Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1912-07-05
CHAPTER XVI.

An inscription and Mystery.
Billings rubbed his chin perplexed-
ly. by jigger, now, wonder what
those hen tracks mean?" he uttered
musingly Then he looked up at me
with sudden animation in his face.
Look here. Dicky," he exclaimed,
do you happen to know Dozen
berry,"
L tried to remember. | shut one
eye and studied the marks closely
through my glass, but had to shake
my head at last.
Why, man, he's a member of all
the great societies of the world. Got
a string OF letters after his name like
a universal keyboard, and is the main
squeeze, the great scream, among all
the scientific push over here and in
Europe. Lots of dough, but off his
trolley with learning"
And in this building?" / said won
deringly What's he like?"
"Awfully large head" said Billings,
eievating his hands some two feet
apart, 'pearshaped affair-big end
up-bumps on 1t like halves of grape
fruit, porcupine eyebrows, and"
oh, know" l said, nodding eager
ly; "and little, shriveled-well, kind
OF mashed sort of face, eyes beadlike
and jolly small I've got him now!
I've gone down with him in the ele-
vator."
Billings nodded. You've got him
painted" he said drily. That's the
professor; only, his eyes are anything
but jolly I've ridden in the elevator
with him myself. Always manages to
look like he was travelling with a bad
smell!"
"Devilish sensitive, l dare say"
Billings looked at me suspiciously,
but had got hold of the thing l was
trying to recollect and l went on
quickly:
by Jove, you know, l believe Jen-
kins knows his man-fellow who but
lers, and, believe, cooks, for him.
He and Jenkins belong to the same
how do they call it?-same club OF
gentlemen's gentlemen"
Billings brought his fist down
Lets have Jenkins in," he suggested
And We did.
Il say, Jenkins" | began, this Pro-
fessor Doodlebug above US"
"Doozenberry!" Billings sharply
corrected.
We'll, some jolly rum thing about
him, don't you know, Jenkins-some.
thing you said his man told you're.
member, eh?"
why, sir, he told me that every
night he had to turn down the perfes.
ser's bed and go all over 1t with a
| two-gallon watering can"
Watering can!" gasped Billings.
I'm telling you what he says, sir,
Then he covers 1t all up again, and in
about half-hour the perfesser turns
the covers down; and If it's what he
calls 'fine-that is, damp all over-he
climbs in and sleeps like top"
"Cold-water bug, you know" l ex
planned, but Billings shrugged his
shoulders.
That's all right. Bug or not, he's
the goods, all the same. Greates-
ever" He spoke with quiet convic
ton.
He deliberated moment anc
turned to me.
Tell you what, Dicky: I'm going III
and ask him down. He's the one Il
give us the right dope on these Graz,
letters-Eh, what you say, Jenkinsr
BEG pardon, sir; was saying tina
the perfesser don't visit nobody; ant
he never sees nobody but the big lit'r.
and scientific sharps."
''Oh, he don't, eh?" Billings snorte'
contemptuously. We'll, Jenkins,
haven't been a prize fisherman In m
: time for nothing; guess l know hoy
to select my fly know what wi
fetch him: Mr.. Lightnut's compl
] ments, and will he be pleased to hoI
or him by passing upon an orients
3 curio of rare scientific interestT-
that sort OF merry rot! Why, yo
. couldn't hold him back with bloc
: and tackle. Oh. you needn't worry
: III do the proper curves all right
8 He turned toward the door. "An'
Jenkins, you come along and work N
8 into the lodge"
j Cyo BE CoNTINuMoJ