Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-06-07


burglars, was it,"
You see, I thought at once OF Foxy
Grandpa and my darlings pajamas.
mot precisely, sir" Jenkins hesl-
tated; then moved a little nearer. L
Il hope you'll pardon me, Mr. Light
nut, sir; but can't help feeling that
you ought to know everything before
-h'm-I was going to say, sir, before
you see the family. | hope you'll par
don me, sir!"-he heaved desperate
ly-'I mean about all that happened
last night"
l stared. ooh, l say, jenkins" L
said, with an anxious thought, you
didn't-er-you know mean you
and Wilkes didn't drink the rest OF
the punch-after he took it away, you
know-eh?"
"Me?" Jenkins hand clutched the
heavy brass curve at the foot OF the
bed. mo, sir!"-and be added sadly:
Besides, sir, there wasn't any rest
Of it! Mr.. Will mean Wilkes, was
recommending on it. That was now l.
come to find l didn't have any more
of the blank pledges. So just walked
across the park to get some extra
ones l had given the gardener, and
he said | could have 'em all, II ID
just let him get little sleep; and ne
chucked 'em all out Of his window.
Seemed irritated like because | woke
him up. And then, sir, I don't know
whether it was because of the splash
ing of the fountains, but I had an
idea"
That's nothing" I said contemptu-
ously. Il often do at night when |
hear water splashing. | often get up
and get something
jenkins face sobered. Il know 1t,
sir-pardon, sir, mean I frequently
know you have-h'm-know by the
glasses-you understand, sir!" Then
he went on: THE idea that came to
| me was a great liberty know that,
sir. and I'm sorry-but I guess l was
| thinking that about the end justities-
you know it, sir?"
l didn't know, but I did wish he
would make an end!
1.-THE library windows was open on
| the loggia, sir, and when | looked IN,
didn't see anybody and thought"
Jenkins coughed and looked devilish
ratified thought | would just slip in
and lay a few of the temperance
pledges between the papers the judge
| had been working on" jenkins red
dened, looking at me in an appealing
way.
"Jove!" calculated, staring. "Oh,
I say, now!"
Eyes, r,"-faintly-"1 knew how
you would feel amt excusing my
self. sir; and when I heard your voice
I tried to get out, but there wasn't
time, so L" Jenkins touched his
hands in front, then behind him, and
shifted distressfully, "I-I hid behind
the alccve curtains-h'm-and just
then"
"Here!" I broke in, wait, dash it!
Whose voice did you hear?"
Jenkins eyes ducked.
| Yours, sir" he said family. AND
then you came in"
stared, trying to take it in
! Couldn't chirp word, don't you know
for to think I had taken to sleep
walking-and here!
Jenkins proceeded rapidly: "You
was cording a dressing-robe about you
as you came in and l see glimpse
| of one of your dark suits underneath
And following right behind you was
that young Mr.. Bi-h'm-pardon, sir
I remember you said I wasn't to men
ton any one connected with that nj
HIM! You know who l mean, STRIP
he paused nxiously-"Young man.
sir-freckled face-and the big lot
! of"-his spreading fingers curved
above his "awfully yellow hair
-um, you know, sir?"
ooh, that" I said with contempt
! for I knew he meant that mucker
Scoggins. Then incredulously: oh
1 say, you don't mean I was talking
to him? And asleep?"
jenkins eyed me reproachfully
mot asleep, sir" he demonstrated
gently.
! But T tell you"
"Mr. Lightnut, sir, 1t was the
punch!" He shook his head. IF you'll
excuse me for mentioning"
"Oh!" I remarked weakly, falling
back upon my pillow. "Jove, Jenkins!
And I just looked at him stupidity
/ fact!
Jenkins stroked his chin, his eyes
fixed somberly above my head. THE
demon rum, SIR" he said slowly, and
using the deep, heavy chest tones like
the high-up politicians and expensive
lecturers, "is rampant in our fair land
that's what I heard Doctor Splasher
remark-and the insid'jus monster is
slowly"
And he went on, but l didn't hear
I was trying to think. So I hadn't
been sleep-walking, but had been just
plain drunk-and in her home!-so
jolly we'll corked, in fact, | hadn't
even a dashed glimmer of memory OF
| it. Had been making a spectacle OF
myself, going all about the house IN
the wee what-you-call-e hours of the
night and probably-oh, good heavens,
| probably singing!
dropped my head back upon the
| pillow.
go on" said. Tell me ALL"
Eyes, sir" resumed jenkins, "as
was saying, you came in with-you
| knoW-er-the young fellow. He kind.