The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-08-09


waved his nand before his face, and
began, In a dreamy voice, to reveal
Billy's history.
His story of Billy's past was re-
markably accurate, and at several
points was so diverting that the crowd
roared with delight. Some revelations
were decidedly embarrassing, but Billy
never flinched, never moved muscle
until the reading was finished.
The Hindu resumed his seat, and
Billy arose and indicated to Judge
Davis that he was ready.
The Judge announced that as 1t was
known that neither Billy nor the Seer
had ever met before, that it seemed
most appropriate that Billy tell the
fortune of the Hindu Seer.
For a moment the audience was
struck dumb with the audaclty of the
suggestion, but seeing how Billy had
been trapped they broke into long,
hearty laugh.
They grew instantly quiet. Billy was
offering the Seer the chair, near the
edge of the stage. Surely he was not
going to try it,
But he was. Coolly, impressively he
faced the Seer, half closed his eyes,
waved his hand before the Hindu's
face, and began in penetrating mono
tone:
Il see before me young man that
loved spotted pants, red neckties, and
hated worR"
The audience was struck with horror
Surely Billy would be consumed by
fire. But he was not.
when he was seventeen he wasn't
worth the powder and lead it would
take to kill him, and when he was
twenty he wasn't worth nigh that
much"
The audience gasped. This was
sacrilege
ut is eight years ago." went on Billy
with his eyes fixed on the Hindu, 81
see him followin' Deacon Wade home
from town. | see him hide in the
brush and watch the deacon bury three
hundred dollars in the orchard, and
then see him slip in when the deacon
is gone and steal it,"
The people loved Billy, but this horse
play was going too far. Why didn't
some one stop him? But nobody did.
Again | see him, and he is slippin'
into Granny Stewards kitchen. He
steals her silver spoons, then gifts
scared and hides 'em under the smoke
house"
The audience stirred. They were
blindly incredulous, but this was in
teresting. The Hindu sat motionless.
81 see him helpin' Jim Dodson haul
saw-logs, and he gets so lazy he hides
the log chain so he can miss a half
day"
Again I see him." said Billy, speak
ing a trihe more distinctly. at is
midnight, and he is slipping round the
back of Norton's store The Seer gave
a start. 81 see him cut the window
out, climb in and rob the safe"
Billy gripped the Hindu's wrist and
held him until he finished.
"You all know him. His name is
Claud Tayler, and the sheriff is waitin
for him at the door"
Quick as a cat springs the Hindu
leaped for the passage way, leaving
his robe behind. The attendant went
out under the edge of the tent.
Well" said Billy to the Squire as
they took an inventory Of the things
left behind, they got away all right
but | guess there's money enough in
this bag to pay back the dollar to all
them who will own up they had their
fortune told. If there's any left you
better buy the Widder Jones a new
wagon"
"Whered the sheriff go?" asked the
Squire, but Billy merely winked his
left eye.
When Billy and the Squire came out
of the tent the crowd had vanished as
though it had faded into the night; all
save two figures walking very leisurely
and very close together across the
Bridge
And as Billy caught the ripple of
Mary's laughter, he squinted his left
eye at the moon in a knowing, con-
fidential way.-The Criterion.