by W. W. Jacobs
Produced by David Widger.
*NIGHT WATCHES*
_By_
W. W. JACOBS
1911
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CONTENTS
ILLUSTRATIONS BACK TO BACK KEEPING WATCH THE UNDERSTUDY THE WEAKER VESSEL STEPPING BACKWARDS THE THREE SISTERS THE UNKNOWN THE VIGIL EASY MONEY HIS OTHER SELF
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ILLUSTRATIONS
"Oh, Bill!" She Gasped. "and by Daylight, Too!"
"I'd Pretty Well Swear he Ain't the Same Dog."
"You--you Had Better Let Me Take Care of That."
"I Hope They Won't Meet 'er, Pore Thing," he Ses.
Mrs. Ward and Her Daughter Flung Themselves Hastily.
I Got out at Last by Playing a Game on Her.
BACK TO BACK
Mrs. Scutts, concealed behind the curtain, gazed at the cab in uneasyamazement. The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door,stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might beneeded. A stranger was the first to alight, and, with his back towardsMrs. Scutts, seemed to be struggling with something in the cab. Heplaced a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight,reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round theneck of a third man. In a flash Mrs. Scutts was at the door.
Mr. Scutts raised his head sharply and his lips parted; then his headsank again, and he became a dead weight in the grasp of his assistants.
"He's all right," said one of them, turning to Mrs. Scutts.
A deep groan from Mr. Scutts confirmed the statement.
"What is it?" inquired his wife, anxiously.
"Just a little bit of a railway accident," said one of the strangers."Train ran into some empty trucks. Nobody hurt--seriously," he added, inresponse to a terrible and annoyed groan from Mr. Scutts.
With his feet dragging helplessly, Mr. Scutts was conveyed over his owndoorstep and placed on the sofa.
"All the others went off home on their own legs," said one of thestrangers, reproachfully. "He said he couldn't walk, and he wouldn't goto a hospital."
"Wanted to die at home," declared the sufferer. "I ain't going to be cutabout at no 'ospitals."
The two strangers stood by watching him; then they looked at each other.
"I don't want--no--'ospitals," gasped Mr. Scutts, "I'm going to have myown doctor."
"Of course the company will pay the doctor's bill," said one of thestrangers to Mrs. Scutts, "or they'll send their own doctor. I expecthe'll be all right to-morrow."
"I 'ope so," said Mr. Scutts, "but I don't think it. Thank you forbringing of me 'ome."
He closed his eyes languidly, and kept them closed until the men haddeparted.
"Can't you walk, Bill?" inquired the tearful Mrs. Scutts.
Her husband shook his head. "You go and fetch the doctor," he said,slowly. "That new one round the corner."
"He looks such a boy," objected Mrs. Scutts.
"You go and fetch 'im," said Mr. Scutts, raising his voice. "D'ye hear!"
"But--" began his wife.
"If I get up to you, my gal," said the forgetful Mr. Scutts, "you'llknow it."
"Why, I thought--" said his wife, in surprise.
Mr. Scutts raised himself on the sofa and shook his fist at her. Then,as a tribute to appearances, he sank back and groaned again. Mrs.Scutts, looking somewhat relieved, took her bonnet from a nail anddeparted.
The examination was long and tedious, but Mr. Scutts, beyond remarkingthat he felt chilly, made no complaint. He endeavoured, but in vain, toperform the tests suggested, and even did his best to stand, supportedby his medical attendant. Self-preservation is the law of Nature, andwhen Mr. Scutts's legs and back gave way he saw to it that the doctorwas underneath.
"We'll have to get you up to bed," said the latter, rising slowly anddusting himself.
Mr. Scutts, who was lying full length on the floor, acquiesced, and senthis wife for some neighbours. One of them was a professionalfurniture-remover, and, half-way up the narrow stairs, the unfortunatehad to remind him that he was dealing with a British working man, andnot a piano. Four pairs of hands deposited Mr. Scutts with mathematicalprecision in the centre of the bed and then proceeded to tuck him in,while Mrs. Scutts drew the sheet in a straight line under his chin.
"Don't look much the matter with 'im," said one of the assistants.
"You can't tell with a face like that," said the furniture-remover."It's wot you might call a 'appy face. Why, he was 'arf smiling as we,carried 'im up the stairs."
"You're a liar," said Mr. Scutts, opening his eyes.
"All right, mate," said the furniture-remover; "all right. There's nocall to get annoyed about it. Good old English pluck, I call it. Whered'you feel the pain?"
"All over," said Mr. Scutts, briefly.
