The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-06-14


matedly, as he snooped over the little
greenish thing in the frump's hand.
observe the shortened prothorax
and mesothorax ano-"
And metathora1," chimed in the
trump, her head close to his.
Hence"
1T is a phanaeus carnifex," said the
professor positively.
By Jove, 1t looked to me like what
We used to call a dung beetle!
And then the two cranks went out
In the sun with butterfly nets, and
Frances and l drifted out to our pa
vil;on overlooking the broad sweep of
the Tappan Zee. AS yet, her father
had said nothing to me, but I knew
that the blow might fall any moment.
Only the arrival of the frump's father
had so far saved me. And though l
had gone right ahead violating his
jolly Injunction about Frances, I kept
sort of parole with him by avoiding
any discussion of things that I knew
would have interested my darling the
most-that Is, our love and our fu-
ture. Later we took drive through
Sleepy Hollow and the Pocantico
Hills. But though we grew better and
better acquainted every minute, I
couldn't help feeling devilish disap-
pointed, for never once did she ever
call me "Dicky." I wondered moodily
whether her brother had told her yet
Of his plans for me.
In the evening, the younger brother
showed up at dinner, but sulked, which
! thought under the circumstances was
about the most considerate thing he
could have done.
Once during the evening, Billings,
who had been talking with the pro
fessor, turned to me. "By the way,
Dicky-those pajamas, you know
what did you do with them this morn
ing?" He and the professor whis-
pered again; then Billings turned
back. "Gray paper parcel-um-you
know?"
Know? Dash it, of course I knew,
but L
why, have them now" came
quietly from my companion, thanks
to Mr.. Lightnut. He gave them to
me this morning"
Gave them to you!" gasped Bill
lings He whispered to me: But the
rubies, you cuckoo-you didn't give
her those?"
Rubies? Dash it, 1 had to think
hard to remember what had become
of the rubies. But l got the idea.
why, the professor has those" I
reminded him. "The red pajamas, you
know-don't you remember?" 1 drew
him aside.
Billings stared. But he says he
returned them." he exclaimed, cutting
an odd sidewise look at the professor,
who was talking to Frances and the
trump. Billings frowned.
Haven't seen them," I,.said care,
lessly, for 1 wanted. to talk to her.
ooh, dash the rubies-wait till morn
ing!"
Billings looked sourly at the pro.
fessor and went off and sat alone He
seemed put out about the old boy not
returning the garments. Never seemed
to occur to him that the professor was
a devilish busy and absent-minded old
chap. Might not return them for a
month. I knew that.
"Oh, really, Frances?" the trump
was saying, How exceedingly nice OF
you, dear!" The professor was oc.
cupied for the moment with moth
81 hope I won't frighten you in them
as you say your maid was frightened
at you. If pajamas are. unbecoming
to you, why just imagine me in them!''
By Jove, I was devilish glad I was
not supposed to hear, for didn't want
to be required to imagine 1t. But as
for them being unbecoming to my
darling-weu, knew she knew what
I thought!
Later, when the evening had shaded
off and the ladies had left us, we sat
in the smoking-room talking till late.
was astonished to find Foxy Grand.
pa devilish entertaining and clever
not bad sort at ALL He seemed to
have no recollection of me at all, and
therefore no grudges. had made up
my mind by this time wasn't going
to marry the trump, no matter what
came or what Billings wanted, and
would tell him so in the morning But
whoever did marry her-and 1t looked
like it was going to be the professor
would have some sort of compensa-
tion in Foxy Grandpa's entertaining
stories of Eastern scandal.
Billings cub brother smoked in q
corner of the room by himself and
drank innumerable slugs of whisky
straight. Once 1 saw his father 90
over to him and seem to demonstrate.
but without effect.
Billings wanted his father to try my
special import of cigarettes, so sent
for jenkins. who had arrived, to bring