Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1912-05-31

at all. Gloves, jenkins! Just give
me something to sleep in, and I'll be
| as comfortable here as | 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.
And, Jenkins!" He raised one fat
finger while he took a gasp. Don't
mind If / 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
l had just uncovered Dashed If he
didn't almost upset me.
Here, l say!" l protested. Don't
lose that cap" 1 picked It up from
where he had jerked 1t to the floor
IT'S 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 excitedly, but in low tone, as
he cut a side glance at jenkins ST.
phoning the fizz over at the cellarette.
What in thunder have you been do
ing now?"
BY Jove, turned cold for minute,
| was that startled. l thought he was
going to use the pajamas as an intro
duction for reference to last night. But
in a minute l saw that he did not
mean that
where on earth did you get any
thing like this?"
"Oh, l say now!" l demonstrated,
alarm changing to a mild dudgeon.
Billings devilish rude manners are so
offensive at times. What do you
mean? It's a present from 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" l an
swered Indignantly. Never dreamed
of it, of course. l tell you, 1t was all
nicely covered, was what-you-call-it-
upholstered, you know-with devilish
nice silk. | cut it off accidentally,
trying to force the thing through that
loop. That left the marble exposed"
Billings took the glass mechanically
I,o Hro HxyT
slipped 1t 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 un-
til jenkins had left the room. Where
upon, after another searching look at
the button, he dropped 1t with the
hands jammed deep in his pockets,
faced me with long-drawn whistle.
We'll, I'll be hanged!" he ex.
claimed. Just q coarse, vulgar out
burst, you know-no sense to 1t; no
point at all, you know-that's Bill
ings.
He caught up the coat again. And
Just the same?" he demanded sharply.
Dash 1t, how should l know?
suppose so," / answered indifferently.
And closed my eyes and leaned back,
feeling a bit-just bit-weary. Some
how, Billings is always so eXhausting
when he gets started on something.
'Oh, cut 1t out. old chap" | protest
ed, drowsy-like.
Il WILL" | heard him say. Then
guess | must have dropped off bit,
for the next thing knew he was
shaking me.
"Dicky! Dicky! Say, look here!
Look, tell you!"
| did look, and-well, i was Jolly
vexed. that's all.
"Oh. say now!" spoke severely
| just that way, you know. / went on,
demonstrating: "Devilish silly joke, If
you ask me. You've gone and ruined
the thing, Billings! Flashy buttons
like that you know-too tawdry, too
cheap"
"Cheap!" He almost shouted It,.
Then he leaned over the back of the
| iOoNASl ShaAi anu pOunuSu HIS LAT u0dQ
against the cushions, writhing his big
bulk from side to side.
Quite impossible" | said firmly.
mot en- regle at all, you know!" And
/ fixed my glass and stared gloomily
at the things. The Ave shiny buttons
just lay there against the delicate
silk like so many fiery crimson cher
ries.
He leered at me, chuckling. Look
cheap to you, eh? What you might
call outre, so to speak?"
by Jove. of course" answered
ruefully. Il can't sleep in the things
now, you know What would people
say?"
Billings stared at me disagreeably
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