Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1903-03-18

1T was the smoke-room OF the COS
mopolitan club, in Piccadilly.
II had strolled in for the want OF
! something better to do, and without
any thought or idea of anything OF
anybody
There were only about half dozen
members present, to one only Of whom
Charlie Maxwell, in his pre-nuptial
dayssan inYeterate globe-trotter, as |
myself still was-I was personally
known.
4. l Just nodded to him, as l 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, I 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
eyenaof patriarchat life,
But it was not so much the wonder
rul -yeuthfulness Of the man Il 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-. J. It. did not detract one
sfota from his manliness; it simply sup
/. piled the one thing necessary to make
that manliness perfect apa sgsviSg s2pAlfeessR ARfeR
fhere entered the rom man M ioi
whom T in common with most Oh Inc
s,rh members. had an unmitigated DIS
like.
Coarse OF speech, ostentatiousiy Vnl-
gar in his manner, and, in 1act' an d,
ebsolnte Impossible" from the socia,
mint of view, it was perennial
j source of wonder with everybody ho"
I'd could ever have been admitted to
4cosmopolitan" membership.
III was rumored that he was the NIL.
,,onaire son of deceased East-ene
..ready-made" tailor of Semitic De
scent and that he owed his admission
among us to the largely eXerted III
anence of certain impecunlous pee
his great friend, and one OF the oris
5inal promoters Of the club.
afhe truth of this could not De eA
actly proved, although after event
showed that for once rumor did nc
act ND to- it's reputation for lying.
Almost Immediately after TINS yer
estimables individuals entrance-ni
name, by the way, was Marcus Dlscf
ran-my friend Maxwell came acros
tozwbere / stood looking out OF II
window into Piccadilly, and shoo
hands, asking me to excuse hlm II
ten minutes, and saying that ne "o"
have a chat with me on his retur
Complete silence reigned in the roo
after Maxwelrs departure, broke
only by the rustic of newspapers OF
occasional cough.
Then was suddenly startled
the voice Of Dischman, raised In 10
alteration.
! turned sharply round, and 81
that he was standing, straddle-iegss
in front; Of the white-haired gent
mans chair, wagging his head a
forefnger in time to a stream OF
CRY abuse.
you've monopolized that pal
ever since I've been in the room'
for how long before, goodness o.
knows! Do you think you've oou
the place, just because you've D
in the army?"
The occupant of the armchair r
I'm ont of 1t to his full height OF '
over six feet, and calmly laid &c
abe paper he had been reading on
table beside him.
# was then that noticed~1or
t-st time that his right sleeve
aempty, indicating the loss OF his
"sir." he said, with quiet irony
Ia evident to me that you have
been in the army, inasmuch as
oflcer invariably implies the ge
man"
The retort might have been in:
cions. but it was certainly richly
served.
ssFurious with passion Dischman
tended his arm, and violently S
the empty sleeve pinned up TO
lapel of the others coat.
l."You dare to taunt me! YOU!
shrieked. "Hoa, cama YOU by
Not in battle! No! Do you tnl
have not heard of certain se
mans little affair with &c
young lady? The motor-car rio
Brighton!- too much CHAMPAIGN
.spiII!Aand smashed arm? Dc
think / don't know? Bah! you
your,. deserts, Mr.. Cfacer and. g
mani, ,'Es- = = a.
THE rest Of us thought it high
now to interfere, for the wretche
was evidently contemplating II
8 violence.
The matter, however, was SUI
taken out of our hands.
Unseen by me, MaxWeii nao
into the room, and had hear'
frantic speech of Dischman:.
AS the last word left the
,,,o,,tli yNfaxWe1I's hand was