The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Chequers, by James Runciman

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Title: The Chequers
Being the Natural History of a Public-House, Set Forth in
a Loafer's Diary

Author: James Runciman

Release Date: June 5, 2006 [EBook #18510]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHEQUERS ***

Produced by Steven Gibbs, LN Yaddanapudi and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

THE CHEQUERS:
BEING THE

Natural History of a Public-house,

SET FORTH IN

_A LOAFER'S DIARY_.

EDITED BY

JAMES RUNCIMAN,
AUTHOR OF "SKIPPERS AND SHELLBACKS," ETC.

London:
WARD AND DOWNEY,
12, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN, W.C.

[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.]

Dedication.

TO
PHILIP WOOD AND JOHN WOOD,
OF
SOUTH SHIELDS.

GENTLEMEN,--This record of ruined lives is inscribed to you, for it is
mainly owing to you that I have gained such gruesome experience. From
the day when, as a boy of seventeen, I formed my connection with your
honourable house, I have owed my professional success to your culture,
your generosity, and your admirable relations with the police force. My
Sovereign and many other people have been pleased to approve my strange
labours; but my chief distinction in life arises from my being your
relative. With feelings which I cannot describe,

I remain,

Your obliged and grateful,

JAMES RUNCIMAN.

CONTENTS.

PAGE
INTRODUCTION 1
THE WANDERER 6
THE PINK TOM CAT 23
TEDDY 46
THE WANDERER AGAIN 64
THE ROBBERY 77
ONE OF OUR ENTERTAINMENTS 92
MERRY JERRY AND HIS FRIENDS 108
THE GENTLEMAN, THE DOCTOR, AND DICKY 123
POACHERS AND NIGHTBIRDS 140
JIM BILLINGS 155
OUR PARLOUR COMPANY 175
A QUEER CHRISTMAS 192
JACK BROWN 215

THE CHEQUERS.

INTRODUCTION.

It is risky to go home with some of the company from the Chequers, f