The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1912-05-17
CHAPTER Viii.
Her Brother Jack.

Her Brother Jack.
Good night, Dicky!" came up the
elevator shaft. And then more good
nights" growing fainter with their
laugh er as the car shot down.
Good night" | called after them.
"Devilish sorry you fellows won't stay
longer!"
Jolly good lie, Jenkins" | said,
yawning sleepily, as | dropped back
into my own apartment
Yes, SIR assented Jenkins demure-
ly. It's sleeping on the divan the
other night, sir. Eight hours there
amt nothing like eight hours in bed
and in your pajamas."
"Pajamas!" | calculated, startled.
For all day | had been thinking of
her. wondered If Billings would hap
pen to invite me up for the week end.
But he had so many times, and | had
never gone.
by Jove, that reminds me-" said.
Those red silk pajamas,"
Yes, sir" jenkins face hardened
IN an odd, wooden way.
Il was wondering. jenkins, If those
pajamas were torn any in our little
row the other night"
Poor Jenkins WINGED a little. Il
think not, SIR he muttered humbly-
"leastwise, they were all right last
night when Mr." He seemed to catch
himself abruptly. Il mean when |
found them this morning, sir
He returned with the garments
hoI Hoe
again we spread them under the
lamp on the table They looked Singh
larly smooth and unwrinkled. There
was not a single tear or break. not
even with the delicate cords that
twisted to form the frogs OF the seat.
My, sir But amt they red"
breathed jenkins. Them cords look
like little red snakes"
cut an anxious glance at jenkins,
for | did not like his reference to
snakes. Seemed ominous, somehow.
But his appearance was composed and
reassHring. And, by Jove, come to
'ook, the cords did look Just like tiny,
coiled serpents of glowing fire. Why,
they were so jolly red they hurt your
eyes. Fact, And thin as the bsan
tiful stun was. this brighter red ran
all over the other, covering every inch
OF II and forming the closest, finest
t-you-call-it embroidery. 1t was as
faint and dainty pattern as that on
soap bubble. Fact is. | could not
trace II. even with my glass.
The only part that wasn't covered
with this embroidery business was the
stuff used to cover the knots, or little
balls. over which the cords were
meant to hook In working with
some OF these cords, idly fastening
and christening them. got a little
impatient with one that seemed tight,
you know, and | used my manicure
knife to pull the knot through.
Careful, sir" warned Jenkins.
Likely to cut something"
By Jovel No sooner said. than l
did It!
The dashed blade slipped somehow
and cut into the threads that tied the
covers or caps or whatever-you-call-
ems, over the knots. And when |
pulled, the beastly piece of silk came
on In my fingers.
And then-oh, but l say! just
gave sort OF yell and dropped the
whole thing
Ever have some silly ass try to
scare you by poking red hot cigar
at you In the dark? Know how you
Jerk back? Well. there you are! For.
give you my word. when | peeled on
The little cloth cap regular blazes OF
Crimson fire seemed to shoot from
the end OF the knot.
Fact is, 1t wasn't knot at all. but
button-a devilish CLASSY button,
something bigger than dime. per-
maps, and thick as the end OF your
little finger. And there II lay against
Me silk, burning It's way through II
Ike a red coal of fire.
And It was just then that Billings
rolled in.
say rolled In" because 1t always
looks that way. That's the way Bill
'hgs is built, you know.
1 say, Dicky," he painted. lust
missed another internal express!
rienty more trains, but had great
Inspiration strike me that I'd let you
wv me w for the night. Hat. Jen'