CHAPTER XXI. CHICAGO ED. Riverside drive slept. The moon shone on darkened windows and deserted sidewalks. It was past one o'clock in the morning. The wicked forties were still ablaze with light and noisy foxtrotts, but in the virtuous hundreds where Mr. Pett's house stood, respectable slumber reigned. Only the occasional drone of a passing automobile broke the silence, or the love-sick cry of some feline Romeo patrolling a wall-top. Jimmy was awake. He was sitting on the edge of his bed, watching his father put the finishing touches to his makeup, which was of a shaggy and intimidating nature. The elder-crocker had conceived the outward aspect of Chicago Ed, king of the kidnappers, on broad and impressive lines, and one glance would have been enough to tell the sagacious observer that here was no white-sold comrade for a nocturnal saunter down lonely lanes and out of the way alleys. Mr. Crocker seemed to feel this himself. "'The only trouble is, Jim,' he said, peering at himself in the glass, "'should I scare the boy to death directly, he sees me? Aught not to give him some sort of warning? How? Do you suggest sending him a formal note?' Mr. Crocker surveyed his repellent features doubtfully. "'It's a good deal to spring on a kid at one in the morning,' he said. "'Suppose he has a fit?' "'He's far more likely to give you one. Don't you worry about Ogden, dad. I shouldn't think there was a child alive more equal to handling such a situation.' There was an empty glass standing on a tray on the dressing-table. Mr. Crocker eyed this sadly. "'I wish you hadn't thrown that stuff away, Jim. I could have done with it. I'm feeling nervous.' "'Nonsense, dad. You're all right. I had to throw it away. I'm on the wagon now. But how long I should have stayed on with that smiling up at me? I don't know. I've made up my mind never to lower myself to the level of the beast that perished with the demon rum again, because my future wife has strong views on the subject. But there's no sense in taking chances. Temptation is all very well, but you don't need it on your dressing-table.' "'It was a kindly thought of yours to place it there, dad. But, eh, I didn't put it there. I thought this sort of thing came in your department. Isn't it the butler's job to supply drinks to the nobility and gentry? Well, it doesn't matter. It's now distributed over the neighboring soil, thus removing a powerful temptation from your path. You're better without it.' He looked at his watch. "'Well, it ought to be all right now.' He went to the window. There's an automobile down there. I suppose it's Jerry. I told him to be outside at one sharp and it's nearly half-past. I think you might be starting, dad. Oh, by the way, you had better tell Ogden that you represent a gentleman of the name of Buck McGinnis. It was Buck who got away with him last time, and a firm friendship seems to have sprung up between them. There's nothing like coming with a good introduction.' Mr. Crocker took a final survey of himself in the mirror. Gee, I'd hate to meet myself on a lonely road. He opened the door and stood for a moment listening. From somewhere down the passage came the murmur of a muffled snore. "'Third door on the left,' said Jimmy. Three. Count them. Three. Don't go getting mixed.' Mr. Crocker slid into the outer darkness like a stout ghost, and Jimmy closed the door gently behind him. Having launched his indulgent parent safely on a career of crime, Jimmy switched off the light and returned to the window. Leaning out, he gave himself up for a moment to sentimental musings. The night was very still. Through the trees which flanked the house, the dimmed headlights of what was presumably Jerry Mitchell's hired car shone faintly like enlarged fireflies. A boat of some description was tooting reflectively far down the river. Such was the seductive influence of the time in the scene that Jimmy might have remained there indefinitely, weaving dreams, had he not been under the necessity of making his way down to the library. It was his task to close the French windows after his father and Ogden had passed through, and he proposed to remain hid in the gallery there until the time came for him to do this. It was imperative that he avoid being seen by Ogden. Locking his door behind him he went downstairs. There were no signs of life in the house. Everything was still. He found the staircase leading to the gallery without having to switch on the lights. It was dusty in the gallery, and a smell of old leather enveloped him. He hoped his father would not be long. He lowered himself cautiously to the floor, and resting his head against a convenient shelf, began to wonder how the interview between Chicago Edd and his prey was progressing. Mr. Crocker, meanwhile, massed to the eyes, had crept in fearful silence to the door which Jimmy had indicated. A good deal of the gay enthusiasm with which he had embarked on this enterprise had ebbed away from him. Now that he had become accustomed to the novelty of finding himself once more playing a character part, his intimate respectability began to assert itself. It was one thing to play Chicago Edd at a Broadway theatre, but quite another to give a benefit performance like this. As he tiptoed along the passage, the one thing that presented itself most clearly to him was the appalling outcome of this act of his should anything go wrong. He would have turned back, but for the thought that Jimmy was depending on him and that success would mean Jimmy's happiness. Stimulated by this reflection he opened Ogden's door inch by inch and went in. He stole softly across the room. He had almost reached the bed and had just begun to wonder how on earth now that he was there he could open the proceedings tactfully and without alarming the boy when he was saved the trouble of pondering further on this problem. A light flashed out of the darkness with the suddenness of a bursting bomb and a voice from the same general direction said, hands up! When Mr. Crocker had finished blinking and had adjusted his eyes to the glare he perceived Ogden sitting up in bed with a revolver in his hand. The revolver was resting on his knee and its muzzle pointed directly at Mr. Crocker's ample stomach. Exhaustive as had been the thought which Jimmy's father had given to the possible developments of his enterprise this was a contingency of which he had not dreamed. He was entirely at a loss.  I should worry, replied Ogden coldly. I'm at the right end of it. What are you doing here? He looked fondly at the lethal weapon. I got this with cigarette coupons to shoot rabbits when we went to the country. Here's where I get a chance at something part human. Do you want to murder me? Why not? Mr. Crocker's make-up was trickling down his face in sticky streams. The mask, however, prevented Ogden from seeing this peculiar phenomenon. He was gazing interestingly at his visitor. An idea struck him. Say, did you come to kidnap me? Mr. Crocker felt the same sense of relief which he had sometimes experienced on the stage when memory had failed him during a scene and a fellow actor had thrown him the line. It would be exaggerating to say that he was himself again. He could never be completely at his ease with that pistol pointing at him, but he felt considerably better. He lowered his voice an octave or so and spoke in a husky growl. Ah, jeez it, kid! Nick's on the rough stuff. Keep those hands up, advised Ogden. Sure, sure, growled Mr. Crocker. Can the gun play, Bo? Say, you've certainly grown since the last time we got used. Ogden's matter became magically friendly. Are you want to buck me Guinness Lot? He inquired almost politely. That's right. Mr. Crocker blessed the inspiration which had prompted Jimmy's parting words. I'm with Buck. Why didn't Buck come himself? He's wakin' on another job. To Mr. Crocker's profound relief, Ogden lowered the pistol. I'm strong for Buck, he said conversationally. We're all pals. Did you see the piece in the paper about him kidnapping me last time? I've got it in my press-clipping album. Sure, said Mr. Crocker. Say, listen, if you take me now, Buck's got to come across. I like Buck, but I'm not going to let myself be kidnapped for his benefit. It's fifty-fifty or nothing doing, see?  Well, if that's understood, all right. Give me a minute to get some clothes on, and I'll be with you. Don't make a noise, said Mr. Crocker. Who's making any noise? Say, how did you get in here? True to library windows. I always knew some jig was strolled in that way. It beats me why they didn't have bars fixed on them. There's a buzz wagon outside, waiting. You do it in style, don't you? observed Ogden pulling on his shirt. Who's working this with you? Anyone I know? No, a new guy. Oh, say, I don't remember you if it comes to that. You don't? said Mr. Crocker, a little discomposed. Well, maybe I wouldn't with that mask on. Which of them are you? Chicago Ed's my moniker. I don't remember any Chicago Ed. Well, you will after dis, said Mr. Crocker, happily inspired. Ogden was eyeing him with sudden suspicion. Take that mask off and let's have a look at you. Nothing doing. How am I to know you're on the level? Mr. Crocker played a daring card. All right, he said, making a move towards the door. It's up to you. If you think I'm not on the level, I'll beat it. Here, stop a minute, said Ogden hastily, unwilling that a promising business deal should be abandoned in this summary manner. I'm not seeing anything against you. There's no need to fly off the handle like that. I'll tell Buck I couldn't get you, said Mr. Crocker, moving another step. Here, stop! What's the matter with you? Are you coming with me? Sure, if you get the conditions. Buck's got to slip me half of whatever he gets out of this. That's right, Buck'll slip you half of anything he gets. All right, then. Wait till I've got this shoe on and let's start. Now I'm ready. Beat it quietly. What do you think I was going to do, sing? Step this way, said Mr. Crocker, jacuzzi. They left the room cautiously. Mr. Crocker, for a moment, had a sense of something missing. He had reached the stairs before he realized what it was. Then it dawned upon him that what was lacking was the applause. The scene had deserved a round. Jimmy, vigilant in the gallery, heard the library door open softly and