Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-09-01
CHAPTER I

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~ IN box, ratified up
- ~ MI; to the door of a
wNN I mansion j u
/Z//N south of Irving
place. The inmate, young man
wrapped to his ears In a huge coat
lined with sables, remained inside his
carriage until the footman's bell ring
had been answered. Then he lightly
bounded forth upon the pavement and
ran up the stoop into the open doorway,
which was Immediately closed behind
him by another footman inside the hall
SIS verything ready, Jameson2"
Eyes, sir" replied the man, as his
young master slipped out of the coat and
Let its big, sumptuous bulk drop into
this third servants waiting arms. A
large mirror cleaned opposite the form
which had thus lightly unsheathed it
self, and it's possessor, Alonzo Lispen-
ard, gave saucy stare at his own pre-
sentiment. He saw man in the later
twenties, of excellent height and build,
though of meager personal beauty.
Bronze eyes, with O merry spark in
them, and waved hair of silky yellow
did their best to keep the face from be-
ing commonplace. An impudent nose
aided it-a nose with an airy, upward
slant and little arches to flank either
nostril. Some of Alonzos friends used
to say that this feature accounted for
many of his audacities-
''Ohl / think I'll do" he exclaimed,
half to himself and half, as it We're, to
Jameson, who grinned serenely. eff
they don't like me this way they'll have
to take me all the same.'' He wheeled
round on one heel and hurried to the
staircase. He had reached the middle
of it, taking two steps at time, when
he suddenly paused and called over one
shoulder:
''Ohi Jameson, are the carpet and the
awning out there? I forgot to notice. y
mo, sir; not yet But they're sure to
be In time, Mr.. Lispenard."
Alonzo fronted the speaker and shook
with vehemence an appraised forefnger.
CHOW, Jameson" he cried, IF anything
goes wrong to-day you'll not forget it
till your dying hour. To say that you'll
merely be discharged isn't anything.
I'll have You traced by detectives to the
utternost parts of the earth, and the
instant you try to get q new place
they'll prevent you"
He sprang upstairs again, still two
steps at time, while jameson watched
him with eyes that twinkled fondly.
Just as he disappeared the new English
valet, Fletcher, sauntered from back
regions. This person had a sheer on
his clean-shorn upper Lip as he muttered
TO Jameson:
sEJUoII - airS& o-a -, Sho
bloo1nin', lah-de-dah, strike-ye-with-a-
feather hndi wonder how you could
stand him for so long time. begin
to be pretty sure that can't"
jameson co1ored and scowled- He
greatly liked his young master. To
new eyes and ears Alonzo's manner
was no doubt effeminate. He often
chose to use the treble notes of a voice
that was not devoid Of bass ones, and
he gave to his body a too mercurial
twirl, to his shoulders a too facile
shrug. His laugh had sometimes a
girls own shrillness. and he sometimes
used his hands in gestures that were SO
many challenges to dignity. But those
who knew him best knew him for an
athlete of skill, a rider of pluck, keen
sportsman when laziness let him shoot
OF hunt, and mental force replete
with every opposite of womanish trends
and tastes.
The new valet had been in Office
hardly a week yet, and here was mo-
the first slur that his fel1ow-servant t.
had heard fall from his lips. He hat
chosen a dangerous atmosphere IL
which to vent his aversion, and thi
fact was soon made clear to him in M
careful terms.
Look out, my young sprig Of con
ceit," growled Jameson, whose gray
touched little thickets of side-whislxe
seemed to brist1e as he spoke, so
you'll find that the gent you've en-
gagged with IL send you flynn befor'
you've had the chance to give warnfn
And without Recommendation, too
Yes, sir; you needn't look sour and up
pish. Mr.. Lispenard won't mind that
If you take him for what you've jus
called him you'll get so left you won
know Monday from Saturday week.
The new valet (who was thought t.
wear stays) put neat white hand OF
either hip. He had been in this coun
try three or four years, and had learne
not to squander his his. But in the ez
element OF repartee he now forsool
few of them. With ''bloomin'.
DLarSueUs ana an occasional bloody
as his recurrent adjectives, he declare
himself anxious to learn of Ja1neso
why he SO admired Mr.. Lispenard. An
Jameson swiftly told him.
'sHe's got his harum-scarum ways,
announced the butler, in tar. sem
tone, "but he's every inch a gentlema
behind EN- His foolin's only like til
white of an egg with big yolh to Il
When was sick in the hospital, tw
years ago, he went to see me twice
week and put me in room that must :;
cost him hundred dollars a month
it cost a cent. The man that was her
just before you got drunk three time
and was forgiven, and at last, when tn
rascal stole scarfpin worth sevent
dollars, he got his discharge, but Nj
Lispenard shook him by the hand-ye.
sir-before he quilted these doors wit
his dirty teet, and told him that b
hoped with ell his soul not goin' t
prison this time would teach him
lesson for the rest Of his life. Thin
o that, when the police was spoilin' fc
The mean devil, and Mr.. Lispenar
could "a had him sent up by the way
of q finger. And he gives to the poo
Lord, sarl I've seen him bring tramr
into this very hall that made me itch I