Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1889-06-08
CHAPTER K.
TOMMY EATS HUMBLE PIE.

Happily for the credit of the Earles in
general and the last of the race in par
ticular, the household at the Deanery was
habitually an early one, and If no enter
tainment was afoat, the family were in
the habit of disappearing at half past 10
o'clock.
Therefore, when Tommy had pulled
himself together. paid the cabman and
Strengthened his somewhat unmanage-
able person and his decidedly refractory
arms and legs. which somehow wouldn't
keep in their proper places. he gave .
pull at the bell.
The door was opened. not by tho staid
and respectable family butler. by young
footman. who knew that tho young gen
tleman had been dining at the Infantry
Barracks. ana was perhaps sympathetic.
knowing what singular effects night air
sometimes has upon . person who has
come out of bot and noisy room
Any way. he shut the door and imme
diately lighted 4 candle. with . remark
that 1.-The family have retired for the
night. sir. all but the dean. who expect
every minute"
Now. this was enough to send Tommy
of to his room as fast as his unsteady
legs could climb the stairs; for. although
he had felt perfectly equal to chatting one
Of the keenest witted men in the service.
In the person of Col Urquhart. he did
not feel equal. after q twenty minutes
ride in jolting springless cab over the
villainously quaint cobble stones which
paved the streets Of Blankhampton. max
ing him feel as IL he had eaten ten times
too much dinner. and a. II. when he got set
tied in the Blankshire regiment. be should
have something not perhaps altogether to
his liking to say to the president Of the
mess committee about the quality Of the
wines. to encountering the very reverend
the dean Of Blankhampton. In fact. he
had more than a suspicion that that
gentleman would tell him In blunt, out
spoken words that he was drunk
Not that be was drunk. mind you'll He
pulled up short on the FIRST landing, and
glared at himself In big square Of look
ing glass which was set against the wall.
as II his other self in the glass had
charged him with being drunk. and he
meant to knock him down for the INSULT
So there for minute be and his reflection
stood. with ono white face staring at
another. with hair rumpled on end like o
sulphur crested cockatoo. and With candle
stick held with elegant negligence on one
side. 40 that the hot wax ran down in q
stream upon the handsome Administer
carpet beneath.
I'D bad wine that" he muttered
IL believe it's got into my head. or upset
my digestion. or something" and then he
heard quick. firm footstep on the flag
OF the portico. followed by the rattle Of
the key in the door
h1. 81 al nA
blew out his candle and crept OF to his
room, only lurching once or twice against
the wall on the way-that. of course. was
gained his room In safety. and sat down
upon the first chair he could End to re
cover his breath It happened to be an
easy chair. and his breath took q long
time to recover; and. somehow. he dropped
off to sleep. and slept like top until the
daylight was streaming into the room.
and the bells high up in the great tower
Of the parish were ringing for saints
day celebration
Thus Tommy got uncommonly we'll over
the episode Of the dinner at the mess Of
his new regiment But he thought he
in the faintest degree upset command
able TO set 1t straight. and not start. as
it were, with black mark against his
name.
So he went up to the infantry barracks
and asked for Mr.. Beresford. who was. he
found. in his own room. whittier he went
In search of him
Beautiful Jim was lying in big chair
with novel and pipe enjoy ing the first
hol # roc ho hOd hot do
He looked up and laughed IS Tommy
entered.
"Hallo. youngster, Is that youi Wv
are your" he remarked. speaking u.
more friendly and civil tone than his
feelings would have indicated had they
been on the surface.
Tommy sat himself down ON the edge
of the cot and informed Beautiful Jim.
with man about town air. that he felt
"a bit chippy."
"And don't wonder At it," returned
the other. curtly. "You made regular
splash here last night"
1t might have been the accent Of re.
buke in Beresford's tone, know not. but
certain it is that Tommy turned brazen
all at once.
That's q good thing" he remarked.
airily. II never like putting myself for.
ward. but anything's better than medi.
ocrity;" and with that he got up and
shook himself out as 1t were. staggering
to the glass above the fireplace. and stand.
ing there Just in front Of Beautiful Jim's
disgusted nose, preening himself as you
may see peacock preening his feathers
in the sun.
1t Is safe to say that at that moment he
fairly stunk in beautiful Jim's nostrils.
''lts all very fine, youngster," he said,
In tone which he tried hard to make
fairly civil "but the sort of splash you
made last night won't do any good In the
regiment-not any good. but good deal
of harm. Why, - 1t, mediocrity will
stand you in good stead long after that
kind Of splash has sent you to the devil. :"
Tommy turned round with an innocent
face.
What did l dol" he asked. II didn't
stand OH the table. did r.
"Worse than that" returned Jim.
Il didn't call any one - cad, did r.
mo; but you might have got over that
in time If you had owned that your head
wouldn't stand liquor"