The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-12-05
How Billy Was Sent
to His Mother
By HANNAH HIRSHFIELD


man in charge of an express car that
was about to be pulled out, heres Il
package l want you to carry to Mil !
ford Center
,, Gowan produced box about three |
feet long by eighteen inches broad and
deep. The lid was hinged and held /
closed by a hook and staple. The box |
was perforated and marked: Perish |
able. This side up with care"
81 can't take it, said the express
man. you must put it through the
Office in the regular way"
GOwan took ten dollar bill from
his pocket book and put it in Tom
Murphy's hand.
"Tom." said Gowan. Its my boy
Billy. His mother went to Milford
yesterday, and I've got to leave home
tonight. Billy must go to his mother.
He's too young to travel alone. and
the company wouldn't take such per-
ishable property. You'll be alone in
the car. wont yOu?"
yes: III be alone in the car, and
can let the boy out between stations.
Leastaways | can let him sit up in his
box. How old is hep
"Five.'
well, III try it on for you. Jim. but
don't want your money"
GOwan took the box into the open
car, lifted the lid. and Billy clinched
| his arms around his fathers neck.
BILLY. you must keep very quiet I'M
less Mr.. Murphy opens the box. If
any one hears you in the box you
won't get a ride
yes daddy. I'll be quiet"
We'll. goOdby. Give mother kiss
for me-"
"All right, daddy"
! "Ill close the lid till the train is off
and the car door closed. then Mr.. Muir.
! ply will let you out"
The father unwOund his sons arms
with kiss. closed the lid. slipped the
hook through the staple and left the
car. In few moments there was
putting and grinding Of wheels. and
the train pulled out. The lid was again
lifted and Tom Murphy stood looking
down at Billy with an amused smile.
as 1t time to get up?' asked the boy.
II reckon I'll let you get out for
twenty minutes. Then when we stop
at the station you'll have to get back
again."
Billy sat up, and Murphy lifted him
out onto the floor Of the car Billy
looked about him wonderingly at the
boxes and packages piled here and
there Seeing tricycle., he was much
interested and wished to mount it and
have a ride. But Murphy objected.
When the whistle sounded for the next
station Murphy said:
"Now, Billy, you must get back into
your crib and keep very quiet until you
hear the door shut and the train move
on"
When the train stopped special
agent Of the express company got in
the car. He told Murphy he was going
to the next station and would ride in
the car Murphy suggested that he
would be more comfortable in a pas
senger coach, but he was not to be dis
suaded. Settling himself on q box near
Billy's crib, he lighted cigar.
D When the train moved on Murphy
D was much disturbed. The next stop
would not be made for half an hour
and he feared Billy would not be able
= to keep quiet so long. But Billy I'M
a doubleday appreciated the situation, for
i he lay perfectly still. The special
= agent, who was supervisor MS well
A took OccaS sim RI CIV to NJ .,nhr th,.
a there had been many cases of goods
J. carried by the company's agents the
charges for which had gone into the
e agents pockets He had been on the
watch for such and had caught several
r agents In the act. They had at once
y been discharged. While communicat
Ing this fact he looked about him, Muir
o ply thought, with a view to discover
- ing another case.
y Finally the supervisor got tired of
q talking and smoked i'm silence. Sud
~ denly he cooked his head on one side
n and listened. Was that some one
d breathing? He got up from his seat
" and walked about trying to locate the
h. sound till he finally stopped bending
10 over Billy's crib. He distinctly heard
10 the sound of some one breathing in
k sleep. Murphy was at a rude desk al
an end of the car looking over some
to way bills His back was to the super
es visor. who unlocked the lid of Billy's
box. and. lifting it. there was Bill,
" sound asleep. CHANGING at Murphy
4, the supervisor saw he was not oh
ae served He stood for moment will
his eyes bent on the boys innocen
ly face irresolute. then softly lowered tn
no lid.
Id A few minutes later the train stoppe,
pt at the next station.
"Tom," said the supervisor. "all
b. want from you is that you haven
It. made any money that properly belong
d. to the company"
ng II haven't" was Toms reply.
so long" And he left the car.
by As soon as new start was mad
d. Tom went to Billy to let him out of b
NJ box. The hook was not in the stanl