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ILLUSTRATED BY WILL OWEN 
RS. SCUTTS, concealed behind 
the curtain, gazed at the cab 
in uneasy amazement. The 
cabman clambered down from 
the box and, opening the door, 
stood by with his hands ex- 
tended ready for any help that 
might be needed. A stranger was the first to 
alight, and, with his back towards Mrs. Scutts, 
seemed to be struggling with something in the 
cab. He placed a dangling hand about his 
neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled 
backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose 
other arm was round the neck of a third man. 
In a flash Mrs. Scutts was at the door. 
“ Oh, Bill ! ” she gasped. “ And by day- 
light, too ! ” 
Mr. Scutts raised his head sharply and his 
lips parted ; then his head sank again, and 
he became a dead weight in the grasp of his 
assistants. 
“ He’s all right,” said one of them, turning 
to Mrs. Scutts. 
A deep groan from Mr. Scutts confirmed the 
statement. 
“ What is it ? ” inquired his wife, anxiously. 
“ Just a little bit of a railway accident,” 
said one of the strangers. “ Train ran into 
some empty trucks. Nobody hurt — seri- 
ously,” he added, in response to a terrible and 
annoyed groan from Mr. Scutts. 
With his feet dragging helplessly, Mr. Scutts 
was conveyed over his own doorstep and 
placed on the sofa. 
“ All the others went off home on their ow T n 
legs,” said one of the strangers, reproachfully. 
“ He said he couldn’t walk, and he wouldn’t 
go to a hospital.” 
“ Wanted to die at home,” declared the 
sufferer. “ I ain’t going to be cut about at 
no ’ospitals.” 
The two strangers stood by watching him ; 
then they looked at each other. 
Vol. xlvl.— 11. Copyright 1913, 
“ I don’t want — no — ’ospitals,” gasped 
Mr. Scutts. “ I’m going to have my own 
doctor.” 
“ Of course, the company will pay the 
doctor’s bill,” said one of the strangers to 
Mrs. Scutts ; “or they’ll send their own 
doctor. I expect he’ll be all right to-morrow.” 
“ I ’ope so,” said Mr. Scutts, “ but I don’t 
think it. Thank you . for bringing c f me 
’ome.” 
He closed his eyes languidly, and kept them 
closed until the men had departed. 
“ Can’t you walk, Bill ? ” inquired the 
tearful Mrs. Scutts. 
Her husband shook his head. “ You go 
and fetch the doctor,” he said, slowly. “ That 
new one round the corner.” 
“ He looks such a boy,” objected Mrs. 
Scutts. 
“ You go and fetch ’im,” said Mr. Scutts, 
raising his voice. “ D’ye hear ! ” 
c< But ” began his wife. 
“ If I get up to you, my gal,” said the 
forgetful Mr. Scutts, “ you’ll know it.” 
“ Why, I thought ” said his wife, in 
surprise. 
Mr. Scutts raised himself on the sofa and 
shook his fist at her. Then, as a tribute to 
appearances, he sank back and groaned again. 
Mrs. Scutts, looking somewhat relieved, took 
her bonnet from a nail and departed. 
The examination was long and tedious, 
but Mr. Scutts, beyond remarking that he 
felt chilly, made no complaint. He endea- 
voured, but in vain, to perform the tests 
suggested, and even did his best to stand, 
supported by his medical attendant. Self- 
preservation is the law of Nature, and when 
Mr. Scutts ’s legs and back gave way he saw r 
to it that the doctor was underneath. 
“ We’ll have to get you up to bed,” said the 
latter, rising slowly and dusting himself. 
Mr. Scutts, who was lying full length on 
by \V. W. Jacobs 
