Produced by David Widger
SHIP'S COMPANY
By W.W. Jacobs
Mr. Chase, with his friend in his powerful grasp, wasdoing his best, as he expressed it, to shake the life out of him]
FAIRY GOLD
"Come and have a pint and talk it over," said Mr. Augustus Teak. "I'vegot reasons in my 'ead that you don't dream of, Alf."
Mr. Chase grunted and stole a side-glance at the small figure of hiscompanion. "All brains, you are, Gussie," he remarked. "That's why itis you're so well off."
"Come and have a pint," repeated the other, and with surprising easepushed his bulky friend into the bar of the "Ship and Anchor." Mr.Chase, mellowed by a long draught, placed his mug on the counter andeyeing him kindly, said--
"I've been in my lodgings thirteen years."
"I know," said Mr. Teak; "but I've got a partikler reason for wantingyou. Our lodger, Mr. Dunn, left last week, and I only thought of youyesterday. I mentioned you to my missis, and she was quite pleased. Yousee, she knows I've known you for over twenty years, and she wants tomake sure of only 'aving honest people in the 'ouse. She has got areason for it."
He closed one eye and nodded with great significance at his friend.
"Oh!" said Mr. Chase, waiting.
"She's a rich woman," said Mr. Teak, pulling the other's ear down to hismouth. "She--"
"When you've done tickling me with your whiskers," said Mr. Chase,withdrawing his head and rubbing his ear vigorously, "I shall be glad."
Mr. Teak apologized. "A rich woman," he repeated. "She's been stintingme for twenty-nine years and saving the money--my money!--money that I'ave earned with the sweat of my brow. She 'as got over three 'undredpounds!"
"'Ow much?" demanded Mr. Chase.
"Three 'undred pounds and more," repeated the other; "and if she had 'adthe sense to put it in a bank it would ha' been over four 'undred by thistime. Instead o' that she keeps it hid in the 'Ouse."
"Where?" inquired the greatly interested Mr. Chase.
Mr. Teak shook his head. "That's just what I want to find out," heanswered. "She don't know I know it; and she mustn't know, either.That's important."
"How did you find out about it, then?" inquired his friend.
"My wife's sister's husband, Bert Adams, told me. His wife told 'im instrict confidence; and I might 'ave gone to my grave without knowingabout it, only she smacked his face for 'im the other night."
"If it's in the house you ought to be able to find it easy enough," saidMr. Chase.
"Yes, it's all very well to talk," retorted Mr. Teak. "My missis neverleaves the 'ouse unless I'm with her, except when I'm at work; and if shethought I knew of it she'd take and put it in some bank or somewhereunbeknown to me, and I should be farther off it than ever."
"Haven't you got no idea?" said Mr. Chase.
"Not the leastest bit," said the other. "I never thought for a momentshe was saving money. She's always asking me for more, for one thing;but, then women alway do. And look 'ow bad it is for her--saving moneylike that on the sly. She might grow into a miser, pore thing. For 'erown sake I ought to get hold of it, if it's only to save her from'erself."
Mr. Chase's face reflected the gravity of his own.
"You're the only man I can trust," continued Mr. Teak, "and I thought ifyou came as lodger you might be able to find out where it is hid, and gethold of it for me."
"Me steal it, d'ye mean?" demanded the gaping Mr. Chase. "And supposeshe got me locked up for it? I should look pretty, shouldn't I?"
"No; you find out where it is hid," said the other; "that's all you needdo. I'll find someway of getting hold of it then."
"But if you can't find it, how should I be able to?" inquired Mr. Chase.
"'Cos you'll 'ave opportunities," said the other. "I take her out sometime when you're supposed to be out late; you come 'ome, let yourself inwith your key, and spot the hiding-place. I get the cash, and give youten-golden-sovereigns--all to your little self. It only occurred to meafter Bert told me about it, that I ain't been in the house alone foryears."
He ordered some more beer, and, drawing Mr. Chase to a bench, sat down toa long and steady argument. It shook his faith in human nature to findthat his friend estimated the affair as a twenty-pound job, but he was inno position to bargain. They came out smoking twopenny cigars whosestrength was remarkable for their age, and before they parted Mr. Chasewas pledged to the hilt to do all that he could to save Mrs. Teak fromthe vice of avarice.
It was a more difficult undertaking than he had supposed. The house,small and compact, seemed to offer few opportunities for the concealmentof large sums of money, and after a fortnight's residence he came to theconclusion that the treasure must have been hidden in the garden. Theunalloyed pleasure, however, with which Mrs. Teak regarded the effortsof her husband to put under cultivation land that had lain fallow fortwenty years convinced both men that they were on a wrong scent. Mr.Teak, who did the digging, was the first to realize it, but his friend,pointing out the suspicions that might be engendered by a suddencessation of labour, induced him to persevere.
"And try and look as if you liked it," he said, severely. "Why, from thewindow even the back view of you looks disagreeable."
"I'm fair sick of it," declared Mr. Teak. "Anybody might ha' known shewouldn't have buried it in the garden. She must 'ave been saving forpretty near thirty years, week by week, and she couldn't keep coming outhere to hide it. 'Tain't likely."
Mr. Chase pondered. "Let her know, casual like, that I sha'n't be 'ometill late on Saturday," he said, slowly. "Then you come 'ome in theafternoon and take her out. As soon as you're gone I'll pop in and havea thorough good hunt round. Is she fond of animals?"
"I b'lieve so," said the other, staring. "Why?"
"Take 'er to the Zoo," said Mr. Chase, impressively. "Take two-penn'ortho' nuts with you for the monkeys, and some stale buns for--for--foranimals as likes 'em. Give 'er a ride on the elephant and a ride on thecamel."
"Anything else?" inquired Mr. Teak disagreeably. "Any more ways you canthink of for me to spend my money?"
"You do as I tell you," said his friend. "I've got an idea now where itis. If I'm able to show you where to put your finger on three 'undredpounds when you come 'ome it'll be the cheapest outing you have ever 'ad.Won't it?"
Mr. Teak made no reply, but, after spending the evening in deliberation,issued the invitation at the supper-table. His wife's eyes sparkled atfirst; then the light slowly faded from them and her face fell.
"I can't go," she said, at last. "I've got nothing to go in."
"Rubbish!" said her husband, starting uneasily.
"It's a fact," said Mrs. Teak. "I should like to go, too--it's yearssince I was at the Zoo. I might make my jacket do; it's my hat I'mthinking about."
Mr. Chase, meeting Mr. Teak's eye, winked an obvious suggestion.
"So, thanking you all the same," continued Mrs. Teak, with amiablecheerfulness, "I'll stay at 'ome."
"'Ow-'ow much are they?" growled her husband, scowling at Mr. Chase.
"All prices," replied his wife.
"Yes, I know," said Mr. Teak, in a grating voice. "You go in to buy ahat at one and eleven-pence; you get talked over and flattered by a manlike a barber's block, and you come out with a four-and-six penny one.The only real difference in hats is the price, but women can never seeit."
Mrs. Teak smiled faintly, and again expressed her willingness to stay athome. They could spend the afternoon working in the garden, she said.Her husband, with another indignant glance at the right eye of Mr. Chase,which was still enacting the part of a camera-shutter, said that shecould have a hat, but asked her to remember when buying it that nothingsuited her so well as a plain one.
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The remainder of the week passed away slowly; and Mr. Teak, despite hisutmost efforts, was unable to glean any information from Mr. Chase as tothat gentleman's ideas concerning