The Cairo bulletin., 1912-03-08

InabA you TOT s44AS4S NtAAt ~ t.41 -'AN'
Got home an right understand
lie pltpked IKE Jolly elephant II
to the largest and most comfortable
caair In the roam and waoc2ed tor
breath
and, Jenh,r lie raised qae ia.
finger while he teaA 4 CASH pon'r
1hind II dc have 4 package cf
Dicky's Koroskos and s!oe fiz2- rec
too sweet, you Anow; ANA YOU may
Eiilings broke of suddenly, phen
he climbed heavily to his feet. a1l
without warning, heaved himself
across the room and seized the button
had just uncovered, Dashed if he
didn't almost upset me,
Here, | sayvs protested. Don 2
lose that cap" I picked 1t up from
where he had ierked 1t to the floor,
ITS the cover to hide that glass, you
know"
"Wh-a-a-tl"
Billings swung round. staring at me
with the most curious expression.
See here. Dieky,' he exclaimed
rather excitedly, but in low tone, as
he cut a side glance at Jenkins ST
phoning the fizz over at the ceIlaretge.
What in thunder nave sou been de-
ing now?'
By Jove, turned cold for a minute,
was that startled, thought he was
going to use the pajamas as an intro
duction for reference 70 last night. But
in minute saw that he did not
mean that.
Where on earth did you get any,
thing like this?" And he EeId up tina
button and the garment.
"Oh, ! say now" demonstrated,
alarm changing TO a mild dudseon,
Billings devilish rude manners are so
offensive at times What do you
mean? It's present from a friend
In China"
Present." Billings eyes bulged
queerly. He stopped toward me, vhis-
pering: did he hnow what this but
ton was?"
why, OF course ha didn't" an
swered Indignantly. Never dreamed
Of 1t. of course tell you, it was all
nicely coverad, vas what-Fou.c&iI,it~-
upholstered. you know With devilis1
nice silk. I cut It III accidentally,
trying to force tna thing through that
loop. That ieft TIE marble exposed
Billings took the glass mechanically
from the tray rendered by IenEIts and
slipped It SLOWLY. eyiDs u1e c.alously
over the top. Then ne set Is bach
very deliberately. wiped IFS m1uth
with the bly o. napery. and without
taking his glance from ne, wlited uu-
til Jenkins had left the room Where
upon, after another searching lock at
the button, he dropped it wilh the
garment upon the table. and With
hands jammed deem In his pockets,
faced me with longdrawn whistle
We'll. I'll be hanged" he ey-
claimed, Just q coarse. vulgar our-
burst, you know-no sense TO Il; no
point at all, you know-that's Bill
ings
He caught up the coat again AND
these others-loag o. tham--ara they
Just the same7" he demanded SHARPLY.
Dash It, how should ! know I
suppose So" / ans%erNd indiferently
And closed my eyes and leaned back.
feeling bit-iust . bit weary Zone
how, Billings is always so eEhaastlng
when he gets started on something
"Oh, cut It out. old chap" protest
ed. drowsy-like.
Il WILL" | heard him say. Then |
guess | must have dropped of a bit,
| for the next thing / knew he was
shaking me.
"Dickyl Dicky! Say, look horo'
Look, tell you'll"
did look, and-well, / was Jolly
vexed, that's all.
"Oh, say now!" / spoke severely
just that way, you know ! went on
demonstrating: "Devilish silly joke, II
you ask me- You've gone and ruined
the thing, Billings Flashy buttons
Ike that, you know-too tawdry, toJ
! cheap"
| "Cheap," He almost shouted IT,
Then he leaned over the back of the
leather chair and pounded his fat head
| asainst the cuahioa5 writing his BIG
hulk from side to side.
| Quite impossible" | said firmly
1 b
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 30 many fiery crimson cher
ries.
He leered at me, chuckling. LOOK
cheap to you, Ell? What you might
call outre. 30 TO speak,"
by Jove, of course | answered
ruefully. Il can't sleep in the things
now, you know. What would people
say?"
| Billings stared at me disagreeably
q moment and said something under
MS breath. Then he caught UP tht
buttons and the silk, and crushing
them in his hands, buried his face In
| the mass.
| "oh YOU beauties, you darllngs"
heard him murmur
Then he looked at the buttons
again, and dash it, he kissed me
| Maudlin-iolly maudlin, I say. il yor
ask me!
II say, Dicky." he said care1esslv