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

n1SSSu duOluG1 1u1SIAoA SApAO OS''
Plenty more trains, but I had a great
inspiration strike me that I'd let you
put me up for the night. Hat, Jen-
kins! Now, don't say word, Dicky,
old chap. Cane, jenkins! Great pleas
ure, assure you-won't inconvenience
at all. Gloves, Jenkins! Just give
me something to sleep in, and I'll be
as comfortable here as l would be at
the club-so don't worry any about
me, old chap. By the way, want to
thank you for taking care of the kid.
Got home all right, understand
He plunked like jolly elephant in
to the largest and most comfortable
chair in the room and wheezed for
breath
sAnd, Jenkins!" He raised one fat
finger while he took a gasp. Don't
mind if 1 do have a package OF
Dicky's Koroskos and sloe fzz-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
I had Just uncovered. Dashed If he
didn't almost upset me.
'Here, 1 say!" I protested. Don't
lose that cap" I picked it up from
where he had jerked it to the floor
cts the cover to hide that glass, you
know"
"Wh-a-a-t!"
Billings swung round, staring at me
with the most curious expression.
"see here, Dicky," he exclaimed
rather excitadly, but in a low tone, as
he cut a side glance at jenkins 81
phoning the fizz over at the cellarette.
what in thunder have you been do
ing .now?"
By Jove, I turned cold for a minute,
1 was that startled. 1 thought he was
going to use the pajamas as an intro
duction for reference to last night. But
in a minute I saw that he did not
mean that.
"Where on earth did you get any
thing like this?" And he held up the
button and the garment.
"Oh, I say now!" demonstrated,
alarm changing to mild dudgeon.
Billings devilish rude manners are so
offensive at times. What do you
mean? It's a present from friend
in China"
"PresentH' Billings eyes bulged
queerIy. He stopped toward me, whis-
pering: did he know what this but
ton was?"
'eWhy, of course he didn't" I an
swered Indignantly. Never dreamed
of it, of course. 1 tell you, it was all
nicely covered, was what-you-call-it-
upholstered, you know-with devilish
nice silk. l cut it off 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 it slowly, eying me curiously
over the top. Then he set it back,
very deliberately, wiped his mouth
with the bit of napery, and without
taking his glance from me, waited IN
til Jenkins had left the room. Where
upon, after another searching look at
the button, he dropped it with the
garment upon the table, and with
hands jammed deep in his pockets,
faced me with a long-drawn whistle.
"Well, I'll be hanged" he ex'
claimed. Just a coarse, vulgar out
burst, you know-no sense to it; 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 it, how should 1 know?
suppose so,' 1 answered indifferently.
And I closed my eyes and leaned back,
feeling bit-just bit-weary. Some
how, Billings is always so exhaustlng
when he gets started on something.
ooh, cut it out, old chap" l protest
ed, drowsy-like.
81 WILL" I heard him say. Then
guess 1 must have dropped off bit,
COR the next thing I knew he was
shaking me.
"Dicky! Dicky! Say, look here!
Look, l tell you!"
did look, and-well, I was jolly
vexed, that's all.
ooh, say now!" I spoke severely
Just that way, you know. went on,
demonstrating: "Devilish silly joke, ii
you ask me. You've gone and ruined
the thing, Billings! Flashy buttons
like that, you know--too tawdTy, too
cheap
Cheap" He almost shouted it.
Then he leaned over the back of the
leather chair and pounded his fat head
against the cushions, writhing his big
bulk from side to side.
Quite impossible I said firmly
mot en- regle at all, you know!" And
I fixed my glass and stared gloomily
/ H. h,,%& %&0D G