The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-09-13
XVI.
An Inscription and a Mystery.

Billings rubbed his chin perplexed.
ly. by jigger. now. | wonder what
those hen tracks mean" he uttered
musingly. Then he looked up at me
with sudden animation in his face.
Look here. Dicky." he exclaimed.
do you happen to know Dozen.
berry,"
tried to remember. / shut enc
eye and studied the marks closely
through my glass. but had to shake
my head at last.
Why. man, he's a member OF all
the great societies OF the world. Got
a string OF letters after his name like
a universal keyboard. and is the main
squeeze. the great scream, among All
the scientific push over here and In
Europe. Lots OF dough, but of his
trolley with learning"
And in this building" | said won.
deringly. What's he like?"
"Awfully large head" said Billings,
eievating his hands some two feet
apart, "pear-shaped affair-big end
up-bumps on IL like halves OF Crane
iruit, ~porcupine eyebrows. and"
Oh. ! know" i said, nodding eager
ly; and a little. shriveled-well. kind
OF mashed sort OF face. eyes beadlike
and jolly small. I've got him now.
I've gone down with him In the Gle
vator."
Billings nodded. You've got him
painted" he said drily. That's the
professor; only. his eyes are anything
but Jolly I've ridden In the elevator
with him myself. Always manages TO
look like he was travelling with a bad
SMELL"
"Devilish sensitive. | dare say"
Billings looked at me suspiciously.
but ! had got hold OF the thing | was
trying TO recollect and | went on
quickly:
by Jove, you know. | believe Jen.
kins knows his man-fellow who but.
lers. and. I believe. cooks. for him.
He and Jenkins belong 10 the same.
how do they call it?-same club OF
geDtlemen's gentlemen"
Billings brought his fist down
Let's have Jenkins in" he suggested.
And We did.
Il say, Jenkins" I began. this Pro-
lessor Doodlebug above us"
"Doozenberry!" Billings sharply
corrected.
We'll. some Jolly rum thing about
him, don't you know, Jenkins-some.
thing YOU said his man told you're
member, eh?"
Why, sir, he told me that every
night he had to turn down the perfes.
ssr's bed and go all over II with a
two-gallon watering can"
Watering cam" gasped Billings.
I'm telling you what he says. sir.
Then he covers II all up again. and in
about a half-hour the perfesser turns
the covers down: and IL it's what he
calls '~fine'-that is. damp all over-he
climbs In and sleeps like a top
"Cold-water bug, you know" | ex.
planned. but Billings shrugged his
shoulders.
That's all right. Bug or not. he's
the goods, all the same. Greatest
ever" He spoke with quiet conyic.
ton.
He deliberated a moment and
turned to me.
Tell you what, Dicky: I'm going up
and ask him down. He's the one TO
give us the right dope on these crazy
letters-Eh. what you say, Jenkinsy.
Beg pardon, sir: l was saying that
the %perfesser don't visit nobody: n
he never sees nobody but the big lit'ry
and scientific sharps."
"Oh, lie don't. eh?" Billings snorted
contemptuously. Wei, Jenkins, 1
haven't been a prize fisherman I'm INV
time for nothing; l guess I know how
to select my 'iy.' know what will
fetch him: Mr.. Lightnut's compli-
ments. and will he be pleased to hon.
or him by passing upon an Oriental
curio OF a r scientific INTEREST,"
that sort OF merry rot! Why. you
couldn't hold him back with a block
and tackle. Oh. you needn't worry:
I'll do the proper curves all right"
He turned toward the door. And.
Jenkins. you come along and work me
into the lodge"
\ ITO BE CoNTINUEDA