His neighbours regarded him with sympathetic eyes, and then, led by thefurniture-remover, filed out of the room on tip-toe. The doctor, with afew parting instructions, also took his departure.
"If you're not better by the morning," he said, pausing at the door,"you must send for your club doctor."
Mr. Scutts, in a feeble voice, thanked him, and lay with a twisted smileon his face listening to his wife's vivid narrative to the little crowdwhich had collected at the front door. She came back, followed by thenext-door neighbour, Mr. James Flynn, whose offers of assistance rangedfrom carrying Mr. Scutts out pick-a-back when he wanted to take the air,to filling his pipe for him and fetching his beer.
"But I dare say you'll be up and about in a couple o' days," heconcluded. "You wouldn't look so well if you'd got anything serious thematter; rosy, fat cheeks and----"
"That'll do," said the indignant invalid. "It's my back that's hurt, notmy face."
"I know," said Mr. Flynn, nodding sagely; "but if it was hurt bad yourface would be as white as that sheet-whiter."
"The doctor said as he was to be kep' quiet," remarked Mrs. Scutts,sharply.
"Right-o," said Mr. Flynn. "Ta-ta, old pal. Keep your pecker up, and ifyou want your back rubbed with turps, or anything of that sort, justknock on the wall."
He went, before Mr. Scutts could think of a reply suitable for aninvalid and, at the same time, bristling with virility. A sinful andfoolish desire to leap out of bed and help Mr. Flynn downstairs made himmore rubicund than ever.
He sent for the club doctor next morning, and, pending his arrival,partook of a basin of arrowroot and drank a little beef-tea. A bottle ofcastor-oil and an empty pill-box on the table by the bedside added alittle local colour to the scene.
"Any pain?" inquired the doctor, after an examination in which bony andvery cold fingers had played a prominent part.
"Not much pain," said Mr. Scutts. "Don't seem to have no strength in myback."
"Ah!" said the doctor.
"I tried to get up this morning to go to my work," said Mr. Scutts, "butI can't stand! couldn't get out of bed."
"Fearfully upset, he was, pore dear," testified Mrs. Scutts. "He can'tbear losing a day. I s'pose--I s'pose the railway company will 'ave todo something if it's serious, won't they, sir?"
"Nothing to do with me," said the doctor. "I'll put him on the club fora few days; I expect he will be all right soon. He's got a healthycolour--a very healthy colour."
Mr. Scutts waited until he had left the house and then made a fewremarks on the colour question that for impurity of English and strengthof diction have probably never been surpassed.
A second visitor that day came after dinner--a tall
man in a frock-coat,bearing in his hand a silk hat, which, after a careful survey of theroom, he hung on a knob of the bedpost.
"Mr. Scutts?" he inquired, bowing.
"That's me," said Mr. Scutts, in a feeble voice.
"I've called from the railway company," said the stranger. "We have seennow all those who left their names and addresses on Monday afternoon,and I am glad to say that nobody was really hurt. Nobody."
Mr. Scutts, in a faint voice, said he was glad to hear it.
"Been a wonder if they had," said the other, cheerfully. "Why, even thepaint wasn't knocked off the engine. The most serious damage appears tobe two top-hats crushed and an umbrella broken."
He leaned over the bed-rail and laughed joyously. Mr. Scutts, throughhalf-closed eyes, gazed at him in silent reproach.
"I don't say that one or two people didn't receive a little bit of ashock to their nerves," said the visitor, thoughtfully. "One lady evenstayed in bed next day. However, I made it all right with them. Thecompany is very generous, and although of course there is no legalobligation, they made several of them a present of a few pounds, so thatthey could go away for a little change, or anything of that sort, toquiet their nerves."
Mr. Scutts, who had been listening with closed eyes, opened themlanguidly and said, "Oh."
"I gave one gentleman twen-ty pounds!" said the visitor, jingling somecoins in his trouser-pocket. "I never saw a man so pleased and gratefulin my life. When he signed the receipt for it--I always get them to signa receipt, so that the company can see that I haven't kept the money formyself--he nearly wept with joy."
"I should think he would," said Mr. Scutts, slowly--"if he wasn't hurt."
"You're the last on my list," said the other, hastily. He produced aslip of paper from his pocket-book and placed it on the small table,with a fountain pen. Then, with a smile that was both tender andplayful, he plunged his hand in his pocket and poured a stream of goldon the table.
"What do you say to thir-ty pounds?" he said, in a hushed voice. "Thirtygolden goblins?"
"What for?" inquired Mr. Scutts, with a notable lack of interest.
