The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-07-10
TheAmateur Gentleman
BY Jeffrey FarnoI

lofty pride, Barnabas felt his heart
leap,-because Of the long lashes
that curled so black against the
wsxen pallor Of the cheek: for in
that moment he almost seemed to
be back in the green morning
freshness Of Annersley Wood, and
upon his lips there breathed a name,
Cleone.
But all at once the sleeper stirred,
frowned and started up with a bit
ter imprecation upon his lips that
ended in a vacant stare.
why. Barry" cried Mr.. Smivvle,
leaning over him, my dear boy. did
We disturb yOu?"
"Ah, Dig-is that you? Fell asleep
brandy, perhaps, and-ha,-your
pardon, siri" and Ronald Berry
maine rose, somewhat unsteadily.
and, folding his threadbare dress
ing gown about him, bowed, and so
stood facing Barnabas, a little
drunk and very stately.
This is my friend, Of whom I
told yOu," Mr.. Smivvle fastened to
explain. Mr.. Barnabas Beverley.
Mr.. Ronald Barrymaine.
You are-welcome, sir" said Mr..
Barrymaine, speaking with elabor-
ate care, as if to make quite sure of
his utterance. Pray be seated, Mr..
Bevley. We've are a little crowd
ed / f-fear. Move those boots off
the chair, Dig. Indeed my apart
ment might be a little more COM
modious, but it's all I have at
p-present, and by Cod" he cried,
suddenly fierce, L shouldn't have
even this but for Dig here! Digs
the only f-friend I have in the
world-except Chichester. Push the
brandy over, Dig. OF course there's
-Cleone, but she's only a sister,
after all. Don't know what I should
do if it wasn't for Dig-d-do I, Dig?
And Chichester of course. Give Mr..
Bev'ley a chair, Dig. I'll get him
glass;"
Hereupon Mr.. Smivvle hurried
forward with a chair which, like all
the rest of the furniture, had long
ago seen its best days, during which
maneuver he contrived to whisper
hUriedly:
Poor Barry's decidedly touched
to-day, little more so than usual,
but you'll excuse him I know, my
dear fellow. Hush!" for Barrymaine,
who had crossed to the other end of
the room, now turned to came to-
ward them, swaying a little, and
with a glass in his hand.
It's rickety, sir, you'll notice"
said he, nOddlng. Il mean that
chair-dev'lish rickety, like every
thing else bout here-especially
myself. ell, Dig? B-but don't be
alarmed, twill bear you, sir.
D-devil of place to aSk-gentle-
man to sit down in,-but the Spans
wick hasn't been round to clean the
place this week-damn her?
S-scarcely blame her, though-never
gets paid-except when Dig remem-
bers it.
Don't know what 1 should do
without D-Dig.-raise twenty
pounds yesterday, damme if I know
where! said it was watch-but
watch went weeks ago. Couldn't
ever pay the Spanswick. That's the
accursed part of it-pay, payl debt
on debt, and-n-nothing to pay
with. All swallowed up by that
bloodsucker-that-"
Nov, Barry!" Mr.. Smivvle ex-
postulated, my dear boy"
Hes a cursed v-vampire, I tell
youl" retorted Barrymaine, his pale
cheeks suddenly flushed, and his
dark eyes flashing in swift passion,
hes a snake"
NOV. my dear fellow. calm
IN yourself"
Calm myself. How can I, when
everything 1 have is his, when
everything 1 g-get belong to him
before-curSe him-even before 1
get it, 1 tell you, Dig, he'S-he's
draining my life away, drop by drop!
He's g-gOt me down with his foot
on my neck-crushing me into the
mud. I say he's stamping me down
into hell-damn himl"
Restrain yourself, Barry, my boy,
remember Mr.. Beverley is our
guest"
L.