The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-04-16

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~ 57l 81
NJ Was So Startled Lost the Grip on
My MonocIe."
but he's in 'em, just the same, ana 1
must say they do fit loyely-just easy
like"
"By Jove!" I gasped help1essly.
''Then the jolly things must be made
of rubber, that's all! Why, look here,
he weighs over three hundred
pounds, you know!"
jenkins head wagged sagaciously.
81 think that's how it is, sir; it's won
derful what they do with rubber now;
my brother wears rubber cloth band
age that amt no bigger round than
my arm when it's off Of him, and
he"
Dare say" I said sleepily as I fell
back upon my pillow. Good night,
jenkins; hope you'll get enough sleep
to make up for the other night"
Jenkins sighed as he punched out
the light. THANK you, sir-and good
night" he murmured.
How long I slept I cannot tell, as
they say in stories, you know; but !
was brought jolly wide awake by a
light that shone through the bed
rooms open door. For if there's one
thing will wake me quicker than
everything else it's light in the room
at night. Fact is, always want 1t as
black as the hat's-its-name cave, or
else 1 can't sleep. And this light
came from the small electric stand on
the writing-desk. could tell that oy
the way it shone.
And just then the little silver gong
in there chimed three. Jolly rum
hour for anybody to be up unless
they were having some fun or were
sick So I raised my head and called
softly:
Notwithstanding"
No answer. Reluctantly I swung
out and stepped within the next
room. Not soul there, by Jove9
Then I moved over to Billings door,
which was wide open for coolness,
like my own. I could not see the
shadowed alcove in which the bed
was placed, and so 1 stood there hesi-
tating, hating awfully to risk the pos
sibility of disturbing him, don't you
know. And just then my eyes, rang
ing sleepily across the room toward
the private hall, were startled by the
apparition of an open doorway.
Startled, all right! And yet, by
Jove, was in such jolly fog. il y
stood there, nodding and batting a.
for full minute before could taA
it in.
What I call devilish queer" I de-
cided. 1 walked over and stuck my
head out into the dark hall.
Billings! Jenkins!" whispered.
j By Jove, not word! Everything
as silent as the tomb!
I didn't like it bit-so mysterious,
you know. Besides, dash it, the thing
was getting me all walked up! Just
knew if once 1 got excited and thor
oughly awake, it would take me near
Iy ten minutes to get to sleep again.
And, by Jove, just then the excite
ment came, for l got hold of the fact
after 1 had stared at it while, that
the door of my apartment opening
into the outer corridor was standing
aiar. Why, dash it, it was not only
standing, it was moving. Then sud-
denly the broad streak of light from
the corridor widened under the I'M
pulse of freshening breeze, and the
door swung open with a bang.
And then heard my name spoken.
By Jove, I had been standing there
with my mouth open, bobbing my head
like silly dodo; but, give you my
word, I was suddenly wide awake as
jolly owl wagon!
Away down the corridor, by the
mail chute, man was standing, read
ing a. framed placard Nothing partic-
ularly remarkable in this, but as the
Goor banged ne turned his nead
sharply and CALCULATED:
Dammit! Now, that will wake
Lightnut!"
l was surprised, because 1 couldn't
recall ever having seen him Eefore;
yet, standing as he did under the light.
/ had opportunity for deViiish good
view.
He was a heavy set old party, rather
baldish, with snowy mutton chops and
a beefy complexion that was jolly well
tanned below the hatband line, you
know. The kind of old boy you size
up as one of the prime feeder sort
and fond Of looking on the wine when
it is oporto red. Had something OF
the cut of the retired India colonels
one sees about the Service clubs in
London-straight as lamp post STILL
but out of training and IN deVillsn
need of tapping-that sort OF DUCK