The Holly chieftain., 1915-03-05
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Short for William. and William is
your name. goose. Don't you remem-
Der your own name?" crooned Billy,
leaning toward him in the dark.
Yes, surely" said the Watermelon.
But hate my name. Call me Jerry.
That's what the boys call me-"
"Jerry?" laughed Billy question
ingly.
Yes" said Jeroboam gravely. and
added abruptly. Lets go back"
They turned and retraced their
steps, Billy all athrill with she knew
not what. singing foolish little song
beneath her breath, the Watermelon
staring angrily before him, denying
hotly to himself what would not be
denied. that he loved Billy. He loved
her, not as he had loved other women,
not as careless, lazy tramp, taking
what offered, good. bad or worse. with
airy Indifference, but as the son of
his poor, virtuous mother and of his
gentle, reverend father would love and
cherish the one woman.
But who was he to love like that?
The past few years had branded him
as a thing apart from Billy. A COM
panion of Mike and James, who was
he to talk of love to Billy? God!
Henrietta and Bartlett strolled up
as they approached the cars, where
they found the general pacing up and
down the road, filled with righteous
indignation and anger.
1t seemed Alphonse had long ago TAX
en- his rug and pillow and retired to
the edge Of the woods and slumber.
Left alone the general had lighted a
cigar and was walking slowly back
and forth in front of the cars, waiting
for the others to return, when a bug
gy. with two men in it, passed, the
horse shying bit and the general Of
fering his assistance and advice To
his surprise they had not gone by
more than three yards, when they
stopped, tied the horse and came back
on foot.
First" said the general, as the
four gathered around him in the light
of the car lamps, first thought they
were hold-up men. The lamps on my
car had gone out and they did not see
1t, thought that there was only one
car, SO there would not be many to
defend it; besides, was the only
one they had seen. and doubtless they
surmised l was alone and they could
have held me up easily"
Father" cried Henrietta, what did
you do?"
Before could do anything they
asked me the make OF my car. I told
them. They said 1t didn't look like a
Packard, and l saw that they were
looking at Wills car and hadn't seen
mine, back near the wall and with the
lights out. pointed to 1t and said
that was my car. They seemed sur
prised to see two cars. told them
my name, gave them my card, and
told them L was motoring to Maine
with party OF friends and asked
them what they were going to do
about It,"
What did they say?" asked Bart
lett. while the Watermelon slowly
rolled a cigarette.
ooh, they apologized," admitted the
general But what l want to know,
and what don't like at all. Is why
everyone is so curious to know the
make OF my car, the engine number
and the license number. What busi-
ness is 1t of theirs?"
The two girls slept in one car, Bart.
lett and the general in the other. The
Watermelon lay on the grass on Billy's
side of the car and sought to reason
the thing out. to plan what to do.
Alone in the dark. he did not sleep,
but stared before him, ears attuned
to the many sounds OF the summer
night.
In every whir of Insects wings. in
every whispering breeze that passed,
he heard Billy's soft, sweet voice. He
stared up at the stars and likened
them to Billy's eyes, twlnklins points
Of light as far above him as Billy was.
for Billy was Billy, and he was 4
tramp, hobo-a Weary Willie.
CHAPTER XIV.