Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-04-19
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By FRANCIS PERRY ELLIOTT
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button and the garment.
"Oh, I say now" 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 a friend
in China
Present." Billings eyes bulged
queerly. He stopped toward me, Whis-
Dering: did he know what this but
ton was?"
why, of course he didn't" I an
swered Indignantly. Never dreamed
of it, of course. I tell you, 1t was all
nicely covered, was what-you-call-it-
upholstered, you know-with devilish
nice silk. I 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 I'M
ii! Jenkins had left the room. Where
upon, after another searching look at
the button, he dropped 1t with the
garment upon the table, and with
hands jammed deep in his pockets,
faced ME with a long-drawn whistle.
wen, I'll be hanged" he ex-
claimed. Just coarse, vulgar out.
burst, you know---ro sense to 1t; no
point at all, yea know-that's Bill
ings.
EGe caught up the coat again. And
these others-four O. them-are they
Just the same?" t. demanded sharply.
Dash it, how shouid I know?
suppose So" answered indifferently
And closed my eyes and leaned back,
feeling a bit--iust bit-weary. Some.
how. Billings is always so exhausting
when he gets started on something.
"Oh, cut it out, old chap" protest
ed, drowsy-like.
81 WILL" heard him say. Then
guess | must have dropped off a bit,
for the next thing knew he was
shaking me.
"Dicky! Dicky! Say, lo"1 here!
Look, l tell you!"
I did look, and" gil, ! was jolly
vexed, that's al.
"Ch, say now" spoke severely
just that way, you Hrow. l went on.
demonstrating: "Devi!ish silly joke, II
You ask me. You've gone AID ruined
the thing, Billings! Flashy buttons
like that. you know-too tawdry, too
cheap"
Cheap" He ain est shouted 1t.
Then he leaned over the back OF the
! leather chair and pounded his fat head
agair-t the cushions writhing his big
/ bulk from side to SIZE.
Quite impossible" l said firmly.
Not en- regle at all, You know" And
! I fixed my glass and stared gloomlly
at the things. The five shiny buttons
| lust lay there against the delicate
silk like so many fiery crimson cher
ries.
He leered at me, chuckling. LOOK
cheap to you, Ell? What you might
call outre, so to speak,
by Jove, of course" I 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
the mass.
"Oh you beauties, you darlings!"
heard him murmur
Then he looked at the buttons
again, and dash it, he kissed me
Maudlin-jolly maudlin, say, if you
ask me!
Il say, Dicky," he said carelessly
You may not care for them, but I've
taken rather a shine to these buttons
Mind letting me have one, eh?'
He flashed a quick glance at me
and then away.
Mind? Why, certainly not; take
| ELI oil, Olu Cudp, oAo nCiSOhO' S'
l responded gloomily enough, scarcely
polite, you know And felt too jolly
Frustrated to be curious as to what
he could possibly want with the
things. Waistcoat buttons, likely
Billings was given to loud dress and
other bounder stunts. But he just sat
there looking down after l spoke, and
presently stole a queer glance at me.
He suddenly held up the row Of red
! buttons again.
Look here, you blessed dodo," no
exclaimed brusquely Have you real
ly no idea what these are, these glass
buttons you are yapping about? or
course you haven't, you jolly chowder
head, but I'm going to tell YOU"
He threw the coat into my lap.
They are rubies, old man, that's
ALL" he said quietly. Oriental rubies,
at that-fawless and perfect-the
rarest and most precious things In the
| world"
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