Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1912-08-21
CHAPTER VII.
Her Brother Jack.

Her Brother Jack.
Good night, Dicky!" came up the
elevator shaft. And then more good
nights" growing fainter with their
laughter as the car shot down.
Good night" | called after them.
"Devilish sorry you fellows won't stay
longer!"
Jolly good lie, Jenkins" | said,
yawning sleepily, as | dropped back
into my own apartment.
Eyes, sir" assented Jenkins demure-
ly. ITS sleeping on the divan the
other night, sir. Eight hours there
amt nothing like eight hours in bed
and in your paiamas."
"Pajamas!" ] calculated, startled.
For all day had been thinking OF
her. ! wondered II Billings would hap
pen to invite me up for the week end.
But he had so many times, and had
never gone.
by Jove, that reminds me-" | said.
Those red silk pajamas!"
Yes, sir" Jenkins face hardened
in an odd, wooden way.
Il was wondering, Jenkins, If those
pajamas were torn any in our little
row the other night"
Poor Jenkins WINGED a little. II
think not. sir" he muttered humbly-
"leastwise, they were all right last
night when Mr." He seemed to catch
himself abruptly. Il mean when /
found them this morning, sir"
He returned with the garments |
had received from Mastermann, and
again we spread them under the
lamp on the table They looked singu-
larly smooth and unwrinkled. There
was not a single tear or break, not
even with the delicate cords that
twisted to form the frogs of the seat.
my, sir! But amt they red!"
breathed Jenkins. Them cords look
like little red snakes"
l cut an anxious glance at jenkins,
for | did not like his reference to
snakes Seemed ominous, somehow
But his appearance was composed and
reassuring. And, by Jove, come to
look, the cords did look just like tiny
coiled serpents of glowing fire. Why
they were so jolly red they hurt your
eyes. Fact! And thin as the beau
tilul stuff was, this brighter red ran
all over the other, covering every inch
Of it and forming the closest, finest
what.you-call-it embroidery. It was as
faint and dainty pattern as that on q
soap bubble! Fact is, l could moi
trace it, even with my glass.
The only part that wasn't covered
with this embroidery business was the
stuff used to cover the knots, or little
balls, over which the cords wee
meant to hook. In working will
some of these cords, idly fastening
and christening them, got little
impatient with one that seemed tight
you know, and l used my manicure
knife to pull the knot through.
Careful, sir" warned Jenkins
Likely to cut something"
By Jove! No sooner said, than
did It!
The dashed blade slipped somehow
and cut into the threads that tied thu
covers or caps or whatever-you-call
ems, over the knots. And when
pulled, the beastly piece of silk CAM
off in my fingers.
And then-oh, but l say! | jus
gave a sort Of yell and dropped tn
whole thing!
Ever have some silly ass try t
scare you by poking a red hot ciga
at you in the dark? Know how 20
Jerk back? Well, there you are! Fol
give you my word, when l peeled Of
the little cloth cap, regular blazes G
crimson fire seemed to shoot froI
the end of the knot.
Fact is, it wasn't knot at all, bu
a button-a devilish CLASSY buttoI
something bigger than a dime, pc
haps. and thick as the end of you
little finger. And there it lay agains
the silk, burning it's way through
like a red coal of fire.
And it was just then that Billing
rolled in.
l say rolled in" because it Away
looks that way. That's the way Bill
ings is built, you know.
81 say, Dicky," he painted, Jul
missed another internal express
Plenty more trains, but had a gre'
inspiration strike me that Id let yo
put me up for the night. Hat, Je
kins! Now, don't say word, DICK
old chap. Cane, Jenkins Great plea
are assure you-won't inconvenient
at all. Gloves, jenkins! Just giV
me something to sleep in, and I'll
as comfortable here as l would be
the club-so don't worry any abo
me, old chap. BY the way, want
thank you for taking care Of the XII
Got home all right, understand
He plunked like jolly elephant
to the largest and most comfortab
chair in the room and wheezed +
breath.
And, Jenkins" He raised one I
finger while he took gasp. Dol
mind If | DO have a package