The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-12-11
How Billy Was Sent
to His Mother
By HANNAH HIRSHFIELD


package 1 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 hook and staple. The box
was perforated and marked: Perish
able. This side up with care"
II can't take it," said the express
man. "You must put it through the
Office in the regular way"
Gowan took a ten dollar bill from
his pocket book and put it in Tom
Murphy's hand.
"Tom," said Gowan, "it's 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, won't your"
Eyes; I'll be alone in the car, and l
can let the boy out between stations.
box. How old is he?"
give"
"Well, I'll 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 ride"
Eyes, daddy. I'll be quiet"
"Well, goodby. Give mother a kiss
for me-"
":All right, daddy"
"I'll close the lid till the train is of
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 a
putting and a 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.
rs 1t time to get up?" asked the boy
Il 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 mas.
senger coach. but he was not to be is.
Billy's crib, he lighted q cigar.
When the train moved on Murphy
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.
doubtedly appreciated the situation. for
he lay perfectly still. The special
agent, who was a supervisor as well.
took occasion to say to M~rphy that
there had been many cases of goods
carried by the company's agents the
charges for which had gone into the
agents pockets. He had been on the
watch for such and had caught several
agents IN the act. They had at once
been discharged. While communicat.
Ing this fact he looked about him, Mur.
ply thought, with view to discover.
Ing another case.
Finally the supervisor got tired of
talking and smoked in silence. Sud.
denly he cooked his head on one side
and listened. Was that some one
breathing? He got up from his seat
and walked about trying to locate tho
sound till he finally stopped bendinp
over Billys crib. He distinctly heard
the sound of some one breathing in
sleep. Murphy was at a rude desk at
an end Of the car looking over some
way bills. His back was to the sinner.
visor, who unlocked the lid of Billv,s
box, and, lifting it, there was Billv
sound asleep. CHANGING at Murphy
the supervisor saw he was not oh.
served. He stood for a moment with
MS eyes bent on the boys innocent
race irresolute, then softly lowered the
lid. '-e
A few minutes later the train stopped
at the next station.
Tom," said the supervisor. "au
want from you is that you haven't
made any money that properly belongs
to the company"
haven't" was Toms reply.
so long," And he left the car
As soon as a new start was m.s.
Tom went to Billy to let him out of hi.
oox. The hook was not in the staple
lie was sure he had put 1t there at tho
last stop. Only the supervisor conld
have removed it.
lime TO get up Billy cold IT,