peering over the rail perceived two dim forms in the darkness. One was large, the other small. They crossed the room together. Whispered words reached him. I thought you said you came in this way. Sure! Then why is the shutter closed? I fixed it after I was in. There was a faint scraping sound followed by a click. The darkness of the room was relieved by moonlight. The figures passed through. Jimmy ran down from the gallery and closed the window softly. He had just fastened the shutters. When from the passage outside there came the unmistakable sound of a footstep. End of Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Of Piccadilly Gym By P. G. Whithouse This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Piccadilly Gym Chapter 22 In The Library Jimmy's first emotion on hearing the footstep was the crude instinct of self-preservation. All that he was able to think of at the moment was the fact that he was in a questionable position and one which would require a good deal of explaining away if he were found, and his only sensation was a strong desire to avoid discovery. He made a silent, scrambling leap for the gallery stairs and reached their shelter just as the door opened. He stood there rigid, waiting to be challenged, but apparently he had moved in time for no voice spoke. The door closed so gently as to be almost inaudible, and then there was silence again. The room remained in darkness, and it was this perhaps that first suggested to Jimmy the comforting thought that the intruder was equally desirous of avoiding the scrutiny of his fellows. He had taken it for granted in his first panic that he himself was the only person in that room whose motive for being there would not have borne inspection. But now, safely hidden in the gallery, out of sight from the floor below, he had the leisure to consider the newcomer's movements and to draw conclusions from them. An honest man's first act would surely have been to switch on the lights, and an honest man would hardly have crept so stealthily. It became apparent to Jimmy as he leaned over the rail and tried to pierce the darkness that there was sinister work afoot, and he had hardly reached this conclusion when his mind took a further leap and he guessed the identity of the soft-footed person below. It could be none but his old friend Lord Whizbeach, known to the boys as Gentleman Jack. It surprised him that he had not thought of this before. Then it surprised him that, after the talk they had only a few hours earlier in that very room, Gentleman Jack should have dared to risk this raid. At this moment the blackness was relieved as if by the striking of a match. The man below had brought an electric torch into play, and now Jimmy could see clearly. He had been right in his surmise. It was Lord Whizbeach. He was kneeling in front of the safe. What he was doing to the safe Jimmy could not see, for the man's body was in the way. But the electric torch shone on his face, lighting up grim, serious features, quite unlike the amiable and slightly vacant mask which his lordship was want to present to the world. As Jimmy looked something happened in the pool of light beyond his vision. Gentleman Jack gave a muttered exclamation of satisfaction, and then Jimmy saw that the door of the safe had swung open.  Jimmy was not an expert in these matters, but he had read from time to time of modern burglars and their methods, and he gathered that an oxyacetylene blowpipe, with its flame that cuts steel as a knife cuts cheese, had been at work. Lord Whizbeach flashed the torch into the open safe, plunged his hand in, and drew it out again, holding something. Handling this in a cautious and gingerly manner, he placed it carefully in his breast pocket. Then he straightened himself. He switched off the torch and moved to the window, leaving the rest of his implements by the open safe. He unfastened the shutter, then raised the catch of the window. At this point it seemed to Jimmy that the time had come to interfere. "'Tut, tut," he said in a tone of mild reproof. The effect of the rebuke on Lord Whizbeach was remarkable. He jumped convulsively away from the window, then revolving on his own axis, flashed the torch into every corner of the room. "'Who's that?' he gasped. "'Conscience,' said Jimmy. Lord Whizbeach had overlooked the gallery in his researches. He now turned his torch upwards. The light flooded the gallery on the opposite side of the room from where Jimmy stood. There was a pistol in gentlemen Jack's hand now. It followed the torch uncertainly. Jimmy, lying flat on the gallery floor, spoke again. "'Throw that gun away and the torch, too,' he said. "'I've got you covered.'" The torch flashed above his head, but the raised edge of the gallery rail protected him. "'I'll give you five seconds. If you haven't dropped that gun by then, I shall shoot.'" As he began to count, Jimmy heartily regretted that he had allowed his appreciation of the dramatic to lead him into this situation. It would have been so simple to have roused the house in a prosaic way and avoided this delicate position. Suppose his bluff did not succeed. Suppose the other still clung to his pistol at the end of the five seconds. He wished that he had made it ten instead. Gentleman Jack was an enterprising person, as his previous acts had showed. He might very well decide to take a chance. He might even refuse to believe that Jimmy was armed. He had only Jimmy's word for it. Perhaps he might be as deficient in simple faith as he had proved to be in Norman blood. Jimmy lingered lovingly over his count. "'Four?' he said reluctantly. There was a breathless moment. Then, to Jimmy's unspeakable relief, gun and torch dropped simultaneously to the floor. In an instant Jimmy was himself again. "'Go and stand with your face to that wall,' he said crisply.  "'Why? I'm going to see how many more guns you've got. I haven't another. I'd like to make sure of that for myself. Get moving.' Gentleman Jack reluctantly obeyed. When he had reached the wall Jimmy came down. He switched on the lights. He felt in the other's pockets and almost at once encountered something hard and metallic. He shook his head reproachfully. "'You are very loose and inaccurate in your statements,' he said. "'Why all these weapons?  Gentleman Jack's appeared to be a philosophical nature. The chagrin consequent upon his failure seemed to have left him. He sat on the arm of a chair and regarded Jimmy without a apparent hostility. He even smiled a faint smile. "'I thought I had fixed you,' he said. "'You must have been smarter than I took you for. I never supposed you would get on to that drink and pass it up.' Understanding of an incident which had perplexed him came to Jimmy. "'Was it you who put that high ball in my room? Was it doped? Didn't you know?' "'Well,' said Jimmy. I never knew before that virtue got its reward so darn quick in this world. I rejected that high ball, not because I suspected it, but out of pure goodness.  His companion laughed. If Jimmy had had a more intimate acquaintance with the resourceful individual whom the boys called Gentleman Jack, he would have been disquieted by that laugh. It was an axiom among those who knew him well that when Gentleman Jack chuckled in the reflective way he generally had something unpleasant up his sleeve. "'It's your lucky night,' said Gentleman Jack. "'It looks like it. Well, it isn't over yet.' "'Very nearly. You had better go and put that test tube back in what is left of the safe now. Did you think I had forgotten it?' "'What test tube?' "'Come, come, old friend. The one filled with partridges explosive, which you have in your breast pocket.' Gentleman Jack laughed again. Then he moved towards the safe. "'Place it gently on the top shelf,' said Jimmy. The next moment every nerve in his body was leaping and quivering. A great shout split the air. Gentleman Jack, apparently insane, was giving tongue at the top of his voice. "'Help! Help! Help!' The conversation, having been conducted up to this point in undertones, the effect of this unexpected uproar was like an explosion. The cries seemed to echo round the room and shake the very walls. For a moment Jimmy stood paralyzed, staring feebly. Then there was a sudden deafening increase in the din. Something living seemed to writhe and jump in his hand. He dropped it incontinently and found himself gazing in a stupefied way at a round, smoking hole in the carpet.  There was a sudden rush and a swirl of action. Something hit Jimmy under the chin. He staggered back, and when he had recovered himself, found himself looking into the muzzle of the revolver, which had nearly blown a hole in his foot a moment back. The sardonic face of Gentleman Jack smiled grimly over the barrel. "'I told you the night wasn't over yet,' he said. The blow under the chin had temporarily dulled Jimmy's mentality. He stood, swallowing and endeavouring to pull himself together and to get rid of a feeling that his head was about to come off. He backed to the desk and steadied himself against it. As he did so, a voice from behind him spoke.  A curious procession was filing in through the open French window. First came Mr. Crocker, still wearing his hideous mask. Then a heavily bearded individual with round spectacles, who looked like an automobile coming through a haystack. Then Ogden Ford, and finally a sturdy, determined-looking woman with glittering but poorly coordinated eyes, who held a large revolver in her unshaking right hand and looked the very embodiment of the modern female who will stand no nonsense. It was part of the nightmare-like atmosphere which seemed to brood inexorably over this particular night, that this person looked to Jimmy exactly like the partner-mate who had come to him in this room in answer to the bell and who had sent his father to him. Yet how could it be she?' Jimmy knew little of the habits of partner-mates, but surely they did not wander about with revolvers in the small hours. While he endeavored feverishly to find reason in this chaos, the door opened and a motley crowd, roused from sleep by the cries, poured in. Jimmy, turning his head back again to attend to this invasion, perceived Mrs. Pet, Anne, two or three of the geniuses, and Willie Partridge, in various stages of negligee and babbling questions. The woman with the pistol, assuming instant and unquestioned domination of the assembly, snapped out an order. "'Shut that door!'  "'Now, what's all this?' she said, turning to gentlemen Jack. End of Chapter 22. Chapter 23. Of Piccadilly Gym, by P. G. Woodhouse. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Piccadilly Gym. Chapter 23. Stirring Times for the Pets. Gentlemen Jack had lowered his revolver and was standing waiting to explain all, with the insufferable look of the man who is just going to say that he has only done his duty and requires no thanks. "'Who are you?' he said. "'Never mind who I am,' said Miss Trimble curtly. Says Pet knows who I am. "'I hope you won't be offended, Lord Whizbeach,' said Mrs. Pet, from the group by the door. I engaged a detective to help you. I really thought you could not manage everything yourself. I hope you do not mind.' "'Not at all, Mrs. Pet. Very wise. I am so glad to hear you say so. An excellent move. Miss Trimble broke in on these amiable exchanges. Was all this? How do you mean help me?' "'Lord Whizbeach most kindly offered to do all he could to protect my nephew's explosive,' said Mrs. Pet. Gentlemen Jack smiled modestly. "'I hope I have been of some slight assistance. I think I came down in the nick of time. Look!' he pointed to the safe. He had just got it open. Luckily I had my pistol with me. I covered him and called for help. In another moment he would have got away.' Miss Trimble crossed to the safe and inspected it with a frown as if she disliked it. She gave a grunt and returned to her place by the window. "'May good job it,' was her comment. Anne came forward. Her face was glowing and her eyes shone. "'Do you mean to say that you found Jimmy breaking into the safe? I never heard anything so absurd.' Mrs. Pet intervened. "'This is not James Crocker, Anne. This man is an impostor who came into the house in order to steal Willie's invention.' She looked fondly at gentlemen Jack. "'Lord Whizbeach told me so. He only pretended to recognize him this afternoon.' A low gurgle proceeded from the open mouth of little Ogden. The proceedings bewildered him. The scene he had overheard in the library between the two men had made it clear to him that Jimmy was genuine and Lord Whizbeach a fraud, and he could not understand why Jimmy did not produce his proofs as before. He was not aware that Jimmy's head was only just beginning to clear from the effects of the blow on the chin. Ogden braced himself for resolute lying in the event of Jimmy calling him as a witness, but he did not intend to have his little business proposition dragged into the open. Anne was looking at Jimmy with horror-struck eyes. For the first time it came to her how little she knew of him and how very likely it was, in the face of the evidence it was almost certain, that he should have come to the house with the intention of stealing Willie's explosive. She fought against it, but a voice seemed to remind her that it was he who had suggested the idea of posing as Jimmy Crocker. She could not help remembering how smoothly and willingly he had embarked on the mad scheme. But had it been so mad? Had it not been a mere cloak for this other venture? If Lord Whizbeach had found him in this room, with the safe blown open, what other explanation could there be? And then, simultaneously with her conviction that he was a criminal, came the certainty that he was the man she loved. It had only needed the spectacle of him in trouble to make her sure. She came to aside with the vague idea of doing something to help him, of giving him her support. Once there she found that there was nothing to do and nothing to say. She put her hand on his and stood waiting helplessly for she knew not what. It was the touch of her fingers which woke Jimmy from his stupor.  He had been mistily aware of what had been said, but speech had been beyond him. Now quite suddenly he was a whole man once more. He threw himself into the debate with energy. Good heavens, he cried. You're all wrong. I found him blowing open the safe. Gentleman Jack smiled superciliously. A likely story. What? I mean to say, it's a bit thin. Ridiculous, said Mrs. Pet. She turned to Miss Trimble with a gesture. Arrest that man. Wait a moment, replied the clear-headed maiden, making her tea thoughtfully with the muzzle of her revolver. Wait a moment. Gotta look into this. Hear both sides these guy's stories. Really! said Gentleman Jack, suavely. It seems somewhat absurd. Nay, mine how absurd sounds! Returned the fair Trimble rebukingly. You close your face, listen to me. That's all you gotta do. I know you didn't do it, cried Anne, tightening her hold on Jimmy's arm. Less of it, please. Less of it! Miss Trimble removed the pistol from her mouth and pointed it at Jimmy. What have you got to say? Talk quick. I happen to be down there. Why? asked Miss Trimble, as if she had touched off a bomb. Jimmy stopped short. He perceived difficulties in the way of explanation. I happen to be down there, he resumes doubly, and that man came into the room with an electric torch and a blowpipe and began working on the safe. The polished tones of Gentleman Jack cut in on his story. Really now, is it worthwhile? He turned to Miss Trimble. I came down here having heard a noise. I did not happen to be here for some unexplained purpose. I was lying awake and something attracted my attention. As Mrs. Pett knows, I was suspicious of this worthy and expected him to make an attempt on the explosive at any moment, so I took my pistol and crept downstairs. When I got here, the safe was open and this man making for the window. Miss Trimble scratched her chin carelessly with the revolver and remained for a moment in thought. Then she turned to Jimmy like a striking rattlesnake. You gotta pull something better than that, she said. I got your number. We caught you with the goods. No, cried Anne. Yes, said Mrs. Pett, the thing is obvious. The best thing I can do, said Gentleman Jack smoothly, is to go and telephone for the police. You think of everything, Lord Whizbeach, said Mrs. Pett. Not at all, said his lordship. Jimmy watched him moving to the door. At the back of his mind there was a dull feeling that he could solve the whole trouble if only he could remember one fact which had escaped him. The effects of the blow he had received still handicapped him. He struggled to remember, but without result. Gentleman Jack reached the door and opened it, and as he did so a shrill yapping hitherto inaudible because of the intervening oak and the raised voices within made itself heard from the passage outside. Gentleman Jack closed the door with a hasty bang. I say, that dog's out there, he said plaintively. The scratching of Ida's busy feet on the wood bore out his words. He looked about him baffled. That dog's out there, he repeated gloomily. Something seemed to give way in Jimmy's brain. The simple fact which had eluded him till now sprang into his mind.  Good Lord! I've only just remembered. You say you found me breaking into the safe? You say you heard a noise and came down to investigate? Well then, what's that test tube of the explosive doing in your breast pocket? He swung round to Miss Trimble. You need take my word or his word. There's a much simpler way of finding out who's the real crook. Search us both. He began to turn out his pockets rapidly. Look here and here and here. Now ask him to do the same. He was pleased to observe a spasm pass across Gentleman Jack's hitherto composed countenance. Miss Trimble was eyeing the latter with sudden suspicion. That's so, she said. Say, Bill, I've forgotten your name. It's up to you to show us. Let's have a look what you've got inside there. Gentleman Jack drew himself up haughtily. I really could not agree, too. Mrs. Pett interrupted indignantly. I never heard of such a thing. Lord Whizbeach is an old friend. Lassavet ordered Miss Trimble, whose left eye was now like the left eye of a basilisk. You've got to show us, Bill, and quick about it. A tired smile played over Gentleman Jack's face. He was the bored aristocrat, mutely protesting against something that wasn't done. He dipped his slender fingers into his pocket. Then, drawing out the test tube and holding it up, he spoke with a drawing calm for which even Jimmy could not help admiring him. Oh, right! The question caused by his action and his words was of the kind usually described as profound. Mrs. Pett uttered a strangled shriek. Willie Partridge yelped like a dog. Sharp exclamations came simultaneously from each of the geniuses. Gentleman Jack waited for the clamor to subside. Then he resumed his gentle drawl. But I'm not done, he explained. And if anybody tries to stop me, it will be his, or her, he bowed politely to Miss Trimble, last act in the world. If anyone makes a move to stop me, I shall drop this test tube and blow the whole damned place to pieces. If his first speech had made a marked impression on his audience, his second paralyzed them. A silence followed as of the tomb. Only the room used to be stilled. "'It's day we are,' said Miss Trimble, as the speaker moved towards the window. She held the revolver poised, but for the first time that night, possibly for the first time in her life, she spoke irresolutely. Superbly competent woman though she was, here was a situation that baffled her. Gentleman Jack crossed the room slowly. The test tube he was level with Miss Trimble, who had lowered her revolver and had drawn to one side, plainly at a loss to know how to handle this unprecedented crisis. When the door flew open. For an instant the face of Howard Bemis the poet was visible. Mrs. Pett, I have telephoned. Then another voice interrupted him. Through the opening the dog Ida, rejoicing in the room, seriously endowed with legs and a tongue, she tore across the room to where Gentleman Jack's ankles waited invitingly. Ever since their first meeting she had wanted a fair chance at those ankles, but someone had always prevented her. "'Damn!' shouted Gentleman Jack. The word was drowned in one vast cataclysm of noise. From every throat in the victim's fingers described a parabola through the air. And flung herself into Jimmy's arms and he held her tight.  