Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1903-03-06
1t was the smoke-room of the Cos


mopolitan club, in Piccadilly.
had strolled in for the want OF
something better to do, and without
any thought or idea of anything or
anybody.
There were only about half dozen
members present, to one only OF whom
Charlie Maxwell, in his pre-nuptial
days an inveterate globe-trotter, as
myself still was-I was personally
known.
/ just nodded to him, as | saw that
he was engaged in conversation with
an individual whom / never remem-
bered to have seen at the club before.
Though he was sitting back in the
depths of a big armchair, | gathered
that he was tall and athletically built.
His hair and heavy moustache were
snowy white, yet his features had that
look of perpetual youth about them
which some men retain to the close
even of patriarchal life.
But it was not so much the wonder
full youthfulness of the man q reck-
oned him to be at least sixty years OF
age) as the almost womanly express
sion of tenderness in his eyes that at
tracted me. It did not detract one
iota from his manliness; it simply sup
piled the one thing necessary to make
that manliness perfect and complete.
was on the point of leaving when
there entered the room man for
whom |, in common with most of the
club members, had an unmitigated dis
like.
Coarse of speech, ostentatiously vul-
gar in his manner, and, in fact, an
absolute impossible" from the social
point of view, it was perennial
source of wonder with everybody how
he could ever have been admitted to
Cosmopolitan" membership.
1t was rumored that he was the mil
lionaire son of a deceased East-end
''ready-made' tailor of Semitic de-
scent, and that he owed his admission
among us to the largely exerted in
fiuence of a certain impecunious peer,
his great friend, and one of the orig
inal promoters of the club.
The truth of this could not be ex-
actly proved, although after events
showed that for once rumor did not
act up to its reputation for lying.
Almost Immediately after this very
estimable individuals entrance-his
name, by the way, was Marcus Disch-
NANNY friend Maxwell came across
to where / stood looking out of the
window into Piccadilly. and shook
hands, asking me to excuse him for
ten minutes, and saying that he would
have a chat with me on his return.
Complete silence reigned in the room
after Maxwell's departure, broken
only by the rustic of newspapers or an
occasional coughs.
Then | was suddenly startled by
the voice of Dischman, raised in loud
alteration.
l turned sharply round, and saw
that he was standing. straddle-legged,
in front of the white-haired gentle
mans chair, wagging his head and
forefinger in time to a stream of an
CRY abuse.
ever since I've been in the room, and
for how long before, goodness only
knows! Do you think you've bought
the place, just because you've been
in the army?"
The occupant of the armchair rose
up out of it to his. full height of well
over six feet, and calmly laid down
the paper he had been reading on the
table beside him.
1t was then that / noticed for the
first time that his right sleeve was
empty, indicating the loss of his arm.
Sir he said. with quiet irony, lit
is evident to me that you have not
been in the army, inasmuch as the
officer invariably implies the gentle
man."
The retort might have been injudi-
cious. but it was certainly richly de-
served.
Furious with passion Dischman ex-
tended his arm, and violently shook
the empty sleeve pinned up to the
lapel of the others coat
You dare to taunt mel You." he
shrieked. How came you by this?
Not in battlel No. Do you think l
have not heard of a certain gentle
mans little affair with a certain
young lady? The motor-car ride to
Brighton.-too much champagnel-a
spill!-and a smashed arm? Do you
think l don't know? Bah! you got
your deserts. Mr.. Officer and gentle
mani"
The rest of us thought it high time
now to interfere, for the wretched cad
was evidently contemplating further
violence
The matter, however, was suddenly
taken out of our hands.
Unseen by me, Maxwell had come
into the room, and had heard the
frantic speech of Dischman.
As the last word left the bully's
mouth Maxwells hand was on his
collar. and his knuckles pressing UNI
comfortably upon his collar bone.
Swinging the fellow round, he didn't
speak to him. but. summoning a wait
er, bid him call the club secretary.
Held securely in Maxwell's grip.
Dischman looked the picture Of vul-
gar discontinue.
Mr.. Shaw" said Maxwell to the
secretary when he appeared. Il take
the responsibility of demanding from
you this mans instant expulsion. He
has not only grossly insulted Colonel
Ferguson, resorting even to personal
violence. but by 20 doing on the club
premises has insulted also every men,
her Of II, II you do not accedo To