Putnam patriot., 1910-07-08
The Invincible Billy An Irrepressibie Boys Part In .
 Love Affair Sy AGNES G. BRoGAN Copyright. isl0. by American Press
 AssaciEs iart
sy AGNES G. BRoGAS
Copyright. isl0. by American Press
 AssaciEs lon

man who looked askance at the boy and frowned. The girl earessed the child. Dear" she asked tenderlv, s.are you tired :s'
 Billy rested the curly head against his aunt's shoulder and eonfidiugly placed his damp boots upon the skirt of her white linen dress Nope" he answered concisely.
 Jack Winston sighed and shook his head When I see the amount of af- lection you are wasting upon that wrath"
 The boy scrambled to his feet sud denly and collecting handful of small sharp stones. began pelting them at the two occupants of a small boat which glided noiselessly along beside the pier.
 Billy his aunt cried. horrihed- Billy. did you hit the little boy?
 You bet 1 did," her nephew re- piled gleefully. That was Dicky Smith. hate Dicky Smith."
 Miss Brereton's eyes looked unutter- ably sad. That was very wrong," she said reprovingly. .and you must hot hate him. dear: you must love everybody"
 Her nephew laughed. Everybody he exclaimed derisively.
 "Yes. indeed" his aunt reiterated Billy considered.
 Do you love everybody. Aunt Bea- trice?' he asked Do you love MT. Winston?' A rosy flush covered his auntsspretty face.
 "Of course do," she answered even- ly.
 Billy turned to seek an ally in the man. Do you love everybody. Mir Winstonrs he persisted.
 Not by good deal. Bill" the man responded warmly. T have much the same feeling for Mir. Fenway. for in stance. that you have for Dieky Smith
 The girl laughed and caught her small nephew by the hand What nonsenser' she said And now don't you think 1t Is time to go back?'
 The three went strelling up the sandy beach. the boy skipping along between them. The hotel guests had assembled upon the wide verandas. awaiting the sound of the gong which would summon them to the evening meal. They hailed the delinquents merrily. Last call for dinner in the dining car" said Fenway. Billy. come here and give an account Of yourself" He caught up the boy and perched him upon his knee. Beatrice stood leaning against a white pillar. smiling down at them. Winston sat upon lower step.
 What have you been doing, Billy boy?" Fenway questioned. The child was always very amusing, so the guests leaned forward. eagerly listen- Ing for his replies.
 Been down on the pier" Billy piped in his shrill treble. with Aunt Bea- trice and MT. Winston" pause. Aunt Beatrice says she loves Mir. Win ston.. he repeated deliberately. For moment there was silence. tense. dead ly silence: then Jack Winston commit ted the unpardonable crime-he laugh ed No one joined him. That made it worse. for all were fascinated in watching the girls face, which changed so suddenly from white to crimson. She looked contemptuously at Winston for a moment because he could thus enjoy her discontinue.
 Billy" she said desperately. you remember. l spoke of loving every body-not Mir. Winston in particular he was merely included with the oth- ers."
 1t seemed to the man on the lower step that her eyes sought Fenway's appealingiy. Merely included with the others" He arose suddenly. You have sufficiently cleared yourself or the imputation." he began in low tone but Billy was speaking again.
 "Mr. Winston says the cherub an- nounced distinctly, that sometimes he would like to pelt stones at MT. Fen- way" There was general laugh at this and Winston was conscious Of an overwhelming desire to fall upon the boy and thrash him within an inch of his fife
 Thanks. awfully. Bill" Fenway ob- served calmly. "Forewarned Is fore armed Henceforth. whenever l see Jack Winston coming my way. shall run"
 The company dispersed in little chat tering groups toward the dining room Billy was borne thence upon Fenways shoulder. and Beatrice followed AS Winston passed she averted her eyes. and so during the endlessly long week which followed she perversely ignored his existence and admirably succeeded in dispelling any erroneous idea which might have prevailed regarding her partialty toward him. And the in- tured one hid himself in faraway cor ners and worked resolutely upon the serial story which he was preparing for one of the current magazines lie had neglected his writing lately. ana there was much to do. Occasionally Billy would seek him out. but was ai- ways eurtiy dismissed In fact the thorns were beginnIng to show among Bily.s roses. for his champion. Fen way, had suddenly departed for town. and Aunt Beatrice had developed into a very unreasonable person One couio not tell how to please her.
 When they aarted for walk upon their last afternoon at the seaside Aunt Beatrice 6rsr found the wooded path too shady. then decided that the sun shone too brightly upon the pier. and later wbeu the man tn the little post