emma'll do it, it'll be a little fortune. I wish I'd had a
chance like it in my young time."
He sat shaking his 'ead to think wot he'd lost, and Charlie Tagg sat
staring at 'im and wondering wot he was to do.
"My idea is for Charlie to go for a few more v'y'ges arter they're
married while Emma works up the business," ses Mrs. Cook; "she'll be all
right with young Bill and Sarah Ann to 'elp her and keep 'er company
while he's away."
"We'll see as she ain't lonely," ses George Smith, turning to Charlie.
Charlie Tagg gave a bit of a cough and said it wanted considering. He
said it was no good doing things in a 'urry and then repenting of 'em all
the rest of your life. And 'e said he'd been given to understand that
chandlery wasn't wot it 'ad been, and some of the cleverest people 'e
knew thought that it would be worse before it was better. By the time
he'd finished they was all looking at 'im as though they couldn't believe
their ears.
"You just step round and 'ave a look at the place," ses old Cook; "if
that don't make you alter your tune, call me a sinner."
Charlie Tagg felt as though 'e could ha' called 'im a lot o' worse things
than that, but he took up 'is hat and Mrs. Cook and Emma got their
bonnets on and they went round.
"I don't think much of it for eighty pounds," ses Charlie, beginning his
artfulness as they came near a big shop, with plate-glass and a double
front.
"Eh?" ses old Cook, staring at 'im. "Why, that ain't the place. Why,
you wouldn't get that for eight 'undred."
"Well, I don't think much of it," ses Charlie; "if it's worse than that I
can't look at it--I can't, indeed."
"You ain't been drinking, Charlie?" ses old Cook, in a puzzled voice.
"Certainly not," ses Charlie.
He was pleased to see 'ow anxious they all looked, and when they did come
to the shop 'e set up a laugh that old Cook said chilled the marrer in
'is bones. He stood looking in a 'elpless sort o' way at his wife and
Emma, and then at last he ses, "There it is; and a fair bargain at the
price."
"I s'pose you ain't been drinking?" ses Charlie.
"Wot's the matter with it?" ses Mrs. Cook flaring up.
"Come inside and look at it," ses Emma, taking 'old of his arm.
"Not me," ses Charlie, hanging back. "Why, I wouldn't take it at a
gift."
He stood there on the kerbstone, and all they could do 'e wouldn't budge.
He said it was a bad road and a little shop, and 'ad got a look about it
he didn't like. They walked back 'ome like a funeral procession, and
Emma 'ad to keep saying "_H's!_" in w'ispers to 'er mother all the way.
[Illustration: "He said it was a had road and a little shop, and 'ad got
a look about it he didn't like."]
"I don't know wot Charlie does want, I'm sure," ses Mrs. Cook, taking off
'er bonnet as soon as she got indoors and pitching it on the chair he was
just going to set down on.
"It's so awk'ard," ses old Cook, rubbing his 'cad. "Fact is, Charlie, we
pretty near gave 'em to understand as we'd buy it."
"It's as good as settled," ses Mrs. Cook, trembling all over with temper.
"They won't settle till they get the money," ses Charlie. "You may make
your mind easy about that."
"Emma's drawn it all out of the bank ready," ses old Cook, eager like.
Charlie felt 'ot and cold all over. "I'd better take care of it," he
ses, in a trembling voice. "You might be robbed."
"So might you be," ses Mrs. Cook. "Don't you worry; it's in a safe
place."
"Sailormen are always being robbed," ses George Smith, who 'ad been
helping young Bill with 'is sums while they 'ad gone to look at the shop.
"There's more sailormen robbed than all the rest put together."
"They won't rob Charlie," ses Mrs. Cook, pressing 'er lips together.
"I'll take care o' that."
Charlie tried to laugh, but 'e made such a queer noise that young Bill
made a large blot on 'is exercise-book, and old Cook, wot was lighting
his pipe, burnt 'is fingers through not looking wot 'e was doing.
"You see," ses Charlie, "if I was robbed, which ain't at all likely, it
'ud only be me losing my own money; but if you was robbed of it you'd
never forgive yourselves."
