The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-11-14
CHAPTER ~.
Wherein Mrs corstoek and Mrs. Sin
ton Clash over Billy.

Am going 10 sleep herer he asked
sure you are" said Slnton.
"Where can he SLEEPY he asked Mar
garet.
I'm sure don't know" she an
swered
"Oh. | can sleep lst any place." said
Billy, ION the door or anyw here. Home
sleep on pas coat on n store box, and
Jimmy and Belle they sleep on tho
store box too. ! sleep between them
SOS I don't roll OF and crack my henI
Amt you got store box and
coatr
Slnton arose and opened folding
lounge. Then he brought an armload
OF clean horse blankets from closet.
These don't look like the nice white
bed a little boy should have. Billy" he
said. but well make them do. This
will beat n store box all hollow"
/ Billy took n long leap for the lounge.
When he found II bounced he proceed
ed to bounce until be was tired. by
that time the blankets had 10 DO re-
folded Wesley had Billy take one end
and help. while both OF them seemed
10 enjoy the job Then Billy lay down
and curled up In his clothes like little
dog But sleep would not come. FL
nally he sat up lie stared around rest
Iessly Then he arose. went to Sinton
and leaned against his knee. snton
picked up the boy and folded his arms
around him. Billy sighed In fapturous
content.
That bed feels so lost like" he said.
Jimmy always jabbcd me on one side
and Belle on the other. and 50 knew
] was there"
Billy slid from Slnton's arms and
walked toward Margaret until he
reached the middle Of the room. Then
he stopped aud at last sat on the door.
Finally he lay down and closed his
eyes. This feels more like my bed;
II only Jimmy and Belle was here to
crowd up a little so Il wasn't 80 alone
like"
Wont I do. BillyT asked sinton IN
a husky voice.
Billy moved restlessly. Seems like
got Kind o. lonesome for a woman per
son-llke her"
Billy indicated Margaret. "You
don't like boys. do your he ques-
toned.
II like good boys" said Margaret
Billy was at her knee Instantly.
"well. say. I'm a good boy" he an
nounccd Joyously.
Il do not think boys who hurt help
less kittens and pun out turkeys tails
are good boys"
"Yes. but | didn't hurt the Kittens"
explained Billy. They got mad bout
list a little fun aud scratched each
other. didn't s'pose they'd act like
that. And | didn't pull the turkeys
tail list held on to the first thing I
grabbed and the turkey pulled. Hon
est. II was the turkey pulled" He
turned TO SInton. You tell her.
Didn't the turkey pull1 | didn't know
Its tail was loose. did II
~ don't think you did. Billy" said
Slnton.
Billy stared into Margaret's cold
face. Sometimes at night Belle sits
on the floor and lay my head In her
lap. could pull up chair aud lay
my head In your lap-like this.
mean" Billy pulled up a chair, climb
ed on It and laid his head on Marga-
ret's lap. Then he shut his eye
again. Margaret could have locke
little more repulsed II he had been a
snake.
Billy was soon up.
my. but your lap Is hard" he said.
"And you are a good deal fatter an
Belle, too" lie 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 10 desperation.
Out OF the night a soft. warm young
figure flashed through the door and
with a swoop caught him In her arms.
She dropped Into a chair. nestled him
closely and dropped her fragrant
brown head over his little bullet eyed
red one and rocked softly as she
crooned over him:
'Bnly. boy. where have you been1
Oh have been TO seek a wife.
She's the Joy Of my life
But. then, she's young thing. and she
can't leave her mammyi'
Billy grlpped her with death grip.
Elnora wiped his eyes. kissed bis face.
swayed aud sang
do you love me tight as thatr' he
questioned blissfully.
Yes. bushels and bushels" said FL
nora. Better than any little boy In
the whole world"
Billy looked at Margaret. "she don't"
he said. "She don't want me here Z
all"
Elnora smothered his face against
her breast and rocked
"You love me. don't your he said
II will II you will 20 to sleep"
Every single day you will give me
your dinner for the bologna, won't
your said Billy.