The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-02-05

suited a sheet of paper. Then, at
last, his name changed. 1t became
invested by a certain obsequiousness.
Clearly he had found the name upon
his list. He opened the studded door
of which he was the guardian.
IF you will be pleased to enter,
sir " he murmured.
Colonel HOLES staggered in, the
usher following.
IF you will be pleased to wait,
sir ..." The usher left him, and
crossed the room, presumably to com
municate his name as yet another
usher, a clerkly fellow with a wand
who kept another farther door.
The Colonel disposed himself to
wait. sufficiently uplifted to practice
great lengths Of patience. He found
himself in a lofty. sparsely furnished
antechamber, one Of a dozen or more
clients, all Of them men of conse-
quence If their dress and carriage
were to be taken at surface value.
Some turned to look askance at this
d~own-at-heel intruder; but not for
long. There was that in the gray
eyes of Colonel Holes when return
ing such looks as these which could
put down the haughtiest stare.
Having met their insolence by look
ing at them Jas they might look at
pot-boys. he STROBE across to an empty
bench that was ranged against the
carved wainscoting, and sat himself
down with a clatter.
The noise he made drew the atten.
ton of two gentlemen who stood near
the bench in conversation. One of
these, whose back was toward HOLES,
glanced round upon him. He was tall,
and elderly. with a genial, ruddy coun-
tenance. The other, a mar of about
Holes own age, was short and
sturdily built with a swarthy face set
IN a heavy black periwtg. dressed
with a certain foppish care, and of
a manner that blended amiably with
a degree Of self-suf1ciency. He flashed
upon HOLES a pair of bright blue eyes
that were, however. without hostility
or disdain. and. although unknown
to the colonel. he slightly inclined his
head to him in formal, dignifed salu-
tatiOn. almost as If asking leave to
resume his voluble conversation
within this newcomers hearing.
Scraps of that conversation fIoated
presently to the colonel's ears.
g.. and I tell you, Sir George,
that his grace is nightly off the
hooks at all this delay. That is why
he hurried away to Portsmouth, that
by his own presence he might order
things ..." The pleasant voice grew
inaudible to rise again presently. THE
need is for officers, men trained in
war -"
The Colonel pricked up his ears at
that. But the voice had dropped
again, and he could not listen with
out making 1t obvious hat he did so.
until the speakers tones scared once
more.
These ardent young gentlemen are
we'll enough. and do themselves great
credit by their eagerness. but in
war .."
Discreetly, to the Colonel's ~vexation,
the gentleman again lowered his voice.
He was inaudibly answered by his
companion, and it was some time be-
fore HOLES heard another word OF
what passed between them. BY then
the conversation had veered a point.
and there the talk was all
Of the Dutch that the fleet is out"
The sturdy, swarthy gentleman was
speaking. That and these rumors
of the plague growing upon US in the
Town-from which may God preserve
us,-are now almost the only topics"
Almost. But not quite" the elder
man broke in, laughing. There's
something else I'd not have expected
you to forget; this F~arquharson girl at
the Dukes House"
Sir George, I confess the need for
your correction. I should not have
forgotten. That she shares the public
tongue with such topics as the war
and the plague best shows the deep
impression she has made"
"~Deservedly?" Sir George asked the
question as of one who was an au-
thority in such matters.
"Oh, most d~eservedly, be assured.
I was at the Dukes House two days
since, and saw her play Katherine.
And nightly pleased I was. I can.
not call to mind having seen her
equal in the part. or indeed upon the
stage at all. And so thinks the Town.
For though I came there by 2 o'clock
yet there was no room in the pit,
and I was forced to pay Jour shillings
to go into one Of the upper boxes.
The whole house was nightly pleased
with her, too. and in particular His
Grace of buckingham. He spoke his
praises from his box so that all might
heal him, and vowed he would not
rest until he had writ a play for
her. himself"
eff to write a play for her be the
only earnest his grace will afford her
of his admiration, then is Miss Far
quharson fortunate"
cor else unfortunate" said the
sturdy gentleman with a roguish
look. Its all a question of how the
lady views these matters. But let US
hope she is virtuous."
They were still laughing, when the
Coor OF Albemarle's room opened to
give exit to a slight gentleman with
flushed cheeks. Folding a parchment
as he went, the gentleman crossed
the antechamber. stepping quickly
and bestowing mods in his passage,
and was gone. AS he vanished at
one door, the usher with the wand