"I dessay I should get over it," ses Mrs. Cook, sniffing. "I'd 'ave a
try, at all events."
Charlie started to laugh agin, and old Cook, who had struck another
match, blew it out and waited till he'd finished.
"The whole truth is," ses Charlie, looking round, "I've got something
better to do with the money. I've got a chance offered me that'll make
me able to double it afore you know where you are."
"Not afore I know where I am," ses Mrs. Cook, with a laugh that was worse
than Charlie's.
"The chance of a lifetime," ses Charlie, trying to keep 'is temper. "I
can't tell you wot it is, because I've promised to keep it secret for a
time. You'll be surprised when I do tell you."
"If I wait till then till I'm surprised," ses Mrs. Cook, "I shall 'ave to
wait a long time. My advice to you is to take that shop and ha' done
with it."
Charlie sat there arguing all the evening, but it was no good, and the
idea o' them people sitting there and refusing to let 'im have his own
money pretty near sent 'im crazy. It was all 'e could do to kiss Emma
good-night, and 'e couldn't have 'elped slamming the front door if he'd
been paid for it. The only comfort he 'ad got left was the Sydney gal's
photygraph, and he took that out and looked at it under nearly every
lamp-post he passed.
He went round the next night and 'ad an-other try to get 'is money, but
it was no use; and all the good he done was to make Mrs. Cook in such a
temper that she 'ad to go to bed before he 'ad arf finished. It was no
good talking to old Cook and Emma, because they daren't do anything
without 'er, and it was no good calling things up the stairs to her
because she didn't answer. Three nights running Mrs. Cook went off to
bed afore eight o'clock, for fear she should say something to 'im as
she'd be sorry for arterwards; and for three nights Charlie made 'imself
so disagreeable that Emma told 'im plain the sooner 'e went back to sea
agin the better she should like it. The only one who seemed to enjoy it
was George Smith, and 'e used to bring bits out o' newspapers and read to
'em, showing 'ow silly people was done out of their money.
On the fourth night Charlie dropped it and made 'imself so amiable that
Mrs. Cook stayed up and made 'im a Welsh rare-bit for 'is supper, and
made 'im drink two glasses o' beer instead o' one, while old Cook sat and
drank three glasses o' water just out of temper, and to show that 'e
didn't mind. When she started on the chandler's shop agin Charlie said
he'd think it over, and when 'e went away Mrs. Cook called 'im her
sailor-boy and wished 'im pleasant dreams.
But Charlie Tagg 'ad got better things to do than to dream, and 'e sat up
in bed arf the night thinking out a new plan he'd thought of to get that
money. When 'e did fall asleep at last 'e dreamt of taking a little farm
in Australia and riding about on 'orseback with the Sydney gal watching
his men at work.
In the morning he went and hunted up a shipmate of 'is, a young feller
named Jack Bates. Jack was one o' these 'ere chaps, nobody's enemy but
their own, as the saying is; a good-'arted, free-'anded chap as you could
wish to see. Everybody liked 'im, and the ship's cat loved 'im. He'd
ha' sold the shirt off 'is back to oblige a pal, and three times in one
week he got 'is face scratched for trying to prevent 'usbands knocking
their wives about.
Charlie Tagg went to 'im because he was the only man 'e could trust, and
for over arf an hour he was telling Jack Bates all 'is troubles, and at
last, as a great favour, he let 'im see the Sydney gal's photygraph, and
told him that all that pore gal's future 'appiness depended upon 'im.
"I'll step round to-night and rob 'em of that seventy-two pounds," ses
Jack; "it's your money, and you've a right to it."
Charlie shook his 'ead. "That wouldn't do," he ses; "besides, I don't
know where they keep it. No; I've got a better plan than that. Come
round to the Crooked Billet, so as we can talk it over in peace and
quiet."
He stood Jack three or four arf-pints afore 'e told 'im his plan, and
Jack was so pleased with it that he wanted to start at once, but Charlie
persuaded 'im to wait.
