Evening star., 1907-08-31
BILLY BUSTERINTHE STUDIO

Goats and poverty always go together"
remarked Uncle Thomas when Harry Fen
ton brought Billy Buster home.
mot in this case" Harry answered. as
Billy Buster twisted the rope from his hand.
Billy is Intelligent goat, and"
The sentence was not finished. for Billy,
having decided that Uncle Thomas was
not his friend. started to chase him out of
the yard. Escape from Billy's hard head
and horns was finally made by tho portly
man running up the stairs Of the broad
piazza and vaulting the railing
There. take him away Uncle Thomas
shouted. II don't like goats. If you'll
give him away. Harry. I'll pay you So
Billy turned his head sideways and looked
at his young master. Harry shook his head
and said. laughingly: "Oh, no. uncle
can't. I want to keep Billy and make
friends with him."
Billy. as IL ne understood this decision.
calmly walked down the steps and deiber-
ately licked Harry's hands. That was the
sign of friendship and comradeship.
See. he won't hurt you II you are kind
to him." Harry said. triumphantly.
"Huh"' grunted Uncle Thomas. climbing
through the parlor window to make good
his escape from Billy's head.
Harry built a house for Billy down by
the barn. and made 1t as comfortable as
possible with clean straw-which Billy ate
up every highland whitewashed boards.
that no goat could relish without inviting
an attack Of collie. Nearby Harry had his
studio. This was a dark closet in one
wing OF the barn where he developed photo
graphs. 1t was an ideal developing room
and Harry called 1t his studio. because 1t
sounded better than developing room.
Billy often insisted upon being admitted
to this room but Harry drew the line there
Inside his chemicals and pictures were scat
tnra Ton -Ix
visit from a goat. However Billy was
kind to walt and take advantage of his op-
portunities One day Harry left his door
open and Billy popped in and destroyed
weeks work in few moments.
Harry looked at the goat and threatened
to punish him, but he didn't Whats the
good?" he mused. "Its the goats nature
to do such things. The fault was mine for
not locking the door"
Billy nodded his head at this and seemed
to understand. Once more he licked Harry's
hands. In the past he had been punished
for far Tess things and his admiration for
Harry was increased tenfold. Billy actually
looked repentant.
What an expression he has In his eyes!'
Harry said with a laugh He looks inno-
cent enough to be an angel"
Billy made no reply to this, but frisked
around little and nibbled away at few
old newspapers that had been placed around
the flower plants to protect them from the
cold nights. After he had chewed UP a few
of these. including half the leaves of the
plants. he wandered away. and looked for
more mischief
"1'll have to put snap lock on this door
and stiff spring to close IT. said Harry,
viewing the wreck of his studio
The lock was forthwith secured and ap-
piled. Then when he left his studio in a
hurry the spring would close the door with
a click. and the lock would hold 1t until
somebody opened 1t with the key Even
from the inside Harry could not open the
door without the key.
This scheme worked so we'll that Billy
found no more opportunities to enter the
studio and commit damage. In time he
gave up looking at the door. and always
passed 1t with demure innocent express
sion on his face.
You old rascal. you're waiting your
time" Harry remarked one day as he saw
the goat glance out of the corners of his
eyes at the door.
A week later Harry had some important
photographs to develop. His father and
Harry said he'd take the afternoon off to
develop his pictures. He shut himself in
his studio and worked hard. All was quiet
outside. except for the occasional chirping
of a bird or the munching of Billy. The
goat was lonely and kept as near his mas
|, as possible; but he could not see him.
for the dark room was securely shut off
from view.
still working at his business. Then sud
denly an accident happened. His dark
lantern with its red shape on fell over and
set mass of loose papers ablaze. Harry
tried to smother the flames with his hands
and burned them severely as a conse-
quence. Then realizing that the flames
were getting beyond control, and that there
was danger OF an explosion when they
reached his chemicals the boy tried to un-
lock >the door. But to his surprise, he
found that his key was not In its accus-
toned place In his pocket In vain he
hunted for 1t, and then seeing that he was
caught in trap he called for help and
banged against the door
There was no one within mile of the
studio and the door was a stout one so
that 1t would not yield easily to his blows.
The lock also proved Of good metal and
Harry to his horror found that he could
make no impression on 1t.
The danger Of being burned alive in a trap
of his own making made him faint. but add