Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-07-26
CHAPTER Viii.
Her Brother Jack.

CHAPTER VIII.
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" l said.
into my own apartment.
"Yes. sir" assented jenkins demure-
~. Its sleeping on the divan the
other night, sir. Eight hours there
amt nothing like eight hours in bed
and in your pajamas."
"Pajamas!" l calculated, startled.
For all day l had been thinking Of
her. 1 wondered II Billings would hap
pen t o invite me up for the week end.
But he had SO many times, and ! had
never gone.
by Jove, that reminds me-" l said.
Those red silk pajamas!"
yes, SIR" jenkins lace hardened
In an odd, wooden way.
II was wondering, Jenkins, II 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 we're all right last
hight when Mr." He seemed to catch
himself abruptly. II lei 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 Singh
larly smooth and unwrinkled. There
was not q 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 l 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 stun 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 OF 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
stun 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 q little
impatient with one that seemed tight,
you know, and I 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 the
covers or caps or whatever-you-call-
ems. over the knots. And when !
pulled. the beastly piece OF silk came
on in my fingers.
And then-qh, but I say! Just
gave q 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 o are! For.
give you my word, when I peeled on
the little cloth cap. regular blaxes OF
crimaon fre seemed to shoot from
the end Of the knot.
Fact is, 1t wasn't q knot at all. but
q button-a devilish CLASSY button.
something bigger than q dime. per-
haps. and thick as the end of your
little finger. And there 1t lay against
the silk, burning its way through 1t
like q red coal OF fire.
And it was just then that Billings
rolled In.
I say rolled In" because It always
looks that way. That's the way Bill
inxs il built, you know.
II say, Dicky," he painted. "just
missed another Internal express!
Plenty more trains, but l had . great
inspiration strike me that I'd let you
nut me up for the night. Hat. Jen-
kins! Now, don't say q word, Dtcky.
old chap. Cane, Jenkins! Great pleas
ure. assure you-won't Inconvenience
1t All. Gloves, Jenkins! Just give
me something to sleep in, and III be
= comfortable here - ! 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.
0ot home Al right, ! understand"