Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-06-07
BIZ FRANCIS PERRY ELLIOTT
90 ILLUSTRATIONS ~ EAY WEzns
M 81 6088J Nha62QL OMAN

! OQOn4N0W LU R 6OB8J /hH
q kins, Now, don't say a word, Dick
old chap. Cane, jenkins! Great plea
4 ure. assure you-won't i%nconvenient
at all. Gloves, jenkins! Just civ
me something to sleep In, and I'll /
as comfortable here as | would be
the club-so don't worry any abol
n me. old chap, BY the way, want I
|, thank you for taking care OF the XII,
r Got home all right, | understand"
! lie plunked like a Jolly elephant IL
to the largest and most comfortabl
: chair In the room and wheeled 10
. breath.
! And, Jenkins!" He raised one ia
ringer while he took a gasp. Don
mind II ] do have a package O
Dicky's Koroskos and a sloe fizz-no
100 sweet, you know; and you may
Billings broke of suddenly. Their
he climbed heavily to his feet, anc
without warning, heaved himself
across the room and seized the button
mad Just uncovered. Dashed II he
didn't almost upset me.
Here. | say!" | protested. Don't
lose that cap" I picked 1t up from
where he had jerked 1t 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, Dicky," he exclaimed
rather e%xcitedly, but In a low tone, as
he cut a side glance at Jenkins ST.
phoning the fizz over at the c~ellarette.
What In thunder have you been do
Ing now"
BY Jove, I turned cold for a minute,
| was that startled. | thought he was
going to use the pajamas 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 90
offensive at times. What do you
mean? It's a present from q 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. l tell you, It was all
nicely covered. was what-you-call-it-
upholstered. you know-with devilish
nice silk. | cut 1t off accidentally,
trying to force the thing through that
loop. That left the marble exposed"
Billings took the glass mechanically
from the tray rendered by Jenkins and
slipped 1t slowly, eying me curiously
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.
We'll, I'll be hanged!" he ex.
claimed. Just a 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? I
suppose So" ! answered indifferently.
And closed my eyes and leaned back.
a bit--just a 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.
Il WILL" | heard him say. Then 1
guess | must have dropped off a bit,
the next thing | knew he was
me.
"Dicky! Dlcky! Say. look here!
Look, | tell you!"
| did look, and-well, I was Jolly
that's all.
"Oh, | say now!" I spoke severely
lust that way, you know. l went on.
demonstrating: "Devilish silly Joke, if
you ask me. You've gone and ruined
thing, Billings! Flashy buttons
Ike that, you know-too tawdry, too
Cheap" He almost shouted il.
he leaned over the back of the
Gather chair and pounded his fat head
the cushions, wyithing his big
oulk from side to side.
Quite impossible" | said firmly.
Not EN- regle at all, you know" And
liked my glass and stared gloomily
the things. The five shiny buttons
Just lay there against the delicate
six like so many fiery crimson cher
les.
lie leered at me, ~chuckling. Look
heap to you, Ell? What o might
,all outre' so to speak?"
I