Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-05-04
He Didn t Fit
Bv OSCAR cox
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.

~ 'So' oC udu olCpt OuI vi udulp
ground and caught bis death of cold.
His father secured correspondent in
the region where Billy punched cows
and paid man to go over and see
what kind of record the boy had be-
hind him. The reply was favorable,
and Billy was invited to come home
on visit. He accepted.
"Oh. Billy" cried his mother. "how
could you leave us all this while With
out word?'
Reckon I've got 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,"
II was all right for schooling when
l ran away"
Hes got something better than ad-
vanced educatiou-splendid 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 man on the
street that he had supposed was in
Jail out in New Mexico Accosting
| him, be said:
Hello. Pete! When did you get
out?"
The man looked at Billy sharply.
when did you get out?" be asked.
"Oh. -" Billy replied. taking notice
| that the man had mistaken him for
one of his prison mates. Il broke Jail
| some time ago"
Must "a brought lot O. swag with
you. seem 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 a whisper.
l LII IOOhAA I'LL Nl4U " VI am. Ndu
you put me on to one dead easy?"
'Sure"' replied Billy. Pm going to
try one myself tonight. ri take you
III for half the plumber. l know all
about the people. | got room there
myself. What want is some teller
for me to let in and carry OF the
swag. Are you with me?"
You bet. Pm awful down at the
heel. Haven't had a bite since yester-
day."
VERY we'll. You come to No. 1868
| Center street tonight. Fine house,
rich people. You'll find the front door
unlocked. Strike it about in the
morning. Have cart two doors away
to carry the silver"
| And so it was arranged. That night
Billy sat up reading till after II
o'clock. then switched off the electric
light and waited. He had left the
front door Unmatched for Pete and felt
| no doubt that be would turn up Sure
had. struck l Billy heard steps below.
| Going down softly. be heard a move
| ment in the dining room and saw the
fash of dark lantern on the side
| board. Then he saw Pete pull out q
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 mean?' 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 wagon outside? Glad
you brought it. Walk out and we'll
take a drive to the police station"
Billy landed his man and went home
and to bed.
The next morning be 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 ~
ing on the dining table.
'Oh. my boy she cried. 1.-The house
has been robbed: Look what they left!
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 If he didn't ex-
plain. So he confessed his part in
the transaction.
"Oh. Billy" she cried. How did
you dare expose your poor father and
mother to such a danger"
Danger: Just think. mummy. how
dead easy it was for me to get even
with man who once came near hang
ing me-
After conference with his wife
Mr.. Burton concluded to set his son
up, as ranch"r in New Mexico. Billy
wasn't considered quite safe.
False Hair In EIizabeth's Time. :.
Queen Elizabeth had eighty wigs in
her collection, and her cousin, Mary.
queen of Scots, had las many as a
hundred" and among the incongruous
presents made her while confined a
prisoner in gloomy Lochleven previous
to her being beheaded wigs were nu-s