About: Ship's Company, The Entire Collection by W.W. Jacobs

SHIP'S COMPANY

Produced by David Widger

SHIP'S COMPANY

ByW.W. Jacobs

CONTENTS:

Fine Feathers Friends in Need Good Intentions Fairy Gold Watch Dogs The Bequest The Guardian Angel Dual Control Skilled Assistance For Better or Worse The Old Man of The Sea "Manners Makyth Man"

[Illustration: "Can I 'ave it took off while I eat my bloater, mother?"]

FINE FEATHERS

Mr. Jobson awoke with a Sundayish feeling, probably due to the fact thatit was Bank Holiday. He had been aware, in a dim fashion, of the risingof Mrs. Jobson some time before, and in a semi conscious condition hadtaken over a large slice of unoccupied territory. He stretched himselfand yawned, and then, by an effort of will, threw off the clothes andspringing out of bed reached for his trousers.

He was an orderly man, and had hung them every night for over twentyyears on the brass knob on his side of the bed. He had hung them therethe night before, and now they had absconded with a pair of red bracesjust entering their teens. Instead, on a chair at the foot of the bedwas a collection of garments that made him shudder. With tremblingfingers he turned over a black tailcoat, a white waistcoat, and a pair oflight check trousers. A white shirt, a collar, and tie kept themcompany, and, greatest outrage of all, a tall silk hat stood on its ownband box beside the chair. Mr. Jobson, fingering his bristly chin,stood: regarding the collection with a wan smile.

"So that's their little game, is it?" he muttered. "Want to make a toffof me. Where's my clothes got to, I wonder?"

A hasty search satisfied him that they were not in the room, and, pausingonly to drape himself in the counterpane, he made his way into the next.He passed on to the others, and then, with a growing sense of alarm,stole softly downstairs and making his way to the shop continued thesearch. With the shutters up the place was almost in darkness, and inspite of his utmost care apples and potatoes rolled on to the floor andtravelled across it in a succession of bumps. Then a sudden turn broughtthe scales clattering down.

"Good gracious, Alf!" said a voice. "Whatever are you a doing of?"

Mr. Jobson turned and eyed his wife, who was standing at the door.

"I'm looking for my clothes, mother," he replied, briefly.

"Clothes!" said Mrs. Jobson, with an obvious attempt at unconcernedspeech. "Clothes! Why, they're on the chair."

"I mean clothes fit for a Christian to wear fit for a greengrocer towear," said Mr. Jobson, raising his voice.

"It was a little surprise for you, dear," said his wife. "Me and Bertand Gladys and Dorothy 'ave all been saving up for it for ever so long."

"It's very kind of you all," said Mr. Jobson, feebly "very, but "

"They've all been doing without things themselves to do it," interjectedhis wife. "As for Gladys, I'm sure nobody knows what she's given up."

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