Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1909-11-06

my lear sir, that one of those spires
is shorter than the Other?"
Il certainly am not" I replied,
bluntly, wondering what species of
mailman 1 had on my hands,.
It's a fact, confided to me by a
prominent engineer of New York, who
has studied those spires daily since
they were put up. He told me that
when he had surrounded five high
balls the north spire was higher; but
that the sixth tumblerful always
raised the south spire about IL feet
above 1t. Now, wouldn't that doddle
you?"
1T would, Mr.. Gillespie; but may I
ask you to cut out this rot"
MY dear Mr.. Donovan, it's indeli-
cate of you to speak Of cutting any
thing-and me with my legs. But I'm
at your service. You have tended my
grievous wounds like a gentleman and
now do you wish NE to unfold my
past, present and future?"
Il want you to get out of this and
be quick about it. Your biography
doesn't amuse me; l caught you
prowling ~disgracefully about ST. Aga
ILd .. l. WI 1dO10S are uOIuIC1l0Q there
who came here to escape your annoy
ing attentions. Those ladies were put
in my charge by an old friend, and 1
don't propose to stand any nonsense
from you, Mr.. Gillespie. You seem
to be at least half sane"
Reginald Gillespie raised himself on
the couch and g%rinned joyously.
Thank you-thank you for that
word! That's just twice as high as
anybody eve rated me before"
Il was trying to be generous" 1
said. There's a point at which l be-
gin to be bored, Inc when that's
reached I'm likely to grow quarrel
ome Are there any moments of the
day or night when you are less a fool
than others?"
We'll, Donovan, I've often specu-
lated about that, and my conclusion
is that my mind is at it's best when
I'm asleep and enjoying a nightmare.
Then, l have sometimes thought, my
intellectual parts are most intelligent
ly employed"
81 may we'll believe you," I declared
with asperity. Nov 1 hope 1 can
pound it into you in some way that
your presence in this neighborhood is
offensive-to me-personally.p
He stared at the ceiling. silent, i'm
perturbable.
And I'm going to give you safe con-
duct through the lines-or If neces-
sary I'll buy your ticket and start you
for New York. And if there's an atom
of honor in you, you'll go peaceably
and not publish the fact that you
know the whereabouts of these la
dies"
He reflected gravely for a moment.
Il think" he said, that on the
whole that's a fair proposition. But
you seem to have the impression that
1 wish to annoy these ladies'"
You don't for a moment imagine
that you are likely to entertain them,
do you? You haven't got the idea
that you are necessary to their happi-
ness, have you?"
He raised himself on his elbow with
some difficulty; linched as he tried to
make himself comfortable and began:
THE trouble with Miss Pat is"
There is no trouble with Miss Pat"
1 snapped.
THE trouble between Miss Pat and
me is the same old trouble of the
buttons" he remarked, dolorously.
Buttons, you IDIOT"
Quite so. Buttons, just plain,
everyday buttons; buttons for button
ing purposes"
The fellow was undoubtedly mad. l
looked about for a weapon; but he
went on gravely:
What does the name Gillespie
mean? Of what is it the sign and
symbol wherever man hides his
Button, button, who'll
buy my buttons? It can't be possible
that you never heard of the Gillespie
buttons? Where have you lived, my
dear sir?"
will you please stop talking rot
and explain what o want here?" I
demanded, with growing heat.
That, my deal sir, is exactly what
doing. I'm a sutton for the hand
scorns me-; she says I'm a mere child
Of the Philistine rich and declines an
alliance without thanks, if you must
know the truth. And it's all on ac-
count of the fact, shameful enough, 1
admit, that my father died and left me
a large and prosperous button fac
Why don't you give tho Internal
thing away-sell it out to a trust"
"Ah! ah!"-and he raised himself
again and pointed a bandaged hand at
me. Il see that you are a man of
penetration! You have a keen notion
of business! You anticipate me! IL
did sell the Internal thing to a trust,
but there was no shaking it! They
made me president of the combina-
ton, and 1 control more buttons than
any other living man! My dear sir, 1
dictate the button prices of the world.
can tell you to a nicely how many