"And don't you spare me, mind, out o' friendship," ses Charlie, "because
the blacker you paint me the better I shall like it."
"You trust me, mate," ses Jack Bates; "if I don't get that seventy-two
pounds for you, you may call me a Dutchman. Why, it's fair robbery, I
call it, sticking to your money like that."
They spent the rest o' the day together, and when evening came Charlie
went off to the Cooks'. Emma 'ad arf expected they was going to a
theayter that night, but Charlie said he wasn't feeling the thing, and he
sat there so quiet and miserable they didn't know wot to make of 'im.
"'Ave you got any trouble on your mind, Charlie," ses Mrs. Cook, "or is
it the tooth-ache?"
"It ain't the toothache," ses Charlie.
He sat there pulling a long face and staring at the floor, but all Mrs.
Cook and Emma could do 'e wouldn't tell them wot was the matter with 'im.
He said 'e didn't want to worry other people with 'is troubles; let
everybody bear their own, that was 'is motto. Even when George Smith
offered to go to the theayter with Emma instead of 'im he didn't fire up,
and, if it 'adn't ha' been for Mrs. Cook, George wouldn't ha' been sorry
that 'e spoke.
"Theayters ain't for me," ses Charlie, with a groan. "I'm more likely to
go to gaol, so far as I can see, than a theayter."
Mrs. Cook and Emma both screamed and Sarah Ann did 'er first
highstericks, and very well, too, considering that she 'ad only just
turned fifteen.
"Gaol!" ses old Cook, as soon as they 'ad quieted Sarah Ann with a bowl
o' cold water that young Bill 'ad the presence o' mind to go and fetch.
"Gaol! What for?"
"You wouldn't believe if I was to tell you." ses Charlie, getting up to
go, "and besides, I don't want any of you to think as 'ow I am worse than
wot I am."
He shook his 'cad at them sorrowful-like, and afore they could stop 'im
he 'ad gone. Old Cook shouted arter 'im, but it was no use, and the
others was running into the scullery to fill the bowl agin for Emma.
Mrs. Cook went round to 'is lodgings next morning, but found that 'e was
out. They began to fancy all sorts o' things then, but Charlie turned up
agin that evening more miserable than ever.
"I went round to see you this morning," ses Mrs. Cook, "but you wasn't at
'ome."
"I never am, 'ardly," ses Charlie. "I can't be--it ain't safe."
"Why not?" ses Mrs. Cook, fidgeting.
"If I was to tell you, you'd lose your good opinion of me," ses Charlie.
"It wouldn't be much to lose," ses Mrs. Cook, firing up.
Charlie didn't answer 'er. When he did speak he spoke to the old man,
and he was so down-'arted that 'e gave 'im the chills a'most, He 'ardly
took any notice of Emma, and, when Mrs. Cook spoke about the shop agin,
said that chandlers' shops was for happy people, not for 'im.
By the time they sat down to supper they was nearly all as miserable as
Charlie 'imself. From words he let drop they all seemed to 'ave the idea
that the police was arter 'im, and Mrs. Cook was just asking 'im for wot
she called the third and last time, but wot was more likely the hundred
and third, wot he'd done, when there was a knock at the front door, so
loud and so sudden that old Cook and young Bill both cut their mouths at
the same time.
"Anybody 'ere o' the name of Emma Cook?" ses a man's voice, when young
Bill opened the door.
"She's inside," ses the boy, and the next moment Jack Bates followed 'im
into the room, and then fell back with a start as 'e saw Charlie Tagg.
"Ho, 'ere you are, are you?" he ses, looking at 'im very black.
"Wot's the matter?" ses Mrs. Cook, very sharp.
"I didn't expect to 'ave the pleasure o' seeing you 'ere, my lad," ses
Jack, still staring at Charlie, and twisting 'is face up into awful
scowls. "Which is Emma Cook?"
"Miss Cook is my name," ses Emma, very sharp. "Wot d'ye want?"