Even as he waited for the end the thought flashed through his mind that if he must die this was the manner of death which he would prefer. The test tube crashed on the writing desk and burst into a million pieces. Jimmy opened his eyes. Things were, he was still alive. The room in which he stood was solid and intact. Nobody was in fragments. There was only one respect in which the scene differed from what it had been a moment before. Then it had contained Gentleman Jack. Now it did not. A great sigh seemed to sweep through the room. There was a long silence. Then, from the direction of the street came the roar of Mr. Trimble. And at that sound the bearded man with the spectacles who had formed part of Miss Trimble's procession uttered a wailing cry. Gee! He's beaded in my bubble! And there was a hired one. The words seemed to relieve the tension in the air. One by one the company became masters of themselves once more. Miss Trimble, that masterly woman, was the first idea that she would be safer there she had flung herself down, and having dusted her skirt with a few decisive dabs of her strong left hand addressed herself once more to business.  She brooded on this for a moment.  She did not look at him. She was feeling oddly shy. Shyness had never been a feeling of hers, but she would have given much now to have been elsewhere. Miss Trimble again took charge of the situation. The sound of the automobile had died away. Gentleman Jack had passed out of their lives. This fact embittered Miss Trimble again. Well, he's gone, she said acidly. Now we can get down to cases again. Say, she addressed Mrs. Pett, who started nervously. The experience of passing through the shadow of the Valley of Death and of finding herself in one piece instead of several thousand had robbed her of all her wanted masterfulness. Say, listen to me, there's been a double game on here in the entertainment. Now we start the second part. You see these ducks? She indicated with a wave of the revolver Mr. Crocker and his bearded comrade. They were trying to kidnap your son. Mrs. Pett uttered a piercing cry. Ogy! Oh, can it! muttered that youth uncomfortably. He foresaw awkward moments ahead and he wished to concentrate his faculties at Chicago Ed. In a few minutes he supposed Ed would be attempting to minimize his own crimes by pretending that he, Ogden, had invited him to come and kidnap him. Stout denial must be his weapon. I have my suspicions, resumed Miss Trimble, that something has gone to be pulled off tonight, and I was waiting outside for her to break loose. This guy here she indicated the bearded plotter who blinked last hour with an automobile. I've been watching right along. I was on to his game.  She turned to Mr. Crocker. Say you, take off the mask. Let's have a look at you. Mr. Crocker reluctantly drew the camber from his face. Gosh! exclaimed Miss Trimble in strong distaste. Say, you've got some kind of plague or what is it? He looked like a colored square and ran a bony finger over his cheek. Make-up, she said, eyeing the stains disgustedly. Grace-paint! Gosh! Skinner! cried Miss's pet. Miss Trimble scanned her victim more closely. So it is, if you do a bit of excavating. She turned to the bearded one, and I guess all this shrubbery is fake if come down to it. She wrenched at the unhappy chin behind it. If this ain't a wig, you'll have a headache to-morrow," observed Miss Trimble, weaving her fingers into his luxuriant head covering and pulling. Who is your luck? Ah, towards a wig. Give me those spectacles. She surveyed the results of her handiwork grimly. Say, Clarence," she remarked, you're a wise guy. You look handsome with them on. Does anyone know this duck? A husband's physical instructor. Miss Trimble turned and walked toward Jimmy, tapping him meaning on the chest with her revolver. Say, this'll get an interesting. This is where you explain, young men, how twice you happened to be down in this room when the crook was just gone was mucking with the safe. Look to me as if you were in with these two. A feeling of being on the verge of one of those crises and the affinity from Anne any longer seemed impossible. He was about to speak when Anne broke in. At Nesta, she said, I can't let this go on any longer. Jerry Mitchell isn't to blame. I told him to kidnap Ogden. There was an awkward silence. Mrs. Pett laughed nervously. I think you had better go to bed, my dear child. You have had a severe shock. You are not yourself. But it's true. I did tell him, didn't I, Jerry? Say, Miss Trimble silenced Jerry with a gesture.  You say you told this guy to steal the kid? Well, what about this here skinner? You didn't tell him, did you? I, I, Anne began confusedly. She was utterly unable to account for skinner and it made her task of doing it. Jimmy came to the rescue. He did not like to think how Anne would receive the news, but for her own sake, he must speak now. It would have required a harder hearted man than himself to resist the mute pleading of his father's grease-painted face. Mr. Crocker was a game sport. He would not have said a word without the sign from Jimmy. Even to save himself from a mess, perfectly simple, said Jimmy with an attempt at eriness which broke down miserably under Miss Trimble's eye. Perfectly simple. I really am Jimmy Crocker, you know. He avoided Anne's gaze. I can't think what you were making all this fuss about. The wife sit on a plot to kidnap this boy. That, of course, ha ha might seem at first sight to require a little explanation. Eight minute then. Yes, as a matter of fact I did have the idea of kidnapping Ogden. Wanted to send him to a dog's hospital, if you understand what I mean. He tried to smile a conciliatory smile, but, in covering Miss Trimble's left eye, abandoned the project. He removed a bead of perspiration from his forehead with his handkerchief. It struck him as a very curious thing that the simplest explanations can quite difficult to make. Before I go any further I ought to explain one thing. Skinner there is my father. Mrs. Pett gasped. Skinner was my sister's butler in London. In a way of speaking, said Jimmy, that is correct. It's rather a long story. It was this way, you see. Miss Trimble uttered an ejaculation of supreme contempt. I never saw such a lot of babbling crooks in my life. It beats me up when you hope to get pulling this stuff. Say, she indicated Mr. Crocker, this guy's wanted for something over in England. We've got his picture in the office. If you ask me, he'll let out with his spoons or something. Say, she fixed one of the geniuses with her compelling eye. About time he made herself useful.  There's a dame there that's been making inquiries for this duck. She told Anderson's, and Anderson's handed her up any hour of the day or night when they found him. You go get her on the wire and tell her to come right up here in a taxi and identify him. The genius paused at the door. Whom shall I ask for? Mrs. Crocker. Snap, Miss Trimble. This is Bingley Crocker. Tell her we've found the guys you've been looking for. The genius backed out. There was a howl of anguish from the doorway. I beg your pardon, said the genius. Can't you look where you're going? I am exceedingly sorry. Grrr! Mr. Pett entered the room hopping. He was holding one slippered foot in his hand and appeared to be submitting it to some form of massage. It was plain that the usually mild and gentle little man was in a bad temper. He glowered round him at the company assembled. What the devil's the matter here! He demanded. I stood it as long as I could, but a man can't get a week of sleep with this noise going on. Yip, yip, yip! Barked Ida from the shelter of Mrs. Pett's arms. Mr. Pett started violently. Kill that dog! Throw her out! Do something to her! Mrs. Pett was staring blankly at her husband. She had never seen him like this before. It was as if a rapid had turned and growled at her. Coming on top of the crowded sensations of the night, it had the effect of making her feel curiously weak. In all her married life she had never known what fear was. She had coped dauntlessly with the late Mr. Ford, a man of a spirited temperament, and as for the mild Mr. Pett, she had trampled on him. But now she felt afraid. This new Peter intimidated her. End of Chapter 23 Chapter 24 of Piccadilly Gym by P. G. Woodhouse This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Piccadilly Gym Chapter 24 Sensational Turning of a Worm To this remarkable metamorphosis in Mr. Peter Pett, several causes had contributed. In the first place, the sudden dismissal of Jerry Mitchell had obliged him to go two days without the physical exercises to which his system had become accustomed, and this had produced a heavy irritable condition of body and mind. He had brooded on the injustice of his lot, until he had almost worked himself up to rebellion. And then, as sometimes happened with him when he was out of sorts, a touch of gout came to add to his troubles. Being a patient man by nature, he might have borne up against these trials had he been granted an adequate night's rest. But, just as he dropped off after tossing restlessly for two hours, things had begun to happen noisily in the library. He awoke to a vague realization of a tumult below. Such was the morose condition of his mind as the result of his misfortune, that at first not even the cries for help could interest him sufficiently to induce him to leave his bed. He knew that walking in his present state would be painful, and he declined to submit to any more pain just because some party unknown was apparently being murdered in his library. It was not until the shrill barking of the dog Ida penetrated right in among his nerve centers and began to tie them into knots that he found himself compelled to descend. Even when he did so, it was in no spirit of kindness. He did not come to rescue anybody or to interfere between any murderer and his victim. He came in a fever of militant wrath to suppress Ida. On the threshold of the library, however, the genius, by treading on his gouty foot, had diverted his anger instead to become more general. He had not ceased to concentrate his venom on Ida. He wanted to assail everybody. What's the matter here? He demanded red-eyed. Isn't somebody going to tell me? Have I got to stop here all night? Who on earth is this? He glared at Miss Trimble. What's she doing with that pistol? He stamped unconsciously with his bad foot and emitted a dry howl of anguish. She is a detective, Peter, said Mrs. Pett timidly. A detective? Why? Where did she come from? Miss Trimble took it upon herself to explain. Mr. Pett says Pett sent for me to watch out so nobody kidnapped her son. Augie explained Mrs. Pett. Miss Trimble was guarding darling Augie. Why? To prevent him being kidnapped, Peter. Mr. Pett glowered at the stout boy. Then his eye was attracted by the forlorn figure of Jerry Mitchell. He started. Was this fellow kidnapping the boy? He asked. Sure, said Miss Trimble, caught him with the goods. He's waiting outside there with a car. I held him and this other guy up with a gun and brought him back.  