The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-11-05
The Gentleman
by Jeffrey Farnol

sharply I'D at him, "why-what,
Lord love NETS you. Is it? ahal
SO II did the trick for you. did it,"
What DO you mean?"
Mean. sir? Lord, what should I
mean. but that there book on city,
ket. as I sold you-that priceless
wollum as I give you-for five bob.
months ago. when the larks was a.
singing so, inspiring.
Yes. it was a lovely morning, I
remember"
All and you left me that morn
ing, a fine. outstanding young coun-
try cove. but tOday-ah, today you
are a bang up blood-a gent, inside
and out. a-riding Of a magnificent
'oss-and all on account o. follering
the instructions in that ere blessed
tome as I sold you-for five bobl
And dirt cheap at the money!"
And I find you exactly as you
WERE" said Barnabas thoughtfully,
yes, even TO the bread and cheese"
THERE you are wrong, sir-ax-
Il ing your pardon. This time it's
ali a loaf-medium, slice O. beef
small, and a cold per-tater-large.
But cold per-taters is full o. nour-
ishment. If eat with a contented
mind-ah, there's oceans o. nour-
ishment in a cold per-tater-tock
regular. But you. sir continued
the peddler. beginning to eat with
great appetite. you, being a regular
'eavy-tOddler now, one o. the gilded
nObs-and all on account o. that
there priceless wollum as I-give
away TO you-for five bobl you, De-
ing now a blue-blooded aris-to-crat,
don't ave to walk, so you can go in
for plOvers or pheasants or part
ridges. dressed up in hartichokes,
pr APPS, yes-frogs' legs is your con-
slant fodder now, p'r'aps-not to
mention rag-outs and SIGH. And 'ow
lid you find London, young sir2"
Much bigger than expected"
"Ah, it is a big biggish till you get
used to it. And it's amazing what
you can see-if you looks ard
like the tombS IN st. Paul's
f'r instance. I know Of
a chap once as spent over a week
a-looking for 'em, and never see so
much as a single 'eadstone-but
then e were born stone-blind, so it
we're only nat'ral as e should miss
EN-, p'r'aps. But you, young Gir,
ow did you pass your timer"
Principally in dressing and IN
"Ah, jess so, jess so-coats cut Ugh
and coats cut low But what more?"
And in eating and drinking"
"Ah, French hortolons, p'r'aps,
with a occasional tongue Of lark
in for a relish, jess so! But
what more-did We marry duchess,
f'r instance?"
ALAS, mol"
"Elope with a earls daughter,
then?"
NO"
"Well-did We fight any dooels?"
Not a single one"
Lord, young sir-you ave been
a-missing of your opportunities, you
ave, playing fast and loose wi For
-un', 1 calls it-ah, fair flying in
The face o. Providence! Now, if
instead O. selling books I took to
writing Of 'em, and tried to write
you into a novel, why, Lord, what
1 poor thing that there novel would
1el Who'd want to read it?-why, |
lobodyl oh, I can see as you've
1een throwing away your oppor-
unities and wasting your chances
you'ave."
Now 1 wonder" said Barnabas,
,roYning thoughtfully, Il wonder if
have?"
Not a doubt Of it," answered the
peddler, swallowing the last of his
potato.
Then the sooner begin to make
up for it, the better"
"Ahl" nodded the peddler.. 81
should begin at once, if I was you"
L will" said Barnabas, gathering |
up the reins.
And how, sir?"
by going my allotted way and
to be content"
Ito Be Continued