"Very good," ses Jack Bates, looking at Charlie agin; "then p'r'aps
you'll do me the kindness of telling that lie o' yours agin afore this
young lady."
"It's the truth," ses Charlie, looking down at 'is plate.
"If somebody don't tell me wot all this is about in two minutes, I shall
do something desprit," ses Mrs. Cook, getting up.
"This 'ere--er--man," ses Jack Bates, pointing at Charlie, "owes me
seventy-five pounds and won't pay. When I ask 'im for it he ses a party
he's keeping company with, by the name of Emma Cook, 'as got it, and he
can't get it."
"So she has," ses Charlie, without looking up.
"Wot does 'e owe you the money for?" ses Mrs. Cook.
"'Cos I lent it to 'im," ses Jack.
"Lent it? What for?" ses Mrs. Cook.
"'Cos I was a fool, I s'pose," ses jack Bates; "a good-natured fool.
Anyway, I'm sick and tired of asking for it, and if I don't get it
to-night I'm going to see the police about it."
He sat down on a chair with 'is hat cocked over one eye, and they all sat
staring at 'im as though they didn't know wot to say next.
"So this is wot you meant when you said you'd got the chance of a
lifetime, is it?" ses Mrs. Cook to Charlie. "This is wot you wanted it
for, is it? Wot did you borrow all that money for?"
"Spend," ses Charlie, in a sulky voice.
"Spend!" ses Mrs. Cook, with a scream; "wot in?"
"Drink and cards mostly," ses Jack Bates, remembering wot Charlie 'ad
told 'im about blackening 'is character.
You might ha' heard a pin drop a'most, and Charlie sat there without
saying a word.
"Charlie's been led away," ses Mrs. Cook, looking 'ard at Jack Bates. "I
s'pose you lent 'im the money to win it back from 'im at cards, didn't
you?"
"And gave 'im too much licker fust," ses old Cook. "I've 'eard of your
kind. If Charlie takes my advice 'e won't pay you a farthing. I should
let you do your worst if I was 'im; that's wot I should do. You've got a
low face; a nasty, ugly, low face."
"One o' the worst I ever see," ses Mrs. Cook. "It looks as though it
might ha' been cut out o' the Police News."
"'Owever could you ha' trusted a man with a face like that, Charlie?" ses
old Cook. "Come away from 'im, Bill; I don't like such a chap in the
room."
Jack Bates began to feel very awk'ard. They was all glaring at 'im as
though they could eat 'im, and he wasn't used to such treatment. And, as
a matter o' fact, he'd got a very good-'arted face.
"You go out o' that door," ses old Cook, pointing to it. "Go and do your
worst. You won't get any money 'ere."
"Stop a minute," ses Emma, and afore they could stop 'er she ran
upstairs. Mrs. Cook went arter 'er and 'igh words was heard up in the
bedroom, but by-and-by Emma came down holding her head very 'igh and
looking at Jack Bates as though he was dirt.
"How am I to know Charlie owes you this money?" she ses.
Jack Bates turned very red, and arter fumbling in 'is pockets took out
about a dozen dirty bits o' paper, which Charlie 'ad given 'im for
I O U's. Emma read 'em all, and then she threw a little parcel on the
table.
"There's your money," she ses; "take it and go."
Mrs. Cook and 'er father began to call out, but it was no good.
"There's seventy-two pounds there," ses Emma, who was very pale; "and
'ere's a ring you can have to 'elp make up the rest." And she drew
Charlie's ring off and throwed it on the table. "I've done with 'im for
good," she ses, with a look at 'er mother.
Jack Bates took up the money and the ring and stood there looking at 'er
and trying to think wot to say. He'd always been uncommon partial to the
sex, and it did seem 'ard to stand there and take all that on account of
Charlie Tagg.
"I only wanted my own," he ses, at last, shuffling about the floor.
"Well, you've got it," ses Mrs. Cook, "and now you can go."
"You're pi'soning the air of my front parlour," ses old Cook, opening the
winder a little at the top.
