Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-06-14

painted at me: Say, nice way you
and my sister treated mel don't
think! But I'll forgive you this time"
Here he linked his arm In mine. I'll
forgive you, if you never say any
thing at the club about those damned
black pajamas-nor In the family,
either. Great Scott! I wouldn't have
this get Quit"
81 wouldn't think of such thing!"
1 exclaimed, UNNECESSARILY relieved,
but indignant, as well. He led me
across the turf.
"Oh, I've had an awful time, Dicky!
Awful!"-he lifted his hands-"Oh,
don't want to tell you about it don't
want even to think about it myself"
I fnurmured something sympathetic,
for l felt sympathetic with anything;
besides, there still fingered a bit OF
headache from the Heidelberg punch
and. l could imagine from that what
his feelings must have been.
| by George, Dicky," he burst out
again, 1.-The way I've been shut up and
treated just seems like some Internal
conspiracy. Good thing Jack Els
worth's dad had pull with the mayor
tell you all the whole rotten bust
ness when l can talk about 1t quietly"
That's right! that's right" said
soothingly, wouldn't think about it at
! all now, old chap" No use remind
ing him, you krcw, that he had shut
himself up. BE .i4es, the wandering
! of his mind to Jack Ellsworth and his
| father showed ne that even yet he
was not quite himself
Billings mopped his forehead. my,
but It was hot il that hole!" he ex-
claimed. And th@t reminds me
have you seen the governor this morn
ing? No? Well, talk about hot!
! George, but the old man was hot I'M
der the collar VIXEN l saw him just
now! And he looks like he had been
| dropped from shot tower! It's this
case he's working on, guess, or else
It's about Francis. He's found out
what l knew"
"Do-do you think so?" questioned
nervously.
pretty sure" said Billings care
| lessly. Fact Is, he's already fixing
I'D to send Francis to some kind OF
| reformatory-heard him making the
arrangements over The 'phone"-l was
glad he didn't look ut me as he rat
! tied on-"and, by the way, the gov
ernor told me to tell you not to say
a word to Francis suppose you'll
understand"
Understand? Oh, yes, understood!
And he said he wanted to see you.
Isis he here?' l stammered, pull
ing back.
! Thank goodness, 20. Gone to meet
Colonel Francis Kirkland-say, don't
say anything about it-wants to sur
prise his daughter, you know. On his
way to London via San Francisco
arrived at Washington a few days
ago."
Oh. the frump's father! Much
cared! But knowing how interested
he was in her, I tried to show an in
terest..
Colonel Francis-er isn't his
daughter named after him?" And
felt myself grow jolly red, for I re
membered that she had told me that
about her friend as she sat on the
arm of the Morris chair and in the
black pajamas.
Hanged if I know" said Billings
carelessly. 81 don't know what heI
name is-don't remember that ever
: heard" He whistled. Say, but did
= you ever see anything as stunningly
pretty in your life?"
baked. BY Jove, I had been do
ing some mild lying within the past
twenty-four hours, but this was ask
ing too much. Dash me II just could
go 1t, that's all. But he didn't seem
to notice.
He slapped me on the back. by
George, Dicky, there's just the girl
cut out for you, old chap-take my
tip. l think she likes you, too
could see 1t just now when 1 was
talking about you
So that was 1t, l reflected gloomtly
The trump now was to be worked OIL
on me, and l was expected to stand
| for It, l was to be sort Of what-yeu.
call-it Offering ON the altar OF friend
ship. That was the condition upon
which he was patching up things!
Billings laughed suddenly. But
oh, tell you 1t would be hard on
! Francis-a regular knockout, by
George!"
Devilish brutal for him to say so.
thought.
do you think sou l questioned
dismally Would Frances really
carer"
"Oh, yes" he said lightly. Soon
get over 1t, though-puppy love, you
| know"
Puppy love, indeed! BY Jove. how
I hated Billings!
He went on: Suppose you never
heard anything of the professor and
the pajamas?'
| had not, and I was devilish sick
of pajamas, anyway.
And say, Dicky, l don't remember
that l ever thanked you properly, old
man, for putting up my kid brother
the other night He says you treated
him like brick and that you and he
got to be great pals. So much obliged,
old chap, because he wanted to go
running around, you know"
Your brother?" I questioned, aston