Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-01

why. surely" cried. and gloried in
my own audacity.
But what does that prove?" he asked
in a gentle, persuasive voice.
"Ah. what indeed" l murmured.
What does it proven
Shall tell you?" he cooed.
Pray do"
"It proves" he roared with a blast of
sudden fury. that you are the damndest
impostor in London-a vile, crawling
journalist who has no more science than
he has decency in his composition
He had sprung to his feet with mad
rage in his eyes. Even at that moment
Of tension 1 found time for amazement at
the discovery that he was quite short
man. his head not higher than my shout
der-a stunted Hercules whose tremen-
dous vitality had all run to depth, breadth
and brain.
'Gibberish!" he cried. leaning forward,
with his fingers on the table and his face
projecting. That's what 1 have been
talking to you, sir-scientific gibberish!
Did you think You could match cunning
with me. you with your walnut of a
you Internal scribblers, don't you? That
your praise can make a man and your
blame can break him? We must all bow
to you. and try to get a favorable word,
must we? This man shall have leg up,
and this man shall have a dressing down
creeping vermin, 1 know you! You've
got out of your station. Time was when
your ears were clipped. You've lost your
sense N.
I'll keep you in Your proper place! Yes.
sir, you haven't got over G. E. c.! There's
one man who is still your master. He
warned you off, but If you will come, by
the Lord you do it at your own risk! For
felt. my good Mr.. Malone, l claim for
felt! It strikes me that you have played
a rather dangerous game, and you have
lost it,
Look here. sir" said l. backing to the
door and opening it. You can be as
abusive as you like: but there is limit
You shall not assault me!'
Shall not?" He was slowly advanc-
ing in peculiarly menacing way; but he
stopped now and put his big hands into
| the side pockets Of a rather boyfsh short
Jacket which he wore. Il have thrown
! several Of you out of the house. You will
be the fourth or fifth. Three pound NJ
teen each-that is how 1t averaged. Tx
pensive, but very necessary. Now. Sir.
| why should you not follow your brethren?
rather think you must he resumed
| his unpleasant and stealthy advance,
pointing his toes as he walked, like a
dancing master.
| 1 could have bolted for the hall door;
but it would have been too 1gnominious
Besides, a little glow Of righteous anger
was springing up within me. / had been
hopelessly in the wrong before; but this
mans menaces were putting me in the
right.
"Pn trouble you to keep your hands on,
| sir! I'll not stand it!'
| Dear mel" His black mustache lifted.
and q white fang twinkled in sneer
| You won't stand it. eh?" :,
Don't be such a fool professor! L
cried. What can you hope for? I'm M
teen stone as hard as nails. and play CEN
| ter-three-quarters every Saturday for the
London Irish. I'm not the man
It was at that moment that he rushed
me. It was lucky that l had opened the
door or we should have gone through 1t.
We did a Catharine wheel together down
the passage In some way we gathered
up a chair upon our way, ana oouiIueu
| on with it toward the street. My mouth
was full of his beard, our arms were
locked, our bodies intertwined and that
| Internal chair radiated it's legs all around
us. The watchful Austin had thrown
| open the hall door. We went with
back somersault down the front front Steps STEPS:
thing of the kind at the halls. but 1t ap-
pears to take some practice to DO II
| without hurting one 8 self. the CHAIR "ent
to matchwood at the bottom. ana we
rolled apart into the gutter. He sprang
| to his feet, waving his fists and Wheez-
| ing like an asthmatic.
HAD enough?" he painted.
You Internal. bully!' I cried, as
gathered myself together.
Then and there we should have tried
the thing out, for he was efervescing
with fight, but fortunately l was res
cued from an odious situation. A police
man was beside us, his notebook IN MS
hand.
whats all this? You ought to be
ashamed! said the policeman. It was
the most rational remark 1 had heard IN
Enmore Park. We'll" he insisted. turn
ing to me, what Is 1t, then?'
s"This man attacked me- said I.
Did you attack him?" asked the police
man
The professor breathed hard and said
nothing.
policeman, shaking his head severely
''You were in trouble last month for the
same thing. You've blackened this young
mans eye Do you give him in charge,
sir?"
I relented. NO" said I, II do not"
whats that?' said the policeman.
IT was to blame myself. I intruded
upon him. He gave me fair warming"
The policeman snapped up his notebook.
Don't let us have any more such COINS
on" said he. Now then, move on. there.
move ony' This to butchers boy.
maid, and one or two loafers VINO mao
collected. He dumped heavily down the
street, driving this little flock before him.
The professor looked at me, and there
was something humorous at the back OF
his eyes. "Come in!' said he. I've not
done with you yet.
The speech had sinister sound; but 1
followed him none the less into the house.
The man servant, Austin, like a wooden
image, closed the door behind me.
Hardly was it shut, when Mrs. Chal-
lenger darted out from the dining room.
The small woman was in a furious tenn
per. She barred her husbands way like
an enraged chicken In front of bull
dog. 1t was evident that she had seen
my exit, but had not observed my return
"You brute, George!' she screamed.
you've hurt that nice young man!'
He jerked backward with his thumb
Here he Is, safe and sound, behind me-.
She was confused, but not unduly So
II am so sorry! I didn't see you
II assure you, madam, that it Is all
right
HE has marked your poor face! Oh,
George, what a brute you are! Nothing
but scandals from one end of the week
to the other! Imagine hating and making
fun of you! You've finished my patience!
This ends it,!
DIRTY linenr' he rumbled.
Its not secret" she cried. DO You
suppose that the whole street.-the whole
of London, for that matter-Get away,
Austin, we don't want you here-do You
suppose they don't all talk about you?
Where is your dignity? You, a man who
should have been regius professor at a
great university, with a thousand STU
dents all revering you Where is your
dignity, George?'
How about yours, my dear?''
You try me too much. A ruffian-a
common. brawling rufaan!-that's what
you have become!''
BE good, jessie"
"a roaring. raging bully!''
That's done it! Stool of penance"