"P'r'aps I ain't so bad as you think I am," ses Jack Bates, still looking
at Emma, and with that 'e walked over to Charlie and dumped down the
money on the table in front of 'im. "Take it," he ses, "and don't borrow
any more. I make you a free gift of it. P'r'aps my 'art ain't as black
as my face," he ses, turning to Mrs. Cook.
They was all so surprised at fust that they couldn't speak, but old Cook
smiled at 'im and put the winder up agin. And Charlie Tagg sat there arf
mad with temper, locking as though 'e could eat Jack Bates without any
salt, as the saying is.
"I--I can't take it," he ses at last, with a stammer.
"Can't take it? Why not?" ses old Cook, staring. "This gentleman 'as
given it to you." "A free gift," ses Mrs. Cook, smiling at Jack
very sweet.
"I can't take it," ses Charlie, winking at Jack to take the money up and
give it to 'im quiet, as arranged. "I 'ave my pride."
"So 'ave I," ses Jack. "Are you going to take it?"
Charlie gave another look. "No," he ses, "I cant take a favour. I
borrowed the money and I'll pay it back.
"Very good," ses Jack, taking it up. "It's my money, ain't it?"
"Yes," ses Charlie, taking no notice of Mrs. Cook and 'er husband, wot
was both talking to 'im at once, and trying to persuade 'im to alter his
mind.
"Then I give it to Miss Emma Cook," ses Jack Bates, putting it into her
hands. "Good-night everybody and good luck."
He slammed the front door behind 'im and they 'eard 'im go off down the
road as if 'e was going for fire-engines. Charlie sat there for a moment
struck all of a heap, and then 'e jumped up and dashed arter 'im. He
just saw 'im disappearing round a corner, and he didn't see 'im agin for
a couple o' year arterwards, by which time the Sydney gal had 'ad three
or four young men arter 'im, and Emma, who 'ad changed her name to Smith,
was doing one o' the best businesses in the chandlery line in Poplar.
THE CONSTABLE'S MOVE
[Illustration: "The Constable's Move."]
Mr. Bob Grummit sat in the kitchen with his corduroy-clad legs stretched
on the fender. His wife's half-eaten dinner was getting cold on the
table; Mr. Grummit, who was badly in need of cheering up, emptied her
half-empty glass of beer and wiped his lips with the back of his hand.
"Come away, I tell you," he called. "D'ye hear? Come away. You'll be
locked up if you don't."
He gave a little laugh at the sarcasm, and sticking his short pipe in his
mouth lurched slowly to the front-room door and scowled at his wife as
she lurked at the back of the window watching intently the furniture
which was being carried in next door.
"Come away or else you'll be locked up," repeated Mr. Grummit. "You
mustn't look at policemen's furniture; it's agin the law."
Mrs. Grummit made no reply, but, throwing appearances to the winds,
stepped to the window until her nose touched, as a walnut sideboard with
bevelled glass back was tenderly borne inside under the personal
supervision of Police-Constable Evans.
"They'll be 'aving a pianner next," said the indignant Mr. Grummit,
peering from the depths of the room.
"They've got one," responded his wife; "there's the end if it stickin' up
in the van."
Mr. Grummit advanced and regarded the end fixedly. "Did you throw all
them tin cans and things into their yard wot I told you to?" he demanded.
"He picked up three of 'em while I was upstairs," replied his wife. "I
'eard 'im tell her that they'd come in handy for paint and things."
"That's 'ow coppers get on and buy pianners," said the incensed Mr.
Grummit, "sneaking other people's property. I didn't tell you to throw
good 'uns over, did I? Wot d'ye mean by it?"
Mrs. Grummit made no reply, but watched with bated breath the triumphal
entrance of the piano. The carman set it tenderly on the narrow
footpath, while P. C. Evans, stooping low, examined it at all points, and
Mrs. Evans, raising the lid, struck a few careless chords.
"Showing off," explained Mrs. Grummit, with a half turn; "and she's got
fingers like carrots."
