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Produced by David Widger | |
ODD CRAFT | |
By W.W. Jacobs | |
BILL'S LAPSE | |
Strength and good-nature--said the night-watchman, musingly, as he felt | |
his biceps--strength and good-nature always go together. Sometimes you | |
find a strong man who is not good-natured, but then, as everybody he | |
comes in contack with is, it comes to the same thing. | |
The strongest and kindest-'earted man I ever come across was a man o' the | |
name of Bill Burton, a ship-mate of Ginger Dick's. For that matter 'e | |
was a shipmate o' Peter Russet's and old Sam Small's too. Not over and | |
above tall; just about my height, his arms was like another man's legs | |
for size, and 'is chest and his back and shoulders might ha' been made | |
for a giant. And with all that he'd got a soft blue eye like a gal's | |
(blue's my favourite colour for gals' eyes), and a nice, soft, curly | |
brown beard. He was an A.B., too, and that showed 'ow good-natured he | |
was, to pick up with firemen. | |
He got so fond of 'em that when they was all paid off from the _Ocean | |
King_ he asked to be allowed to join them in taking a room ashore. It | |
pleased every-body, four coming cheaper than three, and Bill being that | |
good-tempered that 'e'd put up with anything, and when any of the three | |
quarrelled he used to act the part of peacemaker. | |
[Illustration: "When any of the three quarrelled he used to act the part | |
of peacemaker."] | |
The only thing about 'im that they didn't like was that 'e was a | |
teetotaler. He'd go into public-'ouses with 'em, but he wouldn't drink; | |
leastways, that is to say, he wouldn't drink beer, and Ginger used to say | |
that it made 'im feel uncomfortable to see Bill put away a bottle o' | |
lemonade every time they 'ad a drink. One night arter 'e had 'ad | |
seventeen bottles he could 'ardly got home, and Peter Russet, who knew a | |
lot about pills and such-like, pointed out to 'im 'ow bad it was for his | |
constitushon. He proved that the lemonade would eat away the coats o' | |
Bill's stomach, and that if 'e kept on 'e might drop down dead at any | |
moment. | |
That frightened Bill a bit, and the next night, instead of 'aving | |
lemonade, 'e had five bottles o' stone ginger-beer, six of different | |
kinds of teetotal beer, three of soda-water, and two cups of coffee. I'm | |
not counting the drink he 'ad at the chemist's shop arterward, because he | |
took that as medicine, but he was so queer in 'is inside next morning | |
that 'e began to be afraid he'd 'ave to give up drink altogether. | |
He went without the next night, but 'e was such a generous man that 'e | |
would pay every fourth time, and there was no pleasure to the other chaps | |
to see 'im pay and 'ave nothing out of it. It spoilt their evening, and | |
owing to 'aving only about 'arf wot they was accustomed to they all got | |
up very disagreeable next morning. | |
"Why not take just a little beer, Bill?" asks Ginger. | |
Bill 'ung his 'ead and looked a bit silly. "I'd rather not, mate," he | |
ses, at last. "I've been teetotal for eleven months now." | |
"Think of your 'ealth, Bill," ses Peter Russet; "your 'ealth is more | |
important than the pledge. Wot made you take it?" | |
Bill coughed. "I 'ad reasons," he ses, slowly. "A mate o' mine wished | |
me to." | |
"He ought to ha' known better," ses Sam. "He 'ad 'is reasons," ses Bill. | |
"Well, all I can say is, Bill," ses Ginger, "all I can say is, it's very | |
disobligin' of you." | |
"Disobligin'?" ses Bill, with a start; "don't say that, mate." | |
"I must say it," ses Ginger, speaking very firm. | |
"You needn't take a lot, Bill," ses Sam; "nobody wants you to do that. | |
Just drink in moderation, same as wot we do." | |
"It gets into my 'ead," ses Bill, at last. | |
"Well, and wot of it?" ses Ginger; "it gets into everybody's 'ead | |
occasionally. Why, one night old Sam 'ere went up behind a policeman and | |
tickled 'im under the arms; didn't you, Sam?" | |
"I did nothing o' the kind," ses Sam, firing up. | |
"Well, you was fined ten bob for it next morning, that's all I know," ses | |
Ginger. | |
