The Press., 1916-01-12
How Billy Emerson
Walked Into His
Own Trap
A Christmas Story
by RUTH GRAHAM

| Billy Emerson was twenty-one, a
nice fellow. NJ the girls would put It,.
handsome and rich. Il IL Questionable
if young men born with silver spoons
IN their mouths are fortunate. They
have no careers before them. or, rather,
no careers nre forced on them. and few
persons Will work who do not have to
work. Billy was IN no regular bust.
ness; consequently time hung heavy
on his hands, and he was always hunt
Ing for some amusement, He once said
that he would rather be n housebrenit-
or than himself. for he would love IN
exciting life instead Of dull one.
| billy disliked cold weather. and
when the autumn came on he usually
went to n aouthern climate. Nice was
his favorite winter resort: but, firing
OF all European places. he concluded
one autumn to go TO senbench IN
virginia, Not finding the climate there
warm enough for him, he driftcd down
to Florida. where he put up Mt one Of
the swell hotels ut NJ. Augustine.
| II wna u month before Christmas
| when the young man started on this
| outing, ana not to be deprived Of the
pleasure OF giving the customary pres
ents on account OF his absence he de-
| voted n week before leaving to their
| purchase Since he was an orphan
| with no brothers or sisters the time
he devoted to the purpose would seem
unnecessary, but Billy had one good
trait-he interested himself in impe-
cunious persons. The main enjoyment
he received from his large fortune was
making the needy happy by supplying
their necessities. Having arranged for
showering Of gifts on Christmas day,
| he sailed away.
Billy was used to sitting in the sun
parlor in the morning, where other
guests congregated. Not having any
thing better to do, he observed such
persons as interested him, but it was
very dull way of spending the time,
and he longed for something to stir
him up. There was young lady in the
house who was taking care of her in
valid mother. The girls face was Ma
dOnna-like, and it seemed to Billy that
any one she loved she would sacrifice
for. even to her life. Billy wished che
would love him.
One day this young lady was sitting
in an easy chair, basking in the sun,
when something seemed suddenly to
occur to her. Rising quickly. she hurried
away, leaving fat portemonnaie in the
chair she had occupied. 1t occurred to
Billy that here was an opportunity to
scrape an acquaintance. He would
take up the article and when the
young lady returned for her purse
hand it to her. Stepping briskly to the
portemonnaie, he seized it and was put
ting it in his pocket when the young
lady, doubtless having missed it, re-
turned. Billy was caught in the act.
| Now, what it was that induced him
Ito deny the theft he could hardly him.
self explain. He says it was because
IL he told her that he took the porte
monnaie simply to return it to her she
would not believe him, and he saw an
adventure in a final confession, proving
his responsibility at the same time.
This would cause her to feel that she
had wrohged him and give him a great
advantage. Quite likely the panied
look on the girls face that followed
one of surprise had something to do
denied having seen the missing article.
not having any very definite plan of
subsequent action.
"Give me my portemonnaie," she said.
Il saw you take it. To think that such
a respectable looking person should be
a common
She baked at the word thief. 1t was
too contemptuous word to apply to
SO respectable appearing person.
eff you knew my motive" said Billy,
"you would have sympathy for me-"
-"What motive?'
1.-THE blessed Christmas season is
coming. and l have nothing with which
to buy gifts for my dear mother and
five young brothers and sisters"
A plying expression came over ths
girls face, a mingling of pain, sympa-
thy and forgiveness. 1t made Billy
feel that to elicit such an expression
he would rob a bank
keep the money" said the GIRL land
II there is not enough to buy gifts for
all will add to it. But return my
portemonnaie and the other contents.
They We're given me last Christmas by
my dear mother"
Billy hung his head. 1t seemed as If
he had been touched by this kindly
magnanimity, and repentance was be-
ginning to well up within him. Taking
the portemonnaie from his pocket. he
handed it to her without opening it.
She took some bills there were in it
and handed them to him.
"No," he said. You have made me
see the error of my ways. I am re-
pentant. Call for the police and have
me locked up."
AS the perpetrator of this stupendous
bluff well knew, the girl would do no
such thing. But when she told him
that she forgave him and would do
nothing to interfere with any good res
olutions he might make for his future
the scamp protested that she was not
doing her duty. ..e
''You have no right to permit me to
go Free" he said mournfully. "You are
risking the valuables Of every one in
this house. How do you know but that
I will go on in my pernicions way? 1t
In your duty to hand me over to tho
authorities, or rather to inform the
proprietors of this ho,el that they are
harboring thief. They will have me
arrested and lodged in jail l will pay
the penalty Of. my wickedness and
when have expiated it will take the
path into which I~have been led by
your magnanimity."
THAT is not necessary. All you have
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