You'd have done it if nobody had butted in to stop you. You'll get the money to start that health farm of yours all right. I'll see to that. Now you run off to bed. There's nothing to keep you here. Say! cried Miss Trimble, outraged. Do you mean to say you aren't going to prosecute? Why aren't I telling you I caught him kidnapping the boy? I told him to kidnap the boy. Snarled Mr. Pett. Peter! Mr. Pett looked like an undersized lion as he faced his wife. He bristled. The recollection of all that he had suffered from Ogden came to strengthen his determination. I've tried for two years to get you to send that boy to a good boarding school and you wouldn't do it. I couldn't stand having him loafing around the house any longer so I told Jerry Mitchell to take him away to a friend of his who keeps a dog's hospital on Long Island and to tell his friend to hold him there till he got some sense into him. Well, you've spoiled that for the moment with your detectives but it still looks good to me. I'll give you a choice. You can either send that boy to a boarding school next week or he goes to Jerry Mitchell's friend. I'm not going to have him in the house any longer loafing in my chair and smoking my cigarettes. Which is it to be? But Peter, well... If I send him to a school he may be kidnapped. Kidnapping can't hurt him. That's what he needs. But anyway, if he is, I'll pay the bill and be glad to do it. Take him off to bed now. Tomorrow you can start looking up schools. Great Godfrey! He hopped to the writing desk and glared disgustedly at the debris on it. Who's been making this mess on my desk? It's hard. It's darned hard. The only room in the house that I asked to have for my own where I can get a little peace and I find it turn into a beer garden and coffee or some damn thing spilled all over my writing desk. That isn't coffee, Peter, said Mrs. Pett mildly. This caveman whom she had married under the impression that he was a gentle domestic pet had taken all the spirit out of her. It's Willy's explosive. Willy's explosive? Lord Whizbeach, I mean the man who pretended to be Lord Whizbeach, dropped it there. Dropped it there? Well, why didn't it explode and blow the place to Hoboken then? Mrs. Pett looked helplessly at Willy who thrust his fingers into his mop of hair and rolled his eyes. There was, fortunately, some slight miscalculation in my formula, Uncle Peter, he said. I shall have to look into it tomorrow, whether the Trinitor told you Mr. Pett uttered a sharp howl. He beat the air with his clenched fists. He seemed to be having a brainstorm. Has this, this fish been living on me all this time? Have I been supporting this, this buzzard in luxury all these years while he fooled about with an explosive that won't explode? He pointed an accusing finger at the inventor. Look into it tomorrow, will you? Yes, you can look into it tomorrow after six o'clock. Until then, you'll be working for the first time in your life working in my office where you ought to have been all along. He surveyed the crowded room belligerently.  Go home," he said to the detective. Miss Trimble stood her ground. She watched Mrs. Pett pass away with Ogden and Willy Partridge had a stampede of geniuses but she declined to move. You've got to cut the rough stuff to Pett, she said calmly. I need my sleep, just as much as everybody else, but I've got to stay here. There's a lady coming right up in a taxi from the astro-bell to identify this gook. She's after him for something. What? Skinner? That's what he calls himself. What's he done? I don't know. The lady'll tell us that.  I guess that's her, said Miss Trimble. Who's going to let her in? I can't go. I will," said Anne. Mr. Pett regarded Mr. Crocker with affection and encouragement. I don't know what you've done, Skinner, he said, but I'll stand by you. You're the best fan I ever met and if I can keep you out of the penitentiary, I will. It isn't the penitentiary, said Mr. Crocker unhappily. A tall, handsome, and determined-looking woman came into the room. She stood in the doorway, looking about her. Her eyes rested on Mr. Crocker. For a moment, she gazed incredulously at his discolored face. She drew a little nearer, peering. Do you identify him, ma'am? said Miss Trimble. Bing Lee. Is that the guy you wanted? It's my husband, said Mrs. Crocker. I can't arrest him for that, said Mrs. Trimble, disgustedly. She thrust her revolver back into the hinterland of her costume. Guess I'll be beating it, she said with a somber frown. She was plainly in no sunny mood. For all the hunk jobs I was ever on, this is the hunkest. I'm told off to watch a gang of crooks and after I've lost a night's sleep doing it, turns out it's a nice jolly family party. She jerked her thumb towards Jimmy. Say, this guy says he's that guy's son. I suppose it's all right. That is my stepson, James Crocker. And uttered a little cry, but it was lost in the middle of the night. I don't know what to say. She uttered a little cry, but it was lost in Mrs. Trimble's stupendous snort. The detective turned to the window. I guess I'll beat it, she observed costically, before it turns out that I'm your little daughter Genevieve. End of Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Of Piccadilly Gym by P. G. Woodhouse This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Piccadilly Gym Chapter 25 Clearly Everybody Happy Mrs. Crocker turned to her husband. Well, Bingley, she said, a steely tinkle in her voice. Well, Eugenia, said Mr. Crocker. A strange light was shining in Mr. Crocker's mild eyes. He had seen a miracle happen that night. He had seen an even more formidable woman than his wife dominated by an even meeker man than himself, and he had been amazed and impressed by the spectacle. It had never even started to occur to him before, but apparently it could be done.  He looked at Mr. Pett, and yet Mr. Pett had crumpled up Eugenia's sister with about three firm speeches. It could be done. What do you have to say, Bingley? Mr. Crocker drew himself up. Just this, he said. I'm an American citizen, and the way I figured it out is that my place is in America. It's no good talking about it, Eugenia. I'm sorry if it upset your plans, but I am not going back to London. He eyed his speechless wife unflatteringly. I'm going to stick on here and see the pennant race out, and after that, I'm going to take in the world series. Mrs. Crocker opened her mouth to speak, closed it, reopened it. Then she found that she had nothing to say. I hope you'll be sensible, Eugenia, and stay on this side, and we can all be happy. I'm sorry to have to take this stand, but you tried me too high. You're a woman, and you don't know what it is to go five years without seeing a ballgame, but take it for me, it's more than any real fan can stand. It nearly killed me, and I'm not going to risk it again. If Mr. Pett will keep me on as his butler, I'll stay here in this house. If he won't, I'll get another job somewhere. But whatever happens, I stick to this side. Mr. Pett uttered a whoop of approval. There's always been a place for you in my house, old man," he cried, when I get a butler who, but Bingley, how can you be a butler? I said Mr. Pett enthusiastically. He's a wonder. He can pull all the starchy stuff as if he lived with a Duke of Hooses for the last forty years, and then go right off and fling a pop-bottle at an umpire. He's all right. The eulogy was wasted on Mrs. Crocker. She burst into tears. It was a new experience for her husband, and he watched her awkwardly, his resolute demeanor crumbling under this unexpected assault. Eugenia. Her eyes. I can't stand it," she sobbed. I've worked and worked all these years, and now just as success has nearly come, Bingley, do come back. It will only be for a little longer. Mr. Crocker stared. A little longer? Why, that Lord Percy Whipple business? I know you must have had excellent reasons for soaking him, Jimmy, but it did put the lid on it. Lord Percy, Affair, there's no chance. There is. There is. It has made no difference at all. Lord Percy came to call next day with a black eye, poor boy, and said that James was a sportsman and that he wanted to know him better.  