Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1896-10-10
A HALL BEDROOM HERO.

WDen L told my Vile about 1T, she
exclaimed SLOW utterly absurd
Why, think you should have under
stood him all along.'
"Mrs. Dockboy,' said I, severely,
chow was l to believe all his stories
his tales of prowess in matters OF
love, in feats of strength? Perhaps
he did knock out O'Sullivan, the
champion middleweight; perhaps he
was Che greatest halfback that ever
played on the Cad University elev-
en-; perhaps he did leave the West
on account of the opportunities of
three beautiful millionairesses but
even Lieut.. Swash doubted that
story of his capture by Apaches and
his subsequent release by the chiefs
daughter.
"Swash!" retorsed my wife. "Why
do you always quote that horrid old
thing. / think that he is himself in
clined to exageration at times,
whether unconsciously or otherwise,
l cannot Judge"
do not take my wife's view of
the matter, at all, and | cannot see
why the lieutenant and myself should
have acted otherwise than we did.
We were talking of Filkins-Fil-
kins, who occupied the fourth floor
rear hall bedroom in my old board.
ing house. In locating the man I
have described him, for that partcu-
lar room in every boarding house is
Inhabited, experience has taught Inc,
by peculiar genus-men of culture,
but on their uppers, men whose long
line of distinguished ancestors have
bequeathed to them some quarts of
blue blood, but nothing with which
to keep it in circulation, and an in
herent idea that it ought to keep
moving of itself, without their de-
scending to plebian labor to supply
the motive power. Just such per-
son was Filkins. His clean cut feat
ures, his easy manners, his polite
bearing, supported by his preten
sions to family. When preparatory
to going out after dinner he donned
the evening clothes Of the medical
student, who occupied the second
story front, and you saw him, not a
hair of his head or mustaehe out of
| place, not wrinkle or a speck any,
where, you instinctiyely felt that he
was a gentleman born.
And if, perehsnce, he was off to
"that swell little affair at Mrs. Van
Foam's that the papers have been
talking so much of and needed
quarter for car fare, his father hay-
ing forgotten to send him his check
for the month, it was willingly given,
for he was capital fellow. He drew
on US occasionally, but we regarded
that as only slight compensation
for his company.
Lieut.. Swash came into my room
early one evening, as Filkins and /
were discussing things in general
over our pipes, and announced that
he had three tickets for series of
boxing bouts at the Olympic Ath-
letic Club.
''There will be some bruising,' he
cried, enthusiastically, "aud it will
be worth seeing.'
lawfully sorry, old man, but l
can't 60" replied Filkins. "There is
certain man in New York who has
been searching high and low for me
for three weeks. He'll be there, |
know, for he has been going to the
bow-wows, and spends all his time
about such places. l am not afraid
of him, hus | deem it more discreet
for while to avoid him.
"Your tailor ~ ventured the lieu
tenant.
Dear me, no )" answered Filkins,
with great good humor. He seemed
to enjoy the joke. would that be
was and / was wearing really re-
spectacle looking cause for him to
pursue me, but / am not so lucky
Nov, see here, Filkins, you've
got to come," 1 said.
"To tell the truth it would be aw-
fully embarrassing for me to meet
that fellow" he replied. YOU'D be
surprised if I'd tell you who he is.
Every one has heard of him-rich,
great swell.
Swash looked at me and winked
one of his knowing winks. Then
turning TO Filkins he asked:
"Well, what does he want with
your
"A woman is at the bottom of the
whole thing replied our compan-
ion, unruffied. you'd be surprised
If you knew who she was-great
belle-piles Of money in her own
name. This certain man was engsg-
ed to her. | met her at a dance.
Three weeks ago she broke off the
engagement, and since then he bias
been going to the bsw-wows-a per-