"I was fined ten bob for punching 'im," ses old Sam, very wild. "I never | |
tickled a policeman in my life. I never thought o' such a thing. I'd no | |
more tickle a policeman than I'd fly. Anybody that ses I did is a liar. | |
Why should I? Where does the sense come in? Wot should I want to do it | |
for?" | |
"All right, Sam," ses Ginger, sticking 'is fingers in 'is ears, "you | |
didn't, then." | |
"No, I didn't," ses Sam, "and don't you forget it. This ain't the fust | |
time you've told that lie about me. I can take a joke with any man; but | |
anybody that goes and ses I tickled--" | |
"All right," ses Ginger and Peter Russet together. "You'll 'ave tickled | |
policeman on the brain if you ain't careful, Sam," ses Peter. | |
Old Sam sat down growling, and Ginger Dick turned to Bill agin. "It gets | |
into everybody's 'ead at times," he ses, "and where's the 'arm? It's wot | |
it was meant for." | |
Bill shook his 'ead, but when Ginger called 'im disobligin' agin he gave | |
way and he broke the pledge that very evening with a pint o' six 'arf. | |
Ginger was surprised to see the way 'e took his liquor. Arter three or | |
four pints he'd expected to see 'im turn a bit silly, or sing, or do | |
something o' the kind, but Bill kept on as if 'e was drinking water. | |
"Think of the 'armless pleasure you've been losing all these months, | |
Bill," ses Ginger, smiling at him. | |
Bill said it wouldn't bear thinking of, and, the next place they came to | |
he said some rather 'ard things of the man who'd persuaded 'im to take | |
the pledge. He 'ad two or three more there, and then they began to see | |
that it was beginning to have an effect on 'im. The first one that | |
noticed it was Ginger Dick. Bill 'ad just lit 'is pipe, and as he threw | |
the match down he ses: "I don't like these 'ere safety matches," he ses. | |
"Don't you, Bill?" ses Ginger. "I do, rather." | |
"Oh, you do, do you?" ses Bill, turning on 'im like lightning; "well, | |
take that for contradictin'," he ses, an' he gave Ginger a smack that | |
nearly knocked his 'ead off. | |
It was so sudden that old Sam and Peter put their beer down and stared at | |
each other as if they couldn't believe their eyes. Then they stooped | |
down and helped pore Ginger on to 'is legs agin and began to brush 'im | |
down. | |
"Never mind about 'im, mates," ses Bill, looking at Ginger very wicked. | |
"P'r'aps he won't be so ready to give me 'is lip next time. Let's come | |
to another pub and enjoy ourselves." | |
Sam and Peter followed 'im out like lambs, 'ardly daring to look over | |
their shoulder at Ginger, who was staggering arter them some distance | |
behind a 'olding a handerchief to 'is face. | |
"It's your turn to pay, Sam," ses Bill, when they'd got inside the next | |
place. "Wot's it to be? Give it a name." | |
"Three 'arf pints o' four ale, miss," ses Sam, not because 'e was mean, | |
but because it wasn't 'is turn. "Three wot?" ses Bill, turning on 'im. | |
"Three pots o' six ale, miss," ses Sam, in a hurry. | |
"That wasn't wot you said afore," ses Bill. "Take that," he ses, giving | |
pore old Sam a wipe in the mouth and knocking 'im over a stool; "take | |
that for your sauce." | |
Peter Russet stood staring at Sam and wondering wot Bill ud be like when | |
he'd 'ad a little more. Sam picked hisself up arter a time and went | |
outside to talk to Ginger about it, and then Bill put 'is arm round | |
Peter's neck and began to cry a bit and say 'e was the only pal he'd got | |
left in the world. It was very awkward for Peter, and more awkward still | |
when the barman came up and told 'im to take Bill outside. | |
"Go on," he ses, "out with 'im." | |
"He's all right," ses Peter, trembling; "we's the truest-'arted gentleman | |
in London. Ain't you, Bill?" | |
Bill said he was, and 'e asked the barman to go and hide 'is face because | |
it reminded 'im of a little dog 'e had 'ad once wot 'ad died. | |
"You get outside afore you're hurt," ses the bar-man. | |
Bill punched at 'im over the bar, and not being able to reach 'im threw | |
Peter's pot o' beer at 'im. There was a fearful to-do then, and the | |
landlord jumped over the bar and stood in the doorway, whistling for the | |
