Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-02-08
to have worked it out, and don't see

to have worked it out, and I don't see
as he was very far wrong.
II had to wait more than an hour be-
fore the show opened, and Tom left
me, when the lights began to be lit, to
look after his tickets and passes. l
asked him to have a drink at pub
across the road, but he rounded OH me
like an angry dawg. He said pubs
was all cellar-faps to perdition. 1t
struck me as funny to hear Tom Webb
say a thing like that, until remem-
be,ed he was barmy and didn't know
fee at stall, and he swallowed it as
full, sir, wot a change madness can
bring about in MANI"
[ could scarcely restrain Il laugh at
the little newsvendors quaint appeal.
He was himself sober fellow enough,
proper intervals, with relish. But, like
thousands of his fellows, he had a
profound contempt for. the rigid teeto-
taller, and deemed it no business of
mine to discuss the point.
II have heard of worse than q
change from rum to Coffee. replied.
But go OH with your yarn"
well, sir, not caring much about
coffee. myself, at Il time when l usual
ly has 'alf-pint, I went across to tile
pub, and there, as l expected, I came
across some of the shoWpcdpie
Thinks 1 to myself, Sam hobbs, you're
Il bloomin' tee, for the present. that's
wot you are, an you've got to go one
or two better nor Sherlock Holmes, on
lit SOW
too, sir, for all I was worth.
II precious soon spotted the boss Of
the show, fat, good-natured looking
chap, as was standing drinks to areS'-
lar crowd of 'en1. All his own people,
though; and found out as low he al
ways did it, afore openin', if business
was anyways brisk. A rum-looking
lot thew was, too, mostly wrapped UP
in rugs or great-coats for to hide the
f1eshlings they showed in. And that
jolly, sir, it did one good to listen to
EN-. OF course, as it was my game to
get in with 'em. watched my chance,
and asked the clown to have drink
fright you are" says he. Make it
a pint, and my pal here will go
halves, eh, Dicky? Dicky's our Strong
Man, you know
"At first I thought he was joking, be-
cause the blanket-covered cove beside
him was barely five feet high, and
laughed. So did the little 'un.
"FWot" this hold? 2 he asked. holding
up quart pewter.
GA quart says I.
"'Bet you bob it won't says he.
"'Done,' says I, wondering where the
bob came in.
"He linked his two hands around the
pewter, and, moment later, handed
f1attened-out piece of metal to the bar
man.
"'You've got to get quart into that,
Jimmy! he cried, shaking with laugh
ter.
"'Wot are yer givin' us?' said the
barman, pretendin' to be out of the
Know How did this happen?
"'Can't say for sartin', answers the
little Strong Man, but rather think
the-Stout Lady sat on it by mistaken
'Put-up job. sir? Well, I suppose it
was, and had been worked Oh lots OF
other besides me. But I didn't sec ii
in that way at the time, and larfed
fit to kill myself. After all, it only
cost me the price of the beer for eth
er the Strong Man or the publican
stood the racket of the pewter. The
Stout Lady Clipped in for three of
gin cold, though, before the boss took
'em all across the road to give the
show. I went with them, and might
easily have seen the performance free.
if I'd wanted to. The boss invited me,
and the Strong Man threatened to take
me under his arm. But thar warn't no
Sherlock Holmes about that, and so
pays my bob to Tom Webb and sails
into my front seat. long with all the
'Amsted Road toffs. I wished l had
on my spotted red tie and fancy YES
kit, but, still. reckon held my own
pretty middlin' They amt no class
down that way.
81 kept on tellin' myself I warp't
there to see the show, only, but for all
that, 1 couldn't help enjoying some of
the truns. However, as you'll see 'em
for yourself presently there amt no
occasion for me to tell you about 'em
except Just one thing. That little
Strong Man fairly Fetched me, per-
haps, 'cos I amt built that way my
self. He's only little 'un, as I've told
you, sir, but he's as strong as a cart
horse. And, wot's more, he's a great
pal of Tom Webb's."
Indeed: That redoubles my inter
est in hir, SAM"
well. it's so, Mr.. Weston. After the
show was over, he waited ever so long
for Tom (who was delayed somehow
by his accounts), and they went Oft
home together. From what 1 heard
from some of the others, 1 think the
Strong Man has crippled brother,
who is also bit dotty, and that's why
he and Tom are such pals.'
'Did you have any further CONVERSE
ton with Tom himself?"
every little, sir. 1 couldn't get sight
Of him until just before he went off
with the Strong Man, who gave me a
pretty broad hint not to foller 'em
home. I wanted to. but somehow I
didn't care about risking a row with a
chap who juggles with hundred
weights and breaks horse shoes in his
fingers. So, with Just few words to
Tom, that I thought might jog his
dead-and-gone memory to life again if
he thought them over, wished 'em
goodnight, and promised to bring pal
or two to see the show some other
night.
"'You'Il have to hurry I'D, them