BILLINGS RAMBLES
Ten minutes later I was almost wide awake, for Billings was talking over long distance—and to her!
But I did not like the way he did it.
"Shut up, Francis!" he bellowed. "Now you listen to what I'm telling you—and do just as I tell you to, too—if you don't, I'll mash your face when I come up there! You hear?"
And he swore at her—yes, by Jove, swore!
"Oh, here—I say now!" I remonstrated indignantly.
"It's all right, Dicky," and he waved his fat hand indifferently as he hung up the receiver. "Francis wants to drive that car down for us in the morning—Francis, now!" And his hands went out impressively.
And dash it, I was impressed—I was delighted.
"By Jove!" I cried. "Fine!" For I knew by that that she had forgiven me.
"Fine!" snorted Billings. "You don't know what you're talking about! Francis hasn't got sense enough to get a road engine ten feet without smashing it, much less a car twenty-five miles."