Bayliss took a spectacle-case from the of his costume, opened it, took out a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, into the again, came out with a handkerchief, the spectacles, put them on his nose, closed the case, it to its original position, replaced the handkerchief, and took up the paper.
"Why the hesitation, Bayliss? Why the coyness?" Jimmy, with closed eyes. "Begin!"
"I was my glasses, sir."
"All set now?"
"Yes, sir. Shall I read the first?"
"Read everything."
The his throat.
"Good Heavens, Bayliss," Jimmy, starting, "don't gargle. Have a heart! Go on!"
Bayliss to read.
FRACAS IN FASHIONABLE NIGHT-CLUB
SPRIGS OF NOBILITY BRAWL
Jimmy opened his eyes, interested.
"Am I a of nobility?"
"It is what the paper says, sir."
"We live and learn. Carry on."
The started to clear his throat, but himself.
SENSATIONAL INTERNATIONAL CONTEST
BATTLING PERCY
(England)
V — CYCLONE JIM
(America)
FULL DESCRIPTION BY OUR EXPERT
Jimmy sat up.
"Bayliss, you're that of of yours again. That isn't in the paper?"
"Yes, sir. Very large headlines."
Jimmy groaned.
"Bayliss, I'll give you a piece of which may be useful to you when you up. Never go about with newspaper men. It all comes to me. Out of pure of I took Bill Blake of the Sun to supper at the Six Hundred last night. This is my reward. I he thinks it funny. Newspaper men are a low lot, Bayliss."
"Shall I go on, sir?"
"Most doubtless. Let me all."
Bayliss resumed. He was one of those readers who, their be a case or a anecdote, a and which a of and to they read. At the church which he on Sundays, of which he was one of the most and members, children would turn and up to their mothers when Bayliss read the lessons. Young Mr. Blake's account of the at the Six Hundred Club he with a more marked than his wont. It had a for him which him to himself.
"At an early hour this morning, when our readers were that and brain-restoring sleep so necessary to the proper of the Daily Sun at the table, one of the most events of the season was being off at the Six Hundred Club in Regent Street, where, after three of fast exchanges, James B. Crocker, the well-known American welter-weight scrapper, succeeded in stopping Lord Percy Whipple, second son of the Duke of Devizes, as the Pride of Old England. Once again the of the American over the English of was demonstrated. Battling Percy has a heart, but Cyclone Jim the punch."
"The of the had to do with a table, which each to have in over the telephone."
"I to remember," said Jimmy meditatively. "A with butter-coloured to jump my claim. Honeyed fruitless, I him on the jaw. It may be that I was not myself. I to an session at the Empire in the evening, which may have my self-control. Proceed!"
"One word leading to others, which in their turn to more, Cyclone Jim Battling Percy on what our were to as the mazzard, and the for
"ROUND ONE
"Both men came up fresh and to mix things, though it only too that they had already been mixing more than was good for them. Battling Percy a right which got home on a waiter. Cyclone Jim put in a one-two which opened a large in the atmosphere. Both men cautiously, being in their movements by the fact, which neither had at this stage of the perceived, that they were on opposite of the table. A Fitzsimmons' shift on the part of the Battler this obstacle, and some work in territory. Percy twice without a return. The Battler's by a shade.
"ROUND TWO
"The Cyclone came out of his with a rush, home on the Battler's shirt-front and it up with a right to the chin. Percy and a bottle of on a table. A good followed, men doing in-fighting. The Cyclone three without a return. The Cyclone's round.
"ROUND THREE
"Percy came up weak, to be overtrained. The Cyclone in, using hands effectively. The Battler into a clinch, but the Cyclone away and, his distance, up a from the and put it over. Percy and out.
"Interviewed by our after the fight, Cyclone Jim said: 'The issue was in doubt. I was at the by the that I was under the that I was three twin-brothers, and I missed opportunities of over the by the ones. It was only in the second that I to my on the one in the middle, when the came to a conclusion. I shall not pugilism as a profession. The are attractive, but it is too much like work.'"
Bayliss ceased, and upon the room.
"Is that all?"
"That is all, sir."
"And about enough."
"Very true, sir."
"You know, Bayliss," said Jimmy thoughtfully, over on the couch, "life is peculiar, not to say odd. You know what is waiting for you the corner. You start the day with the prospects, and is as and ding-basted as full of doodlegammon. Why is this, Bayliss?"
"I couldn't say, sir."
"Look at me. I go out to a happy evening, meaning no to any one, and I come all with the blood of the aristocracy. We now come to a point. Do you think my lady has read that chronicle?"
"I not, Mr. James."
"On what do you these of comfort?"
"Mrs. Crocker not read the papers, sir."
"True! She not. I had forgotten. On the other hand the that she will learn about the little from other is great. I think the that I keep out of the way for the time being, I be upon and questioned. I am not equal to being questioned this morning. I have a which at the of my and all the way up. Where is my stepmother?"
"Mrs. Crocker is in her room, Mr. James. She ordered the car to be at once. It should be here at any moment now, sir. I think Mrs. Crocker to visit the Park luncheon."
"Is she out?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then, if I the excellent common-sense of the sand-eel, which as you know itself in the on the of the eel-hounds and in that position till the is past, I shall be able to an interview. Should you be questioned as to my whereabouts, your and reply in a clear and voice that I have gone out, you know not where. May I on your neutrality, Bayliss?"
"Very good, Mr. James."
"I think I will go and in my father's den. A man may there with some success as a rule."