police. Bill struck out right and left, and the men in the bar went down | |
like skittles, Peter among them. Then they got outside, and Bill, arter | |
giving the landlord a thump in the back wot nearly made him swallow the | |
whistle, jumped into a cab and pulled Peter Russet in arter 'im. | |
[Illustration: "Bill jumped into a cab and pulled Peter Russet in arter | |
'im."] | |
"I'll talk to you by-and-by," he ses, as the cab drove off at a gallop; | |
"there ain't room in this cab. You wait, my lad, that's all. You just | |
wait till we get out, and I'll knock you silly." | |
"Wot for, Bill?" ses Peter, staring. | |
"Don't you talk to me," roars Bill. "If I choose to knock you about | |
that's my business, ain't it? Besides, you know very well." | |
He wouldn't let Peter say another word, but coming to a quiet place near | |
the docks he stopped the cab and pulling 'im out gave 'im such a dressing | |
down that Peter thought 'is last hour 'ad arrived. He let 'im go at | |
last, and after first making him pay the cab-man took 'im along till they | |
came to a public-'ouse and made 'im pay for drinks. | |
They stayed there till nearly eleven o'clock, and then Bill set off home | |
'olding the unfortunit Peter by the scruff o' the neck, and wondering out | |
loud whether 'e ought to pay 'im a bit more or not. Afore 'e could make | |
up 'is mind, however, he turned sleepy, and, throwing 'imself down on the | |
bed which was meant for the two of 'em, fell into a peaceful sleep. | |
Sam and Ginger Dick came in a little while arterward, both badly marked | |
where Bill 'ad hit them, and sat talking to Peter in whispers as to wot | |
was to be done. Ginger, who 'ad plenty of pluck, was for them all to set | |
on to 'im, but Sam wouldn't 'ear of it, and as for Peter he was so sore | |
he could 'ardly move. | |
They all turned in to the other bed at last, 'arf afraid to move for fear | |
of disturbing Bill, and when they woke up in the morning and see 'im | |
sitting up in 'is bed they lay as still as mice. | |
"Why, Ginger, old chap," ses Bill, with a 'earty smile, "wot are you all | |
three in one bed for?" "We was a bit cold," ses Ginger. | |
"Cold?" ses Bill. "Wot, this weather? We 'ad a bit of a spree last | |
night, old man, didn't we? My throat's as dry as a cinder." | |
"It ain't my idea of a spree," ses Ginger, sitting up and looking at 'im. | |
"Good 'eavens, Ginger!" ses Bill, starting back, "wotever 'ave you been | |
a-doing to your face? Have you been tumbling off of a 'bus?" | |
Ginger couldn't answer; and Sam Small and Peter sat up in bed alongside | |
of 'im, and Bill, getting as far back on 'is bed as he could, sat staring | |
at their pore faces as if 'e was having a 'orrible dream. | |
"And there's Sam," he ses. "Where ever did you get that mouth, Sam?" | |
"Same place as Ginger got 'is eye and pore Peter got 'is face," ses Sam, | |
grinding his teeth. | |
"You don't mean to tell me," ses Bill, in a sad voice--"you don't mean to | |
tell me that I did it?" | |
"You know well enough," ses Ginger. | |
Bill looked at 'em, and 'is face got as long as a yard measure. | |
"I'd 'oped I'd growed out of it, mates," he ses, at last, "but drink | |
always takes me like that. I can't keep a pal." | |
"You surprise me," ses Ginger, sarcastic-like. "Don't talk like that, | |
Ginger," ses Bill, 'arf crying. | |
"It ain't my fault; it's my weakness. Wot did I do it for?" | |
"I don't know," ses Ginger, "but you won't get the chance of doing it | |
agin, I'll tell you that much." | |
"I daresay I shall be better to-night, Ginger," ses Bill, very humble; | |
"it don't always take me that way. | |
"Well, we don't want you with us any more," ses old Sam, 'olding his 'ead | |
very high. | |
"You'll 'ave to go and get your beer by yourself, Bill," ses Peter | |
Russet, feeling 'is bruises with the tips of 'is fingers. | |
"But then I should be worse," ses Bill. "I want cheerful company when | |
I'm like that. I should very likely come 'ome and 'arf kill you all in | |
your beds. You don't 'arf know what I'm like. Last night was nothing, | |
else I should 'ave remembered it." | |
"Cheerful company?" ses old Sam. 'Ow do you think company's going to be | |
