The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1915-12-23

proprietors of this hotel that they are
harborng thief. They will have me
arrested and lodged in jail. will pay
when have expiated it will take the
path into which | have been led by
your magnanimity."
''That is not necessary. All you have
| to do is to leave this house. promising
me that you will lead an honest life
! from this time forward. Besides, the
| motive for your crime must be consid-
! cred. You were not stealing for your
self, but to give pleasure to those you
love-"
That was all very well except leav-
ing the house, which Billy had no in
tention of doing.
IF | am to be trusted" he said,
switching off from the previous argu-
ment, II may as well remain here as
anywhere. You have my promise that
l will never steal again.
Billy was relieved from explaining
how he was to remain in house the
lowest priced room of which was So a
day-Biily's suit was $25-by the APP
proach of other persons. and with a
look of graf. tude he left the sun parlor.
Billy, not knowing but that the girl
would make a confidant of some one
who would not be as lenient with him
as the young lady and he would be put
to considerable trouble to explain his
theft, concluded to take precaution.
He was chummy with the clerk of the
hotel and told him the story. Since
Billy was well known to the manage
ment, this bit of advance knowledge
was all that was necessary to prevent
trouble. Billy learned from the clerk
that the young lady was Miss Helena
Clarke of New York.
Shortly after Billy's theft and re-.
turn of the stolen property a Mr.. and
Mrs. Ballinger- came down from the
north and stopped under the same
roof with him. The first Billy knew
of their arrival was seeing them hob
nobbing with Mrs. Clarke and her
daughter. Billy WINGED He had been
led by circumstances into doing what
hpulu puJ illlO Il lOSlllpl W ulCl
would, to say the least be considered
foolish and had come to realize that
any transition to his own respectable
self would be humiliating. The ar
rival of these friends, mutual to him
self and the Clarkes, might bring
about a denouement before he was
ready for one. At the same time if
he wished for a voucher the new ar
rivals would serve the purpose admira-
bly,. Billy determined to keep out of
their way until he could think up a
way out of his dilemma But the
more he thought the more he became
impressed with the fact that there
was no way out of it unless he should
one he had practiced While he was
trying to invent a story the Clarkes
departed for the north. Billy, having
learned all about them from his
friends the Ballingers. took his own
departure for home.
1t was now a couple of weeks be-
fore Christmas. Billy went to his
bank and procured Il certificate of de-
post in the name of Helena Clarke:
then, going home. he inclosed it in a
note saying that he was the man who
had been saved from an ignominious
career by her Kindness. \ misery I'M
Gle had died and left him Il large for
tune. Would Miss Clarke kindly dis
AN Il
for the poor at Christmas time: If
so she would go far in helping him to
forget the sin the remembrance of
which was embittering his life.
well" said Billy to himself. "if
can't keep her from setting me down
for fool | can at least prepare the
way for a confession" And with this
he sealed his note and dropped it in a
mail box. A reply soon came TO him
from Miss Clarke showing plainly that
she had swallowed this story as we'll
as the other. she promised to dispense
his Christmas charity and asked if
there was anything else she could do
to encourage him in making his re-
formation permanent. Billy replied
that he thought she could, but he
would speak of that later.
Meanwhile the Balingers had re-
turned to New York. Billy went to
Mrs Ballinger told her of the fix he
was in and asked her to help him out
of it. The lady at once wrote the
Clarkes an invitation TO Christmas
dinner, declining to take no for an
answer A reply came accepting the
invitation Billy was also invited.
Mr. Emerson says that the most
courageous act of his life was when
he walked into Mrs. Ballngers draw
ing room that Christmas day and be
held Miss Clarke arrayed in dinner
costume. looking. it seemed to him.
beautifully cold Mrs. Ballingcr had
promised him that she would an,
nounce to Miss Clarke that he would
be one of the dinner company and
make his confession for him. She had
also insured him not unkindly recep-
ton. What was Billy's relief when
the young lady, with charming smile,
extended her hand to him.
1t seemed that n leaden coat of trou-
BILE had peeled off him and left him
light nc :" feather.
$40 TEL. mo-" she said when they
Were seated side by side. what in
duced you to confess crime that you
had not committedT
Bily's resource came to his aid.
IL was caught red handed. wasn't
|? Wei. If had told Won that | had