Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1903-03-06
COLONEL jim.
CHARMING STORY OF MODERN hvro~oszhSc DAYS

my request, /, and think, every right
minded and self-respecting mem
Der will Immediately send in our resig-
nations"
Maxwell slightly loosened his hold
while addressing the secretary, en-
aiding Dischman to shake himself
free.
With one glance of scorching hate
at his late captor, Dischman. not
waiting for the secretary's decision,
walked out of the room, and of the
club, which latter he has never again
entered since that day.
Colonel Ferguson. far from being
upset or disturbed by what had oc-
Cured. had quietly resumed his seat
and his paper.
Talbot" said Maxwell, "allow me
to introduce you to Colonel James
Ferguson, d. S. o., late Dragon
Guards; but known to all who love
him as Colonel JIM Colonel, my old
friend Archie Talbot, whom / haven't
seen for all the years he has been
wandering about the earth"
Mr. Talbot, pleased to know you;
though | warn you to take every
thing Charlie Maxwell has to say
about me with very large grain of
salt"
II he when silent was attractive,
in conversation he was delightful.
What | subsequently learned about
him from Maxwell. especially con-
corning one particular episode of his
life, did not in the least surprise me;
it simply served to perfect the picture
of the noblest man and truest-hearted
gentleman that it has ever been my
lot to meet.
1t was one evening after a bachelor
dinner at Maxwelps house-his wife
being in Scotland on a family visit
that my friend told me the true story
of the incident, in the course of which
Colonel Jim" had lost his arm, and
as result of which he had to retire
from the service in the heydey of a
most distinguished career.
Perhaps you don't know" said
Maxwell, that Ferguson and were
in the same regiment. He was full
major when l joined as second lieu
tenant.
Though there was a good fifteen
years difference of age between us, we
became staunch friends. without be-
ing grandmotherly. Ferguson kept
me from all sorts of tomfooleries, such
as hot-headed young officers are so
apt to indulge in.
Our Colonel was Harvey Fame, now
Major General and a X. C. B., with
large family of daughters, and his
house was an attractive centre for
bachelor officers, eligible and ineligi-
BILE.
'It was not long before l discovered
that Beatrix Fame was more to me
than all the other girls of my ac-
quaintance.
VERY soon, too, / was successful in
getting her assurance that /, in like
manner, was the yeritable fairy
prince
"Of course I conf1ded in Colonel Jim.
who though sympathetic, advised a
wise waiting until at any rate / sue
ceeded to the property, which inher-
tied six years ago.
Attached to the regiment was a
certain Captain Holroyd, who was
said TO be connected in some way
with a monster firm of East-end
clothiers. Any way, he was very un-
popular with all ranks.
~'.Quite accidentally | heard, the day
after the recent affair at the Cos
mopolitan, that Holroyd was Disch-
mans cousin, hence the fact of the for
mer's knowledge of what l am going
to tell you about Colonel JIM
This man Holroyd was an invet-
crate gambler, and nearly always
won. 1t so happened that when
came into the Wharton estate. there
was a large accumulation of ready
money which Immediately proceeded
to spend in right royal style. Hol-
royd, ever on the scent for a pigeon
to pluck, suddenly became very
friendly with me, and one day invited
me to pass a week with him at
Brighton. Glad Of change, and having
easily obtained leave, left Aldershot
with Holroyd without acquainting
Colonel jim of my intention.
AS a matter of fact / knew perfect
ly well what would be his advice, and
therefore, evaded it. did not even
tell Beattie, but wrote her on my ar
rival at Brighton.
All went well until the third day,
except that / lost heavily at bridge to
Holroyd. when, after a dinner to
which Holroyd had invited two or
three other men, we all adjourned for
an hours stroll on the pier.
Whether it was that, being un-
used to excessive indulgence in wine,
| had taken too much champagne, or
whether / was seized with sudden ill
ness. / cannot exactly say. l only
know that by some unaccountable
means managed to fall from the
pier into the sea, getting nasty
smack through coming into contact
with one of the iron cross-girders
Il remembered nothing more till
found myself alone in my Brighton
lodging. wretchedIy i'll. and very much
ashamed OF myself.
The doctor who attended me, a
splendid fellow. told me that Holroyd
had returned to Aldershot without
troubling to find out my real condi-
ton.
THAT night late, a further surprise
was in store for me. Beattie, accom-
panied BY Colonel Jim, the latter with
e seriously injured arm, arrived at my
digginga IN Warrior Square.
1T was scun apparent that colonel