Gilpin observer., 1912-08-08


the neck. professor mean inside the
collar" he said, approaching the ta-
ble-"there's some kind OF freak let
tering. Looks foolish to me-"
The professor looked perplexed.
Il mean, looks like 1t was done by
some one who was batty-had wheels.
you know; probably some chink whose
biscuit was drifty." foundered Bill
ings. You understand"
Ia professor didn't. l knew that
jolly we'll by the way he cooked his
head on one side, standing like puz-
zled crow, don't you know.
"Ha! / fear l do not as l should"
he said with an apologetic cough.
Perhaps I do not intelligently and
logically follow your deductions be-
cause your premises are inscrutable
until l have seen the lettering. Ah!"
Out came glasses and lens and he
bent over the COLLAR eagerly.
The professors lips moved rapidly
and his visage twisted into horrible
frown.
why, why-a-what!" With mouth
open, and gripping the pa1amas tight
IL.
"Oh, impossible!" he rasped harsh
ly. selling the lens and bending again.
ble-poof-absurd = tut, tut.
what nonsense!"
The glass swept the lines rapidly.
Suddenly, with cry, the professor
dropped the lens, violent start al
most lifting him from the floor.
Ridiculous, l say! Poof!" He
snapped his fingers "Necromancy and
thaumaturgy transmitted In pa1amas!
Absurd!"
"Pifhel" said Billings emphatically.
Don't know what they are," he whis-
pered to me, but I'll take hundred
to-one shot on anything he says. The
professors a corker!"
by Jove!" l remarked. Perhaps
Professor Huckleberry won't mind
telling US"
What l think, gentlemen? What
could I think but what l am sure is
your own conclusion-though you
have generously and considerably left
me to form my own opinion-namely.
that the claim OF supernatural at
tributes OF these garments is prepos-
ferrous. Enchanted pajamas! Haunted
paJamas! Poof. Nursery lore; chill
dren's fairy tales! Ghosts. gentle
men? Tut. tut-nonsense,"
He snorted Indignantly.
"Ghosts!" faltered Billings
"Oh, say!" rather gasped. Dash
me II it didn't give me a turn, rather!
The professor shrugged his shoul-
ders.
What other Interpretation is admis-
sible, gentlemen" he questioned some
what peevishly, taking up the coat.
Here. we have the royal insignia OF
the cruel emperor, Kee, and We note
that these garments were given some
one in his court by the alleged sor-
cerer. Fuhkeen. Perhaps it was re-
venge-perhaps some court plot in
which F'uh-keen, for reasons OF his
Of no importance, that part Of 1t. So
much for the first line; but now We
come"
He paused to polish his spectacles.
Tell me-" he said more cheerfully,
do our free translations of the ideo-
graphs SO far agree in essentials
eh?"
Like as two peas!" Billings de-
clared with manifest enthusiasm.
The professor looked gratitied and
bowed
Now We come to the second line,
or, more strictly speaking, column"
he said, Strengthening impressively.
Here we find the astonishing claim
made that there will be a change or
metamorphosis OF any kind of animal
life that these habiliments enshroud.
UNI"
The great man breathed heavily and
batted at us over his glasses.
"Credat Judaeus apella-eh, gentle
men?" And he winked knowingly.
Dashed II he didn't almost catch me
| swallowing yawn, too! For hadn't
any idea what he was talking about
or driving at, and. by Jove. did know
was getting devilish sleepy.
The professor waved his glasses.
"Did you ever read such childish.
ridiculous, extravagant asseveration? ?"
he demanded.
"Ass-eh? should say sol" |
worked this of Indignantly.
"Tommyrot!" murmured Billings alb.
sently. He seemed thoughtful.
was thoughtful, too-wondering
by Jove, whether the professor would
20 soon. so we could turn In and get
the earlier start tomorrow up the
river. But chiefly was wondering
wistfully II Frances would still be
angry with me.
Moreover" broke in the profes-
sor's voice as he turned again to the
lettering. "to assert further that there
will be semblance-not actual, gen.
tlemen. mind you, but an optical illu.
sion-taking the form Of some crea.
turc OF the same kind that this silken