Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-06-21
:cnAPT!ER X.

store box too. I sleep between them
sos don't Eull OF and crack my head
Amt you ct Q store box and old
coatrs
sinton arose ana opened folding
lounge. Then he brought an arnload
OF clean hosse blankets from Z closet.
These don't look like tho nice white
bed Z little boy should have, Billy" he
said, 'sbut ven make them do. This
win beat Q store box all hollow"
Billy took . long leap for the lounge.
When 10 found It bounced he proceed
cd to bounce until he was tired BY
that dime the blankets had to be re-
folded. Wesley had Billy take one end
and help, while both Of them seemed
10 enjoy the Job Then Billy lay down
ana CURED up In his clothes like little
dog. But sleep would not come. FL
nally he sat up. He stared around rest
lessly. Then he arose, went to Sinton
and leaned against his knee. Sinton
picked up the boy and folded his arms
around him. Billy sighed In rapturous
content.
THAT bed feels 20 lost Ike" he said.
Jimmy always jabbed me on one side
and Belle on the other. and 80 knew
] was there"
Billy sid from Sinton:s arms and
walked toward Margaret until he
reached the middle Of the room. Then
he stopped and at last sat on the door.
Finally he lay down and closed bis
eyes. This feels more Ike my bed;
Il only Jimmy and Belle was here to
crowd up little % It wasn't 20 alone
like"
won't I DO. Billyr' asked sinton in
. husky voics.
BUY moved rsstlessly. Seems like
seems like-toward night ~ II body
rot kind O. lonesome for q woman per
son-liko her.
Bnly indicated Margaret. ''You
don't IKE bqys. do youT' he ques-
Il Ike good boys" said Margaret
Billy was at her knee instantly.
~Well, say. I'm . good boy" he an
2ounced joyously.
Il do not think boys who hurt help.
,ass kittens and pull out turkeys tails
are good boys"
Eyes, but didn't hurt the kittens"
explained Billy. They got mad bout
let little fun and scratched each
other. ! didn't s'pose they'd act like
that. And ! didn't pull the turkeys
tail. 1 1T held on to the nrst thing I
grabbed and the turkey pulled. Hon
EFT, It was the turkey pulled" He
turned to Sinton. "You tell her.
Didn't the turkey pull? didn't know
its tail was loose, did ~
II don't think You did. Billy" said
Sinton.
Billy stared into Margaret's cold
face. Sometimes at night Belle sits
on the door and lay my head in her
lap. could pull up chair and lay
my head in your lap-like this. I
mean" Billy pulled up 4 chair, climb
ed on II and laid his head on Marga-
refs lap. Then he shut his eyes
again. MarSaret could have looked
little more repulsed II he had been q
snake.
J Billy was soon up.
my. but your lap Is hard" he said.
"And Jon are a good deal fatter AN
Belle. too" He slid from the chair
and came back to the middle Of the
room.
.Oh. but I wisht my pa wasn't
dead!' he cried. The food broke and
Billy screamed In desperation.
Out Of the night q soft, warm young
figure flashed through the door and
with swoop caught him In her arms.
She dropped into chair. nestled him
closely and dropped her fragrant
brown head over his little bullet eyed
red one and rocked softly % she
erooned over him:
s'Biliy. boy, where have you beenf
oh. have been to seek . wife
1he's the Joy Of my life.
can't Jeave her mammyl'
Bily gripped her with death grip.
Dlnora wiped his eyes. kissed his face,
swayed and sang.
''Do you love me tight % thatr' he
questioned blissfully.
'Yss, bushels and bushels." said FL
nora. ssBetter than any little boy in
the whole world"
Billy Iooksd at Margaret. .ehs don'tr'
DO said 'tshe don't want mo here 7
an"
Y Elnora smothersd his facs against
her heeast and rocked
'sYou love me. don't your be said.
81 viii If you wiz 20 to Sleep
every single day you win give me |
your dinner for the bologna, won't
your aid Biliy.
sYes, wiIr,~ replied EInora. But
you viii have % good lunch as Do
utter this. You will have milk. eggs.
chicken, IN Kinds Of good things, little
pies and cakss, maybe"
Billy shook hlss head. n am going
beck homo soon % It y light" be. said.
.She don't want me. She thinks I'm
! bad boy. She'ss going to whip me-
II - lsts ~. ~ aid q bsard I
~ o. I 49, y hednt disd:
X.