cheerful when you're carrying on like that, Bill? Why don't you go away | |
and leave us alone?" | |
"Because I've got a 'art," ses Bill. "I can't chuck up pals in that | |
free-and-easy way. Once I take a liking to anybody I'd do anything for | |
'em, and I've never met three chaps I like better than wot I do you. | |
Three nicer, straight-forrad, free-'anded mates I've never met afore." | |
"Why not take the pledge agin, Bill?" ses Peter Russet. | |
"No, mate," ses Bill, with a kind smile; "it's just a weakness, and I | |
must try and grow out of it. I'll tie a bit o' string round my little | |
finger to-night as a re-minder." | |
He got out of bed and began to wash 'is face, and Ginger Dick, who was | |
doing a bit o' thinking, gave a whisper to Sam and Peter Russet. | |
"All right, Bill, old man," he ses, getting out of bed and beginning to | |
put his clothes on; "but first of all we'll try and find out 'ow the | |
landlord is." | |
"Landlord?" ses Bill, puffing and blowing in the basin. "Wot landlord?" | |
"Why, the one you bashed," ses Ginger, with a wink at the other two. "He | |
'adn't got 'is senses back when me and Sam came away." | |
Bill gave a groan and sat on the bed while 'e dried himself, and Ginger | |
told 'im 'ow he 'ad bent a quart pot on the landlord's 'ead, and 'ow the | |
landlord 'ad been carried upstairs and the doctor sent for. He began to | |
tremble all over, and when Ginger said he'd go out and see 'ow the land | |
lay 'e could 'ardly thank 'im enough. | |
He stayed in the bedroom all day, with the blinds down, and wouldn't eat | |
anything, and when Ginger looked in about eight o'clock to find out | |
whether he 'ad gone, he found 'im sitting on the bed clean shaved, and | |
'is face cut about all over where the razor 'ad slipped. | |
Ginger was gone about two hours, and when 'e came back he looked so | |
solemn that old Sam asked 'im whether he 'ad seen a ghost. Ginger didn't | |
answer 'im; he set down on the side o' the bed and sat thinking. | |
"I s'pose--I s'pose it's nice and fresh in the streets this morning?" | |
ses Bill, at last, in a trembling voice. | |
Ginger started and looked at 'im. "I didn't notice, mate," he ses. Then | |
'e got up and patted Bill on the back, very gentle, and sat down again. | |
[Illustration: "Patted Bill on the back, very gentle."] | |
"Anything wrong, Ginger?" asks Peter Russet, staring at 'im. | |
"It's that landlord," ses Ginger; "there's straw down in the road | |
outside, and they say that he's dying. Pore old Bill don't know 'is own | |
strength. The best thing you can do, old pal, is to go as far away as | |
you can, at once." | |
"I shouldn't wait a minnit if it was me," ses old Sam. | |
Bill groaned and hid 'is face in his 'ands, and then Peter Russet went | |
and spoilt things by saying that the safest place for a murderer to 'ide | |
in was London. Bill gave a dreadful groan when 'e said murderer, but 'e | |
up and agreed with Peter, and all Sam and Ginger Dick could do wouldn't | |
make 'im alter his mind. He said that he would shave off 'is beard and | |
moustache, and when night came 'e would creep out and take a lodging | |
somewhere right the other end of London. | |
"It'll soon be dark," ses Ginger, "and your own brother wouldn't know you | |
now, Bill. Where d'you think of going?" | |
Bill shook his 'ead. "Nobody must know that, mate," he ses. "I must go | |
into hiding for as long as I can--as long as my money lasts; I've only | |
got six pounds left." | |
"That'll last a long time if you're careful," ses Ginger. | |
"I want a lot more," ses Bill. "I want you to take this silver ring as a | |
keepsake, Ginger. If I 'ad another six pounds or so I should feel much | |
safer. 'Ow much 'ave you got, Ginger?" | |
"Not much," ses Ginger, shaking his 'ead. | |
"Lend it to me, mate," ses Bill, stretching out his 'and. "You can easy | |
get another ship. Ah, I wish I was you; I'd be as 'appy as 'appy if I | |
hadn't got a penny." | |
"I'm very sorry, Bill," ses Ginger, trying to smile, "but I've already | |
promised to lend it to a man wot we met this evening. A promise is a | |
promise, else I'd lend it to you with pleasure." | |
