St. Paul daily globe., 1888-08-19
SAVED
BY HIS
VOICE.

DOhh OlJS IdNClH
the Coalhole, in London, we were gath
cred together one evening, laughing
over the amusing scenes of ventrilo-
Quism with which that clever come
dian TOole had Just been edifying us.
A journalist present complimented
him somewhat ironically on what he
called his little society talents"
''TheSe same little talentS,'" said
Toole i'll a grave tone, "have sometimes
great utility in life; do not despiSe
them. An infinitely small talent may
save world of trouble; nothing is un-
productive here below. Let me give
you simple illustration:
''Some years agoI was passing one
evening through Drury lane Oh my way
to the Gaiety theater. where l was at
that time playing role.
My attention was suddenly attracted
by pathetic voice imploring charity.
! stopped and looked around me. The
voice proceeded from a miSshapen
being, apparently cripple, crouched in
the corner of an archway leading into
one of those winding alleys so numer-
Gus in this populous quarter. His
white hair and beard and his cracked
voice indicated clearly that the beggar
was an old man.
"A few pence for a poor old man,
SIR said the tremulous voice. 4 am cold
and hungry-oh! so hungry! | have
eaten nothing since yesterday
1.-The sight of a young man, however
miserable he might have been, would
not have moved me. Old cocllneys like
me are to we'll posted on all these bor-
rowing schemes which flourish in our
town, but this decrepit old age and
horrible deformity filled ME with COM
passion.
"'What misery!' exclaimed, gazing
at the old man. Is it possible that you
are condemned to begging at your age?
Have you no sons or daughters"
ALAS! yes, gentleman replied the
beggar in Smothered tone, as if
ashamed to acknowledge the truth, but
they have abandoned me-
- 1T is infamouSi' | added
"And L drew from my purse half
crown.
LAS l handed it toward the beggar
my customary suSciciOnS seized me-
Perhaps after all it was made-up
cripple. We actors are not the only
ones who know how to disguise them
selves in London.
81 prefer to assist you more effect
1vely,' | remarked, after an instant's
pause. You have arefuge somewhere?
A home? Where do you live?'
II expected now to be Ell lightened as
TO the genulneneSS Of my beggar; the
slightest hesitation on his part would
have put me on my guard at once.
Not over quarter of a mile from
here replied the cripple. i will take
you to my lodging, sir, if you like
1.-The earneStneSS with which lie re-
sponded occurred to me after
THE AnVENTITPL1
was over; at the time l laid no stress
upon it.
"'Very well! go ahead; will follow
l answered.
The beggar started off on his
crutches, dragging after him two
stumps of legs, and with a hundred
protestatiOnS of gratitude made in a
warm and fervent tone, he maneuvered
rapidly along the muddy and slippery
sidewalk or Drury lane
''It was dismal London winter even
ing. A thick. humid fog hung heavily
over the macadamiZed pavement. By
the dull, yellow light of the street
lamps the paSserS-by look on the aspect
of phantoms.
''Fr0m the doorSteps and windows of
the miserable houses in the alleys and
courts through which we passed, gaunt,
pallid faces gaZed out upon us, and cut
OdG Will WU1llSu Cy
glared out into the night.
In spite of of my familiarity with
the dark sides of London life, could
not represS thrill of inquietude, and l
said to myself it would not be pleasant
to cross this part of London in the dead
of night.
Not but that we must acknowledge
our police force is admirably organized,
for, considering the widespread misery
and degradation in London, it Is only
astonishing that crimes are not twenty
times as numerous as they are. But,
despite this energy OF the police, how
many black deed rests hidden, buried
forever i'll the slumS of our great town!
During these reflections. little reas-
surlng as they were, l gazed after my
guide. Decidedly it was a poor devil;
that no longer doubted. | was on
the point OF stopping him and send
ing him on his way with few
ShllllngS. L was almost ashamed of my
suspicious. But with a skill undoubt-
edly acquired by long years of exercise
the beSgar advanced very rapidly,
turning from time to time to make sure
that | was following.
AT length we crossed Covent Garden
market and Long Acre and entered that
hideouS quarter which you all know
Seven Dials. The adventure COM
menced to only halfway please me.
Are we far from your room Still?" "
i asked, catching up with the beggar.
Il haven't much time to spare
-'As l spoke drew out my watch, an
excellent .hr0nometer of Dents, of con-
siderable value. Looking suddenly up
L surprised ali ugly, covetouS glance be-
meath the beggar's buShy eyebrows.
ph, ho. l said to myself. that's a
mighty young eye for an old man.
My suspicious returned with triple
force; but often our
PALTRY PRIDE
OverrulcS our better judgment More
over, with the Seven Dials quarter had
returned the hustle and noise of Lon
US on all sides from the public houses
and bar-r0Oms of the neighborhood.
81 determined TO push the adventure
to its end, and more so as my compan-
ion now turned to me and said, in his
cracked. faltering tones:
"'Ilere Is my home, gentleman He
Slipped through the half-open door of
a diiapidated building and started up a
rickety staircase with the agility had
before remarked. had difficulty in
following him in the nauseating obscur-
ity. The smart tap of his crutcEeS
sounded Oil the steps and served as my
guide.
AT the third story the old beggar
stopped; l heard him feeling about in
the dark. then came the sound OF key
turning in Il lock.
''Ome moment, my good gentleman,
SAID the trembling voice, i will light a
candle'
Some seconds passed; then the dis
NAL giImmer Of ta.low candle lit up q
room which struck me as tolerably
spacious.
.sThe hergar had slinnad hohind mo