Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-05-15

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 | 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, I 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 l 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, heayed himself
across the room and seized the button
l had just uncovered. Dashed If he
didn't almost upset me-
Here, say!" I protested. Don't
lose that cap" 1 picked 1t up from
where he had jerked it to the floor
Its 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 a low tone, as
he cut side glance at Jenkins 81
phoning the fizz over at the cellarette.
What in thunder have you been do
ing now?"
By Jove, l turned cold for minute,
l 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 saw that he did not
mean that.
Where on earth did you get any
thing like this?"
ooh, 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 a friend
in China"
Present." Billings eyes bulged
queerly He stopped toward me, whis-
pering: did he know what this but
ton WASP"
why, of course he didn't" | an
swered Indignantly. Never dreamed
Of it, of course l 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
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
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 damned deep in his pockets,
faced me with 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 I know?
suppose So" | answered indifferently.
And | closed my eyes and leaned back,
feeling bit-just bit-weary. Some
how, Billings is always SO exhausting
when he gets started on something.
"Oh, cut 1t out, old chap" l protest
ed, drowsy-ltke.
81 WILL" I heard him say. Then
guess l must have dropped off a bit,
for the next thing l knew he was
shaking me.
"Dicky! Dicky! Say, look here!
Look, l tell you'll"
l did look, and-well, l was jolly
vexed that's all.
"Oh, l say now!" l spoke severely
just that way, you know. / went on,
demonstrating: "Deyilish silly joke, IL
you ask me. You've gone and ruined
the thing, Btllingsl Flashy buttons
like that, you kno'E-too tawdry, 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" l said firmly.
Not en- regle at all, you know!" And
1 fixed my glass and stared gloomily
at the things. The five 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, Ell? What you might
call outre, so to speak?"
by Jove, of course" answered
rucfully. 81 can't sleep in the things
now, you know What would people
say?"
Billings stared at me disagree bly,
a moment and said something der
his breath. Then he caught UP the
buttons and the silk, and crushing
III {.