Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-15

! stepping OH IHc CuID OIlIO IT. DdndTd+
| skin, was instantly knocked 10 feet
by a passing lorry.
1.-TWO ribs and an arm said The ,
doctor five minutes later, Superin- ,
tending the removal proceedings.
Gently with that stretcher.'
IT was two weeks before we were in.
formed by the authorities Of Char
ing Cross Hospital that the patient
was in a condition to receive visitors.
| A whpround secured the price of a
basket of fruit. and Ukridge and I
were deputed by the shareholders 10
deliver it with their compliments and
kind inquiries
"Hallo." we said in a hushed. bed
side manner when finally admitted TO
his presence.
"Sit down, gentlemen" replied the
invalid.
1 must confess. even in that first
moment, to have experienced a slight
feeling of surprise. 1t was not like
Teddy Weeks to call us gentlemen.
Ukridge, however. seemed to notice
| nothing amiSS
well. well. we'll. he said buoyant-
ly. "And how are YOU. laddie? We've
brought you a few fragments Of
fruit"
! Il am getting along capitally." re-
piled Teddy Weeks. still in that odd
precise way which had made his open
ing words strike me az curious. And
| ! should like to say that in my opinion
| England has reason to be proud OF the
alertness and enterprise of her great
journals The excellence Of their
reading matter. the ingenuity Of their
various competitions, and, above all.
the go-ahead spirit which has re-
suited in this accident insurance
scheme are beyond praise. Have you
got that down. he inquired.
UkridGe and I looked at each other.
We had been told that Teddy was
practically normal but this sounded
like delrium.
Have we got that down. old
| horse?" asked Ukridge gently.
Teddy Weeks seemed surprised.
Aren't you reporters"
Surely you remember me. Teddy,
old horse?" said Ukridge. anxiously.
"Of course. UkridGe.'
| Yes . Ukridge. Funny your for
getting me-
Yes said Tediy Weeks. IT'S the
effect of the shock I got when that
| thing hOWled me over. | must have
been struck on the head | suppose.
1t has had the effect of rendering my
| memory rather uncertain. The doctors
here are very interested. They say II
is most unusual case. can re-
member some things perfectly but In
some ways my memory is a complete
blank"
ooh. but l say, old horse" quavered
| UkridSc. suppose YOU haven't for
gotten about that insurance. have
you?'
81 was a subscriber to a number ~ ,
weekly papers. went on Teddy
! Weeks. They are paying me in
surance money now"
Yes. yes. old horse" cried Tx
ridge. But what / mean is you re-
member the Syndicate. don't yOu?''
syndicate? What syndicate?"
'Why, when we all got together
and put up the money to pay for the
subscriptions to these papers and drew
lots to choose which of us should go
out and have an accident and collert
| the money. And you drew it, don't
| you remember"
| Utter establishment and a shocked
establishment at that. spread itself
over Teddy Weeks countenance The
man seemed outraged.
Il certainly remember nothing Of
the kind he said, severely. II can
not imagine myself for moment con
| Senting to become IL party to what
from your own account would appear
| to have been a criminal conspiracy
| to obtain money under false pretenses
! from a number Of weekly papers .
Ukridge looked at me. l looked at y
Ukridge. There was a long silence
"Shift-hO. old hOrse?" said UkridCp.
sadly. mo use staying on here
| Glad to have seen you" said Teddy
] Weeks, "and thanks for the fruit"
The next time l saw the man no
was coming out of II managers Of
| flee in the IIaymarket. He had on n
| new Homburg nat of Il delicate pearl
| gray, spatS to match. and "a new blue
| flannel suit.
i 1t was shortly after that, if you
| remember. that he made. a big hit aS
| the juvenile lead in that piece at the
| Apollo and started on his sensational
| career as q matinee idol.
| INSIDE the church the organ had
swelled into the familiar music Of
| the wedding march. A verger came
out and opened the doors. The five
| cooks ceased their "reminiscences of
! other and smarter weddings at
which they had participated. The
| cameramen unshipped their cameras.
| The cOstermonger moved his barrow
of vegetables It pace forward. A d.
| sheveled and unshaven man at my
| side uttered disappearing growl
| Idle rich" said the disheveled man.
| Out of the church came d beau-
teous being. leading attached TO his
| arm another being.
| Have you got a shilling. ladder"
said Ukridge in a low, level voice.
| | passed it over. Ukridge turned
| to the disheveled man. and l perceiv-
ed that he held in his hand large
rich tomato of juicy and overripe APP
pearance.
Would you like to earn a bob?"
| Ukridge said.
Would T." replied the disheveIed
! man.
Ukridge sank his voice to a hoarse
whisper.
Now. please" said one of the cam
| eramen.
! over the heads of the crowd. well
and truly aimed, whizzed large
| juicy tomato 1t burst like a shell
full between Teddy Weeks expressive
eyes. Obliterating them in scarlet
ruin. 1t spattered Teddy Weeks col!
lar, it dripped on Teddy Weeks morn.
ing coat. And the disheveled man
turned abruptly and raced down TN"
street.
Ukridge grasped my arm. There
was "a look Of deep content in his
| eyes. +,
| Arnin-arm. we strolled off in the :