The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-10-04
TheAmateur Gentleman
BY jeffrey FarnoI


all eyes are upon him. and all
glasses are filed; even the walters
become deferentially interested as,
amid welcoming shouts, the guest
Of the evening rises, little flushed,
little nervous, yet steady Of eye.
And as Barnabas stands there, an
elegant figure, tall and graceful, all
eyes may behold again the excel
lent AZ Of that wonderful coat, its
dashing cut and flattened revers,
while all ears await his words. But.
or ever he can speak. upon this
silence is heard the tread Of heavy
feet beyond the door and Barnabas
glances there eagerly. ever mindful
of the letter from Hawkhurst; but
the feet have stopped and, sitting
a sigh, he begins:
MY lords and gentlemenl So
much am I conscious of the pro-
found honor you do me, that find
ii difficult TO express my"
But here again a disturbance is
heard at the door-shuffle of feet
and the mutter of voices, and he
pauses expectant.
Indeed, gentlemen, 1 fear no
words of mine, however eloquent,
can sufficiently express to you all
my"
"Oh, Barnabas," cries a deep
voice; yes. it is Barnabasl" Even
as the words are uttered, the group
Of protesting walters in the doorway
are swept aside by a mighty arm,
and a figure strides into the BAN
quoting room, handsome figure,
despite its country habiliments,
commanding figure by reason of its
stature and great spread of shoulder.
and John Barty stands there, blink
ing in the light of the many
candles.
THEN Barnabas closed his eyes
and, reaching out, set his hand
upon the back of a chair near by,
and so stood, with bent head and
strange roaring in his ears. Little
by little this noise grew less until
he could hear voices about him, an
angry clamor:
Put him outl"
Throw the rascal into the
street,"
Kick him downstairs, somebody"
And, amid this growing tu-
mutt, Barnabas could distinguish
his fathers voice, and in it was a
note he had never heard before,
something of pleading, something of
fear.
"Barnabas? Barnabas Oh, this
be you, my lad-bean't it Barna-
bas?"
Yet still he stood with bent head,
his gripping fingers clenched hard
upon the chair back, while the
clamor about him grew ever louder
and more threatening.
Throw him out "
pitch the fellow downstairs,
somebody"
"Jove!" exclaimed the marquis,
rising and buttoning his coat, "if
nobody else will, I'll have a try at
him myself. Looks promising
cove, as if he might fib well. Come
now, my good fellow, you must
either get out of here or-put 'em
up. you know-dooce take me, but
you Tnustl"
But as he advanced, Barnabas
lifted his head and staying him with
gesture, turned and beheld his
father standing alone, the center
of an angry circle. And John
Barty beheld the white, stricken
face of his son. And seeing it, John
Barty groaned and so took a step
toward the door; but no man
moved to give him way.
IA mistake, gentlemen" he
muttered, It'll CO." Then, even
as the stammering words were ut
tered, Barnabas strobe forward into
the circle and. slipping hand with
in his fathers nervelesS arm, looked
around upon the company, pale OF
cheek, but with head carried high.
MY lords!" said he, gentlemen!
have the honor-to introduce to
you-John Barty, some time known
as Glorious John'-ex-champion, OF
England and-landlord of the
'Coursing Hound inn-my father!'
Ito Be Continued)