The gentleman ragman; Johnny Thompson's story of the Emigger
Wilbur Dick Nesbit
Paperback
(RareBooksClub.com, May 16, 2012)
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1906 Excerpt: ... quick, unless you have changed it already. What did you mean by that?" "You can take it any way you like," said Branthorpe, blustering because he thought the crowd was on his side. "It may be difficult, sir, for you to understand that this community has a few high ideals concerning its daughters," the Emigger went on, in that soft, soothing voice of his; "but such is the case. Without mentioning any names at this moment, I wish to inquire whether the young lady you mentioned a while ago, or who was mentioned by some one else, is in the class of those you speak of as coming home with a story that will fool the old folks?" "I don't know that you have any right, Mr. What's-your-name, to cross-question me," Branthorpe replied, still very smartly. "My name, sir, is Asbury Dabney Colquhoun, late of Red Gap, Virginia. I don't know what your name is, but I do know the one you are going under now. I don't care about that, but I shall put it plainly, and you must answer me plainly: Did you see Miss Davis at all after you left here?" Branthorpe shrugged his shoulders and twitched in his chair, and then he happened to look square into the Emigger's eyes. Oscar said he never saw a man whose eyes could look as piercing and blazing as the Emigger's were then. Branthorpe gulped once or twice. "Did you, or did you not?" the Ernigger asked, half rising. "No, I didn't," Branthorpe said, sulkily. "I knew, sir, you were a liar when I first saw you." Branthorpe jumped up from his chair at that. "What do you mean?" he asked. The Ernigger got up and straightened out his arm and shook his finger in Branthorpe's face. "You are a liar, sir, and a poltroon, and a coward. Any man who wi...