The Bowbells tribune., 1900-02-16
CHAPTER XVII. (Continued.)


was the reply. $50 far as memory
goes. The chief difference is that my
first pal is always trying his hardest
to recollect the past. whereas the
booNkeeper seems to shirk all refer
,ence to it, I'm pretty sure it was an
awful fright Of some kind turned his
brain: he sometimes fancieS he sees
eyes following him about everywhere.
until it's quite 4 job to quiet him. But
he's lot better than he was when
first came across him. Heaven save
us! He was more like galvanized
corpse in the horrors than a human
beingI Now, sir, what I'd like to have
is your opinion of 'em both, after see
Ing and talking to 'em-more especial
ly my own particular pal. Our crib
amt five minutes walk from here, II
you don't mind going that far"
every WELL I'll do my BEST" l re-
Joined, upon one condition.
"What's that. sir?'
'sThat you'll regard my visit as mere
~ a friendly one. and make no fur
ther allusion to fees"
To this, after some derlur, he CRATE
fully assented, and we proceeded to
pick up the money-taker, who was
awaiting his friend and protector In
the tent. Poor old Tom Webb! My
heart went out to him when set eyes
upon his distorted, imbecile face, but
/ did not in any way court his atten-
tion. He glanced at me furtively, in
a puzzled sort Of way, but gave no
sign of recognizing ME.
"1'his gentleman's coming home with
us to see Ned" explained the Strong
Man. "He's doctor. you know"
"a doctor, is hep echoed Tom, suspi-
cioIsly "Can he minister to mind
diseased?' don't see what he can do
for Ned, otherwise" However, as he
had no definite objection to urge
against my company, we all three set
off together.
One large room suff1ced as bed room
for the good-natured pocket-Hercules
and his two proteges, while smaller
apartment did duty as sitting room
and kitchen. I saw no signs around
Of anything approaching real poverty;
indeed, to judge from the ample and
varied contents of the cupboards pres
emily ransacked to provide supper, the
housekeeping was characterized by q
rough abundance indicative Of brisk
business and good salaries.
Stay-at-Home Ned welcomed the
Strong man and Tom with unaffected
delight. He was tall, well-buflt man,
rather under than over thirty, but ap-
peared weak, as though convalescent
from some serious illness, and there
was something in his voice and man.
ner that plainly indicated an enfee-
bled intellect. He seemed to me, how
ever. to be a far saner man than Tom
Webb.
"Dick's brought a doctor to see you,"
remarked the latter. little malicious
", as thought.
"a friend of mine, Ned,' put in the
Strong Man, hastily, ''who has just
dropped in for a friendly chat. If he's
q bit Of q doctor. too, that amt no
harm, is it, old chap"
Certainly not" answered Ned. II
am very pleased to see you, sir. BY
the way" he added, sinking his voice,
and indicating Tom Webb, "you must
not mind what that poor fellow says.
He's a little bit-you know" And he
touched his own forehead significant
1y'
nodded sympathetically, though l
could scarcely repress laugh. Each
knew the other to be mentally weak,
but neither seemed to realize his own
deficiencies. A very common thing,
especially among persons not hopeless
ly insane; but grilnly humorous, for
all that.
AS it was my especial business, both
for my hosts sake and my'own, to ar
rive at some reliable opinion as to the
actual mental condition of the pair,
laid myself out to sound them upon
every likely topic I could think of,
while Dick (as they called him) pre-
pared a very ample supper. With
Tom Webb the task was an easy one
enough, familiar as was with we'll
nigh every incident in his previous
career. Yet, although l tried him.
with the most tbinly-veiled illusions
to his boyhood, his family, myself and
his Journalistic life, failed utterly to
elicit single responsive echo on any
of these points. Only when, in desper-
alton, I alluded to the Great Fog, did
I succeed in arOuSing him.
"Ah, yes!' he exclaimed, placing his
outstretched hands ut some distance
from his face as though to ward off
some dreaded sight. II know!--A
thick, brown fog,nearly black. And
then-something lying in the roonl-a
something with wild, staring eyes!
Ugh! They follow me still. sometimes,
especially when I'm alone! Ugh
those eyes,"
"Never mind the eyes," put in Ned,
soothjngly. and with a warming look
at me. "they can't hurt you, and it
only worries you to think about them.'
But if my progress with Tom Webb
was unsatisfactory, my efforts to draw
out his companion were scarcely more
successful. although l chatted with
him freely throughout the supper.
Upon ordinary, everyday subjects he
smoke quite scnsibly. Tut any reference
to even the best-known events, sin
months old, merely seemed to distress
him.
"Perhaps I'd better tell you what lit
tie I k1Aw of the smash that knocked
him silly" whispered Dicky to me,
seeing that I made no headway.
..rhey usually go to bed just after sup
per, and leave me to my pipe and a
glass of grog."
nodded assent, for although the
story of Ned's mishap could have but