The whole affair has simply endeared James to him, and of course he says that the Duke of Devises read the account of the fight to the Premier that very evening and they both laughed till they nearly got apoplexy. Jimmy was deeply touched. He had not suspected such a sporting spirit in his antagonist. Percy's all right, he said enthusiastically. Dad, you ought to go back. It's only fair. But Jimmy, surely you can understand. There's only a game separating the giants and the Phillies with the Braves coming along just behind and the seasons only half over. Mrs. Crocker looked imploringly at him. It will only be for a little while bingly. Lady Corstaphine, who has means of knowing, says that your name is certain to be in the next honours list. After that you can come back as often as you like. We could spend this summer here at the Winter in England or whatever you pleased. Mr. Crocker capitulated. All right, Eugenia. I'll come. Bingly, we shall have to go back by the next boat, dear. People are beginning to wonder where you are. I've told them that you were taking a rest in the country. But they will suspect something if you don't come back at once. Mr. Crocker's face wore a drawn look. He had never felt so attached to his wife as now when she wept these unexpected tears and begged favours of him with that unfamiliar catch in her voice. On the other hand, a vision rose before him of the polo grounds on a warm afternoon, he crushed it down. Very well, he said. Mr. Pett offered a word of consolation. Maybe you'll be able to run over for the World Series. Mr. Crocker's face cleared. That's true. And I'll cable you the scores every day, Dad, said Jimmy. Mrs. Crocker looked at him with a touch of disapproval clouding the happiness of her face. Are you staying over here, James? There is no reason why you should not come back, too, if you make up your mind to change your habits. I have made up my mind to change them, but I'm going to do it in New York. Mr. Pett is going to give me a job in his office. I'm going to start at the bottom and work my way still further down. Mr. Pett yapped with rapture. He was experiencing something of the emotion of the preacher at the camp meeting who sees the sinner's bench filling up. To have secured Willie Partridge, whom he intended to lead gradually into the realms of high finance by way of envelope addressing, was much. But that Jimmy, with a choice in the matter, should have chosen the office filled him with such content that he only just stopped himself from dancing on his bad foot. Don't worry about me, Dad. I shall do wonders. It's quite easy to make a large fortune. I watched Uncle Pete in his office this morning, and all he does is sit at a mahogany table and tell the office boy to tell collars that he has gone away for the day. I think I ought to rise to great heights in that branch of industry. From the little I have seen of it, it seems to have been made for me. End of Chapter 25 Chapter 26 of Piccadilly Gym by P. G. Whithouse This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Piccadilly Gym Chapter 26 Everybody Happy Jimmy looked at Ann. They were alone. Mr. Pet had gone back to bed, Mrs. Crocker to her hotel. Mr. Crocker was removing his make-up in his room. A silence had followed their departure. This is the end of a perfect day, said Jimmy. Ann took a step towards the door. Don't go. Ann stopped. Mr. Crocker, she said. Jimmy, he corrected. Mr. Crocker repeated Ann firmly. Or Algernon, if you prefer it. May I ask Ann regarded him steadily. May I ask Nearly always, said Jimmy, when people begin with that they are going to say something unpleasant. May I ask why you went to all this trouble to make a fool of me? Why could you not have told me who you were from the start? Have you forgotten all the harsh things you said to me from time to time about Jimmy Crocker? I thought that, if you knew who I was, you would have nothing more to do with me. You were quite right. Surely, though, you won't let a thing like that happen five years ago make so much difference. I shall never forgive you. And yet, a little while ago, when Willie's bomb was about to go off, you flung yourself into my arms. Ann's face flamed. I lost my balance. Why try to recover it? Ann bit her lip. You did a cruel, heartless thing. What does it matter how long ago it was? If you are capable of it then, be reasonable. Don't you admit the possibility of reformation? Take your own case. Five years ago you were a minor poetess. Now you are an amateur kidnapper, a bright, lovable girl at whose approach people lock up their children and sit on the key. As for me, five years ago I was a heartless brute. Now I am a sober, serious businessman, specially called in by your uncle to help jack up his tottering firm. Why not bury the dead past besides I don't want to praise myself I just want to call your attention to it think what I have done for you you admitted yourself that it was my influence that had revolutionized your character but for me you would now be doing worse than write poetry you would be writing verse libre I saved you from that and you spurned me I hate you said Ann Jimmy went to the writing desk and took up a small book put that down I just wanted to read you love's funeral it illustrates my point think of yourself as you are now and remember that it is I who am responsible for the improvement here we are love's funeral my heart is dead and snatched the book from his hands and flung it away it soared up clearing the gallery rails on every floor she stood facing him with sparkling eyes then she moved away I beg your pardon she said stiffly I'd lost my temper it's your hair you're bound to be quick-tempered with hair of that glorious red shade you must marry some nice determined fellow blue-eyed, dark-haired, clean-shaven about five foot eleven with a future in business he will keep you in order Mr. Crocker gently of course kindly lovingly the velvet thingamy rather than the iron what's its name but nevertheless, firmly and was at the door to a girl with irred nature someone with you can quarrel is an absolute necessity of life you and I are affinities ours will be an ideally happy marriage you would be miserable if you had to go through life with a human doormat with welcome written on him you want someone made of sterner stuff you want, as it were, a sparring partner someone with whom you can quarrel happily with a certain knowledge that he will not curl up in a ball for you to kick but will be there with the return wallop I may have my faults he paused expectantly and remained silent no, no, he went on but I am such a man brisk give and take is the foundation of the happy marriage do you remember that beautiful line of Tennyson's we fell out, my wife and I it always conjures up for me a vision of wonderful domestic happiness I seem to see us in our old age you on one side of the radiator I on the other warming our old limbs and thinking of snappy stuff to hand to each other sweetheart still if I were to go out of your life now you would be miserable you would have nobody to quarrel with you would be in the position of the female jaguar of the Indian jungle who, as you doubtless know expresses her affection for her mate by biting him shrewdly in the fleshy part of the leg if she should snap sideways one day and find nothing there of all the things which Anne had been trying to say during this discourse only one succeeded in finding expression to her mortification it was the only weak one in the collection are you asking me to marry you I am I won't you think so now because I am not appearing at my best you see me nervous diffident tongue tied all this will wear off however and you will be surprised and delighted as you begin to understand my true self beneath the surface I speak conservatively I am a corker the door banged behind Anne Jimmy found himself alone he walked thoughtfully to Mr. Pett's armchair and sat down there was a feeling of desolation upon him he lit a cigarette and began to smoke pensively what a fool he had been to talk like that what girl of spirit could possibly stand it if ever there had been a time for being soothing and serious and pleading he's last few minutes and he talked like that ten minutes passed Jimmy sprang from his chair he thought he had heard a footstep he flung the door open the passage was empty he returned miserably to his chair of course she had not come back why should she a voice spoke Jimmy he leaped up again and looked wildly round then he looked up Anne was leaning over the gallery rail Jimmy I've been thinking it over there's something I want to ask you do you admit that you behaved abominably five years ago yes shouted Jimmy and that you've been behaving just as badly ever since yes and that you are really a pretty awful sort of person yes and then it's all right you deserve it deserve it deserve to marry a girl like me I was worried about it but now I see that it's the only punishment bad enough for you she raised her arm here's the dead pass Jimmy go and bury it good night a small book fell squashily at Jimmy's feet he regarded it dully for a moment then with a wild yell which penetrated even to Mr. Pett's bedroom and woke the sufferer just as he was dropping off to sleep for the third time that night he bounded for the gallery stairs at the further end of the gallery a musical laugh sounded and a door closed Anne had gone the end of Piccadilly Jim by PG Woodhouse


What really sparked me to want to help people medically was when my grandmother suffered from dementia in experiencing how one person's illness not only impacted the individual themselves, but the family as a whole. So my grandma is actually from Yorkshire, so I was listening to her birthing story. She was a traditional birth attendant, used to go around and birth babies. And then on my dad's side, my Aboriginal lineage, my nan was also a nurse, and she used to also go around and help people birth their babies as well. So I became interested in midwifery through that. You could be, you know, a pediatric nurse, an orthopedics nurse working with bones, working in operating rooms, the emergency departments, community health, you know, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, physical rehabilitation, school nurses. You know, people often say to me, are babies still come out the same way? Which I'm a bit intolerant of, you know, I really say yes. But the care we provide to women and their babies around the time of birth through pregnancy and through into those early weeks and months of mothering and becoming a family have changed. When I was a student nurse and you had to test someone's, you know, you might have to test a stool specimen for blood or something like that. You know, you often actually had to get out a bunsen burner and put a specimen in and add things to it and burn it and, you know, look for color changes and like the way things are now is just incredibly different. I would say there's been a huge increase in the cultural capability of services over the last 10 years. When I first started, there were no specific Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services for women in this area. And so that's my driving force to keep going and continue and make changes that our mob needs. We now have compelling evidence that mothers and their babies do better, much better on every outcome when you have the same midwife look after the woman throughout the pregnancy, throughout the labor and birth and throughout that postpartum after birth period. Florence 19 Gale said, let us never consider ourselves finished nurses. We must be learning all of our lives. And as a soon to be graduating nurse, it is this dedication that I hope to keep throughout my nursing career.