"For--well, to go away for a day or two," said the visitor. "I find youin bed; it may be a cold or a bilious attack; or perhaps you had alittle upset of the nerves when the trains kissed each other."
"I'm in bed--because--I can't walk-or stand," said Mr. Scutts, speakingvery distinctly. "I'm on my club, and if as 'ow I get well in a day ortwo, there's no reason why the company should give me any money. I'mpore, but I'm honest."
"Take my advice as a friend," said the other; "take the money while youcan get it."
He nodded significantly at Mr. Scutts and closed one eye. Mr. Scuttsclosed both of his.
"I 'ad my back hurt in the collision," he said, after a long pause. "I'ad to be helped 'ome. So far it seems to get worse, but I 'ope for thebest."
"Dear me," said the visitor; "how sad! I suppose it has been coming onfor a long time. Most of these back cases do. At least all the doctorssay so."
"It was done in the collision," said Mr. Scutts, mildly but firmly. "Iwas as right as rain before then."
The visitor shook his head and smiled. "Ah! you would have greatdifficulty in proving that," he said, softly; "in fact, speaking as manto man, I don't mind telling you it would be impossible. I'm afraid I'mexceeding my duty, but, as you're the last on my list, suppose--supposewe say forty pounds. Forty! A small fortune."
He added some more gold to the pile on the table, and gently tapped Mr.Scutts's arm with the end of the pen.
"Good afternoon," said the invalid.
The visitor, justly concerned at his lack of intelligence, took a seaton the edge of the bed and spoke to him as a friend and a brother, butin vain. Mr. Scutts reminded him at last that it was medicine-time,after which, pain and weakness permitting, he was going to try to get alittle sleep.
"Forty pounds!" he said to his wife, after the official had departed."Why didn't 'e offer me a bag o' sweets?"
"It's a lot o' money," said Mrs. Scutts, wistfully.
"So's a thousand," said her husband. "I ain't going to 'ave my backbroke for nothing, I can tell you. Now, you keep that mouth o' yoursshut, and if I get it, you shall 'ave a new pair o' boots."
"A thousand!" exclaimed the startled Mrs. Scutts. "Have you took leaveof your senses, or what?"
"I read a case in the paper where a man got it," said Mr. Scutts. "He'ad his back 'urt too, pore chap. How would you like to lay on your backall your life for a thousand pounds?"
"Will you 'ave to lay abed all your life?" inquired his wife, staring.
"Wait till I get the money," said Mr. Scutts; "then I might be able totell you better."
He gazed wistfully at the window. It was late October, but the sun shoneand the air was clear. The sound of traffic and cheerful voices ascendedfrom the little street. To Mr. Scutts it all seemed to be a part of adistant past.
"If that chap comes round to-morrow and offers me five hundred," hesaid, slowly, "I don't know as I won't take it. I'm sick of this mouldybed."
He waited expectantly next day, but nothing happened, and after a weekof bed he began to realize that the job might be a long one. Themonotony, to a man of his active habits, became almost intolerable, andthe narrated adventures of Mr. James Flynn, his only caller, filled himwith an uncontrollable longing to be up and doing.
The fine weather went, and Mr. Scutts, in his tumbled bed, lay watchingthe rain beating softly on the window-panes. Then one morning he awoketo the darkness of a London fog.
"It gets worse and worse," said Mrs. Scutts, as she returned home in theafternoon with a relish for his tea. "Can't see your 'and before yourface."
Mr. Scutts looked thoughtful. He ate his tea in silence, and after hehad finished lit his pipe and sat up in bed smoking.
"Penny for your thoughts," said his wife.
"I'm going out," said Mr. Scutts, in a voice that defied opposition."I'm going to 'ave a walk, and when I'm far enough away I'm going to'ave one or two drinks. I believe this fog is sent a-purpose to save mylife."
Mrs. Scutts remonstrated, but in vain, and at half-past six the invalid,with his cap over his eyes and a large scarf tied round the lower partof his face, listened for a moment at his front door and thendisappeared in the fog.
Left to herself, Mrs. Scutts returned to the bedroom and, poking thetiny fire into a blaze, sat and pondered over the willfulness of men.
She was awakened from a doze by a knocking at the street-door. It wasjust eight o'clock, and, inwardly congratulating her husband on hisreturn to common sense and home, she went down and opened it. Two tallmen in silk hats entered the room.
"Mrs. Scutts?" said one of them.
Mrs. Scutts, in a dazed fashion, nodded.
"We have come to see your husband," said the intruder. "I am a doctor."
The panic-stricken Mrs. Scutts tried in vain to think.
