The Holly chieftain., 1915-03-12
M CONES
~SMH~
clA illustrated bgn
Charles 1zlLN !
Shetmgn TI


out there alone.
Without thinking of Billy other than
as pretty girl with whom to dirt.
moved by the mischief of the moment,
he 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. a tramp. masque-
rading with decent people in his stolen
finery. Petty thieving, the sharp
tricks of the road, had passed quickly
from his conscience. 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
Batchelor 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 Watermefon'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 a, name
less hobo. For a while he contem-
plated hurling 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 II he crept away without
explaining, and Bartlett was. BiNy's
father.
He heard a step on the porch and
turned to see Billy hesitating in the
doorway. jerry she whispered
softly and glanced behind her as
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
areeyom doing at this time of night ?"
And he looked down at her tenderly
in the dark where the hall lamp could
not reveal his face.
Billy hesitated. She had seen the
bills again and knew that he was wor-
ried. To worry over money matters
was an unknown experience to Billy.
She felt delicacy in mentioning her
errand
Ill came to see If the moon
had set" she faltered.
IT'S set" said the Watermelon.
"Well..., said Billy. then will go
back"
Z. Good night" said the Watermelon
y Good night" said Billy, and lin
gered
Then she laid her hand on his arm
and spoke in a rush. "Oh. Jerry, please
don't worry. II you want any money.
father has heaps. You can have all
you want
The Watermelon drew bit nearer.
"Billy, Billy said he softly.
Il think 1t must be terrible to wor-
ry about money" Billy hurried on.
TITS not worth IT."
I'm not worrying about money,
kid" said the Watermelon with a
laugh. 81 have bunch. What made
you think was?" ~
"Twice tonight you've counted your
money"
'>+Esau's bowl of pottage," sneered
the Watermelon, turning unconscious
ly to the old familiarity with the
Bible. Say. Billy, If he found he
didn't like his pottage. could he give
it back and get his birthright again.
Billy blushed. She was not sure who
Esau was. In dim way she remem.
bered the name and vaguely associat.
ed 1t with the Bible. Couldn't he
have gotten something else?" she
asked judiciously.
n mo" said the Watermelon. HE
had nothing more to SELL"
What did he sell?"
7 His birthrlght-for a mess OF pot.
tage."
Why'd he do that?"
He was stony broke, he wanted
something to eat. see, and he sold his
all for mess of pottage, Now, II he
found he didn't like his pottage, could
he have given 1t back and gotten his
birthright again?"
Eyes, indeed" chirped Billy. 81
don't see why not. But why didn't he
get something better than q mess OF
pottage?"
Don't ask me, kid. But. l guess
you're right. No one can keep your
birthright unless you're willing they
should"
y usually know more about the
Bible" stammered Billy. fearful Of the
impression her ignorancs must have
made. Il know about Moses s.ad
Ruth"