Hello fellow word watchers. I'm teacher Barnes. I'm phonics Fox, and it's time to take a look at our weekly word Forecast the focus this week long vowel words with a silent e at the end Yes, Fox. You might think you see a short vowel word, but with e at the end We find many words actually have a long vowel sound. That's right teacher Barnes today We have words with a in the middle. Let's see what happens as the e blows in phonics Fox Give us the forecast. Oh, I've got my eyes on it Across the country here. We have can Sam man rat and Sam all with short vowel sounds But here comes that e blowing in from the west adding to the end of all these words Hey viewers, what do you get when you put e at the end of those words? Let's take a look and see Can with an e at the end makes the a stand for a long vowel sound So the word is cane Right and Sam with an e at the end is now fame And man is main rat becomes rate and Sam becomes same You've got it and that reminds me as you read check and see see if that word ends in e Wow, and with that our word watchers forecast signs off I'm phonics Fox, and I'm teacher Barnes keep watching for word changes Hey teachers want access to more videos just like this visit web dot seesaw dot me to sign up for a free Seesaw account and click on the link in the description for a free activity that goes with this lesson The seesaw library is full of engaging and interactive lessons that align to your state's standards You'll find thousands of ready-to-teach lessons covering topics like literacy Math digital citizenship and tons more which will give you more time to spend on the things that are most important to you So create your free account now


This study found that although primary health care, PHC, nurses reported a high level of recommendation, training, and competency in providing preconception care, PCC, their actual practice was lower than expected. Only 27% of the respondents reported providing PCC services to more than half of the women who sought such services. Additionally, only 17% of the respondents reported having received formal training on how to provide alcohol, drug, or tobacco cessation services and how to conduct preconception risk assessment. Furthermore, only 20% of the respondents reported receiving any training on how to provide PCC services. These findings suggest that there is a need for further research into the reasons why PCC services are not being provided by PHC nurses and what contextual factors influence this provision. This article was authored by Winifred Chinyurukoha RN, MSC, PhD, and Tumbifical Glorium Chali RN, MSC, PhD. We are article.tv, links in the description below.


Last week the U.S. dollar ended the week mixed, but net negative in a week filled with lots of FedSpeak and historically bad U.S. economic updates. But the talks of opening the economy back up had traders more risk-friendly as they dumped the U.S. dollar towards the weekend. The British pound, on the other hand, was a big net loser especially at the beginning of the week thanks to both no-deal Brexit fears and disastrous U.K. economic updates. Welcome to the Tick-Mill Update, I'm Kana Daniel, the founder of the Investiva movement. Make sure to subscribe to the Tick-Mill YouTube channel and support us by liking and sharing this video with your forex trading friends. This week we'll be focusing on New Zealand's interest rate decision as well as Australia's jobs report among other key economic data and coronavirus updates. Today I'm looking at the Aussie yen pair on the long-term time frame, the monthly chart. The pair was able to pull itself back up from the lows of March in the past month and a half and avoided dropping into the lows of 2008 and 2009 market crash period. This obviously had to do with a renewed optimism about the economy's opening back up during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we need to keep in mind that countries opening up could also mean another surge in the COVID-19 cases and therefore yet another blow to the unemployment and the economy. With that in my opinion, a revisit of the lows of 55 is still not out of the question. Do you think the coronavirus impact on the markets has ended for good? Hit over to the comment section and let me know. Of course, trading in the financial markets involves a risk of loss and you should only trade the money that you can afford to lose. If you liked this video, give it a thumbs up and subscribe to the Tick-My-Youtube channel. I'll get back to you with more updates tomorrow.


We're gonna come back I'm gonna begin this lesson by telling you about a miracle that happened in Indiana It was one of the most unusual miracles I've ever seen in one of my miracle services go worship with Steven and come right back I'm gonna tell you about that Steven Mock the zoomer How great We sing name above all names Is Well, I pray that you enjoyed that worship with Steven Mock the zoomer and that as you worship you prepared your heart to receive the word of God today Now stick around until the end of spirit church because I want to pray with you and when we pray today I believe that you're gonna sense the manifested presence of the Holy Spirit in the room that you're in Wherever you're standing sitting or lying I believe that that place is going to be invaded by the tangible manifest glory of God And I believe by faith that it's gonna happen to you and I believe that by faith It's going to transform you so stick around until the end of this lesson and we're gonna pray together But remember you got to listen to the word so that it prepares your heart So I was going to tell you this story. I was in Indiana and I was conducting a three Service miracle service. So it's three nights in a row. I did I think I did a Friday night Saturday night Sunday morning and Sunday night But the miracle service was just powerful all three nights were amazing the Holy Spirit moved people were saved People were delivered people were healed the glory of God sat upon the building like a cloud And there was just a very thick sense of the presence of the Holy Spirit The atmosphere was electric faith was alive in the people and the power of the Holy Spirit was moving I think there was like three demons that got cast out in one night and Miracles of all different kinds in fact some miracles led to people getting saved because their family members watched as other people got saved And healed and they would want to experience that miracle themselves So it was just it was a powerful move of God a genuine move of God's Holy Spirit and so We're ending those three nights, and it's the third night, and I'm standing in the sanctuary I'm talking with the pastor about the service and how things had gone and typically the pastor and I whoever hosts me We'll have a conversation to just kind of go over and debrief and Revisit what the Lord had done over the past few days So this pastor and I are standing in a sanctuary of his church and we're talking the people are just about dispersed The building is almost empty except for a few dozen people who were Fellowshiping and hanging around after the event so the pastor and I are talking and we're just remembering everything the Lord had done I'm excited. He's excited. I said, okay. Well, I'm gonna go back to the hotel I'm gonna go get some rest and my team and I were leaving I turned to start walking toward the parking lot And I put my hand out toward the door and just as I was opening that sanctuary door to exit the building I heard this commotion behind me Where the pastor and I were talking and so I turned a look and I see all of these people that are grouped around in a Circle and the pastor has tears in his eyes. He comes up. He says brother David. Come here. Come here. You got to see this So I was curious. I I let the door go turned around and followed him back and When I went to go see what was happening They presented to me this baby that someone had got from the nursery They picked him up after the service the service had ended and they hung around a little while like we did Fellowshiping and they went to go get their baby out of the nursery So they show me this baby from the nursery and they're look they're saying look brother David What do you see and I'm looking at the baby and I say well the baby looks perfectly normal to me I don't see anything that's out of the ordinary here. They said that's exactly right When this baby's mother dropped the baby off in the nursery The baby's eyes were crossed and had been that way since birth But when the mother went to go pick up her baby from the nursery after the service The eyes were completely straight And I said look brother David look at this baby's eyes And I looked the baby's eyes and from what I could see they were perfectly straight There were no signs of them ever having been crossed and the mother was weeping the church was weeping and this was a powerful Miracle that had occurred But I thought it was odd because this is one of the first times that I had seen a miracle that had happened Nowhere in the service, but just on the property of the building and I said Lord This is amazing what you've done and the Lord began to reveal to me more often That he could work miracles this is years ago So I was still thinking that it was you know only through the laying on of hands But since then I've discovered a key in the healing ministry something that's a far more effective approach to ministering God's healing power to the sick and that is the healing Presence of Jesus you see when we lay hands on the sick we're limited to how many people we can lay hands on but when we Established by preaching of the word by worship by Declarations of faith the presence of God and the dominion of God in a place we caused that place to become a heavenly atmosphere And that's what had happened the power of God was so intense so vivid so Tangible that whatever it was that was happening in the service Permeated the property and caused that baby to be healed This reminds me of a scripture Romans chapter 8 verse 11 the scripture says this The spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you and just as God raised Jesus Christ from the dead He will give life to your mortal bodies by the same spirit living within you now in Context this is talking about when you and I are raised again at the resurrection But in passing the scripture describes a powerful reality about the Holy Spirit dwelling within us and often we read Scriptural truths with which we've become so familiar That we no longer have that passion that we're no longer Stirred with excitement when we hear it But I want you to reconsider what this verse is saying despite the fact that you may have heard it many times before This scripture is saying that the same Holy Spirit that Christ carried within his holy being The same Holy Spirit that was with Jesus Dwells anew and I want you to really think about that. This is the same Holy Spirit Who at the beginning of creation? Hovered over the face of the waters Hovered over the face the deep He was witness to the creation of man This is the same Holy Spirit who would strive with man in the book of Genesis just before the flood of Noah This is the same Holy Spirit who in the book of Exodus is described as giving certain men wisdom To participate in the creation of the tabernacle and the garments of the priests. This is the same Holy Spirit Who stirred the psalmist David to write? beautiful Stanzas of worship to write beautiful poetry dedicated to God that would reveal his character his nature in his actions This is the same Holy Spirit Who was with Jesus when he drove out demons and cast away sickness This is the same Holy Spirit who spoke to the early disciples revealing the nature of Christ and the identity of Christ This is the same Holy Spirit who was in the book of Acts Empowering the church in their every action The same Holy Spirit who inspired the writing of the scripture and move the prophets to declare The truth of God that move the prophets to declare the future the same Holy Spirit and That Holy Spirit Who was at work from Genesis to Revelation? That same Holy Spirit who dwelt within the holy being of Jesus? dwells in you So that When you carry this it makes a difference when you carry this Holy Spirit within your being You have become an atmosphere. I Want to encourage you today? You are not ordinary when the Holy Spirit of God fills you you become supernatural When your being in your spirit becomes one with God's spirit Something begins to occur that affects you from the inside out something begins to happen with you and If you'll surrender on a daily basis to the voice of the Holy Spirit to his direction to his instructions Without delay and without compromise Then every day it will become less of you and more of him You know the scripture describes in the book of Acts that Stephen the martyr Looked up to the heavens and was he captured a vision of Christ at the right hand of the father But this same disciple When the scripture describes this same story the scripture says that his face begins to shine bright like an angel Same thing happened to Moses. There is this shine that comes on a believer There is this glimmer of hope that emanates from your being You become that atmosphere you become the dominion of God.  