The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1915-04-24

" cog With its enormous bow Of slv-
baue ribbon.
Bartlett We ndered II he were going
mad and seeing things that were not
70. At two. or thereabouts. he had
seen Martin. dirty. shabby. tired and
had given him money on which to get
drunk. At seven. q yacht. which had
not been in Westhaven for over
week. carefully deposits the youth.
clean. fresh. well-dressed at his very
side. Was he madi
Billy. too. had seen. but did not won
der. She knew he was tramp. for he
had said he was. but she never
thought of him or pictured him other
than well-dressed. well-cared for.
gently blase and bit languid She
looked at him now over the heads Of
the intervening crowd and her heart
did not question how he came there.
only rushed out to him with the glad
ness In her eyes, the joyous smile on
her parted lips. He had said he would
come. and there he was. Further she
did not question. Their eyes met
over the heads of the people. eager
questioning in his. joyful answer in
hers.
Hastily he dropped the pup with
the sky-blue bow upon the wharf.
among the plebeian feet there assem-
bied. and reaching Billy's side through
the crowd, grabbed both small hands
and stood laughing down at her.
billy" he whispered. "Oh. you
Billy"
There was, there must be some ex-
PLANTATION. Bartlett told himself des-
perately. 1t could not be that this
was not Martin? Bartlett had not
slept with the youth for nearly
week without being pretty familiar
with the long lank form. the thin.
careless face. And 1t was equally i'm
possible that the forlorn piece Of hui
manity who had stood that afternoon
In the drawing-room and inquired for
Billy was not Martin. They were one
and the same and once more he and
Billy had met on equal footing. To
ask the boy again to get drunk was an
ahsurditS.
II suppose l can give him b Job
where he won't have much more to do
than draw his pay" thought Bartlett.
hopelessly. dazedly.
The Watermelon dropped Billy's
hAnds and turned to her father in
well.brsd greeting, but their eyes met
ard In the Watermelon's was grim de-
nance. He had seen Billy again and
nothing could part them now. All his
humility and repentance had gone.
and in their place was his old-time
arrogance and sublime self-assurance
Fate In the form Of little white dog
had thought him and Billy together
/ again. with the Watermelon. still
clean. sal well-dressed. and to all out.
ward Appearances the same ~ the
other gay youths Of Billy's acquaint-
ance. With head up. jaw shut. he
sooFned to lower himself for anyone.
He wsuld prove himself worthy. not
unworthy of Billy. Out Of his repent
ance had grown his manhood He
was nntr emeless hobo of the great
army Me unemployed. He was
Jeroboam Martin, son Of the late
Rev. Mr.. -Iartin. In temporary imam
cial embarrassment that could be soon
remedied. He would work for Billy
and they would be happy on his
wages. He drew himself up and held
out his hand. Bartlett could take 1t
or not ~ he pleased. The Water
melon had sought or desired no mans
favor, and Jeroboam Martin would not
/ stoop TO do SO.
I! For one second the two stared at
each other grimly. square. jaws shut
lips unsmiling. then Bartlett's hand
shot forth and he clasped the Water.
melons.
"Ah, Martin" said he. how are
you. boy?"
And still holding him by the hand.
he patted the Watermelon on his arm.
jovially. After all he liked the boy.
and right or wrong. wise or foolish.
fate was against any other action.
fate in the form Of halfdrowned
poodle dog.
The Watermelon rested his arm on
Bartletts shoulder with boyish affec-
ton. Say, Bartlett" said he in low
voice II got drunk. honest to rights
But 1t wss so blamed hot. l cooled OF
in the ocean before ! knew what was
about and that sobered me up again
Then | saw something fall from the
yacht and ! thought 1t was kid from
the noise they were making. not Just
a pup. ! s1,aln out to help and of
course they hauled me on board, and
now the widow is planning to marry
me"
Bartlett reared Say. hoy. er-er
maybe you need q loan until can
|
| Once more their eyes met and this
time in complete and tender accord
You're all right" whispered the
Watermelon, his face softening. And
don't you worry about Billy" he add
ed. I'll take care Of her."