"It's a disgrace to Mulberry Gardens to 'ave a copper come and live in
it," said the indignant Grummit; "and to come and live next to me!--
that's what I can't get over. To come and live next door to a man wot
has been fined twice, and both times wrong. Why, for two pins I'd go in
and smash 'is pianner first and 'im after it. He won't live 'ere long,
you take my word for it."
"Why not?" inquired his wife.
"Why?" repeated Mr. Grummit. "Why? Why, becos I'll make the place too
'ot to hold him. Ain't there enough houses in Tunwich without 'im
a-coming and living next door to me?"
For a whole week the brain concealed in Mr. Grummit's bullet-shaped head
worked in vain, and his temper got correspondingly bad. The day after
the Evans' arrival he had found his yard littered with tins which he
recognized as old acquaintances, and since that time they had travelled
backwards and forwards with monotonous regularity. They sometimes made
as many as three journeys a day, and on one occasion the heavens opened
to drop a battered tin bucket on the back of Mr. Grummit as he was tying
his bootlace. Five minutes later he spoke of the outrage to Mr. Evans,
who had come out to admire the sunset.
"I heard something fall," said the constable, eyeing the pail curiously.
"You threw it," said Mr. Grummit, breathing furiously.
"Me? Nonsense," said the other, easily. "I was having tea in the
parlour with my wife and my mother-in-law, and my brother Joe and his
young lady."
"Any more of 'em?" demanded the hapless Mr. Grummit, aghast at this list
of witnesses for an alibi.
"It ain't a bad pail, if you look at it properly," said the constable.
"I should keep it if I was you; unless the owner offers a reward for it.
It'll hold enough water for your wants."
Mr. Grummit flung indoors and, after wasting some time concocting
impossible measures of retaliation with his sympathetic partner, went off
to discuss affairs with his intimates at the _Bricklayers' Arms_. The
company, although unanimously agreeing that Mr. Evans ought to be boiled,
were miserably deficient in ideas as to the means by which such a
desirable end was to be attained.
"Make 'im a laughing-stock, that's the best thing," said an elderly
labourer. "The police don't like being laughed at."
"'Ow?" demanded Mr. Grummit, with some asperity.
"There's plenty o' ways," said the old man.
"I should find 'em out fast enough if I 'ad a bucket dropped on my back,
I know."
Mr. Grummit made a retort the feebleness of which was somewhat balanced
by its ferocity, and subsided into glum silence. His back still ached,
but, despite that aid to intellectual effort, the only ways he could
imagine of making the constable look foolish contained an almost certain
risk of hard labour for himself.
He pondered the question for a week, and meanwhile the tins--to the
secret disappointment of Mr. Evans--remained untouched in his yard. For
the whole of the time he went about looking, as Mrs. Grummit expressed
it, as though his dinner had disagreed with him.
"I've been talking to old Bill Smith," he said, suddenly, as he came in
one night.
Mrs. Grummit looked up, and noticed with wifely pleasure that he was
looking almost cheerful.
"He's given me a tip," said Mr. Grummit, with a faint smile; "a copper
mustn't come into a free-born Englishman's 'ouse unless he's invited."
"Wot of it?" inquired his wife. "You wasn't think of asking him in, was
you?"
Mr. Grummit regarded her almost play-fully. "If a copper comes in
without being told to," he continued, "he gets into trouble for it. Now
d'ye see?"
"But he won't come," said the puzzled Mrs. Grummit.
Mr. Grummit winked. "Yes 'e will if you scream loud enough," he
retorted. "Where's the copper-stick?"
"Have you gone mad?" demanded his wife, "or do you think I 'ave?"
"You go up into the bedroom," said Mr. Grummit, emphasizing his remarks
with his forefinger. "I come up and beat the bed black and blue with the
copper-stick; you scream for mercy and call out 'Help!' 'Murder!' and
things like that. Don't call out 'Police!' cos Bill ain't sure about
that part. Evans comes bursting in to save your life--I'll leave the
door on the latch--and there you are. He's sure to get into trouble for
it. Bill said so. He's made a study o' that sort o' thing."
Mrs. Grummit pondered this simple plan so long that her husband began to
lose patience. At last, against her better sense, she rose and fetched
the weapon in question.