You are an atmosphere of the Holy Spirit When your being becomes one with his being Your presence becomes synonymous with the presence of the Holy Spirit and Wherever you go you affect change Acts chapter 4 verse 13 says this The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John For they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the scriptures They also recognize them as men who had been with Jesus When you're with Jesus when you carry this presence and cultivate this presence and are aware of this presence and Respond to this presence that's on your life People begin to take notice. There's something different about you. There's something different on you I told this story several times before but one time I was in an elevator and I was taking that elevator down I was in a hotel. I'm taking the elevator down and I'm stopped on a floor several floors before the one I wanted to stop at and so these two women walk in and They get into the elevator with me and they also tell me a number They want to go to the lobby so we're going down to the lobby together, but before we could even reach the bottom floor These women begin crying one of them begins shaking and crying and they're both looking at me My curiosity gets the better of me and so I asked them. Why are you crying and one of the girls spoke up and said I don't know There's just something on you something about you now Obviously the Holy Spirit doesn't always manifest his presence in this way But it becomes more common for supernatural things to occur around you as You tend to this presence as you walk in an awareness to this presence as you live and think in this reality And it can't be faked, you know Peter and John after healing a crippled man in Acts chapter 4 verse 9 They respond to those who are questioning them They said you want to know how we healed this man or how this man was healed They said it was done by the powerful name of Jesus. They didn't do anything special They didn't do anything different. All they did was declare in the name of Jesus You know the healing power of God is the same as the presence of God at least for the most part in that it cannot be faked The presence of God on your life can't be faked. It can't be duplicated It can't be counterfeited either you carry that presence either you carry that glory or you don't and When you do miracles happen when you do things change all around you You become an atmosphere You know ever since that miracle with that baby whose eyes went uncrossed in our services now at the miracle services I emphasize the healing presence of Jesus and Instead of laying hands on every single person We pray and we worship and the dominion of God becomes so established That people begin to fill him I've seen people start shaking trembling falling on the floor and like they feel this heat come on them They feel like electricity shooting through their body and some of them even feel like a wind of the Holy Spirit blowing through the sanctuary or wherever we are with the service and I'll notice that out of nowhere people will just start getting healed all over the building and They'll come up and they'll tell people about the miracles that have happened with them And the reason it can be done this way is because the presence of the Holy Spirit It's because of the dominion of God Acts chapter 5 verse 15 says this this is the scripture that I think of whenever I consider this topic In so much that they brought forth the sick into the streets again. This is Acts chapter 5 verse 15 and Laid them on beds and couches That at least the shadow of Peter Passing by might overshadow some of them Now many people will read this scripture and they'll say well, you know Peter's shadow healed those people. That's not what the Bible says the Bible never says that Peter's shadow healed the people Instead it says that the people approached Peter hoping that his shadow might fall on them In other words, it was the people who came up with this idea that Peter's shadow could heal It was the people that Initiated this action to lay out people in beds as Peter walked by now I got to thinking what would cause the people to think that Peter's shadow could heal What would start that rumor? What would cause that rumor to spread and be believed? It's not that Peter's shadow healed It's that the healing presence of Jesus or the presence of the Holy Spirit was so potent So intense on Peter That wherever he walked people were healed. I Want you to think about that that wherever he carried his being the presence of the Holy Spirit went with him and Changed the atmosphere in such a way that people were healed and believer. I want you to know today That God wants to use you in the same way. I Want you to know today That there is no such thing as the spiritually elite. Yes, there are levels to spirituality Yes, there are people who are more mature than you. Yes, there are people who know more about the word have greater revelation Have exercised their gifts, but when I say there are no spiritually elite people I say that to mean that anybody can come to those levels in Christ We have to be humble and admit that there are some who walk in a greater anointing than us Then there are some who see greater miracles in us and we need to be teachable We need to watch those and we need to say Lord How do you how is it you're working through them that is humility and that is a teachable spirit? We must have that but I want to emphasize that no matter where you are in your in your walk with Christ No matter where you are in your hosting of this presence that you can grow to greater depths You can grow to greater levels and I believe you can begin to see miracles happen all around you without you even being Aware that they're happening and people will be touched people will be refreshed just by the atmosphere that you carry on your lap Now let's pray and let's believe right now That God would invade that place you're in right now and that God would touch your entire being and that you would be so Filled to overflowing with the tangible presence of the Holy Spirit that you would sense him all around Are you ready? Stretch your hands toward me. Let's believe It's a father in the precious name of Jesus Lord, I thank you for your anointing that is now flowing I Thank you Lord That your presence and your power is available to us And I pray right now Lord for that one watching I pray right now Lord for that one listening That you're healing power flow That you're delivering power flow The refreshing of the presence of the Holy Spirit fill that believer I Pray Lord that that would become a dwelling place of your glory Lord electrify the atmosphere with your divine essence Lord establish your dominion some of you I feel it on my hands right now There's like a fire moving to my hands. It's like a heat moving out Thank you Lord. I give you the glory Lord in Jesus name But fire fill them now in Jesus name. I'm telling you I can literally feel it moving right now Just stretch only believe only believe stretch your hands toward my In Jesus name Lord The presence and power of the Holy Spirit begin to fill them. I Give you the glory in Jesus name wow in Jesus name There's a Charles Charles or Charlie watching and You were a bit skeptical of this but now he's touching you and God's called you into the ministry.  You just receive of the anointing that's flowing through this broadcast Well, that's it for the lesson. Don't don't turn the video off just yet I want to talk to you about the Spirit Church members this what you're about to see right here These are people who've joined Spirit Church in just the last week here They are the new members of Spirit Church. I want to welcome you as usual I want to let you know we love you and we are praying for you look at that from all around the world you've joined and we love you and I want to say to you welcome to The Spirit family. We're so happy to have you now if you would like to join the Spirit family Which is our online church then go ahead and click on the link that should be appearing over my head and That link will appear if you're watching this on YouTube or at David Hernandez ministries calm If you're watching this on the app or you're watching the Facebook version of this video Then you can use just manually the information at the bottom of the screen and on Facebook You should see a link that appears after the video is done playing. So if you want to join the Spirit family I want you to join in every week. You'll get an email from me This is weekly discipleship. I'm mentoring you on a weekly basis praying with you and There is some correspondence. Sometimes I'm actually able to respond to the Spirit Church emails So go ahead and sign up today Now I do again Don't don't turn this video off yet because this is very important that you hear this now We've given and I would like to now receive for this ministry on behalf of the ministry You're blessed by this ministry the teachings Maybe you love seeing the power of God people being slain in the spirit And you feel it when you're seeing people get filled with the Holy Spirit or maybe you like seeing the miracles Or maybe you like hearing the teachings on the presence of God prayer the Holy Spirit spiritual warfare all these topics that I love so much I love the deep things of God, and I know you love it too. Help me keep this YouTube channel ad-free Help us keep producing these programs. You know Spirit Church is just the internet Broadcast of this ministry. We also have a television broadcast called encounter TV and encounter TV airs in hundreds of millions of homes all around the world our viewership is in hundreds of thousands and We receive correspondence from all over the globe So you want to help us also we do events we go and we do evangelistic events all across the nation and once a year I try to get out to do at least a couple international events But the more support that we get the more that we can do for the gospel Look you look around the world and you see everything that's going on in this world You see everything going on with the terrorists with with the immoral agendas that are being pushed You see political agendas you don't agree with and maybe your heart is breaking for this nation and this world and you're saying lord God Something has to be done. Someone has to do something and maybe you might feel powerless to change it But can I tell you this the gospel has the power to transform nations the gospel has the power to transform nations? because the gospel has the power to transform the hearts of men and women and as we continue to preach Jesus and preach the gospel Everything else gets added to that and everything else gets done So you want to make a difference you can unite right now with the hundreds of believers from all around the world who given to this ministry You can unite with them and we join our resources together to push the gospel message I hope you do it today consider a monthly gift of ten Thirty or a hundred dollars consider also a one-time gift of ten thirty or a hundred dollars And those of you who can consider also a one-time gift of five hundred or even a thousand dollars Well, that's it for this edition of spirit church until next time remember nothing is impossible with God There's this idea that our dreams are more important than God's will our center homosexual sin Heterosexual sin why we were all yet sinners Christ died for us


You are the chief curator of your own soul like people curate and collect works of art for a museum for a display They go around the world collecting the best of whatever it is. They want to showcase You are that to your own soul. No one else should be choosing What is placed in the window in the display cabinet in the room if you like of your soul Let nobody else choose what they think should be in your soul