"Would you let me be 'ung for the sake of a few pounds, Ginger?" ses | |
Bill, looking at 'im reproach-fully. "I'm a desprit man, Ginger, and I | |
must 'ave that money." | |
Afore pore Ginger could move he suddenly clapped 'is hand over 'is mouth | |
and flung 'im on the bed. Ginger was like a child in 'is hands, although | |
he struggled like a madman, and in five minutes 'e was laying there with | |
a towel tied round his mouth and 'is arms and legs tied up with the cord | |
off of Sam's chest. | |
"I'm very sorry, Ginger," ses Bill, as 'e took a little over eight pounds | |
out of Ginger's pocket. "I'll pay you back one o' these days, if I can. | |
If you'd got a rope round your neck same as I 'ave you'd do the same as | |
I've done." | |
He lifted up the bedclothes and put Ginger inside and tucked 'im up. | |
Ginger's face was red with passion and 'is eyes starting out of his 'ead. | |
"Eight and six is fifteen," ses Bill, and just then he 'eard somebody | |
coming up the stairs. Ginger 'eard it, too, and as Peter Russet came | |
into the room 'e tried all 'e could to attract 'is attention by rolling | |
'is 'ead from side to side. | |
"Why, 'as Ginger gone to bed?" ses Peter. "Wot's up, Ginger?" | |
"He's all right," ses Bill; "just a bit of a 'eadache." | |
Peter stood staring at the bed, and then 'e pulled the clothes off and | |
saw pore Ginger all tied up, and making awful eyes at 'im to undo him. | |
"I 'ad to do it, Peter," ses Bill. "I wanted some more money to escape | |
with, and 'e wouldn't lend it to me. I 'aven't got as much as I want | |
now. You just came in in the nick of time. Another minute and you'd ha' | |
missed me. 'Ow much 'ave you got?" | |
"Ah, I wish I could lend you some, Bill," ses Peter Russet, turning pale, | |
"but I've 'ad my pocket picked; that's wot I came back for, to get some | |
from Ginger." | |
Bill didn't say a word. | |
"You see 'ow it is, Bill," ses Peter, edging back toward the door; "three | |
men laid 'old of me and took every farthing I'd got." | |
"Well, I can't rob you, then," ses Bill, catching 'old of 'im. | |
"Whoever's money this is," he ses, pulling a handful out o' Peter's | |
pocket, "it can't be yours. Now, if you make another sound I'll knock | |
your 'ead off afore I tie you up." | |
"Don't tie me up, Bill," ses Peter, struggling. | |
"I can't trust you," ses Bill, dragging 'im over to the washstand and | |
taking up the other towel; "turn round." | |
Peter was a much easier job than Ginger Dick, and arter Bill 'ad done 'im | |
'e put 'im in alongside o' Ginger and covered 'em up, arter first tying | |
both the gags round with some string to prevent 'em slipping. | |
"Mind, I've only borrowed it," he ses, standing by the side o' the bed; | |
"but I must say, mates, I'm disappointed in both of you. If either of | |
you 'ad 'ad the misfortune wot I've 'ad, I'd have sold the clothes off my | |
back to 'elp you. And I wouldn't 'ave waited to be asked neither." | |
He stood there for a minute very sorrowful, and then 'e patted both their | |
'eads and went downstairs. Ginger and Peter lay listening for a bit, and | |
then they turned their pore bound-up faces to each other and tried to | |
talk with their eyes. | |
Then Ginger began to wriggle and try and twist the cords off, but 'e | |
might as well 'ave tried to wriggle out of 'is skin. The worst of it was | |
they couldn't make known their intentions to each other, and when Peter | |
Russet leaned over 'im and tried to work 'is gag off by rubbing it up | |
agin 'is nose, Ginger pretty near went crazy with temper. He banged | |
Peter with his 'ead, and Peter banged back, and they kept it up till | |
they'd both got splitting 'eadaches, and at last they gave up in despair | |
and lay in the darkness waiting for Sam. | |
And all this time Sam was sitting in the Red Lion, waiting for them. He | |
sat there quite patient till twelve o'clock and then walked slowly 'ome, | |
wondering wot 'ad happened and whether Bill had gone. | |
Ginger was the fust to 'ear 'is foot on the stairs, and as he came into | |
the room, in the darkness, him an' Peter Russet started shaking their bed | |
