Produced by David Widger THE LADY OF THE BARGE AND OTHER STORIES By W. W. Jacobs THREE AT TABLE The talk in the coffee-room had been of ghosts and apparitions, and nearly everybody present had contributed his mite to the stock of information upon a hazy and somewhat thread-bare subject. Opinions ranged from rank incredulity
The White Cat by W.W. Jacobs
Produced by David Widger CAPTAINS ALL By W.W. Jacobs THE WHITE CAT The traveller stood looking from the tap-room window of the _Cauliflower_ at the falling rain. The village street below was empty, and everything was quiet with the exception of the garrulous old man smoking with much enjoyment on the settle behind him. “It’ll
The Weaker Vessel by W.W. Jacobs
Produced by David Widger NIGHT WATCHES By W.W. Jacobs THE WEAKER VESSEL Mr. Gribble sat in his small front parlour in a state of angry amazement. It was half-past six and there was no Mrs. Gribble; worse still, there was no tea. It was a state of things that had only happened once before. That
The Vigil by W.W. Jacobs
Produced by David Widger NIGHT WATCHES by W.W. Jacobs THE VIGIL “I’m the happiest man in the world,” said Mr. Farrer, in accents of dreamy tenderness. Miss Ward sighed. “Wait till father comes in,” she said. Mr. Farrer peered through the plants which formed a welcome screen to the window and listened with some uneasiness.
The Unknown by W.W. Jacobs
Produced by David Widger NIGHT WATCHES by W.W. Jacobs THE UNKNOWN “Handsome is as ‘andsome does,” said the night-watchman. It’s an old saying, but it’s true. Give a chap good looks, and it’s precious little else that is given to ‘im. He’s lucky when ‘is good looks ‘ave gorn–or partly gorn–to get a berth as
The Understudy by W.W. Jacobs
Produced by David Widger NIGHT WATCHES by W.W. Jacobs THE UNDERSTUDY The Understudy “Dogs on board ship is a nuisance,” said the night-watchman, gazing fiercely at the vociferous mongrel that had chased him from the deck of the Henry William; “the skipper asks me to keep an eye on the ship, and then leaves a
The Three Sisters by W. W. Jacobs
Produced by David Widger NIGHT WATCHES by W.W. Jacobs THE THREE SISTERS Thirty years ago on a wet autumn evening the household of Mallett’s Lodge was gathered round the death-bed of Ursula Mallow, the eldest of the three sisters who inhabited it. The dingy moth-eaten curtains of the old wooden bedstead were drawn apart, the
The Third String by W.W. Jacobs
Produced by David Widger ODD CRAFT By W.W. Jacobs THE THIRD STRING Love? said the night-watchman, as he watched in an abstracted fashion the efforts of a skipper to reach a brother skipper on a passing barge with a boathook. Don’t talk to me about love, because I’ve suffered enough through it. There ought to
The Temptation of Samuel Burge by W.W. Jacobs
Produced by David Widger CAPTAINS ALL By W.W. Jacobs THE TEMPTATION OF SAMUEL BURGE Mr. Higgs, jeweller, sat in the small parlour behind his shop, gazing hungrily at a supper-table which had been laid some time before. It was a quarter to ten by the small town clock on the mantelpiece, and the jeweller rubbing
The Substitute by W. W. Jacobs
Produced by David Widger DEEP WATERS By W.W. JACOBS THE SUBSTITUTE The night watchman had just returned to the office fire after leaving it to attend a ring at the wharf bell. He sat for some time puffing fiercely at his pipe and breathing heavily. “Boys!” he said, at last. “That’s the third time this
The Persecution of Bob Pretty by W.W. JacobsFrom: Odd Craft
Produced by David Widger ODD CRAFT By W.W. Jacobs THE PERSECUTION OF BOB PRETTY The old man sat on his accustomed bench outside the Cauliflower. A generous measure of beer stood in a blue and white jug by his elbow, and little wisps of smoke curled slowly upward from the bowl of his churchwarden pipe.
The Nest Egg by W.W. Jacobs
Produced by David Widger CAPTAINS ALL By W.W. Jacobs THE NEST EGG “Artfulness,” said the night-watch-man, smoking placidly, “is a gift; but it don’t pay always. I’ve met some artful ones in my time–plenty of ’em; but I can’t truthfully say as ‘ow any of them was the better for meeting me.” He rose slowly