The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-03-03
BILLY AND THE TWINS
BY J. NJ. CROWN.

1t was Billy Peters who drst sara
| that the twin sisters were scrump'
tious. AS Billy was twice-a-week
caller at the home Of the Misses FL
len and Mary Roy. it is to be pre-
sumed that ii meant something fiat
tering.
The twins looked alike and dressed
alike and sang alike and became SEN
| timental each in the same way. Billy
didn't know which one he wanted.
Half the time he didn't know which
was Ellen. and the rest of the time
he didn't know which was Mary.
Where he escorted one. he escorted
the other. II was expensive. Billy
began 10 run into debt.
This won't do" he decided. It'll
get photograph Of each. Then I'll
20 off by myself and decide which
one gets the prize.
The Misses Roy gave their photo
graphs willingly. Billy took them
home. He sat down with a lead pen
Gil {, mark them for Identification.
| This one is-H'm. Why didn't |
let them autograph them? Which one
is this one? blessed II | know.
Well. we'll mark this No. and this
No 3"
Next day Billy started on his va
cation He went to a quiet farm
house. The board was cheap. and the
quiet gave him plenty Of time to de-
eide his fate. He scanned the pic.
lures in the woodland. In the meadow,
In the fields. and in the orchard. FL
nally his troubled soul was stilled. No.
is smile was just bit smilier than
No. 2's.
that's the one ri marry" said
Billy Peters.
So he came home. He had decided
that he'd forthwith propose to No.
l. Then his soul sickene@ Which
was No. 1?
However, BILLY was equal to a little
thing like that He carried the pho
to of No with him to the Roy home
The twins entertained him In the par
lor Billy took the photo from his
pocket.
Whose little face is thiso" he ask
ed Mary Roy studied the likeness
why. that's Ellen"
Ellen studied it. 1T is not. It's
you, Mary"
Billy Peters went home with q
headache.
1t took Billy two days to straichter
out this tangle This time he had q
real idea. lie put two slips of paper
into hat One was marked Ellen ant
the other was marked Mary. lie
closed his eyes and drew out Ellen.
That night Billy called again. On'
OF the twins was in the parlor.
Ellen" he began. TREMENDOUSLY.
I'm Mary" she smiled,
Billy swallowed hard. Well. wha
difference did it make?
Mary" he asked. will you be III.
wife,"
She shook her head. I'm sorry
Billy. like you. But | won't MARI
until Ellen marries."
The other twin entered the parlor
Billy manipulated his fountain pen an,
then shook hands with Ellen. III
seemed quite sorry that he had inke'
her hand But he had her marked
That was the main thing.
Half an hour later one of the twin
left the room. The one that remaine'
had ink on one hand Billy hastenc'
to her side.
"Ellcn." he whispered. will you b.
my wife,"
She shook her head. "I'm sorry
Billy. like you But | won't MARI
until Mary marrics."
Billy Peters staggered to the door
what do you think am" he dc
manded. "a Mormon?"
But there was still fight left II
this much harasscd lover Soon h.
had another plan. He'd dip up mic
chap--lots of nice chaps. He'd TAX
them to the Roy home. If one OF then
married Ellen he'd take Mary, and
one married Mary. he'd march of witt
Ellen.
He brought nine young men to thel
home. Then the twins woke up an,
told him to stop.
"I'll marry nobody but YOU" sal
Ellen.
And I'll marry nobody but you,
said Mary
But won't marry you unless yo'
marry Mary"
And | won't marry you unless yo
marry Ellen"
"And l Won't marry until Mary mar
ries."
"And won't marry until Ellen mar
ries."
There was a wild light in Billy Pc
ters eyes. He thanked them 70
the great honor they had thrus
upon him and made his way to tn
street.
Six hours later man stealthily ar
preached policeman, who was mind
ing his own business. as police
men do
Ssh he said. Look"
The policeman looked. "Railroa'
ticket. isn't ito
you've guessed it, Good guessers