The Yale expositor., 1910-06-03
He Didn't Fit
BY OSCAR cox
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Associati ton.

70 do merchant In the east. When q
boy Billy showed predictions for
wild life and when he was fifteen ran
away from home. He was gone sew
eral years before he was heard from
and then wrote his father that he was
in New Mexico earning living rs II
cowboy.
This was something OF n relief bot h
the hearing from him and his uSSur-
ance that he was nj least earning IN
honest living. His fath?r had dreaded
lest he had been hanged and his moth
er lest he had slept out on damp
ground and caught his death of cold.
His father secured n correspondent in
the region where Billy punched cows
and paid man to go over and sec
what kind of record the boy had be-
hind him. The reply was favorable.
and Billy was invited to come home
on a visit He accepted.
"Oh, Billy" cried his mother, how
could you leave us all this while with
out a word?"
Reckon Eye got a live wire In me
somewhere, mummy"
"Oh, he's all right" said the father
''Time enough yet to polish him up.
How old are you. Bill?"
'"Twenty"
"But you don't know anything" sigh
ed the mother. you've not been to
school"
81 was all right for schooling when
ran away"
Hes got something better than ad-
vanced education-spIendid health"
said the father.
Mr.. Burton tried TO induce his son TO
leave his business and take his place.
but Billy said that he would wreck the
concern His father insisted. and his
mother begged SO Billy agreed TO try.
He started in. but be didn't enjoy the
work. The walls of the building In
closing him were too narrow for him.
One day Billy met a man on the
street that be had supposed was in
jail out IN New Mexico Accosting
him. he said:
Hello. Pete. When did you get
outT"
line ulun lOOheO Ut Diill oudIpiy'
''When did voU get out?" he asked.
"Oh, IL" Billy replied. taking notice
that the man had mistaken him for
one of his prison mates Il broke Jail
some time ago"
"Must IA brought lot o swag With
you. seein' the fine clothes you got on ="
"Fine clothes are lying around loose
in this country for those who can
keep out of jail"
Say" said the man IN whisper.
I'm lookin for u crib TO crack Can
you put me on 10 one dead easy"
Sure replied Billy I'm going to
try one myself tonight. I'll take you
In for half the plunder. know all
about the people. ! got room there
myself. What | want Is some Teller
for me 10 let in and carry Off the
swag Are sou with mey'
"You ber. I'm awful down at the
heel. Haven't had bite since yester-
day"
Every we'll You come to No. 36S
Center street tonight. Fine house.
rich people. You'll find the front door
unlocked. Strike II about | In the
morning Have a cart two doors away
to carry the silver"
And so 1t was arranged. That night
Billy sat up reading till after IL
O'Clock. then switched off the electric
light and waited. He had left the
front door Unattached for Pete and felt
no doubt that he would turn up Sure
enough. a few minutes after the clocks
had struck ] Billy heard steps below.
Going down softly. he heard "A move
ment In the dining room and saw the
fash of a dark lantern on the side
board. Then he saw Pete pull out
drawer where he doubtless expected to
find silver.
Billy switched on the light for the
whole floor Pete turned toward him
and saw his pal covering him with a
revolver.
whats it meany' asked Pete.
aghast.
1T means that I've got you where
you once thought you had me. Do
you remember the kid you tried to
swear away for horse thief? I'm that
boy five years older. I'm glad Of a
chance to get even. Put your revolver
on the table. That's all right. Any
more? Got a wagon outside? Glad
you brought IT, Walk out and Wen
take a drive to the police station"
Billy landed his man and went home
and to bed.
The next morning he was awakened
by a scream below. Running down.
stairs. he found his mother. who had
gone early to wake the servant, look
ing with horror at Pete's revolver ly-
ing on the dining table.
"Oh. my boy" she cried. 'the house
has been robbed. Look what they leftl
It's wonder we haven't all been
murdered"
Billy looked at the revolver he had
forgotten TO remove the night before
and cursed himself for a fool. He
knew that his mother would never
sleep serenely again II he didn't ex-
,,Iofn c. no ooofocood hfo mart In