"And you be careful what you're hitting," she said, as they went upstairs
to bed. "We'd better have 'igh words first, I s'pose?"
"You pitch into me with your tongue," said Mr. Grummit, amiably.
Mrs. Grummit, first listening to make sure that the constable and his
wife were in the bedroom the other side of the flimsy wall, complied, and
in a voice that rose gradually to a piercing falsetto told Mr. Grummit
things that had been rankling in her mind for some months. She raked up
misdemeanours that he had long since forgotten, and, not content with
that, had a fling at the entire Grummit family, beginning with her
mother-in-law and ending with Mr. Grummit's youngest sister. The hand
that held the copper-stick itched.
"Any more to say?" demanded Mr. Grummit advancing upon her.
Mrs. Grummit emitted a genuine shriek, and Mr. Grummit, suddenly
remembering himself, stopped short and attacked the bed with
extraordinary fury. The room resounded with the blows, and the efforts
of Mrs. Grummit were a revelation even to her husband.
[Illustration: "Mr. Grummit, suddenly remembering himself, stopped short
and attacked the bed with extraordinary fury."]
"I can hear 'im moving," whispered Mr. Grummit, pausing to take breath.
"Mur--der!" wailed his wife. "Help! Help!"
Mr. Grummit, changing the stick into his left hand, renewed the attack;
Mrs. Grummit, whose voice was becoming exhausted, sought a temporary
relief in moans.
"Is--he----deaf?" panted the wife-beater, "or wot?"
He knocked over a chair, and Mrs. Grummit contrived another frenzied
scream. A loud knocking sounded on the wall.
"Hel--lp!" moaned Mrs. Grummit.
"Halloa, there!" came the voice of the constable. "Why don't you keep
that baby quiet? We can't get a wink of sleep."
Mr. Grummit dropped the stick on the bed and turned a dazed face to his
wife.
"He--he's afraid--to come in," he gasped. "Keep it up, old gal."
He took up the stick again and Mrs. Grummit did her best, but the heart
had gone out of the thing, and he was about to give up the task as
hopeless when the door below was heard to open with a bang.
"Here he is," cried the jubilant Grummit. "Now!"
His wife responded, and at the same moment the bedroom door was flung
open, and her brother, who had been hastily fetched by the neighbours on
the other side, burst into the room and with one hearty blow sent Mr.
Grummit sprawling.
"Hit my sister, will you?" he roared, as the astounded Mr. Grummit rose.
"Take that!"
Mr. Grummit took it, and several other favours, while his wife, tugging
at her brother, endeavoured to explain. It was not, however, until Mr.
Grummit claimed the usual sanctuary of the defeated by refusing to rise
that she could make herself heard.
"Joke?" repeated her brother, incredulously. "Joke?"
Mrs. Grummit in a husky voice explained.
Her brother passed from incredulity to amazement and from amazement to
mirth. He sat down gurgling, and the indignant face of the injured
Grummit only added to his distress.
"Best joke I ever heard in my life," he said, wiping his eyes. "Don't
look at me like that, Bob; I can't bear it."
"Get off 'ome," responded Mr. Grummit, glowering at him.
"There's a crowd outside, and half the doors in the place open," said the
other. "Well, it's a good job there's no harm done. So long."
He passed, beaming, down the stairs, and Mr. Grummit, drawing near the
window, heard him explaining in a broken voice to the neighbours outside.
Strong men patted him on the back and urged him gruffly to say what he
had to say and laugh afterwards. Mr. Grummit turned from the window, and
in a slow and stately fashion prepared to retire for the night. Even the
sudden and startling disappearance of Mrs. Grummit as she got into bed
failed to move him.
"The bed's broke, Bob," she said faintly.
"Beds won't last for ever," he said, shortly; "sleep on the floor."
Mrs. Grummit clambered out, and after some trouble secured the bedclothes
and made up a bed in a corner of the room. In a short time she was fast
asleep; but her husband, broad awake, spent the night in devising further
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