The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-08-09

~ CuaD. Shuc, Jcnkiu0s nic0t HACao
ure, assure you-won't Inconvenience,
at all. Gloves. Jenkins! Just Civ,
me something to sleep In. and I'll b.
as comfortable here as I would be a
the club-so don't worry any about
me. old chap. BY the way. want tC
thank you for taking care OF the kid
Got home all right. I understand"
He plunked like a jolly elephant in
to the largest and most comfortable
chair In the room and wheezed fol
breath.
And. Jenkins" He raised one IA;
finger while he took a gasp. Don't
mind II / do have a package OF
Dicky's Koroskos and a sloe fizz-not
too sweet. you know; and you may
Billings broke off suddenly. Then
he climbed heavily to his feet, and
without warning. heaved himself
across the room and seized the button
had just uncovered. Dashed II he
didn't almost upset me.
Here. l say!" ] protested. Don't
lose that cap" / picked 1t up from
where he had jerked II to the floor.
It's the cover to hide that glass, you
know
"Wh,a-at!"
Billings swung round, staring at me
with the most curious expression.
See here, Dicky," he exclaimed
rather e~xcitedly. but in a low tone, as
he cut a side glance at Jenkins ST.
phoning the fizz over at t"o c~ellarette.
What In thunder have you been 10
ing now?"
BY Jove, I turned cold for a minute.
| was that startled. ] thought he was
going TO use the pajamas as an intro
duction for reference TO las; night. But
in a minute I saw that ne did not
mean that.
Where on earth did you get any
thing like this?"
"Oh, | say now" | demonstrated.
alarm changing to a mild dudgeon.
Billings devilish rude are so
offensive at times. What do you
mean? It's a present from a friend
In China"
Present" Billings eyes bulged
queerly. He stopped toward me. whis-
pering: Did he know what this but.
ton was?"
Why, of course he didn't" I an.
swered Indignantly. Never dreamed
OF II. OF course. tell you. II was all
nicely covered. was what-you-call-it-
upholstered. you know-with devilish
nice silk. | cut II OF accidentally.
trying TO force the thing through that
loop. That left the marble exposed"
Billings took the glass mechanically
from the tray rendered by jenkins and
slipped II slowly. eying me curiously
over the top. Then he set IL back.
very deliberately. wiped his mouth
with the bit OF napery. and without
taking his glance from ne, waited un-
I'll jenkins had left the room. Where
upon. after another searching look at
the button, he dropped IL with the
garment upon the table. and with
hands damned deep in his pockets.
faced me with a long-drawn whistle.
We'll, I'll be hanged" he ex.
claimed. Just a coarse. vulgar out
burst. YOU know-no sense TO Il: no
point at all. you know-that's Bill
ings.
He caught up the coat again. And
these others-four OF them-are they
just the same he demanded sharply.
Dash Il, how should l know? I
suppose So" ] answered indifferently.
And I closed my eyes and leaned back,
feeling a bit-just a bit-weary. Some
how, Billings is always so exbausting
when he gets started on something.
''Oh. u II out. old chap" ! protest
ed. drowsy-like.
~ will" ! heard him say. Then 1
guess I must have dropped off a bit.
for the next thing | knew he was
shaking me.
'Dicky! Dicky! Say. look here.
Look. ! tell you"
did look. and-well. ! was jolly
vexed. that's all.
"On. ! say now" spoke severely
just That way. you know. vent on.
demonstrating: "Devilish silly joke. III
you ask me. You've gone and ruined
the thing, Billings. Fashy buttons
like that, you know--too tawdry. too
cheap"
Cheap" He almost shouted Il.
Then he leaned over the back of the
leather chair and pounded his fat head
against the cushions. writing his big
bulk. from side to side.
Quite impossible" I said firiuIy.
Not en- regle at all. you know" And
I fixed my glass and stared gloomily
at the things. The Ave shiny buttons
just lay there against the delicate
silk like 30 many fiery crimson cher
ries.
He ieered at me. chuckling. Look
cheap to yous Ell? What you might
call outre. 30 to speak,"
by love, OF course" I answered
rucfully. II can't sleep In the things
now. you know. What would people
say"
Billings stared at me disagreeabiy
a moment and said something under
his breath. Then he caught up the
buttons and the silk, and crushing
them In his hands. buried his face In
the mass.
oh o beauties. you darlinss!" I
heard him murmur.
Then he looked It the buttons