The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-07-27
TheAmateur Gentleman
by Jeffrey FarnoI

hair. and eyes so very pale as 70 be
almost lmperceptIOle III the pallor
o. his face.
Barna0as followed the captain
along a somewhat gloomy hall. up
narrow and winding staircase. and
here. halfway up. was small land
ing with an alcOve where stood a
tall. Wlzen-faCed clock with Skele
ton hands and a loud, insistent, very
deliberate tick; so, up more stairs 10
another hall. also somewhat gloomy,
and a door which he pale-eyed
smiling person obligingly opened,
and. having ushered them into
Handsomely furnished chamber, dis
appeared.
Barna bas saw that the debonsir
Slingsbv had vanished quite; in his
place was another-a much older
man. haggard OF eye. with a face
peaked. and gray. and careworn be-
meath the Drim Of the jaunty hat.
Ny dear Beverley" said he, star
ing down into the empty CRATE, If
you're ever IN need-if you're ever
reduced 10 destitutiOn, then, in
heavens name. 90 quietly away and
-starvel Deuced unpleasant. of
course, but It's-sOoner over, b'gad!"
A T this moment the smiling per-
"a son reappeared at a different
door, and uttered the words:
Captain Slingsby-if you please"
Hereupon the captain visibly braced
himself, squared his shoulders, took
of his hat. crossed the room in a
couple Of strides, and Barnabas was
alone.
Now as he sat there waiting, he
gradually became aware of a sound
that stole upon the quiet, soft,
low sound, exactly what he could
not define, nevertheless, it greatly
perturbed him. Therefore he rose,
and approaching that part Of the
room whence 1t proceeded, he saw
another door. And then, all at
once, as he stood before this door,
he knew what the sound was, and
why IL had so distressed him; and,
even as the knowledge came, he
opened the door and stepped into
the room beyond.
And this IS what he saw:
A bare little room. or office; the
pale. smiling gentleman, who
lounged in a cushioned chair,
comb in one hand, and in the other
a small pocket mirror. by the aid Of
which he vas attending to a dim
inutive tuft of flaxen whisker; and
a woman, in threadbare garments,
who crOuched upon a bench beside
the opposite wall, her face bowed
upon her hands, her whole frame
shaken BY great, heart-brOken,
gasping sObs-a sound full Of mis-
cry, and of desolation unutterable.
A T the opening of the door, the
L A pale gentleman started and
turned. and the woman looked up
with eyes swollen ano inflamed by
weeping.
Sir" said the pale gentleman,
speaking softly. yet in the tone of
one used to command, may 1 ask
what this intrusion means?' Now,
as he looked into the speakers pallid
eyes. Barnabas saw that he was
much older than he had thought.
He had laid aside the comb and
mirror. and now rose in a leiSurely
manner. and his smile was more
than ever as he faced
BarnabaS.
This place is private sir-yoU I'M
derstand, private. sir. May sug-
gest that you-go, that you-leaye
us?" AS he uttered the last two
words, he thrust out his head and
Jaw in a very ugly manner. Bar
nabas addressed himself to the
woman.
Pray, madam" said he, tell me
your trouble: what is the matter?'
But the woman only wrung her
hands together, and stared with
great, frightened eyes at the color
less man, who now advanced, smil-
ing still. and tapped Barnabas
smartly on the shoulder.
TO Be Continued