"He-he's asleep," she said, at last.
"Doesn't matter," said the doctor.
"Not a bit," said his companion.
"You--you can't see him," protested Mrs. Scutts. "He ain't to be seen."
"He'd be sorry to miss me," said the doctor, eyeing her keenly as shestood on guard by the inner door. "I suppose he's at home?"
"Of course," said Mrs. Scutts, stammering and flushing. "Why, the poreman can't stir from his bed."
"Well, I'll just peep in at the door, then," said the doctor. "I won'twake him. You can't object to that. If you do--"
Mrs. Scutts's head began to swim. "I'll go up and see whether he'sawake," she said.
She closed the door on them and stood with her hand to her throat,thinking. Then, instead of going upstairs, she passed into the yard and,stepping over the fence, opened Mr. Flynn's back door.
"Halloa!" said that gentleman, who was standing in the scullery removingmud from his boots. "What's up?"
In a frenzied gabble Mrs. Scutts told him. "You must be 'im," she said,clutching him by the coat and dragging hi
m towards the door. "They'venever seen 'im, and they won't know the difference."
"But--" exclaimed the astonished James.
"Quick!" she said, sharply. "Go into the back room and undress, then nipinto his room and get into bed. And mind, be fast asleep all the time."
Still holding the bewildered Mr. Flynn by the coat, she led him into thehouse and waved him upstairs, and stood below listening until a slightcreaking of the bed announced that he had obeyed orders. Then sheentered the parlour.
"He's fast asleep," she said, softly; "and mind, I won't 'ave himdisturbed. It's the first real sleep he's 'ad for nearly a week. If youpromise not to wake 'im you may just have a peep."
"We won't disturb him," said the doctor, and, followed by his companion,noiselessly ascended the stairs and peeped into the room. Mr. Flynn wasfast asleep, and not a muscle moved as the two men approached the bed ontip-toe and stood looking at him. The doctor turned after a minute andled the way out of the room.
"We'll call again," he said, softly.
"Yes, sir," said Mrs. Scutts. "When?"
The doctor and his companion exchanged glances. "I'm very busy just atpresent," he said, slowly. "We'll look in some time and take our chanceof catching him awake."
Mrs. Scutts bowed them out, and in some perplexity returned to Mr.Flynn. "I don't like the look of 'em," she said, shaking her head."You'd better stay in bed till Bill comes 'ome in case they come back."
"Right-o," said the obliging Mr. Flynn. "Just step in and tell mylandlady I'm 'aving a chat with Bill."
He lit his pipe and sat up in bed smoking until a knock at the frontdoor at half-past eleven sent him off to sleep again. Mrs. Scutts, whowas sitting downstairs, opened it and admitted her husband.
"All serene?" he inquired. "What are you looking like that for? What'sup?"
He sat quivering with alarm and rage as she told him, and then, mountingthe stairs with a heavy tread, stood gazing in helpless fury at theslumbering form of Mr. James Flynn.
"Get out o' my bed," he said at last, in a choking voice.
"What, Bill!" said Mr. Flynn, opening his eyes.
"Get out o' my bed," repeated the other. "You've made a nice mess of itbetween you. It's a fine thing if a man can't go out for 'arf a pintwithout coming home and finding all the riffraff of the neighbourhood in'is bed."
"'Ow's the pore back, Bill?" inquired Mr. Flynn, with tenderness.
Mr. Scutts gurgled at him. "Outside!" he said as soon as he could gethis breath.
"Bill," said the voice of Mrs. Scutts, outside the door.
"Halloa," growled her husband.
"He mustn't go," said Mrs. Scutts. "Those gentlemen are coming again,and they think he is you."
"WHAT!" roared the infuriated Mr. Scutts.
"Don't you see? It's me what's got the pore back now, Bill," said Mr.Flynn. "You can't pass yourself off as me, Bill; you ain't good-lookingenough."
Mr. Scutts, past speech, raised his clenched fists to the ceiling.
"He'll 'ave to stay in your bed," continued the voice of Mrs. Scutts."He's got a good 'art, and I know he'll do it; won't you, Jim?"
Mr. Flynn pondered. "Tell my landlady in the morning that I've took yourback room," he said. "What a fortunit thing it is I'm out o' work. Whatare you walking up and down like that for, Bill? Back coming on agin?"
"Then o' course," pursued the voice of Mrs. Scutts, in meditativeaccents, "there's the club doctor and the other gentleman that knowsBill. They might come at any moment. There's got to be two Bills in bed,so that if one party comes one Bill can nip into the back room, and ifthe other Bill--party, I mean--comes, the other Bill--you know what Imean!"
