Rocky Ford enterprise. (Rocky Ford, Colo.) 1887-1950, 1912-06-21
Be GLOM S
0%MeR UBIES
bp FRANCIS PERRY ELLIOTT
ILLUSTRATIONS ~ KH/uAAzes
oao2s04sny on 70 $3.50 ,Aas6aKX C0N0NV

DIOS i NA1NNS
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kinsl Now. don't say word. Dioky.
old chap. Cane, Jenkinsi Great pleas
ure, assure you-won't Inconvenience
at all. Gloves. jenkins! Just give
me something to sleep in. and I'll be
as comfortable here as would be at
the club-so don't worry any about
me, old chap. By the way, want to
thank you for taking care of the kid.
Got home all right, understand"
He plunked like a Jolly elephant In
to the largest and most comfortable
chair in the room and wheezed for
breath.
| And, Jenkins!" He raised one fat
finger while he took q gasp. Don't
mind If do have package OF
Dicky's Koroskos and a sloe fizz-not
too sweet, you know; and you may"
Billings broke on suddenly. Then
he climbed heavily to his feet. and
without warning. heaved himself
across the room and seized the button
/ had Just uncovered. Dashed II he
didn't almost upset me.
Here. sayI" ! protested. Don't
lose that cap" picked 1t up from
where he had jerked It to the floor.
ITS the cover to hide that glass. you
know"
"Wh-a-a-t!"
Billings swung round, staring at me
with the most curious expression.
See here. Dioky." he exclaimed
rather excitedly, but in low tone. as
he cut side glance at Jenkins ST.
| phoning the flzz over at the cellarette.
what in thunder have you been do
ing now?"
BY Jove, turned cold for minute.
| was that startled. / thought he was
going to use the pa1amas as an intro
duction for reference to last night. But
in a minute l saw that he did not
mean that.
where on earth did you get any
thing like this?"
"Oh, ! say now!" I demonstrated.
alarm changing to a mild dudgeon.
Billings devilish rude manners are so
offensive at times. What do you
mean? It's a present from friend
in China"
Present." Billings eyes bulged
queerly. He stopped toward me. whis-
pering: did he know what this but
ton was?"
why, of course he didn't" an
swered Indignantly. Never dreamed
Of 1t. of course. / tell you, 1t was all
nicely covered, was what-you-callit-
upholstered. you know-with devilish
nice silk. I cut 1t of accidentally.
trying to force the thing through that
/ lAf% he cd
| Billings took the glass mechanically
from the tray rendered by Jenkins and
slipped It slowly. eying me curiously
over the top. Then he set 1t back.
very deliberately. wiped his mouth
with the bit of napery. and without
taking his glance from me. waited un-
til Jenkins had left the room. Where
upon, after another searching look at
the button, he dropped 1t with the
garment upon the table, and with
hands jammed deep in his pockets.
faced me with a long-drawn whistle.
Well. I'll be hanged" he ex-
claimed. Just n coarse, vulgar out
burst. you know-no sense to It; no
point at all, you know-that's Bill
ings.
He caught up the coat again. And
these others-four of them-are they
Just the same?" he demanded sharply.
Dash 1t, how should l know?
suppose So" ] answered indifferently.
And closed my eyes and leaned back,
feeling bit-just bit-weary. Some
how, Billings is always SO exhausting
when he gets started on something.
"Oh, cut 1t out, old chap" l protest
ed. drowsy-like.
II WILL" | heard him say. Then 1
guess I must have dropped off bit,
for the next thing I knew he was
shaking me.
"Dicky! Dickyl Say. look herel
Look, tell youl"
| did look, and-well, I was jolly
vexed. that's all.
"Oh, / say nowi" spoke severely
Just that way. you know. l went on,
demonstrating: "Devilish silly joke. If
you ask me. You've gone and ruined
the thing, Billingsi Flashy buttons
like that. you know-too tawdry, too
cheap"
Cheap" He almost shouted it.
Then he leaned over the back of the
leather chair and pounded his fat head
against the cushions, writhing his big
bulk from side to side.
Quite impossible l said firmly
Not en- regle at all, you know!" And
fixed my glass and stared gloomily
at the things. The five shiny buttons
Just lay there against the delicate
silk like SO many fiery crimson cher
ries.
He leered at me, chuckling. "Looh
cheap to you, eh7 What you Nigh,
call outre. so to speakf"
''Ry love of course" answered