Jimmy himself off the sofa, blinked, and set out for the den, where his father, in a arm-chair, was a pipe and reading the of the daily papers which did not with the game of cricket.
Mr. Crocker's was a small room at the of the house. It was not luxurious, and it looked out onto a blank wall, but it was the spot he liked best in all that which had once to the of shoes; for, as he sometimes to his son, it had the of being the only room on the ground where a move without his toe on a or an honourable. In this peaceful he a pipe, put his up, take off his coat, and in that and of to which the Constitution a free-born American. Nobody came there Jimmy and himself.
He did not his reading at his son's entrance. He a welcome through the clouds, but he did not his eyes. Jimmy took the other arm-chair, and to silently. It was the law of the that than should prevail. It was not until a of an hour had passed that Mr. Crocker his paper and spoke.
"Say, Jimmy, I want to talk to you."
"Say on. You have our ear."
"Seriously."
"Continue—always, however, you the that I am a man. Last night was a wild night on the moors, dad."
"It's about your stepmother. She was talking at about you. She's at you for Spike Dillon at the Carlton. You oughtn't to have taken him there, Jimmy. That's what got her goat. She was there with a of and they had to and to Spike talking about his half-scissors hook."
"What's their against Spike's half-scissors hook? It's a good one."
"She said she was going to speak to you about it. I I'd let you know."
"Thanks, dad. But was that all?"
"All."
"All that she was going to speak to me about? Sure there was nothing else?"
"She didn't say anything about anything else."
"Then she doesn't know! Fine!"
Mr. Crocker's came from the with a crash.
"Jimmy! You haven't been Cain again?"
"No, no, dad. Nothing serious. High-spirited Young Patrician stuff, the of thing that's of a in my position."
Mr. Crocker was not to be comforted.
"Jimmy, you've got to up. Honest, you have. I don't for myself. I like to see a boy having a good time. But your says you're to us with the people up top, the way you're going on. Lord I wouldn't if were different, but I'll tell you how I stand. I didn't wise till this morning. Your it on me suddenly. I've often what all this was about, this in London and the swells. I couldn't think what was your stepmother's idea. Now I know. Jimmy, she's trying to them to make me a peer!"
"What!"
"Just that. And she says—"
"But, dad, this is rich! This is of a high order! A peer! Good Heavens, if it comes off, what shall I be? This title is all so complicated. I know I should have to my name to Hon. Rollo Cholmondeley or the Hon. Aubrey Marjoribanks, but what I want to know is which? I want to be prepared for the worst."
"And you see, Jimmy, these people up top, the who the of titles, are an on you, you would have the title after me and naturally they don't want to stung. I all that from your stepmother. Say, Jimmy, I'm not a of you, but there is just one thing you can do for me without out too much."
"I'll do it, dad, if it kills me. Slip me the info!"
"Your stepmother's friend Lady Corstorphine's nephew . . ."
"It's not the of to ask a man with a to follow. I it as it goes along."
"Your wants you to be a good and make friends with this boy. You see, his father is in right with the Premier and has the biggest of a when it comes to out titles."
"Is that all you want? Leave it to me. Inside of a week I'll be playing kiss-in-the-ring with him. The whole of my sunny shall be making him love me. What's his name?"
"Lord Percy Whipple."
Jimmy's pipe with a clatter.
"Dad, together! Reflect! You know you don't Lord Percy Whipple."
"Eh?"
Jimmy a hand on his father's shoulder.
"Dad, prepare for the big laugh. This is where you your and with mirth. I met Lord Percy Whipple last night at the Six Hundred Club. Words ensued. I upon Percy and his off! How it started, that we wanted the same table, I couldn't say. 'Why, that I cannot tell,' said he, 'but 'twas a famous victory!' If I had known, dad, nothing would have me to a hand upon Perce, save in the way of kindness, but, not who he was, it would appear from of the that I just naturally in and the poor, dear boy!"
The nature of this had much the same on Mr. Crocker as the of his has upon the Good Old Man in melodrama. He sat the arms of his chair and into space, saying nothing. Dismay was upon his countenance.
His Jimmy. For the time he that the had another than the one which had to him. He had that Mr. Crocker, who as a thing his of what was and be on to laugh in the right place, would have been struck, like himself, by the odd and of his having on for purposes of and the one man with his him to a and friendship. He now that his father was upset. Neither Jimmy Mr. Crocker a nature, but there had always them the affection. Jimmy loved his father as he loved nobody else in the world, and the of having him was like a physical pain. His died away and he set himself with a to try to the of his words.
"I'm sorry, dad. I had no idea you would care. I wouldn't have done a thing like that for a if I'd known. Isn't there anything I can do? Gee whiz! I'll go right to Percy now and apologise. I'll his boots. Don't you worry, dad. I'll make it all right."
The of Mr. Crocker from his thoughts.
"It doesn't matter, Jimmy. Don't worry yourself. It's only a little unfortunate, your says she won't think of our going to America till these people here have me a title. She wants to put one over on her sister. That's all that's me, the that this will set us back, this Lord Percy being in so with the who give the titles. I it will my on here for a while longer, and I'd liked to have another ball-game. Jimmy, do you know they call Rounders in this country, and children play it with a soft ball!"
Jimmy was up and the little room. Remorse had him in its grip.
"What a I am!"
"Never mind, Jimmy. It's unfortunate, but it wasn't your fault. You couldn't know."
"It was my fault. Nobody but a like me would go about people up. But don't worry, dad. It's going to be all right. I'll it. I'm going right to this Percy now to make all right. I won't come till I've him. Don't you about it any longer, dad. It's going to be all right."
