The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1913-02-22
CHAPTER XVI.

"A Tni0r IN the Night.
Billy laughed low, throaty gurg:e,
and laid her hand an instant on his
sleeve. Don't you see, she believed
in God and she believed in you. You
didn't go back on her. Would God?"
The Watermelon did not answer. He
was busy with scene of the long
ago. He and the youngest Miss Mar.
tin had been engaged in set-to which
hardly savored of brotherly love, and
parental authority had separated
them and passed judgment.
Sister should not have struck you"
the mother said as she stood him
grimly in the corner. But, Jeroboam.
you should not have deceived sister.
II you men would only keep faith with
your women, this world would be too
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-stihed conscience slowly stirred
again. .t
Billy was talking, grooming her com.
fort with the maternity latent in all
women Tor 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 roll of bills from his pocket
and counted them. Billy watched him
in perplexity. Was he worrying over
money, 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.
I'VE had better go back" said he
shortly. cts late"
They found Henrietta and Bartlett
on, the, front porch, talking in low
voices, oblivious to all else. The gen.
eral had long since sought the doubt,
full comfort Of the country bed for
city boarders.
Billy held out her hand. to the Wa,
termelon, a little ceremony she had
heretofore neglected, wishing in: her
tender little heart that she understood
his strange mood better and could
comfort him.
Good night" said she gently.
Good night" said the Watermelon.
Henrietta rose. II didn't know it
was so late. Wait. Billy, am coming
with you. Good night, ALL"
Bartlett followed the girls, but at
the door he stopped and glanced back
at the Watermelon standing on the
grass by the steps.
Better come to bed" said he.
The Watermelon nodded distracted.
~ and Bartlett went in, leaving him
out there alone.
Without thinking of Billy other than
as q pretty girl with whom to flirt,
moved by the mischief Of the moment,
de had placed her father financially at
the mercy Of his enemy. And now to
right the wrong to Billy, the only
thing he could do would be to tell
them who: he was; tramp, masque-
rading with. decent people in his stolen
Rnery: :. Petty thieving, the sharp
tricks Of the road, had passed quickly
from, his coincidence. but this was DIFF.
ferent. A woman had been thrown
into the bargain, the woman he loved,
and Henrietta and the general trusted
him. Bartlett deserved all he got, and
Bachelor he dismissed with the com.
forting conviction that he was doing
him good turn. But Billy, Henrietta
and the general! A wry smile twisted
the Watermelon's mouth as he thought
Of the horror on the generals face
when he learned that he had spent
the week in the company of name
less hobo. For while he contem.
plated hurting away the watch along
with the rest Of the hardware" and
stealing away in the dark, hitting the
trail again and catching up with Mike
and James on their annual pilgrimage
north. He drew the bills from his
pocket and thought of all Bartlett
would lose IL he crept away without
explaining, and Bartlett was Billy's
father.
He heard step on the porch and
turned to see Billy hesitating In the
doorway. Jerry" she whispered
softly and glanced behind her az
though fearful Of seeing her father
or Henrietta peering at her over the
banisters.
He went toward her, the bills still
In his hand. "Billy," said he, thrust
ing the money into his pocket, what
are you doing at this time Of nights"
And he looked down at her tenderly
III the dark where the hall lamp could
not reveal his face.