Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1912-09-18

For an hour | had sat there in my
rooms, limp and bewildered under the
tempest OF his wrath, The wild and
incoherent sputter over the phone
that jenkins reported upon my return
had sent me on hunt for my friend.
had found him sullenly dining alone
over at the club, and as soon as l
entered he started to bolt from the
room Only through the greatest
pleading had managed to coax him
back to my chambers, hoping | might
screw out of him some explanation.
had received it, by Jove!
OF course, | recognized 1t all as i'm
possible and crazy, you know, but
when said so to Billings his remarks
were so violent, and he turned such a
dangerous apoplectic purple. dashed II
didn't renege.
But then the old man, you know!"
| | protested weakly.
Billings leveled his big arm at me,
mounting wordlessly for minute.
"That-thatll do, about that old
mani" he choked at last. "Not-not
another word about him" And final
ly he collapsed into his seat from
sheer exhaustion. Just sat there
painting and glaring at me like a Jolly
bulldog.
Gradually he became calmer.
Tell you what: the only thing that
let's YOU out, Dicky, is the way Van
Dyne and Blakesley did, in turn, when
/ got them there"
He spoke savagely, but frightened
a little.
Obi" said. Didn't they recog-
nize you, either?"
Billings snort made me jump,
Recognized" he beloved. They
went back, mad as HE'LL"
by Jove!" ] said soothingly.
That's not ALL" continued Billings
grimly. Il was so sure 1t was a put
UP Job, some asinine, fool joke, wrote
cautious note to the governor. After
lot of pleading. l got the fools tc
send it. He came"
Billings paused dramatically
"Oh, yes, he camel" he went on
fixing me with an excited eye "AnC
when staggered forward and did the
prodigal son act on his neck, he hand
ed me a punch that jolted off his sill
|, tile. Went straight up in the air witt
the whole bunch down there and con
, tracted to do things for them that vii
, keep them active for year. Threat
J ened to have me sent up for forger!
this is my own father now, mine
you-forgery of my own name! HUH
? Billings strobe to the end of tn,
room and back. Then he sat dow
again, beating with his foot upon tn
} floor.
/ They were pretty nasty after that,
} Billings went on gloomily; land the,
/ wouldn't send for any one else, Jus
J had to sit there in that Internal bas
tile with nothing on but pajamas an
pair of bedroom slippers. Ever
/ once in while somebody would com
/ and address me as Foxy and wan
y me to send for my clothes or els
I send out and buy some. Finally, bi
y brute came and threw me some dirt
e rags and said I'd have to put on thos
or else buy some others.
And l had just got into the tog
d and stuffed the rubies and pajama
0 out of sight in my pocket, when tn
o particular brigand who had charge {
I my coop came back. He almost thre'
y a fit when he saw me. Where's TweI
e ty-seven? he wanted to know. An
K then, before l could say word, b
s clustered up to me with: And sa,
Q what business you got in here? Cles
It out!' And you bet didn't lose a sil
e gle golden minute-I cleared. Yo
should have seen me beat 1t dow
d that corridor! The fellow followed n
p little, grumbling to himself: The
Z he called to a cop who was just col
ing in: Say, O'Heefe, run that your
T. fat freak out of here, will your 1t
o one Of that bunch OF visitors tn
u went through Just now. Fresh thing
shopping into the cells!'
And so the same cop that broug
me there-the very same-was Il
one that showed me out Of the doc
warning me that I'd best not go pc
D. ing into the prisoners cells again
d. knew What was good for maj"