Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-09-23
HERO OF THE
HALL BEDROOM.

When I told my wife about II she
exclaimed: How utterly absurd. Why.
/ think you should have understood
him all along"
Mrs. Dockboy," said I, sevcIHlJ,
show was l to believe all his stories
his tales of prowess In matters Of lo7e.
In feats of strength? Perhaps he did
middleweight; perhaps he was the
greatest halfback that ever played on
the Cad university eleven; perhaps he
did leave the West on account of the
opportunities of three beautiful mill
ionairesSes: but even Lieutenant Swash
doubted the story OF his capture by
Apaches and his subsequent release
by the chiefs daughter"
"SwaShr' retorted my wife. "Nhy
do you always quote that horrid old
thing? | think that he Is himself in
clined to eXaggeration at times, wheth-
er uncOnsciously or otherwise, ! can
not Judge
| do not take my wife's view of the
matter at all. and | cannot ese why the
lieutenant and myself should have act
ed otherwise than we did.
We were talking of Filkins-Filkins,
who occupied the fourth floor rear hall
bedroom in my old boarding house. In
locating the man / have described
him. fer that particular room in every
boarding house is inhabited, expert
ence has taught me. by a peculiar ge1-
ius men of culture, but on their up
perS men whose long lines of distin-
guishel ancestors have bequeathed to
them some quarts of blue blood. but
nothing with which to keep II in circu-
lati0n. and an inherent idea that il
ought to keep moving itself, without
their descending TO plebeian labor to
supply the motive power. Just such Il
person WAS FiIkins. His clean-cut
features. his easy manners, his polite
bearing. supported by his pretension
to family. When preparatory to GO
ing out after dinner he donned the
evening clothes of the medical student
who occupied the second floor front.
and yUu saw him. not a hair of his head
or musiache out of place, not wrin-
kle or q sVpck anywhere, you instinct
lively feIt that lie was n gentleman
born.
And IT, pcrChance, he was off to that
swell little affair at Mrs Van Foams
that the papers have been talking 80
much Of" and needed a quarter for
car fare, his father having forgotten
10 send him his check for the month,
1t was willingly given. for he was a
capital fellow. He drew on us Occa
sioualIy. but we regarded that as only
slight compensation for his COM
pany.
Lieutenant 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 box
Ing bouts at the olympic Athletic Club.
There viii be some bruising," he
cried, enthusiastically, "and 1t will be
worth seeing"
"AwfUlly sorry, old man, but / can't
GO" replied Filkins. There Is a GER
tain man in New York who has been
searching high and low for Inc for
three weeks. He'll be there, l know,
for hc has been going to the bowwows
and spends all his time about such
places. I'm not afraid OF him. but
deem IL more discreet for a while to
avoid him"
Your tailor?' yentured the lieuten.
ant.
Dear me. no." replied Filkins, with
great good humor He seemed to ell
10Y the joke. Would that he was and
i was wearing a respecta ble- looking
cause for him 10 pursue me. but I am
not so lucky"
Now. see here, Filkins, you've got
to come" said.
40 tell the truth, IL would be awful
ly embaTraSSin for me to meet that
fellow" he replied. You'd be sur
prised 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 at the bottom of the whole
thing replied our companion. unruf.
led You'd be surprised If you knew
W i!p size WIS great utlle- plleS VI llOH-
ry in her own name. l met her at
dance Three weeks ago she broke off
the engagement, and since then he has
been going to the bowwows-a perfect
madmau. the fellers say, and he has
sworn 10 break my head on sight"
And why should he bother about
SoU:" sneered Swash, sitting down On
The edge of the bed, a most contempt
nous look on his face.
Filkins smiled and softly puffed up
nis; pipe.
Why should lie bother about yOu?"
repeated the Lieutenant, more emphati-
rally
Indeed. | don't know" was the quiet |
reply. Il never spoke to her more |
than three times" He was silent for |
moment. Then he laughed: And |
by JOvei do you know, she sent ME a |
note the other day that cost me a quar-
fer-forsot TO pay the messenger"
Never mind your certain man. Come |
'n!' cried the lieutenant, rising, but
toninS his coat and drawing on his
gloves.
Filkins sighed. knocked the ashes out
Of his pipe and arose
VERY we'll If you insist" be said.