The William Wymark Jacobs was an English author of short stories and novels. The night-watchman shook his head. I never met any of these phil philantherpists, as you call 'em, he said, decidedly. If I 'ad they wouldn't 'ave got away from me in a hurry, I can tell you. I don't say I don't believe in 'em; I only say I never met any of 'em. If people do you a kindness it's generally because they want to get something out of you; same as a man once--a perfick stranger--wot stood me eight 'arf-pints becos I reminded 'im of his dead brother, and then borrered five bob off of me.
