Monroe City Democrat., 1912-05-23

room and back. Then he sat down
again, beating with his foot upon the
floor.
They were pretty nasty after that"
Billings went on gloomily; "and they
wouldn't send for any one else. Just
had to sit there in that Internal bas.
tile with nothing on but pajamas and
q pair OF bedroom slippers. Every
once in a while somebody would come
and address me as Foxy and want
me to send for my clothes or else
send out and buy some. Finally, big
brute came and threw me some dirty
rags and said I'd have to put on those
or else buy some others.
And had Just got into the togs
and stuffed the rubies and pajamas
out of sight in my pocket, when the
particular brigand who had charge of
my coop came back. He almost threw
a flt when he saw me. Where's Twen.
ty-sevenT he wanted to know. And
then, before could say word, he
clustered up to me with: And say,
what business you got in here? Clear
out!' And you bet l didn't lose sin.
gle golden minute-I cleared. You
should have seen me beat it down
that corridor! The fellow followed me
q little, grumbling to himself: Then
he called to a cop who was just com.
ing in: Say, O'Keefe, run that young
fat freak out of here, will you? It's
one of that bunch of visitors that
went through just now. Fresh thing
shopping into the cells!'
And so the same cop that brought
me there-the very same-was the
one that showed me out of the door,
warning me that I'd best not go pok-
ing into the prisoners cells again if
l knew what was good for mel"
by the way, old chap" puffed Bill
ings, his poise and good humor i'm
proving under the spell of a cigar, Il
was sorry to return the pajamas torn
and dusty and wrinkled as they were.
But you see, on account of the rubies,
/ was leary about having them pressed
or fused over. So l wrapped and
sealed them myself, just as one does
a jewel package. Got them, did you?"
stared at Billings through my
glass.
Didn't you get them?" he ques.
toned In alarm.
Yes. yes-it's all right, old chap,
said hastily and as pleasantly as
could. Eugene delivered the box to
Jenkins and opened 1t myself.
Thought II was-h'm-thought 1t was
something else." Then l proceeded
soothingly: But you're just q little
mistaken about the dust and wrinkles
old chap-and about them being torn
ia. ha! Good 1okel"
But Billings face was unresponsive.
why. old COOP" he said with cheer
full contempt, there's a triangular
tear in the back OF the coat you could
stick your head through: and one OF
the sleeves Is in ribbons"
just opened the drawer OF the Ia
BILE and took out the box-glove box.
think It was-containing the pajamRs.
had read something somewhere
about the clearing effect-the reac-
ton. and that sort Of thing, produced
sometimes by shock.
See for yourself, old chap" said
gently. And lifted out the gossamer
fabrics and again spread their GRIM
son glory under the lamp. Billings
examined thsn eagerly, but just
looked confounded.
Don't understand It." he said, BIT
ing his nails. why, hang It. they look
smooth. too. as though never worn.
And the rubies are all right, too"
He rested his chin upon his hands
and gloomed at the red sweep.
caught few sentences OF his
mumbling.
by George, I'm half q mind to
think there's something in the pa
jamas," he muttered-'somethin un-
canny and disagreeable-something
they're alive With"
I sprang up and back, overturning
my chair.
Good heavens-oh, I say!" I ex-
claimed in CONSERVATION, as I fixed
my glass on the garments. IT'S your
jail, then, you know"
And suddenly l made a discovery;
and forgot about keeping still.
by Jove, Billings!" exclaimed ex.
citedly. Here's something inside the
collar-some sort Of jolly writing!"
Whats that?" said Billings sharp
ly. He jerked the garment from my
hand and held 1t in the light. All
round the circle within the collar band
ran four or five darker red lines of
queer little crisscross characters.
Chinese laundry marks, you idiot, "
he commented carelessly. And then
he ducked his head closer with q
ouick intake of breath