EDITOR'S WALLET.

Otago Witness, Issue 2252, 29 April 1897, Page 52

EDITOR'S WALLET.

Burnaby Was One Too Many. A good story— which has never been in print before— concerning Colonel Fred Burnaby, the gallant guardsman, who fell at Abu Klea, was current in Bedford circles some years ago. Burnaby's father was at one time vicar of St. Peter's, Bedford, and the future colonel of the Horse Guards Blue was home from Harrow for his holidays. He and a companion, a slim, weakly youth, had gone for a walk one Sunday afternoon to Elstow, the picturesque village which claims John Bunyan as one of its sons. The clock of Elstow church was chiming the hour of 3 a3 the two lads crossed the green on which a band a the ancient Moot Hall. Clustered at one end of the building was a knot of agricultural labourers, who, judging by their conversation and behaviour, had just been turned out of a well-known hostelry. The lads had to pass this group of loafers, and while doing so Burnaby's companion's silk handkerchief was plucked out of his breast pocket by one of the inebriated yokels. Of course the owner of the purloined article asked for its restitution, and was met with a loud guffaw and an " All right, Mister, it'll do firstclass for .me." Burnaby, without seeming to take any notice of the affair, took hold of his companion's arm, and said. " Come along, Jack." They then proceeded along the village street until they came to Bunyan's cottage, into which Burnaby took his friend. Leaviug him there, the future guardsman went back to the village • green, and confronting the bully who had ' matched the handkerchief, which he was sporting round his brawny Beck, said, "I want that, please." "Wai, you've got to git it, then, young un," answered the fellow, with a brutal sneer, at the same time squaring up to Burnaby. The latter in a momtnt, hitting the fellow squarely between the eyes, sent him sprawling to the earth. Barnaby was now in for ifc, as the man's frisnds came to his rescue. Botthe young Harrovian was equal to the emergency. Within two minutes he floored seven of the group, and secured his friend's handkerchief. His only casualty was a discoloured eye. and as ho walked away he said coolly, "My name is Burnaby, of Bedford. If you want any more, you know where you can have it." He was never interfered with in Elstow again ; in fact the yokels, whenever he paased through the place, used so point him out as " the fellow ■ that floored seven of our chaps in no time."