The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-05-09
TheAmateur Gentleman
=Bv Ieffrev Farnoi-
BY Jeffrey Farnoi

oeed! what should you want vi Lon
oon?"
Learn to be a gentleman"
"A-what?" AS he spoke, John
BaIty rose up out Of his chair, his
eyes wide. his mouth agap with ut
ter. astonishment. AS he encount-
cred his sons look, however, his ex-
preston slowly changed from amaze
ment to contempt, from contempt
to growing ridicule. and from rid
icule to black anger
"Barnabas," said his father at
last, did you say a-gentleman,
Barnabas?"
Yes"
VXTHAT-you?" Here John Bar
w tvs frown vanished sud-
denly and, expanding his great
chest. he threw back his head and
roared with laughter. Barnabas
clenched his fists, and his mouth
lost something of its sweetness, ard
his eyes glinted through their curv-
ing lashes, while his father laughed
and laughter till the place rang
again, which of itself stung Barna-
has sharper than any blow could
have done.
"A fathers duty be a very solemn
thing, Barnabas," he continued
slowly, AN your cad being Gas I
say full O. wild idees, I'm going to
try to punch 'em out again as a
well-meaning father should, SO help
me back wi the table out O. the
road, an off wi your coat and neck
ercher."
Well knowing the utter futility of
argument with his father at such
time, Barnabas obediently helped to
set back the table, thus leaving the
floor clear, which done, he, in turn,
stripped off coat and neckcloth, and
rolled up his sleeves, while his father
watched him with sharply apprais-
ing eye.
Thus, without more ado they
faced each other foot to foot, bare
armed and alert of eye. For a mo-
ment they spared watchfully, then
John Barty tented Barnabas
into an opening, in that same mo-
ment his fist shot out and Barnabas
measured his length on the floor.
All knowed as much!" John
sighed mournfully as he eided Bar
nabas to his feet, land t we're only
a love-tap, so to speak-thiS is what
comes O. your book reading"
TRY me again." said Barnabas.
It'll be harder next time" said
his father.
GAS hard as you likel" nodded
Barnabas.
Once more came the light tread
of quick-moving feet, once more
John Barty tented cunningly-
once more his fist shot out, but
this time it missed it's mark, for,
ducking the blows, Barnabas
smacked home two lightning blows
on his fathers ribs and danced
away again light and buoyant as
cork.
Stand up an fight, lad!"
growled his father, plant your feet
square-never go hopping about on
your toe-points like French
dancing
why as to that, father, Natty
Bell, as you know, holds that it is
the quicker method" here Barnabas
smote his father twice upon the
ribs, "and indeed I think it isl said
he, deftly eluding the ex-cham-
pion's return.
Quicker, heyP" sneered his
father, and with the words came
his f1st-to whizz harmlessly past
Barnabas's ear-"well prove that"
Haven't we had almost enough?"
inquired Barnabas, dropping his
fists.
Enough? Why we aren't begun
yet, lad"
Then how long are we to go
on?"
How long?" repeated John,
frowning; "why-that depends on
you. Barnabas."
How on me, father?"
Are We still minded to go to
London?"
"Of course"
Then We'll go on till you think
better of it-or till you knock me
down, Barnabas my lad"
Ito Be Continued)