News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1913-03-12
CHAPTER XVI.
A Thief in the Night.

Billy laughed low, throaty gurgie
and laid her hand an instant on hi
sleeve Don't you see, she believe,
in God and she believed in you. 70,
didn't go back on her. Would God?
The Watermelon did not answer. H,
was busy with a scene of the Ions
ago. He and the youngest Miss Mar
tin had been engaged in a set-to which
hardly savored Of brotherIy love, anC
parental authority had separated
them and passed judgment.
Sister should not have struck you,
grimly in the corner. "But, Jeroboam
you should not have deceived sister
If you men would only keep faith with
your women, this world would be toe
good to leave, even for Heaven" she
had added with her usual tired sigh.
How had he kept faith with Billy
The question stared him in the face
and he felt like the child again, stand
ing in the corner unable to answer
For the sake of an amusing week OF
her society, he had practically be-
trayed her father, had branded him
self a thief by keeping the clothes,
the watch, the money, which he had
taken wrongly, for few hours fun,
but which he had intended to return
In the love he felt for the girl, his
long-stifled conscience slowly stirred
again.
Billy was talking, grooming her CON-
fort with the maternity latent in all
women for the men they love. Don't
you see, Jerry there is God? Think
of what you did for your mother, think
of how proud she was of you when
you did so we'll. BY sheer grit you
have made yourself what you are.
You are tired and blue tonight, poor
old boy"
The Watermelon was not listening.
He took a roll of bills from his pocket
and counted them. Billy watched him
in perplexity. Was he worrying over
she wondered. One hundred
and seventy-four dollars left. He had
not had an opportunity to spend more
of that roll of bills which he had be-
trayed a woman and lowered his man.
hood to steal. He crushed the bills
back into his pocket and rose. -
eve had better go back" said he
shortly. tits late"
They found Henrietta and Bartlett
On the front porch, talking in low
voices, oblivious to all else. The gen.
sral had long since sought the doubt
Jul comfort of the country bed for
city boarders.
Billy held out her hand to the Wa
little ceremony she had
heretofore neglected, wishing in her
ender little heart that she understood
lis strange mood better and could
comfort him.
Good night" said she gently.
Good night" said the Watermelon.
Henrietta rose. 81 didn't know it
vas so late. Wait, Billy, I am coming
With you. Good night, all"
Bartlett followed the girls, but at
he door he stopped and glanced back
It the Watermelon standing on the
,rass by the steps.
Better come to bed" said he.
The Watermelon nodded distracted |
y and Bartlett went in, leaving him |
ut there alone.
Without thinking of, Billy other than |
S a pretty girl with whom to flirt, |
moved by the mischief of the moment, |
e had placed her father financially at |
he mercy of his enemy. And now to
light the wrong to Billy, the only |
hing he could do would be to tell |
hem who he was, tramp, masque-
aiding with decent people in his stolen
merry. Petty thieving, the sharp |
ricks of the road, had passed quickly |
rom his conscience, but this was diff
erent. A woman had been thrown
lto the bargain, the, woman he loved,
nd Henrietta and the general trusted
i'm. Bartlett deserved all he got, and
atchelor he dismissed with the COM
,rting conviction that he was doing
i'm good turn. But Billy, Henrietta
nd the general! A wry smile twisted !
ne Watermelon's mouth as he thought
f the horror on the generals face
hen he learned that he had spent
ne week in the company of name
,ss hobo. For a while he contem-
lated hurting away the watch along
18th the rest of the hardware" and
tealing away in the dark, hitting the
all again and catching up with Mike
nd James on their annual pilgrimage
orth. He drew the bills from his
ocket and thought of all Bartlett
ould lose if he crept away without
EXPLAINING, and Bartlett was Billy's
lther.
He heard a step on the porch and
lrned to see Billy hesitating in the
Oorway. Jerry" she whispered
,ftly and glanced behind her as