Rocky Ford enterprise., 1912-10-25

And metathorax." chimed in the
trump. her head close to his.
Hence"
1T is phanaeus carnifex." said the
professor positively.
By Jove, it looked to me like what
We used to call dung beetle!
And then the two cranks went out
In the sun with butterfly nets, and
Frances and drifted out to our pa
vilion overlooking the broad sweep OF
the Tappan Zee. AS yet, her father
had said nothing to me, but l knew
that the blow might fall any moment.
Only the arrival of the frump's father
had so far saved me.
In the evening, the younger brother
showed up at dinner. but sulked, which
l 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 1t, of course 1 knew.
but L
why. I 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 1t. I had to think
hard to remember what had become
of the rubies. But got the idea.
why. the professor has those"
reminded him. "The red paJamas, you
know-don't you remember" | 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," said care
lessly. for l wanted to talk to her
"oh. 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. knew that.
"Oh. really. Frances?" the trump
was saying. How exceedingly nice OF
you. dear!" The professor was oc-
cupied for the moment with a moth.
Il hope l 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. was devilish glad was
not supposed to hear. for didn't want
to be required to imagine 1t. But as
for them being unbecoming to my
darling-well, / knew she knew what
| thought!
Later, when the evening had shaded
OF 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 a 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 It looked
like 1t was going to be the professor
would have some sort of compensa-
ton in Foxy Grandpa's entertaining
stories of Eastern scandal.
Billings cub brother smoked in
corner of the room by himself and
drank innumerable slugs of whisky
straight. Once | saw his father go
over to him and seem to demonstrate.
but without effect.
Billings wanted his father to try my
special import of cigarettes, SO I sent
for Jenkins, who had arrived, to bring
some down. And when he saw Foxy
Grandpa calmly sitting there by me.
pulling at a straw, he almost lost his
balance. But shook my head with
covert warning.
Ever see me before-eh?" asked
the cub harshly. as he waved aside
the cigarettes jenkins extended: Last
Wednesday night-remember?"
Yes. SIR" replied jenkins. hesitat-
ingly. Then he rolled an eye at me
and corrected himself hastily but firm
ly:
No. sir: don't recall ever seeing
you before, sir"
OF course, / knew he had not, but
the cub got up with sour laugh.
Then with a murmured gruff apology.
he withdrew. saying he had a head
ache and was going to bed. And, by
Jove, what look he gave me from
the door!