Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1912-04-03
CHAPTER XIV.
Billy, the creduIous.

Billy, the credulous.
After the advent and disappearance
of the exciting Mr. Jones, Miss MI
nerya, much to BlHys Joy, had a tele-
phone put in the house. He sat in the
hall the day It was put In waiting for
1t to ring.
Jimmy, coming up on the front
porch and through the half-open door
and seeing him sitting there, rang
the door bell just for a joke,
ready to burst into a laugh when
the other little boy turned around and
saw who it was. Billy, however, in
his eagerness mistook the ring for the
telephone hell and joyfully climbed up
on the chair, which he had stationed
in readiness. He took down the re-
ceiyer as he had seen Jimmy do in his
home, and, without once seeing that
little boy standing few feet from
him, he yelled at the top of his
lungs:
Hello! Who is that?"
This is Marie Yarbrough," replied
Jimmy from the doorway, instantly
) recognizing Billys mistake
Marie Yarbrough was a little girl
much admired by the two boys, as she
had a pony and cart of her very own.
However, she lived in a different part
of the town and attended another Sun,
day school, so they had no speaking
acquaintance with her.
81 JUS wanted to talk to you" went
on the counterfeit Marie, sitting a
laugh and trying to talk like girl,
~ think you're bout the sweetest lit.
tie boy there is and l want you to
come to my party"
Il sho' will" screamed the gratified
Billy, IF Aunt Minerva'll femme,
/ What makes you talk so much like
Jimmy?"
"Who?-that little old Jimmy Gar
.ner? I hope don't talk like that
chicken he's bout the measliest boy
that is and l like you mother sight
better'n him. You're a plumb jim
dandy, Billy" came from the door
way.
SOS you" howled back the delight
ed and f1attered Billy.
Jimmy thought he would pop
wide open in his efforts to keep from
laughing.
How'd you like to be my sweet
hearth" he asked.
"Ts already promised to marry
Miss Cecilia when l puts on long
pants, but if we ever gets 'vorce I'd
mother sight ruther have you 4
anybody. You can be my lady frien'
anyhow" was the loud reply.
I'm coming for you to go riding il
my little pony and cart" said gig
Cling Jimmy.
All right, rs going to ask Aunt Mi
nerva to femme go. Can't we take
Jimmy, too?"
This was too much for the little
boy. He had held himself in as Ions
as possible. He burst into a peal O
laughter so merry and so loud tina
Billy, turning quickly, almost fell ou
of the chair.
What you dom, a-listening to m,
talk to Marie Yarbrough tlI'oo The tel
ephone? he questioned anSrily.
Marie you pigs foot" WAS the in
elegant response THAT was just MI
a-talking to you all the time. You al
time think you talking to little girl
and all times I amt nobody but me.
A light dawned on the innocent one
, He promptly hung up the receiver ant
got down out of the chair. Before jim
my was fully aware of his intention
Billy had thrown him to the floor an
was giving him q good pommeling.
Say you got 'nough?" he growle
/ from his position astride of the ott
er boy.
81 got 'nough, Billy" repeate
+ Jimmy.
+. Say you sorry you done It,"
4 81 say l sorry l done IT," abjectl
repeated the younger child. Get VI
- Billy, fore you bust my stommic
+ open"
Say you amt never a-goin' to to
/. nobody, cross yo' heart" was the nel
command.
! 81 say amt never going to tell n
e body, cross my heart. Get up, Bill,
S tore you makes me mad, and ain
no telling what I'll do to you II
get mad"
Say you's a low-down Jezeb
+ skunk"
n Il amt going to say I'm nothing
d the kind" spiritedly replied the und,
4 uog. You all time wanting somepoo
4 to call theirselfs somepin. You're
4 ,iow-down Isabella skunk yourself"
You not 70 Gag it, insisted y