Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-04-19
CHAP VIII.
Rar Brother Jack.

laughter as the car SnOt DOWN.
Good night" l called after them.
"pavilish sorry you fellows won't stay
longer!"
Jolly good lie, Jenkins l said,
yayning s.eepily, as I dropped back
into my own apartment.
Yes, sir" assented Jenkins demure-
Iy. Its sleeping on the divan the
other night, sir. Eight hours there
ANT nothing like eight hours in bed
and in your pajamas."
"Pajanas!" calculated, startled.
For all day l had been thinking OF
her. l wondered if 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.
'Thcse red silk pajamas!"
"Yes, sir" Jenkins face hardened
in an odd, wooden way.
81 was wondering, jenkins, II those
pajamas were torn any in our little
row the other night
Poor Jenkins WINGED a little. Il
think not, sir" he muttered humb:y-
"leastwise, they were all right last
night when Mr." He seemed to catch
himself abruptly. Il mean when l
found them this morning, sir"
He returned with the garments l
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"
cut an anxious glance at jenkins,
for I 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-
tiful 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. 1t was as
faint and dainty a pattern as that on a
SOAP bubble. Fact is, / could not
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 were
meant to hook. In working with
some Of these cords, idly fastening
and christening them, l got little
impatient with one that seemed tight,
you know, ard l used my manicure
knife to pull the knot through.
Careful, SIR warned jenkins.
Likely to cut something"
By Jove! No sooner said, than l
did it!
The dashed blade slipped somehow
and cut into the threads that tied the
covers or caps or whatever-you-call-
ems, over the knots. And when l
pulled, the beastly piece of silk came
off in my fingers.
And then-oh, but l say! I just
gave a sort of yell and dropped the
whole thing!
Ever have some silly ass try to
scare you by poking a red hot cigar
at you in the dark? Know how you
Jerk back? Well, there you are! For
give you my word, when l peeled Oh
the little cloth cap, regular blazes OF
crimson fire seemed to shoot from
the end Of the knot.
Fact is, 1t wasn't knot at all, but
button-a devilish CLASSY button,
something bigger than a dime, per-
haps, and thick as the end of your
little finger. And there 1t lay against
the silk, burning its way through it
like a red coal Of fire.
And 1t was just then that Billings
rolled in.
say rolled in because it always
looks that way. That's the way Bill
irgs Is built, you know.
81 say, Dicky," he painted, lust
missed another Internal express!
Plenty more trains, but had great
inspiration strike me that I'd let you
put me up for the night. Hat, Jcn-
kins, Now, don't say word, Dicky.
old chap. Cane, Jenkins! Great pleas
ure, assure you-wont inconvenience
at all. Gloves, Jenkinsl Just give
me something to sleep in, and I'll be
as comfortable here as l would be at
the club-so don't worry any about
me, old chap. By the way, want to
thank you for taking care of the kid.
Got home all right, l understand" ,
He plunked like a jolly elephant in
to the largest and most comfortable
chair In the room and wheezed for
breath.
And, Jenkins" He raised one fat
finger while he took gasp. Don't
mind if I do have a package OF
Dicky's Koroskos and a sloe fizz-not
too sweet, you know; and you may"
Billings broke off suddenly. Then
he climbed heavily to his feet, and
without warning, heaved himself
across the room and seized the button
I had just uncovered. Dashed If he
didn't almost upset me.
Here, I say!" protested Don't
lose that cap" l picked it up from
where he had jerked it 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.
"Saa here Dickv" he exclaimed