in a way that scared old Sam nearly to death. He thought it was Bill | |
carrying on agin, and 'e was out o' that door and 'arf-way downstairs | |
afore he stopped to take breath. He stood there trembling for about ten | |
minutes, and then, as nothing 'appened, he walked slowly upstairs agin on | |
tiptoe, and as soon as they heard the door creak Peter and Ginger made | |
that bed do everything but speak. | |
"Is that you, Bill?" ses old Sam, in a shaky voice, and standing ready | |
to dash downstairs agin. | |
There was no answer except for the bed, and Sam didn't know whether Bill | |
was dying or whether 'e 'ad got delirium trimmings. All 'e did know was | |
that 'e wasn't going to sleep in that room. He shut the door gently and | |
went downstairs agin, feeling in 'is pocket for a match, and, not finding | |
one, 'e picked out the softest stair 'e could find and, leaning his 'ead | |
agin the banisters, went to sleep. | |
[Illustration: "Picked out the softest stair 'e could find."] | |
It was about six o'clock when 'e woke up, and broad daylight. He was | |
stiff and sore all over, and feeling braver in the light 'e stepped | |
softly upstairs and opened the door. Peter and Ginger was waiting for | |
'im, and as he peeped in 'e saw two things sitting up in bed with their | |
'air standing up all over like mops and their faces tied up with | |
bandages. He was that startled 'e nearly screamed, and then 'e stepped | |
into the room and stared at 'em as if he couldn't believe 'is eyes. | |
"Is that you, Ginger?" he ses. "Wot d'ye mean by making sights of | |
yourselves like that? 'Ave you took leave of your senses?" | |
Ginger and Peter shook their 'eads and rolled their eyes, and then Sam | |
see wot was the matter with 'em. Fust thing 'e did was to pull out 'is | |
knife and cut Ginger's gag off, and the fust thing Ginger did was to call | |
'im every name 'e could lay his tongue to. | |
"You wait a moment," he screams, 'arf crying with rage. "You wait till I | |
get my 'ands loose and I'll pull you to pieces. The idea o' leaving us | |
like this all night, you old crocodile. I 'eard you come in. I'll pay | |
you." | |
Sam didn't answer 'im. He cut off Peter Russet's gag, and Peter Russet | |
called 'im 'arf a score o' names without taking breath. | |
"And when Ginger's finished I'll 'ave a go at you," he ses. "Cut off | |
these lines." | |
"At once, d'ye hear?" ses Ginger. "Oh, you wait till I get my 'ands on | |
you." | |
Sam didn't answer 'em; he shut up 'is knife with a click and then 'e sat | |
at the foot o' the bed on Ginger's feet and looked at 'em. It wasn't the | |
fust time they'd been rude to 'im, but as a rule he'd 'ad to put up with | |
it. He sat and listened while Ginger swore 'imself faint. | |
"That'll do," he ses, at last; "another word and I shall put the | |
bedclothes over your 'ead. Afore I do anything more I want to know wot | |
it's all about." | |
Peter told 'im, arter fust calling 'im some more names, because Ginger | |
was past it, and when 'e'd finished old Sam said 'ow surprised he was | |
at them for letting Bill do it, and told 'em how they ought to 'ave | |
prevented it. He sat there talking as though 'e enjoyed the sound of 'is | |
own voice, and he told Peter and Ginger all their faults and said wot | |
sorrow it caused their friends. Twice he 'ad to throw the bedclothes | |
over their 'eads because o' the noise they was making. | |
[Illustration: "Old Sam said 'ow surprised he was at them for letting | |
Bill do it."] | |
"_Are you going--to undo--us?_" ses Ginger, at last. | |
"No, Ginger," ses old Sam; "in justice to myself I couldn't do it. Arter | |
wot you've said--and arter wot I've said--my life wouldn't be safe. | |
Besides which, you'd want to go shares in my money." | |
He took up 'is chest and marched downstairs with it, and about 'arf an | |
hour arterward the landlady's 'usband came up and set 'em free. As soon | |
as they'd got the use of their legs back they started out to look for | |
Sam, but they didn't find 'im for nearly a year, and as for Bill, they | |
never set eyes on 'im again. | |
End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Bill's Lapse, by W.W. Jacobs | |
*** |