The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-06-21
TheAmateur Gentleman
By Jeffrey FarnoI

face leaned over and once more
winked his owl-ike eye-"but e
amt mentioned the word 'walise' all
night, sir-so 'elp mel" Having said
which, Mottle-face vented throaty
chuckle, and proceeded to touch up
his horses.
And now as one in a dream,
Barnabas is aware that they are
threading streets, broad streets and
narrow, and all alive with great
wagons and country wains; on they
go, past gloomy taverns, past
churches whose gilded weather.
cocks glitter in the early SInbeamS,
past crooked side-streets and dark
alley-ways, and so, swinging sud-
denly to the right, have pulled up
at last in the yard of the George"
1t is a great inn with two gal
leries one above another and many
windows, and here, despite the early
hour, a motley crowd is gathered.
Forthwith Barnabas climbs down,
and edging his way through the
throng, presently finds Peterby at
his elbow.
Breakfast, sir?"
BED, Peterby."
every good-this way, sir"
Thereafter, though he scarcely
knows how, he finds himself follow
ing a trim-footed dam5el, who, hav-
ing shown him up winding stair,
worn by the tread of countless
travellers, brings him to a smallish
dullish chamber, opening upon the
lower gallery. Hereupon BarnabaS
bids her good night" but, blinking
in the sunlight, gravely changes it
to good morning." The trim-footed
maid smiles, curtsies and vanisheS,
closing the door behind her.
Now upon the wall of the cham
Der, facing the bed, hangs the pic
ture of a gentleman in a military
habit with an uncomfortable high
stock. He is an eagle-nosed gentle
man with black whiskers, and a pair
of remarkably round wide awake
eyes, which stare at BarnabaS as
much as to say:
''And who the devil are you, sir?"
Below him his name and titles are
set forth fully and with many
flourishes, thus
LIEUTENANT = GOVERNOR THE
RIGHT HONORABLE
THE EARL OF POMPROY,
K. c., K. T. S., &C., &c, &c.
So remarkably wide awake is he,
indeed, that it seems to drowsy Bar
nabas as if these round eyes wait to
catch him unawares and follow him
pertinaciously about the smallish,
dullish chamber. Nevertheless Bar
nabas yawns, and proceeds to I'M
dress, which done, remembering he
is in London, he takes purse and
valuables and very carefully sets
them under his pillow, places Mr..
Chichester's pistol on the small
table conveniently near, and gets
into bed.
WET, now, sleepy though he is,
L he must needs turn to take
another look at the Honorable the
Earl of Pomfroy, wonders idly what
the three "&c.'s" may mean, ad-
mires the glossy curl of his whis-
kers, counts the medals and orders
on his bullying breast, glances last
of all at his eyes, and Immediately
becomes aware that they are curl
ously like those of the white Lion"
at Tenterden, in that they are ply
ing him with questions.
Tall or short? dark or fair? Will
she kiss you-neXt time, sir? Will
she even be glad to see you again,
you presumptuous young dog-will
she-will she, confound you?"
"Ah!" sighed Barnabas. "Next
time-I wonder"
So saying, he sighed again, once,
twice, and with the third fell fast
asleep, and dreamed that certain
White Lion, clad in lieutenant
generals uniform, and with a pair
of handsome black whiskers, stood
balancing himself upon a single claw
on the rail of the bed.
and now, Peterby," said Barn
abas. pushing his chair from the
breakfast table, "the first thing I
shall require is-a tailor"
Ito Be Continued)