The Washington times., 1916-08-20
The Adventure of
Billy the Messenger
LIKE boys! I might as well confess

= LIKE boys! might as well confess
1t here and now. for It will he
Il one of those facts which we hold
... to be self-evldent" by the time I
have told you the adventure OF q loyal
little chap named Billie Dram.
SO now YOU will see why Billie Dran's
letter brought tenderness to my heart.
and-I confess It all unashamed-tears
1 pictured red hair and a snub nose
and freckles as l read the pcnciled
lines:
Dear Miss Fairfax:
II am fourteen years old and am
In love with girl Of twelve. ]
am learning telegraphy. How soon
can l ask her to marry me? Please
= BILLIE DRAM.
Schuyler 1907"
Wasn't that simple and expansive at
the same time-and altogether Just like
or two ande then ] picked up my desk
loved operator in the world. think
A moment later I had the operator
In the Western Union office. And she
complied cheerfully with my request
that she summon Billie.
knew Billie Dram and were pre-
destined friends and some of the
warmth of my instructive liking for the
little lad I. could picture. even though
couldn't see him. got into my voice as
he told me that the fellows were all
Ace. but he just couldn't help il. He
wanted to grow up and marry lean
I'm studying telegraphy, Miss tair-
fax--studying awful hard. I know
most of the Morse alphabe now. and
can push the keys pretty fast; Don't
'Your future looks bright. Billie.
But you can't marry on your present
salary, said and r. felt that ,s, there ere
over the wires from my voice. -.
Then hung UP the receiver and
turned to face black-browed young
gentleman named Barton. l spoke to
and then suddenly. In very unjim-
myesquo voice, he fairly growled out.
Who's BillieT's ',.'. '"fE.y' .'.'
Jimmy Is Inquisitiye,
That was most surprising! i like
boys, you know. and felt as II Jimmy
were nothing but big boy who need
ed a bit of mothering. Isstarted to
smile at him in friendly fashion. but
then the absurdity OF his attitude
annoyed me a bit. and told Mr.. Bar
ton that was not In the habit of
being questioned about my friends:
the ease and facility which sometimes
lightenS The burdens OF t9iiers; Just
as ! Vas ahishing my dear friend nd
Il 1T / wouldn't IKE 10 take her car and
drive out In the country for an hour
or so. A spin in the country was just
the tonic and stimulant 1 wanted.
And that drive took me to the lowest
abyss, where ugly human passions play
and up to the heights where there Is
sel-forgetfulness and noble love. This
was the way of IT.:
Suddenly, / found myself on lonely
road about an hour from New York.
had not passed a. car for quite awhile
and l was thinking that / had better
return to the ,haunts of men. when q
great. dark Limousine came tearing dowr
the road toward me- like some lgl,
monster conjured up from the dark
ages. '''
A Dusty Little Figure.
was looking after the car. but at the
roadside I saw something which made
me bring Mrs. Arthur's car to a sud
den standstill. / knew she would have
forgiven me for setting the brakes 90
hurrledly had she been there to see th'
dusty little figure beheld by the road
side. As / got to his side he was man
aging to get to his feet. He didn't seen
bit interested in his own bumps an'
bruises, but pointed frantically after tn
disappearing car and cried out In tom
which breoked Of no denial:
ooh. please, please don't stop TO-
anything. Just take me In your car
lady. and drive after that one. | can
let 1t get out OF my sight-theyVe 20
ri In AZ
A moment later knew that. whateve
this adventure was. ! was emparke'
upon It heart and soul. for the boy a
my side called out even as ! starte
Please 90 fast. Please don't let .en
get away from you. They're aWfu
iookingt {olksr-and she's such "a littl
girl. OK do help massive my Jean"
,o oyer sS, Of t1s az his S He,'e
rang its changes In my memory ,
voice with more and more pleading !
its childish tone. i've got to save Jea
nobody else knows except me. bu
Just like he was in the dream"
"Billie Dran"' cried. billie Dram
well, and do you know who 1t Is you'v
pressed into service like this? Bill
boy. you've come right nome 10 an o.
friend. I'm Beatrice Fairfax.and W
will certainly save your Jean II II ca
be done"
The boy at my side gasped out hi
amazement and Joy: Miss Fairfax
Say, you're n regular miracle worker
Nobody but you would ever have bee
here Just when, a fellow wanted her
And say. you're kinder pretty-most a
pretty as my jean!
The car ahead Of us slowed down
driving a tortuous course In ana GU
of crossroads. AS he followed 1 go
Billie's story from him. II l were I
help him In this mysterious chase whic
seemed so desperately earnest to tn
hoy l had to know exactly why | wa
driving up and down Westcheste
county after strange limousine.
well, | never saw Jean till yesterday
But I knew she was my girl right away
| never noticed girls much before. 70
don't think I'm a softly? Do your
mo, l don't, d3illie-not bit Of It,"
Billie Tells the Story.
OF course, I know boys have wa
OF making up mysteries and detectiv
stories for themselves-but Billie SCENE
so earenst so sincere, that / sensed
basis for his feeling.
Come on, Billie. Tell me all abou
IT,"
"Yes'm. 1t was like this. They give
me a telegram this morning over to tn
offce-eXcuse me, over at the offce-
and sends me--sends me-up to Richar
Morton's house. He's the district attol
iiey. and the boys all say he's Yer