The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-04-30
CHAPTER XVIII.

Inc professor SuOQeQly IacoQ US,
holding up the pajamas with a ges-
ture Of inquiry.
From a friend of Mr.. Lightnut's in
China" Billings explained. HIN! In:
the neck, professor mean inside the,
collar" he said, approaching the ta-
ble-"there's some kind of freak let
tering. Looks foolish to me-"
The professor looked perplexed.
''I mean, looks like it was done by,
some one who was batty-had wheels,
you know; probably some chink whose
biscuit was drifty," foundered Bill
ings. "You understand"
The professor didn't. I knew that
jolly well by the way he cooked his
head on one side, standing like puz-
zled crow, don't you know.
"Ha! fear do not as 1 should -
he said with an apologetic cough.
perhaps I do not intelligently and
logically follow your deductions be-
cause your premises are inscrutable
until I have seen the lettering. Ah!"
Out came glasses and lens and he
bent over the collar eagerly.
The professors lips moved rapidly
and his visage twisted into horrible
frown.
"Why, why-a-what!" With mouth
open, and gripping the pajamas tight
ly, he glared at US each in turn.
"Oh, impossible!" he rasped harsh
ly, seizing the lens and bending again.
"Incredible-poof-absurd - tut, tut,
what nonsense!"
The glass swept the lines rapidly.
Suddenly, with cry, the professor
dropped the lens, violent start al
most lifting him from the floor.
Ridiculous, 1 say! Poof!" He
snapped his fingers. "Necromancy and
thaumaturgy transmitted in pajamas!
Absurd"
"Pif1e!" said Billings emphatically.
Don't know what they are," he whis-
pered to me, "but I'll take hundred
to-one shot on anything he says. The
professors corker!"
"By Jove!" I remarked. Perhaps
Professor Huckleberry won't mind
telling us"
What 1 think, gentlemen? What
could I think but what am sure is
your own conclusion-though you
have generously and considerably left
me to form my own opinion-namely,
that the claim of supernatural at
tributes of these garments is prepos-
terous. Enchanted pajamas! Haunted
pajamas! Poof! Nursery lore; chill
dren's fairy tales! Ghosts, gentle
men? Tut, tut-nonsense!"
He snorted Indignantly.
"Ghosts!" faltered Billings.
"Oh, I say!" rather gasped. Dash
me if it didn't give me turn, rather!
The professor shrugged his shoul-
ders.
What other Interpretation is admis-
sible, gentlemen?" he questioned some
what peevishly, taking up the coat.
Here, we have the royal insignia Of
the cruel emperor, Kee, and we note
that these garments were given some
one in his court by the alleged sor-
cerer, Fuh-keen. Perhaps it was re-
venge-perhaps some court plot in
which Fuh-keen, for reasons Of his
own, was an active participant; it is
Of no Importance, that part of it. So
much for the first line; but now we
come"
He paused to polish his spectacles.
'Tell me-" he said more cheerfully,
"do our free translations Of the ideo-
graphs so far agree in essentials
eh?"
Like as two peas!" Billings de-
clared with manifest enthusiasm.
The professor looked gratified and
bowed.
''Now we come to the second line,
or, more strictly speaking, column, -
he said, Strengthening impressively.
Here we find the astonishing claim
made that there will be change or
metamorphosis Of any kind Of animal
life that these habiliments enshroud.
UNI"
The great man breathed heavily and
batted at US over his glasses.
"Credat Judaeus apella-eh, gentle
men?" And he winked knowingly.
Dashed if he didn't almost catch me
swallowing yawn, too! For hadn't
any idea what he was talking about
or driving at, and, by Jove, did know
I was getting deyilish sleepy.
The professor waved - glasses.
"Did you ever read such childish,
ridiculous, extravagant asseveration?