“Just a little bit of a railway accident,” said one of the strangers. “Train ran into some empty trucks. Nobody hurt—seriously,” he added, in response to a terrible and annoyed groan from Mr. Scutts.

“Just a little bit of a railway accident,” said one of the strangers. “Train ran into some empty trucks. Nobody hurt—seriously,” 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.

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 own legs,” said one of the strangers, reproachfully. “He said he couldn't walk, and he wouldn't go to a hospital.”

“All the others went off home on their own 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.”

“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.

The two strangers stood by watching him; then they looked at each other.

“I don't want—no—'ospitals,” gasped Mr. Scutts, “I'm going to have my own doctor.”

“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.”

“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 of me 'ome.”

“I 'ope so,” said Mr. Scutts, “but I don't think it. Thank you for bringing of me 'ome.”

 Prev. P 4/189 next