Mr. Scutts swore himself faint.
"That's 'ow it is, mate," said Mr. Flynn. "It's no good standing theresaying your little piece of poetry to yourself. Take off your clo'es andget to bed like a little man. Now! now! Naughty! Naughty!"
"P'r'aps I oughtn't to 'ave let 'em up, Bill," said his wife; "but I wasafraid they'd smell a rat if I didn't. Besides, I was took by surprise."
"You get off to bed," said Mr. Scutts. "Get off to bed while you'resafe."
"And get a good night's rest," added the thoughtful Mr. Flynn. "IfBill's back is took bad in the night I'll look after it."
Mr. Scutts turned a threatening face on him. "For two pins--" he began.
"For two pins I'll go back 'ome and stay there," said Mr. Flynn.
He put one muscular leg out of bed, and then, at the earnest request ofMr. Scutts, put it back again. In a few simple, manly words the latterapologized, by putting all the blame on Mrs. Scutts, and, removing hisclothes, got into bed.
Wrapped in bedclothes, they passed the following day listening forknocks at the door and playing cards. By evening both men were weary,and Mr. Scutts made a few pointed remarks concerning dodging doctors anddeceitful visitors to which Mr. Flynn listened in silent approval.
"They mightn't come for a week," he said, dismally. "It's all right foryou, but where do I come in? Halves?"
Mr. Scutts had a rush of blood to the head.
"You leave it to me, mate," he said, controlling himself by an effort."If I get ten quid, say, you shall have 'arf."
"And suppose you get more?" demanded the other.
"We'll see," said Mr. Scutts, vaguely.
Mr. Flynn returned to the charge next day, but got no satisfaction. Mr.Scutts preferred to talk instead of the free board and lodging hisfriend was getting. On the subject of such pay for such work he wasalmost eloquent.
"I'll bide my time," said Mr. Flynn, darkly. "Treat me fair and I'lltreat you fair."
His imprisonment came to an end on the fourth day. There was a knock atthe door, and the sound of men's voices, followed by the hurriedappearance of Mrs. Scutts.
"It's Jim's lot," she said, in a hurried whisper. "I've just come up toget the room ready."
Mr. Scutts took his friend by the hand, and after warmly urging him notto forget the expert instructions he had received concerning his back,slipped into the back room, and, a prey to forebodings, awaited theresult.
"Well, he looks better," said the doctor, regarding Mr. Flynn.
"Much better," said his companion.
Mrs. Scutts shook her head. "His pore back don't seem no better, sir,"she said in a low voice. "Can't you do something for it?"
"Let me have a look at it," said the doctor. "Undo your shirt."
Mr. Flynn, with slow fingers, fumbled with the button at his neck andlooked hard at Mrs. Scutts.
"She can't bear to see me suffer," he said, in a feeble voice, as sheleft the room.
He bore the examination with the fortitude of an early Christian martyr.In response to inquiries he said he felt as though the mainspring of hisback had gone.
"How long since you walked?" inquired the doctor.
"Not since the accident," said Mr. Flynn, firmly.
"Try now," said the doctor.
Mr. Flynn smiled at him reproachfully.
"You can't walk because you think you can't," said the doctor; "that isall. You'll have to be encouraged the same way that a child is. I shouldlike to cure you, and I think I can."
He took a small canvas bag from the other man and opened it. "Fortypounds," he said. "Would you like to count it?"
Mr. Flynn's eyes shone.
"It is all yours," said the doctor, "if you can walk across the room andtake it from that gentleman's hand."
"Honour bright?" asked Mr. Flynn, in tremulous tones, as the other manheld up the bag and gave him an encouraging smile.
"Honour bright," said the doctor.
With a spring that nearly broke the bed, Mr. Flynn quitted it andsnatched the bag, and at the same moment Mrs. Scutts, impelled by amaddened arm, burst into the room.
"Your back!" she moaned. "It'll kill you Get back to bed."
"I'm cured, lovey," said Mr. Flynn, simply.
"His back is as strong as ever," said the doctor, giving it a thump.
Mr. Flynn, who had taken his c
lothes from a chair and was hastilydressing himself, assented.
"But if you'll wait 'arf a tick I'll walk as far as the corner withyou," he said, quickly. "I'd like to make sure it's all right."
He paused at the foot of the stairs and, glancing up at the palid andmurderous face of Mr. Scutts, which protruded from the back bedroom,smiled at him rapturously. Then, with a lordly air, he tossed him fivepieces of gold.
KEEPING WATCH
