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ir shot at it。 They were about to let fly when the creature fell over on its side and moaned as if in pain。 Observing this； the four men advanced cautiously towards it。 Bundy struck a match and held it over the prostrate figure。 It was the Semi…drunk。
After parting from Philpot； the poor wretch had managed to walk all right for some distance。 As Philpot had remarked； the fall had to some extent sobered him； but he had not gone very far before the drink he had taken began to affect him again and he had fallen down。 Finding it impossible to get up； he began crawling along on his hands and knees； unconscious of the fact that he was travelling in the wrong direction。 Even this mode of progression failed him at last； and he would probably have been run over if they had not found him。 They raised him up； and Philpot； exhorting him to ‘pull himself together' inquired where he lived。 The man had sense enough left to be able to tell them his address； which was fortunately at Windley； where they all resided。
Bundy and Philpot took him home； separating from Crass and Easton at the corner of the street where both the latter lived。
Crass felt very full and satisfied with himself。 He had had six and a half pints of beer； and had listened to two selections on the polyphone at a total cost of one penny。
Easton had but a few yards to go before reaching his own house after parting from Crass； but he paused directly he heard the latter's door close； and leaning against a street lamp yielded to the feeling of giddiness and nausea that he had been fighting against all the way home。 All the inanimate objects around him seemed to be in motion。 The lights of the distant street lamps appeared to be floating about the pavement and the roadway rose and fell like the surface of a troubled sea。 He searched his pockets for his handkerchief and having found it wiped his mouth； inwardly congratulating himself that Crass was not there to see him。 Resuming his walk； after a few minutes he reached his own home。 As he passed through； the gate closed of itself after him； clanging loudly。 He went rather unsteadily up the narrow path that led to his front door and entered。
The baby was asleep in the cradle。 Slyme had gone up to his own room； and Ruth was sitting sewing by the fireside。 The table was still set for two persons； for she had not yet taken her tea。
Easton lurched in noisily。 ‘'Ello； old girl！' he cried； throwing his dinner basket carelessly on the floor with an affectation of joviality and resting his hands on the table to support himself。 ‘I've come at last； you see。'
Ruth left off sewing； and； letting her hands fall into her lap； sat looking at him。 She had never seen him like this before。 His face was ghastly pale； the eyes bloodshot and red…rimmed； the lips tremulous and moist； and the ends of the hair of his fair moustache； stuck together with saliva and stained with beer； hung untidily round his mouth in damp clusters。
Perceiving that she did not speak or smile； Easton concluded that she was angry and became grave himself。
‘I've come at last； you see； my dear； better late than never。'
He found it very difficult to speak plainly； for his lips trembled and refused to form the words。
‘I don't know so much about that；' said Ruth； inclined to cry and trying not to let him see the pity she could not help feeling for him。 ‘A nice state you're in。 You ought to be ashamed of yourself。'
Easton shook his head and laughed foolishly。 ‘Don't be angry； Ruth。 It's no good； you know。'
He walked clumsily towards her； still leaning on the table to steady himself。
‘Don't be angry；' he mumbled as he stooped over her； putting his arm round her neck and his face close to hers。 ‘It's no good being angry； you know； dear。'
She shrank away； shuddering with involuntary disgust as he pressed his wet lips and filthy moustache upon her mouth。 His fetid breath； foul with the smell of tobacco and beer； and the odour of the stale tobacco smoke that exuded from his clothes filled her with loathing。 He kissed her repeatedly and when at last he released her she hastily wiped her face with her handkerchief and shivered。
Easton said he did not want any tea； and went upstairs to bed almost immediately。 Ruth did not want any tea either now； although she had been very hungry before he came home。 She sat up very late； sewing； and when at length she did go upstairs she found him lying on his back； partly undressed on the outside of the bedclothes； with his mouth wide open； breathing stertorously。
Chapter 20
The Forty Thieves。 The Battle： Brigands versus Bandits
This is an even more unusually dull and uninteresting chapter； and introduces several matters that may appear to have nothing to do with the case。 The reader is nevertheless entreated to peruse it； because it contains certain information necessary to an understanding of this history。
The town of Mugsborough was governed by a set of individuals called the Municipal Council。 Most of these ‘representatives of the people' were well…to…do or retired tradesmen。 In the opinion of the inhabitants of Mugsborough； the fact that a man had succeeded in accumulating money in business was a clear demonstration of his fitness to be entrusted with the business of the town。
Consequently； when that very able and successful man of business Mr George Rushton was put up for election to the Council he was returned by a large majority of the votes of the working men who thought him an ideal personage 。。。
These Brigands did just as they pleased。 No one ever interfered with them。 They never consulted the ratepayers in any way。 Even at election time they did not trouble to hold meetings： each one of them just issued a kind of manifesto setting forth his many noble qualities and calling upon the people for their votes： and the latter never failed to respond。 They elected the same old crew time after time 。。。
The Brigands committed their depredations almost unhindered； for the voters were engaged in the Battle of Life。 Take the public park for instance。 Like so many swine around a trough … they were so busily engaged in this battle that most of them had no time to go to the park； or they might have noticed that there were not so many costly plants there as there should have been。 And if they had inquired further they would have discovered that nearly all the members of the Town Council had very fine gardens。 There was reason for these gardens being so grand； for the public park was systematically robbed of its best to make them so。
There was a lake in the park where large numbers of ducks and geese were kept at the ratepayers' expense。 In addition to the food provided for these fowl with public money； visitors to the park used to bring them bags of biscuits and bread crusts。 When the ducks and geese were nicely fattened the Brigands used to carry them off and devour them at home。 When they became tired of eating duck or goose； some of the Councillors made arrangements with certain butchers and traded away the birds for meat。
One of the most energetic members of the Band was Mr Jeremiah Didlum； the house…furnisher； who did a large hire system tra