The Delta independent., 1913-04-11
low BILLY MADE GOOD
BY z. M. INGRAM.

spondent shake of her brown head, az
they paused at the crowded street
crossing, have inferred my very last
hope. Had i won in abe contest, af
] was sure l would, mother could
have left town for the summer and
boarded with the old couple living in
her childhood homessead We would
have rented out our little house here
and I'd have boarded. But as it is, it's
the din and heat of the town, and ouI
dull. stuffy little house for mother"
Molly, wish o.uld help you. You
know i"
When you don't even help YOURSELF
Billy. ] wish you wouldn't waste
breath talking like that Your aunt
tells mother and me how your Uncle
William keeps yos up, and how you
are fast drifting into a reckless young
spendthrift
Why, Molly" Gleason's brown
eyes showed surprise and resentment
Il draw a really decent salary every
month. and no ops stays closer to his
Job than L."
1T isn't what you make. Billy" said
Molly, but what you save that deter
mines your dDlllty.
She paused to snatch a small child
from beneath a neavy cab. After re-
storing the baby so its mother she con-
tinued:
"Ah. Billy, Billy, you simply won't
be a man. Don't you know that TO
succeed in any undertaking one must
first make good? Mother couldn't
trust me to you, boy"
Gleason caught a faint note of ten
der regret in her voice He stopped
Instantly and grasped her arm. Say.
Molly he said eagerly, will you
promise to marry me if make good
what you shall call good?"
Molly looked up and down the dull
street and siShed. Then she prom.
ised
Two weeks passed, and one day
Molly called Gleason over the tele-
phone and demanded his immediate
presence at her house. She greeted
him in a state OF ecstacy. Billy, !
just couldn't Wait longer to tell you"
she bubbled thrusting a letter into his
hand. There, read that"
San Antonio. Tex. May 4.
MISS Molly u MeNlan,
Dallas. Texas
My Dear Misa Meylan:
Two weeks ago while my wife and
| were passing through Dallas, you
heroically saved our child from death
We feel that We owe you something
beside the deep thankfulness in our
hearts, and after learning your name.
and that you are self-supporting. we
have deposited for you in the First
National bank. Dallas, Tex. the sum
Of ts50o) five hundred dollars. which
We beg you to accept as a small re-
Enumeration eor your noble deed. You
need not reply, as We are travelling
and would probably not receive your
letter.
Most humble yours,
CLARA and HAROLD McKIM.
"Whew-wi- whistled Gleason. but !
call that some luck. Wish I'd saved
that kid,
A month later Gleason went up 10
the farm and escorted Molly home At
the gate she stopped, with a puzzled
.ook at the house.
Billy" she said. facing him, "what
does this meen?"
Never mind" Gleason laughed
leading the way up the walk; Il will
explain later"
At the door woman in white cap
and apron met them and directed
them into the little parlor.
Come and see how you like things:
then I'll explain" said Gleason, still
leading the way.
They went through the few rooms.
so wonderfully changed with large
open windows. occasionally a new arti-
Gle OF furniture. bright. fresh walls
and floors, anA out upon the wide. cool
new porches.
1T won't be quite so stuny now.
Molly. do you think? Sit here in the
swing and IN tell you about it" He
took his billbook out of his pocket and.
selecting a paper. gave it TO her.
1t was n bank deposit slip and
showed a credit of $500 In favor of
Molly A. Meylan. by w. r. Gleason.
I've got one just like it, said
Molly.
Are you sure? Look again"
"Oh. see! Mine doesn't have by
w. r. Gleason on It, What is 1t on
there for. Billy"
Molly, thsre weren't any McKims
You saved oae OF the butchers kids
here in town. l hate to tell you. dear"
Molly's eyes lighted with under
standing. And 1t was you who de
posted the money for me. Billy"
Yes, and had a friend In San An.
tonic write you that letter. You see.
| wanted to help you. Molly. and you
wouldn't let nss. SO had to resort to
stratagem.''
But where did you get the money!"
Il have been carefully saving Il up