Show THE ventriloquist down at tho famous strand tavern the coalhole in london we were gathered together one evening laughing over the amusing scenes of ventriloquism with which that clever comedian toole had just been edifying us A journalist present complimented him somewhat ironically on what he called his little society talents these same little talents said tool in a grave tone have sometimes a great utility in life do not despise them an infinitely small talent nifty save a world of trouble nothing is unproductive here below let me give you a single illustration tra tion some years ago I 1 was passing ono evening through drury lane on my way to the gaiety theater where I 1 was at that time playing a role my attention was suddenly attracted by a pathetic voice imploring charity I 1 stopped and looted around me voice proceeded from a misshapen being apparently a cripple crouched in tha corner of an archway leading into one of these winding alleys so numerous in this popular quarter his white hair and beard and cracked voice indicated clearly that the beggar was an old man A few pence for a poor man sir said the tremulous voice 1 am cold and hungry oh so hungry I 1 have eaten not liing since yesterday the right of a young man however miserable he might have been would not have moved me old cockneys cock like me are too well posted on all these borrowing schemes which flourish in our town but this decrepit old age and horrible deformity filled me with compassion what misery I 1 exclaimed gazing at the old man Is it possible that yon are condemned to begging at your age have you no sons nor daughters alas yes gentleman replied the beggar in a smothered tone as if ashamed to acknowledge tho truth but they have abandoned mo it is infamous I 1 added 1 I drew from my pocket a half crown As I 1 handed it toward the beggar my customary suspicions seized me perhaps it was after all a made up cripple we actors are not the only ones who know how to disguise ourselves in london 1 I prefer to assist you more effectively I 1 remarked after an instants pause you hive a refuge somewhere A home where do you live 1 I expected now to be enlightened as to the genuineness of my beggar the slightest hesitation on his part would have put me on my guard at once not over a quarter of a milo from here replied the cripple 1 I will take you to my lodging sir if you like the earnestness with which he responded occurred to me after the adventure was over at the time I 1 laid no stress boon it very belll go ahead I 1 will follow I 1 answered the beggar started off on his crotches dragging after him two stumps of lega and with a hundred protestations of gratitude made in a warm and fervent tone ho maneuvered rapidly along the maddy and slippery sidewalk of drury lane it was a dismal london winter evening A thick humid fog hung heavily over the macadamized pavement by the dull yellow light of the street lamps the passers by took on the aspect of phantoms from the doorsteps and windows of the miserable houses in the alleys and courts through which we passed gaunt pallid facca gazed out upon ns and cutthroat countenances with wolfish ayea glared out into the night not ant that wo must acknowledge our police force is admirably organized for cons lAring the widespread misery and degradation in london it is only astonishing toni shing that crimes are not twenty times as numerous as they are but despite this energy of the police how many a black deed rests hidden buried forever in the slums of our great towal during these reflections little reassuring as they were I 1 gazed after ray guide decidedly it was a poor devil that I 1 no longer doubted I 1 was on the point of stopping him and sending him on his way with a few shillings 1 was almost ashamed of my suspicions but with a skill undoubtedly acquired by long years of exercise the beggar advanced very rapidly turning from time to time to make sure that I 1 was following at last we crossed covent garden market and long acre and entered that hideous quarter which you all know seven dials the adventure commenced to only half please me are we far from your room still I 1 asked catching up with the beggar 1 I much time to spare As I 1 spoke I 1 drew oct my watch an excellent chronometer of dents of considerable sid erable value looking suddenly up I 1 surprised an ugly covetous glance beneath the beggars bushy eyebrows oh ho I 1 said to myself a mighty young eye for an old man uy suspicions returned with triple force but often our paltry pride over rules our moreover with the seven dials quarter returned the bastle and noise of london life laughs and shouts greeted na on all eides from the public houses and bar rooms of the neighborhood 1 determined to push the adventure to its end the more so as my companion cow turned to mo and said in his cracked and flattering tones here is my home gentleman ho dipped through the half opened door 05 a dilapidated building and started up a rickety staircase with the agility I 1 had before remarked I 1 had difficulty in following him in the nauseating obscurity the smart rap of the crutches sounded on the steps and served 13 a guide at the third story the old beggar stopped I 1 heard him feeling about in the dark then came the sound of a key turning in a lock one moment my good gentleman said the trembling voice 1 I will light a candle some seconds passed the disma glimmer of a tallow candle lit up a room which struck me as tolerably spacious the beggar had slipped behind me and I 1 now heard the sharp click of the key in the lock 1 I had expected to find a sordid miserable hole fitted out with a broken stool and a bundle of straw in the corner for a bed instead of which the room was furnished with a certain degree of luxury and the floor was covered with a rich carpet what does this mean I 1 asked in a stupor you have deceived mel 1 I turned toward the door the dolfl man had vanished a man in the vigor of life a white wig in his hand his face covered with penciled wrinkles looked up at me and laughed you look surprised he said in a mocking boue there are miracles still in our days you see my good legs have come back to me and my crutches look there I 1 he pointed toward the corner near the door well what do you want of asked resolutely enough 1 I want you to let me have your watch impudently answered the man mine happens to be at the jewelers just now and yours looks like a tolerably good one HI warrant it to keep good time after all it was but one man and a struggle man to man demands but an i ordinary courage but my pseudo graybeard drew a revolver from his pocket now said he holding the muzzle to my face the watch and the first 1 I drew back indignation and anger at letting myself into such an absurd trap almost suffocated me but what could I 1 do against this man armed all at once an idea occurred to me imp of satan I 1 all catch you called a gruff voice from behind the beggar instinctively he turned round I 1 seized the opportunity to rush upon him and snatch the revolver from his band my turn now said I 1 holding the revolver under his nose open that door this instant or ill blow out your the robber looked at me with a stupid air ho was a resolute fellow without a doubt but the revolver and the mysterious voice together were too much for him growling savagely like a bulldog he opened the door and slammed it violently after him feeling my way along I 1 found the staircase and with some difficulty gained the street I 1 directed my stepi at toward the strand I 1 arrived a half at my theater the greatest inquietude at my non ap peara uce 1 I kept the revolver as a tribute of war and you aeo concluded tool how my little talent of ventriloquism that night helped me out of an ugly scrape translated from the french for journal |